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| Britons 'have ops for partners' | Britons 'have ops for partners' |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| British women are more likely than Americans to have cosmetic surgery to please their partners, according to research revealed to BBC Scotland. | British women are more likely than Americans to have cosmetic surgery to please their partners, according to research revealed to BBC Scotland. |
| Aberdeen University's Dr Debra Gimlin said Americans were more likely to have the surgery for themselves. | Aberdeen University's Dr Debra Gimlin said Americans were more likely to have the surgery for themselves. |
| Her findings also suggest British women were more inclined to keep surgery a secret from family and friends. | |
| The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) said people should not feel pressurised. | The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps) said people should not feel pressurised. |
| Dr Gimlin, a sociology lecturer, interviewed 20 American and 40 British women ranging from 23 to 52 years old. | Dr Gimlin, a sociology lecturer, interviewed 20 American and 40 British women ranging from 23 to 52 years old. |
| American respondents consistently claimed to have had cosmetic surgery 'for themselves' Dr Debra GimlinAberdeen University | American respondents consistently claimed to have had cosmetic surgery 'for themselves' Dr Debra GimlinAberdeen University |
| The British sample consisted of 20 women living in Scotland and 20 in the south west of England. The Americans lived on Long Island, New York. | |
| Dr Gimlin said: "All my respondents were concerned with their physical attractiveness, but only the British women said that they had undergone cosmetic surgery to suit the desires of a particular man. | Dr Gimlin said: "All my respondents were concerned with their physical attractiveness, but only the British women said that they had undergone cosmetic surgery to suit the desires of a particular man. |
| "I found that British women who have cosmetic surgery have a greater tendency to blame others for their decision. | "I found that British women who have cosmetic surgery have a greater tendency to blame others for their decision. |
| "American respondents consistently claimed to have had cosmetic surgery 'for themselves'." | "American respondents consistently claimed to have had cosmetic surgery 'for themselves'." |
| Husband's criticism | Husband's criticism |
| In some cases, Dr Gimlin said, the men made their views abundantly clear through offers to pay for the procedure or snide comments about the woman's appearance. | In some cases, Dr Gimlin said, the men made their views abundantly clear through offers to pay for the procedure or snide comments about the woman's appearance. |
| She said: "One British barmaid told me that her husband's criticism of her figure prompted her decision to have abdominoplasty. | She said: "One British barmaid told me that her husband's criticism of her figure prompted her decision to have abdominoplasty. |
| "She said it wouldn't have entered her mind otherwise, but after she'd had her second child her husband said 'I love the wee ones but I wish having them hadn't ruined your figure'." | "She said it wouldn't have entered her mind otherwise, but after she'd had her second child her husband said 'I love the wee ones but I wish having them hadn't ruined your figure'." |
| The patient needs to do it for their own reason Akhtar HusseinSurgeon | The patient needs to do it for their own reason Akhtar HusseinSurgeon |
| In other cases, Dr Gimlin said she found that British women had cosmetic surgery in the hope of cementing their partnership. | In other cases, Dr Gimlin said she found that British women had cosmetic surgery in the hope of cementing their partnership. |
| She said: "A book keeper explained that she probably wouldn't have had a breast enhancement if it hadn't been for her partner. | She said: "A book keeper explained that she probably wouldn't have had a breast enhancement if it hadn't been for her partner. |
| "She said 'He's not as much in love with me as I am with him. I wanted to do things that might make things right - I thought the surgery might help'." | "She said 'He's not as much in love with me as I am with him. I wanted to do things that might make things right - I thought the surgery might help'." |
| Dr Gimlin said the very different healthcare cultures in the two countries was a significant factor in the women's contrasting accounts of their reasons for having surgery. | Dr Gimlin said the very different healthcare cultures in the two countries was a significant factor in the women's contrasting accounts of their reasons for having surgery. |
| She said: "On the one hand, the privatised US system enshrines individual choice for those that can afford it, while the NHS ensures universal access. | She said: "On the one hand, the privatised US system enshrines individual choice for those that can afford it, while the NHS ensures universal access. |
| "As such, healthcare in Britain is considered a social right rather than a consumer good or something to be 'earned'." | "As such, healthcare in Britain is considered a social right rather than a consumer good or something to be 'earned'." |
| 'Emotional trauma' | 'Emotional trauma' |
| She said that Britain had also traditionally a more conservative approach to medical procedures. | She said that Britain had also traditionally a more conservative approach to medical procedures. |
| Dr Gimlin said: "British women were also far more likely than their US counterparts to conceal their surgery from friends and family. | Dr Gimlin said: "British women were also far more likely than their US counterparts to conceal their surgery from friends and family. |
| "Even among British women whose ability to pay for cosmetic surgery might have lessened its implications of selfishness, several admitted to feeling remorseful about having spent a large amount of money on themselves." | "Even among British women whose ability to pay for cosmetic surgery might have lessened its implications of selfishness, several admitted to feeling remorseful about having spent a large amount of money on themselves." |
| Baaps warned women that they need to think carefully before undertaking what could be a serious surgical procedure. | Baaps warned women that they need to think carefully before undertaking what could be a serious surgical procedure. |
| Aberdeen surgeon Akhtar Hussein said: "There is a great deal of physical and emotional trauma associated with plastic surgery, therefore the patient needs to do it for their own reason." | Aberdeen surgeon Akhtar Hussein said: "There is a great deal of physical and emotional trauma associated with plastic surgery, therefore the patient needs to do it for their own reason." |