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Filed under: Body Image, Health

18 comments

A mother of twins died in Buenos Aires on Sunday due to complications following buttock implant surgery. Two children no longer have their mother for the rest of their lives because of her desire for a firmer arse. Has the world gone mad?

Butt for her need to look better ... Solange Magnano

Solange Magnano, 38, a former Miss Argentina reportedly died when liquid injected during her gluteoplasty procedure (arse surgery to you and me) caused her to have a pulmonary embolism. It was her second cosmetic enhancement since having breast implants after the birth of her children.

A spokesperson for Gustavo Rosso, Magnano’s husband, said during his statement that there have been only 15 recorded fatalities from the same procedure worldwide. I’m sorry, only 15 people dead because of the desire for a firmer butt?

That’s 15 families dealing with the loss of someone close to them because of their want for the “perfect” bottom. 15 people that paid for a doctor to butcher their rear end because they didn’t like the way it looked in the mirror.

And. They. Died.

Argentina has emerged as one of the world’s top cosmetic surgery destinations with many foreigners travelling to Latin America for inexpensive procedures. More than 50,000 cosmetic operations were carried out in Argentina last year that’s an increase of more than 60 per cent since 2003.

Magnano’s friend and fashion designer Roberto Piazza said: “She was perfect, she didn’t need any surgery. She took care of herself a lot, went to the gym… It was stupid what she did, I don’t understand it.”

Stupid, yes, and totally unnecessary. The young woman (at 38 she is still young) was a model and built a career off her looks. She recently launched a modeling agency and probably felt intense pressures to look a certain way. But Magnano’s had other responsibilities to consider besides her body image. Somehow I don’t imagine her two kids cared how their mum’s bum looked.
“She only underwent the procedure because she thought it was no big deal,” said another friend of the model, Guillermo Azar.

All cosmetic surgeries are a big deal, and all surgeries carry risk. When by perception they become “no big deal” we have a frightening and serious problem on our hands.

The death of this young business woman, mother and wife is undoubtedly tragic, but worst of all Solange Magnano is now a fatality statistic for cosmetic surgery and bottom jokes. Her death will continue to highlight society’s obsession with beauty, youth and a deep seeded denial of the aging process.

Let’s hope she was buried with the bottom she wanted.

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431Australia, you have nothing to fear but fear itself

390There's no one Thomson won't burn to save his skin

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18 comments

Show oldest | newest first

- Jason says:
  
  02:48pm | 08/12/09
  
  I know it’s trendy in today’s socialist bent, but you can’t blame society for failing to research a medical procedure’s risks and rewards. You can’t blame society because this woman was dangerously vain either. Yes I’m cold but hey - in the end another stupid person dies due to her own decision - it’s a shame she already has kids because this would really deserve a darwin award.
  
  Reply
- AC says:
  
  01:18pm | 03/12/09
  
  Gabriel and RH - you have both missed the point! Gluteoplasty, cosmetic surgery - whatever! the fact is, are people seriously doing this to their bodies, i.e engaging in procedures with such side effects - a result of which unfortunately, this bird paid the ultimate price.
  
  It is a sad state of affairs if this is what society’s expectations now demands of people- maybe the woman’s kids will wonder why their mum didn’t go for a run or do some hill climbs, rather than have some ridiculous cosmetic procedure done on her bum?!
  
  Reply
- cats says:
  
  12:45pm | 03/12/09
  
  Women get confused about what men think is beautiful. When men’s magazines only feature women with size D+ breasts (most of which are plastic breasts), perfect airbrushed bodies, and thick eyeliner and lipstick, yet they say to us that they like natural women the best.. what do you expect us to think? We do it to compete with each other, but we compete with each other for the men’s attention. Men are the ones who define what is beautiful in a woman. You might try and bring up “oh but anorexic models!” yeah but fashion is not meant to be beautiful, it’s meant to be eye-catching and different and weird.
  
