Boobstarter: Crowdfunding For Breast Implants
"Markets in Everything," as economist @Mark_J_Perry tweeted.
Stacey Leigh Gonzalez writes at LatinosHealth that there's now a crowdfunding site for women, My Free Implants:
By encouraging random people to "Invest in Breasts,"' the crowdfunding site is drawing flak from a number of media sources and groups.Since 2005, My Free Implants offers women a place to get funding for breast surgeries. In exchange for donations, contributors (often men) can receive tokens such as messages, photos or videos from the female beneficiaries.
Australian news site News.com.au says the website now has 5000 active donors with over 3500 listed projects. With 1,200 success stories, the founders maintain that the website has helped raise $13 million dollars for breast enlargement surgeries.
However, not everyone is pleased with the company's success. She Knows labels My Free Implants as sexist and degrading towards women.
Independent sees the website as exploitative towards the female gender, encouraging men to browse through the blogs and women's profiles like shopping in a mall.
Medical institutions from the U.S., U.K. and Australia have expressed their concern. President Hugh Bartholomeusz of the Australian Society Plastic Surgeons says the website propagates a "dangerous misconception" of cosmetic surgery.
What, that it's only affordable for rich women?
"Cosmetic surgery is serious, invasive surgery," Bartholomeusz said on the Australian publication. "This is not something that should be treated in the same way as the purchase of a new outfit or hairstyle."
That is, unless you have lots of money, in which case, step right up, washboards!
More from Slate's Mark Joseph Stern:
The women of MFI never get direct access to any money that is raised; rather, it goes to an escrow known, inevitably, as the Boob Bank. When a woman reaches her goal, usually around $5,500, the money is paid directly to an MFI-affiliated plastic surgeon who performs her surgery. If all goes well, her before-and-after pictures, along with a Q&A, enter the hallowed MFI Hall of Fame.MFI's founders claim that about 1,100 women have received implants through the website, and a quick glance through its hall of fame seems to confirm that. But $5,500 is a lot of money, and each private message from a donor brings an "MFI girl" only $1.
"Some women go on and are like, I'll show you a video of me masturbating for $200," said the college student. "And that's actually really annoying. But I'm a dude. If girls want to send me a naked picture, I'm not going to say no."
Women are free to request any amount of money for any kind of image or video, and donors are often happy to oblige. The most ambitious women participate in the aforementioned donor-generated contents. When my friend signed up, one open contest promised $100 to the woman who could prove she had "the best ass on MFI." One offered $50 for the most delicious-looking picture of a hamburger (that's not some arcane slang term--really, just a hamburger). And one offered $2 for a photograph of a vagina.
Okay, not a very good deal. But...consenting adults.
And I've written about the risks -- and here's more from the Slate piece:
These disclaimers aside, the website's breezy tone masks a disturbing truth: Breast augmentation is one of the riskiest things a woman can do to her body. A sizable portion of breast augmentation patients experience chronic breast pain, nerve damage, and infection. Almost all implants leak at some point, many within about a decade of surgery. A broken saline implant can leak bacteria or mold into the body; a broken silicone implant can leak liquid silicone that is taken up by the patient's liver and lymph nodes. Compounding the danger, many women don't notice a break for months or even years.Even though donors pay for the initial surgery, breast implants can raise a woman's health care costs for the rest of her life. According to FDA guidelines, women with silicone implants should receive a breast MRI three years after the initial surgery and every two years thereafter, to ensure they're free of leaks or other complications. These MRIs, which are rarely covered by insurance, can cost between $2,000 and $5,000, surely an impossible sum for a woman unable to afford the implants herself. Mammograms are a basic preventive health measure once women reach middle age, but implants render them less accurate at detecting tumors. Mammograms can rupture implants, dissuading many women with breast augmentation from seeking the tests.
My Free Implants pitches its services as a kind of charity to help women gain confidence and allow good-hearted men to have a little fun. But it has a darker side. Breast implants are high-cost, high-maintenance, and high-risk.
This is only a problem when government forces us to pay for everyone's healthcare.
