Burnt Out

Most people think of elective cosmetic surgery as something between the individual and the surgeon, a personal decision with a personal impact. Of course, this is to ignore the law that claims equal and opposite reactions.

That collagen on offer for your lips, wrinkles or penis? It could, should be going to a burns patient in dire need, one of the 10,000 that die each year. But it might not, because the suppliers who harvest collagen from cadavers can make better margins working with cosmetic surgery practices than they can working with burns units. Would-be cosmetic surgery patients are prepared to pay more than the health insurers of those with genuine medical need.

The Orange County Register ran a thorough investigation into the issue years ago. That took courage, given the newspaper's home at the heart of cosmetic surgery mania. Check out this campaign ad, too, against Steve Kirby. His involvement in Collagenesis would seem to uniquely qualify him to run for the Senate on the GOP ticket, the reason for some news outlets to be dusting off the story again.