Germans put plastic surgery on their Christmas list

[Jason]

Germans put plastic surgery on their Christmas list

Once upon a time, Germany's Christkind darted from house to house with traditional wooden toys for children on Christmas Eve. This year, it will be bringing a very special gift for the grown-ups.




Husbands and parents are surprising their loved ones with a record number of lifts, tucks and implants over the Christmas period. Breast enlargements or "Christmas bells", as they are known among surgeons, are one of the most popular operations.



"I am operating from morning to night," said Albert Hofmann, president of the German Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. "People want to be able to stand under the Christmas tree with their new car, new living room cabinet and new breasts."



"Last year we had a family who gave their mother a breast enlargement as her Christmas present. I now have a 22 year-old student who is getting the same as a Christmas present from her parents."



The Association for German Plastic Surgeons has also noticed the trend.



"Demand is up to 25 percent higher at Christmas compared with other times of the year," said Marita Eisenmann-Klein, vice president of the group.



Part of the reason was that people wanted to take advantage of the Christmas holidays to recover from surgery, she said.



"Many students and teachers, for example, are having it done during their holidays. And for many industries and self-employed people, on the other hand, Christmas is a quiet time."



"You also get people who give it as a present, husbands to their wives or parents to their children."



Eisenmann-Klein said liposuction was the most popular operation in Germany, followed by breast alterations.

There were 360,000 plastic surgery operations in 2002, compared to just 20,000 in 1990, according to figures from the Association for German Plastic Surgeons.


DO WE REALLY BUY PLASTIC SURGERY AS PRESENTS?.........WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS?

[Col.Kurtz]

I would love to know what the women who were bought breast enlargements thought! After all, they will be for the husband's enjoyment...so a bit selfish I think. I don't really mind what other people chose to spend their money on, but plastic surgery is not for me - they all end up taking it too far anyway, it seems to be something that people who will never be satisfied with their looks get done.
As for buying plastic surgery as a christmas present, I think it's just an extension of the comercialisation of christmas. Don't get me wrong, I like to buy friends and family gifts at christmas, but I wouldn't want to get in debt for the sake of overblown gestures of generosity. It doesn't take any more effort to buy a £5000 gift than a £5 gift, if someone has made me a present themselves I would treasure it more than anything they might buy.

[dellym]

id have the plastic surgery option if it offered no pain...no anaesthetic...and perfect results lol!! A magic wand would be perfect!!
So as its not an option i'll keep my wobbly tummy n bum and settle for a good dvd or summat lol!!

[Kiki]

Would not want the pain either !and there,s is always the chance it can go wrong . Have watched these extreme makeovers on sky and it must be very strange for people who were on the backrow when they gave looks out. To be suddenly stunning looking! The children of these children may have loved them the way they were! One woman in particular took six months away from her family and adding to this her partner was a service- man! Did wonder who was minding her children and were they affected? I still think looks Dont matter that much its more important to put the kids first!

[Kiki]

sorry ! :o -the children of these people

[janet]

Just goes to show how many insecure people are about, what about making the best of what you have.

[dellym]

we all have insecurities...if people say they're perfectly happy with everything about themselves then they're usually lying!! That said...although im not content with my body even if i had millions i wouldnt have surgery!
I had my tonsils out when i was 28...i know, very old to be having em out...it was horrible!! I never want an anaesthetic again!

[grannyclaret]

sorry they should accept a person as they are warts and all;

[dellym]

i dont understand people's obsession with looks..i do understand our own perception of ourselves but of others no. What im trying to say is that i find humour very attractive..Ricky Gervais for example isnt what you would call attractive but his humour is and if he was on offer to me then id have him lol!!! I think a sense of humour is dead sexy!!

[wayneyboy1942]

If I started on cosmetic surgery I would'nt know when to stop. People come in all shapes and sizes,If you want to see what can happen just take the example of Colin Hendry's wife who nearly died.Unless you realy need it best let people take you for what you are.