Also, you can get an MRI for less if you negotiate and do it out of the insurance system -- then again, who's reading the thing.
But about those MRIS for asymptomatic women, Andrew Kaunitz, MD, writes at Medscape:
According to plastic surgeons at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, NY, the evidence to support such screening is lacking. These authors of a 2008 report go on to state that the evidence is not conclusive that MRI surveillance leads to a reduction in patient morbidity, or that the benefits of screening outweigh risks, which include unnecessary patient anxiety, false-positive results, and even unneeded surgery.[2]As the FDA report points out, silicone implants do not cause connective tissue disease, reproductive problems, or breast cancer.[1] Accordingly, many plastic surgeons recommend MRI only when women with silicone implants present with a specific problem or concern.
The FDA's June 2011 report appropriately points out that 20%-40% of patients have reoperations to modify, remove, or replace their implants within 8-10 years of their initial surgery. Often, insurance does not cover these subsequent surgeries. Clearly, this is information that women need to understand prior to making decisions to proceed with implants.
I do think getting implants (or any unnecessary surgery) is a really bad idea, per the risks. I also think that many people don't understand or aren't helped to understand the risks.
But, still, I have to wonder -- how much of the protesting here is about the notion that women shouldn't be able to change themselves physically or, especially, to get themselves bigger boobs?
What kind of a boob would support such a thing? Thank you, Amy, for keeping us abreast of this development. Hopefully, the funding is discontinued and this ridiculous project becomes a distant mammary. Although that might take a-cup-le of weeks before that happens.
No one is entitled to breast implants. If they lactate the necessary funds to get them, then that's too bad.
Patrick at April 28, 2016 11:00 PM
On the other hand, since support is entirely voluntary, I guess those who want this can milk it for all it's worth.
Patrick at April 28, 2016 11:19 PM
(Well Patrick is off and running this morning. +1)
1. Just because these ladies lack a sugar daddy or a sucker shouldn't stop them from having access to desired medical treatment. (Cue Ray O. "Only the wealthy ...")
2. How novel a thought. "I can acquire funds w/o screwing (over) a man." I am woman and I am strong.
3. "Independent sees the website as exploitative towards the female gender ...". Actually it's the reverse since the women are enticing the men to compete for their attentions.
A plastic surgeon did the surgery to remove a cyst from my wife's leg (misdiagnosed as it was actually a soft tissue cancer tumor).
He did a great job w/instructions over the phone from a cancer surgeon (first instruction was to sew it back up and he'd take the leg later but they decided to go for it since it stayed intact).
The women in this guy's office were amazing. Mostly young beautiful and glowing. Somebody was paying and probably being rewarded handsomely. (Bet they did not lose their house once things went astray).
Bob in Texas at April 29, 2016 5:48 AM
Side note -- Victoria's "Secret" -- for those of us of larger boob (the real kind): "Our bras won't do shit for you."
Amy Alkon at April 29, 2016 6:33 AM
"But, still, I have to wonder -- how much of the protesting here is about the notion that women shouldn't be able to change themselves physically or, especially, to get themselves bigger boobs?"
Nearly all of it. It's fake concern.
Our culture (species?) loves to mock and condemn women who take overt steps to enhance their sexual beauty. This is true even of women who are aiming for "status quo" beauty and not porn-star extremes. We call them foolish or shallow, even though the benefits of looking good, especially for a woman, is undeniable. For some reason you're a joke if you pay for or cultivate something that other women were born with naturally.
You can see this in the Comment section for any article or video with a beautiful actress--Megan Fox, for example.
"Injections. Botox. Hair extensions. False eyelashes. Veneers. Boob job. Tons of makeup to cover acne scars. Probably starves herself."
Who cares? Whatever she did WORKED, because she is hot af.
As women born with "prow of a ship" assets, we may not relate to the depth of disappointment that a woman who is disproportionately flat-chested feels every time she looks in a mirror. Not every small-breasted girl has the waifish dimensions of Audrey Hepburn to complement them. Feeling beautiful has huge benefits. The risks may be worth it to her.
