Botched Surgery and Depression
Filed Under Random Trivia | 2 Comments
Although there have been success stories and heightened confidence in the cosmetic surgery world, there were, unfortunately, sad stories too. To some, having a surgery to alter what nature had endowed you means having a part of you taken off and thrown into a wastebasket. Once it’s cut, it’s never gonna be restored in exactly the same way. Successful operations build confidence, restore self-esteem and save a life. But botched surgeries can sway the pendulum to the other extreme… insecurity, depression and worse, death.
Sheena Person had a difficulty breathing, consulted a surgeon but failed to check credentials and trainings, leaning to a botched surgery. Had to undergo a mental health therapist for her depression. It took her 10 years of hating mirrors and editing pictures taken of her before considering to get a revision.
David Reimer was a healthy baby boy. But was raised as a girl after a botched circumcision. He became a “specimen” for a gender experiment, was subjected to series after series of gender correction and alteration. He committed suicide at age 38.
Benjamin Houghton lost his only healthy testicle after doctors mistakenly removed the right testicle instead of the left. The situation was setting him up for potential health complications including sexual dysfunction, depression, fatigue, weight gain and osteoporosis.
These are but some of the many cases where the doctor performing the surgery, instead of helping, ruined the patient’s life. Operations should be done perfectly the first time. Should be.
Patients who received support from families and health care professionals have good chance of recovery. But there were cases where depression leads to body dysmorphia – a debilitating obsession with appearance that makes sufferers hate their physical features because of perceived defects. The nature of the disorder means patients can undergo repeated procedures and still feel ugly. But this is another story.
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2 Responses to “Botched Surgery and Depression”
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Hi
This is something that has happened to me. My plastic surgeon severed 3 major nerves during breast augmentation, and due to somewhat negligent aftercare, it was not diagnosed fro 4 months and has turned into chronic neurpothic pain. This means that for life I am going to be living with constant burning, stabbing, pains, and sometimes I can barely life my arm. It is a condition that can never be cured but the pain can be “Managed” I am only in my mid 30”s and to know that I am going to suffer in this amount of pain for the rest of my life is nothing short of overwhelming and surreal. My life basically ended on the operating table. In fact I often do wish that he had rather killed me on the operating table, as I think it would have been a lot kinder.
City Angel,
Oooh, that’s really sad. Although I haven’t gone through a cosmetic surgery before, I say, I feel for you. These things really do happen, I realized. I hope you could recover from the trauma, both physically and emotionally. You’re young and I believe you still have a life ahead of you. I wish you all the best.