Cosmetic surgery’s dark, patchwork past

The Spanish surgeon, identified as Raymond Roige, has been sentenced to one year in prison, and is required to pay a 120, 000 Euro fine to Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, son of the late Stella and his medical license has been suspended for five years, even though he argues the medical procedure was carried out in conformity […]

The Spanish surgeon, identified as Raymond Roige, has been sentenced to one year in prison, and is required to pay a 120, 000 Euro fine to Olumuyiwa Obasanjo, son of the late Stella and his medical license has been suspended for five years, even though he argues the medical procedure was carried out in conformity with medical practice.

Just as Spain seemed to be Stella’s refuge, a number of other countries are rising up to the best-loved destinations in the world for cosmetic surgery include. Malaysia, Lebanon, India amongst other Middle East and Asian destinations as well as the Americas and Europe are enjoying patronage from the world.

According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Asian Americans underwent 866,000 cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2008, a 290 percent increase since the year 2000. Hispanics had a 239 percent increase and African Americans a 145 percent increase.

Younger people, according to this research, are tagging along closely. “In 2008, long before the usual onset of wrinkles and sagging, 228,129 patients between 13 and 19 had some sort of invasive or minimally invasive cosmetic surgery. Leading the list were breast augmentation, nose reshaping and laser hair removal.

Even as the crown for most plastic surgeries done moves from American movie capital, Hollywood, to other parts of the world, it is clear that life does imitate art.