I know way more women who are thrilled with their implants and wish they'd done it sooner vs women who regret them. Same for nose jobs. Every woman I know who's had one says, "Why did I wait so long?"
Insufficient Poison at April 29, 2016 7:15 AM
Bet they did not lose their house once things went astray
Why marry the cow when you can get the milk for a small license fee?
Also, the last time the subject of implants came up, I discovered that the implants expected replacement cycle is on the order of 10 years. You may get more, or less, depending on damage.
Installing boob implants = license to print money.
I R A Darth Aggie at April 29, 2016 7:33 AM
I know way more women who are thrilled with their implants and wish they'd done it sooner vs women who regret them. Same for nose jobs. Every woman I know who's had one says, "Why did I wait so long?"
Let's wait and ask them after they're on their 2nd or 3rd replacement, shall we?
I R A Darth Aggie at April 29, 2016 7:36 AM
I'll echo Insufficient Poison's experience regarding friends' satisfaction with their implants: Everyone I know who got them is happy with them, including the ones that have had to have something fixed, or have needed to have them re-done fifteen years later.
If somebody wants to have work done, it's really none of our business. I suspect that many of the ladies trying to fund their surgeries are either involved in or headed toward the sexual entertainment industry- but one again, none of my business.
ahw at April 29, 2016 7:38 AM
Darth, I have some on set 1, some on set 2, but everyone who gets them knows she's on the hook to save for the next set. They're like veneers for your teeth or hair extensions. You have to plan ahead financially for the next step.
The advent of YouTube, Yelp, and plastic-surgery forums also means that doctors are more publicly accountable for the work they do.
Insufficient Poison at April 29, 2016 7:50 AM
Its a mixed bag from a guys perspective.
Sure they may look better in clothes, but thick scar lines and reduced sensitivity kinda winds up making them worthless in the sack for those of us who enjoy doing more than jackhammer a woman for five minutes
lujlp at April 29, 2016 7:54 AM
My mom got implants in her 40s, to fill back up what nature ebbed away. She's in 70s now, never had an issue with them, an MRI, or a replacement surgery. She gets her mammograms on schedule. I think the problems tend to come from 1) just going way too large and 2) some peoples bodies will reject absolutely anything put in them. Getting a body piercing and seeing how your body adapts to that, is probably a good trial run.
I used to really, really want implants. I had the waifish figure for the tiny boobs I had, but was unhappy. Now in my 40s, I occasionally think I may get them, but overall I'm pretty confidant with myself now.
The real issue here with this website, though, is these women could web-stream themselves masturbating and make enough for their implants, and then some, quite quickly. Why lower yourself for a buck or two??
momof4 at April 29, 2016 8:32 AM
"Now in my 40s, I occasionally think I may get them, but overall I'm pretty confidant with myself now."
Same here, but it's my nose. My nose got in the way of what would have been (in retrospect) an extremely local and short-lived modeling career. I looked good at bridal shows but not in photos. My nose cast unflattering shadows in pictures. Photographers: "Consider a nose job."
If I could have afforded a nose job at age 20, I would have had one.
Now I can afford one, and still toy with the idea, but the down time plus everyone knowing I've done it are enough to put me off.
Insufficient Poison at April 29, 2016 9:05 AM
Tit for tat.
Stephan at April 29, 2016 10:19 AM
"If somebody wants to have work done, it's really none of our business. "
This. Although I will admit to sometimes making snarky comments on the quality of a particular job, or lack thereof (ladies, please don't go to some hack in Guatemala to get these things!), if it makes a woman happy and she has or can raise the scratch through reasonably legal means, who am I to say otherwise? And as for the need for replacement, I suspect that since there's a market, the technology will get better, and before long there will be ones that are good for a lifetime.
I'll be curious to see what happens when the day comes that it becomes possible to do the analogous thing for men...
Cousin Dave at April 29, 2016 10:29 AM
As for the original subject: It sounds like yet another webcam site, with a twist. Welcome to the market. You've got about 2,000,000 competitors.
Cousin Dave at April 29, 2016 10:31 AM
Cousin Dave, it's already out there!
