breast Augmentation
Which head of state spoke on TV denouncing women who had breast augmentation? So if you guessed Hugo Chavez of Venezuela then you were right. As to why he would do this? I doubt that anyone can effectively read the thoughts and motives of this individual.
The fact that he did do it gave me a chance to reflect on what questions I would like answered about the Venezuelan breast augmentation experience. Before I get into my reflections I would like you to read an excerpt from the article on the Venezuelan president’s stand:
“Forget oil. There is no commodity more valued in Venezuela than feminine beauty. The country holds six Miss Universe titles and five Miss World titles – a total of 11 titles compared to America’s 10.
In some countries, if a woman shows too much skin, it is considered scandalous — even punishable by death — but in Venezuela, breast implants are to be flaunted, not just among beauty contestants, but also by the working class folks who admire them.
Which head of state spoke on TV denouncing women who had breast augmentation?
This kind of public attitude towards breast implants explains the resulting shock when Venezuela’s fatigue-wearing, socialist President Hugo Chavez made an out-of-the-blue address on state-run television earlier this year, venomously criticizing doctors who rake in cash from performing breast augmentations. Chavez claimed these doctors “convince some women that if they don’t have some big bosoms they should feel bad.”
The self-proclaimed feminist president also criticized poor women who pay for these costly breast implant procedures that they couldn’t afford, calling it “a monstrous thing.”"
My son who has lived for the last 15 years of his life in South America and who currently lives in Brazil has commented about beach culture in Latin America. He said some Latin American communities their free time revolves around the beach. It might be important to reflect on Venezuelan culture and whether it’s a beach culture or something else . Here is another segment of the same article:
“Corina Gonzalez, a 23-year-old who always dreamed of being a model, attends one of Caracas’ premier beauty schools, where many pay tuition just to learn how to walk like a Miss Universe.
“Here we have these beauty pageants and this means a lot to us,” she said. “All those girls are so flawless, and they have big boobs, they have a perfect ass, perfect legs, the hair and everybody wants to be like them. When you’re a little girl and people see you and tell you, ‘oh my gosh, you’re going to be Miss Venezuela!’ and we grow up with that idea in the head.”
Gonzalez wanted to enhance her beauty, and for her mother, Ester, her daughter’s new enhanced breasts had little to do with beauty and a lot to do with necessity.
“It’s an investment because no matter what you do she is getting prepared for life for any kind of job,” she said. “All the courses she does and the beauty stuff is directed to her own growth. It’s an investment no matter where she will use it.”
That “investment” translated to a DD cup size.
But others think the president has a point. According to the Venezuelan Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 40,000 women in Venezuela undergo breast augmentation each year, and many sacrifice to do so. Implants can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000.
One woman said she stopped going to school and saved her money for six months to have breast implants, which she says were worth it. Other women have taken out loans, borrowed money from parents and boyfriends, generally spending money they didn’t have on their bodies.”
In the United States there can to be two populations that have breast augmentation. The first population their age is from 20 to 35. The second population their age is 35 to 50. The first population and the second population are almost equal in total numbers. The first population tends to have their surgery before they have children. The second population tends to have this surgery after they are finished having children and they want to get their breasts back. I wonder if the Venezuelan experience is the same. The article seems to imply that most Venezuelans would fall into the first category.
It would appear that the cost of breast augmentation in Venezuela is about one half of that in the United States. We also don’t know what kind of implant was used and what the volume of the implant was. It is fascinating to read about the breast augmentation industry in Venezuela. Which head of state spoke on TV denouncing women who had breast augmentation? President Hugo Chavez who else!
Here is the News Story on ABC.
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