Insufficient Poison at April 29, 2016 11:12 AM
I've only known one of our acquaintances to be unhappy with her implants and it was due to the size. She lost 20 or so pounds a few years after getting them and they ended up with the bolt-on porn star look instead of the more natural look they used to have. I think most people object to plastic surgery on the assumption that women do it to please men or that they are shallow and just want to look pretty when I doubt it has little to do with it. I've wanted implants for around 20 years now and it's been about how I'd fill out a swimsuit, strapless dress, etc. I don't like looking flat chested without a pushup bra on. I've just never been able to fit in funding plus the time off at the same time or I would have done it already. The plan right now is get a mommy makeover in 1-2 years after I have the twins. I'll get the excess hanging skin removed from my abdomen and implants to fill my boobs back in and make them a bit larger. Multiple pregnancies and just plain aging have taken their toll and they are no longer firm and perky. They aren't sagging yet, but they just look and feel deflated to me now. It's something I want for me, not to please men. On the other hand, my husband is thrilled that I asked him his thoughts on getting this done, is very enthusiastic about it, and has set aside a savings account for my boob fund. LOL
BunnyGirl at April 29, 2016 12:23 PM
To echo IP, male enhancement surgery is already out there. You can safely lengthen the penis by ~50%. You can also increase girth. Humorously this surgery was initially developed by Chinese doctors.
Ben at April 29, 2016 12:29 PM
There are fantastic boob jobs. It is just people imagine the SoCal look, which is top heavy, generally scars or wrinkles because there isnt enough tissue to support the implant and they look hard, bolted on.
Dita Von Teese has great fake tits. So do most Japanese porn stars that seem busty. Brazilian models (gisele, adriana for example) also have great fake tits.
ppen at April 29, 2016 7:05 PM
Dita's are the best fakes I've ever seen.
Insufficient Poison at April 29, 2016 9:07 PM
I'll be curious to see what happens when the day comes that it becomes possible to do the analogous thing for men...
One, a stuffed sock is kinda like a padded bra
Two, according to most research asking women the ideal penis length they come up with five inches
Three, the average self reported length is just over six, the average controlled study where people in lab coat use rulers in just under five
So in reality most men, like most women are fine as they are, and what ever changes them make, while booting their confidence, isnt going to do anything but lower their attractiveness in their partners eyes
Finally as a guy who clock in around nine inches, I've had a fair number of women back out once the pants came off.
Size aint all its cracked up to be
lujlp at April 29, 2016 9:50 PM
"Dita Von Teese has great fake tits. So do most Japanese porn stars that seem busty. Brazilian models (gisele, adriana for example) also have great fake tits."
You guys know that in addition to the two basic materials (saline, silicone), there are three general installation methods, right? Incisions can be at the areola, to the outer side or from below. Lotsa difference in cost there.
Radwaste at April 30, 2016 5:38 AM
For what it's worth, here's what humorist Tom Carey wrote to a reader in "The Modern Guide to Sexual Etiquette: For Proper Gentlemen and Ladies" (1987). (There's a 1995 sequel that's pretty good, too. He has other books as well.)
Q: My wife seems obsessed with the size of her breasts. She thinks they're too small. They seem all right to me. How can I convince her that size doesn't matter to me?
A: I sincerely doubt she wants larger breasts for you. You wouldn't have to haul them around, she would. She wants them because she wants to look better, period.
There is no woman on this Earth who doesn't believe her breasts are too small, big, flat, round, pointed, saggy, etc.
All your protestations that, "Hell, honey, more than a mouthful's a waste anyhow," will not help and may cause her to hurl a tuna noodle casserole at you . Would you feel better if she said the same thing about your penis? No, I didn't think so.
Luckily, there is no real etiquette problem involved here. It is ALWAYS rude to comment on a lady's breasts, even favorably. You don't say, "Yo, Bernice, you you got great tits!" even if Bernice hasn't been able to sleep on her stomach since she was 11.
If she really has a problem with them you can offer, politely, to buy her a new pair...Find a reputable surgeon. You don't want people to look at her new figure and be reminded of Marty Feldman's eyes.
lenona at April 30, 2016 10:04 AM
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