  Reply
Jason says:

03:24pm | 08/12/09

Maybe you would be less confused if you didn’t generalize so much about what men want. Those of us who have been around a few years realise that the “glamour types” on the covers of magazines are usually pretty unpleasant and vain people. Try asking us individually what we like rather than basing your ideas on what is effectively just a marketing tool rather than a representative sample. Personally, I’d take a great intellect and sense of adventure any day.
- SM says:
  
  10:43am | 03/12/09
  
  A high proportion of great looking women are, for reasons unknown, mistakenly insecure about their physical appearance.
  
  Reply
- PG says:
  
  10:20am | 03/12/09
  
  T.Chong says:
  Many , many vox pop surveys (and similar) usually claim that women undergo these procedures
  
  i) for themselves,ii) in competition with other women
  
  True but the original point of reference that women take this ideal view of their beauty comes from our male sexuality,
  
  When we look into a mirror we see not only an Image reflected back at us but also the expectations and Insults we experience or imagine that other people will lay on us.
  
  Women are well aware of the once over stare that men consiously or unconsiously give them. We men are aware of the loaded questions women ask us e.g. “Gee how am I ever going to afford that”. We in our minds extrapolate these innocuous events into monsters that can lead to Physical and Psychological harm.
  
  Reply
- Gabriel says:
  
  08:56am | 03/12/09
  
  RH - I am completely with you. I think the tone and sarcasm of this article is disgusting. BTW, a gluteoplasty procedure is not surgery. They are injections. Do your research before you write.
  
  Reply
stephen says:

10:58am | 03/12/09

That the woman at all undertook the procedure makes this episode ridiculous, not that it is talked about. With such a mother, (and where’s the father), who knows what the children are feeling.
- T.Chong says:
  
  08:38am | 03/12/09
  
  PG “Feminists are right.In the end…change our behavior”
  I agree. It is the foilbles of human nature,BUT the “traditional ,old school ” feminist 101 appears to be a minority now. “3rd wave” feminism sees nothing wrong with self mutilation in the name of vanity, with the “Go Girl” attitude is all the go.
  As for “Both sexes..stop imposing ..expectations” many , many vox pop surveys (and similar) usually claim that women undergo these procedures
  i) for themselves,ii) in competition with other women. Survey after survey concludes the fellas like the gals the way they are,naturally.
  True most of these surveys are not terribly scientific, but the conclusions tend to be consistant.
  
  Reply
- PG says:
  
  08:22am | 03/12/09
  
  Once again another example of what we perceive the opposite sex expects of us going all awry. Women who believe the way to power/money is to mutilate their bodies. Men who believe the way to power/sex is to mutilate their emotions.
  
  Feminists are right. In the end we need to change our behaviour, What was important to our Hunter Gatherer Ancestors about health and beauty and strength is no longer that relevant. Both sexes need to stop imposing their sexuality and sexual expectations on the other else we can as in this case cause others to lose everything
  
  Reply
- Stephen Pickells says:
  
  08:16am | 03/12/09
  
  As you pointed out Shannon, all surgery carries some risk. Considering that there have only ever been 15 recorded fatalities from this procedure worldwide, compared to the 50,000+ cosmetic procedure performed each year in Argentina alone, I would say that the odds of survival are prety good. When I first read about this incident, it was suggested that the surgeon wasn’t properly trained in this procedure, and may not have even been licensed to perform it. Maybe that should have been your angle.
  
  Reply
- Kym Durance says:
  
  07:59am | 03/12/09
  
  Sad but inevitable - all surgery comes with a risk
  
  - we have always disfigured ourselves - these days we a re just a bit more technical about how we do it - cosmetic surgery isnt that far removed from being proud of an artificially thin waist brought about by removing a rib, or elongated necks , or ritual tatoos, lip plates etc -
  
  And I fail to see why RH is “baffled” that News LTD publishes anything -
  
  Reply
- Greypower says:
  
  07:43am | 03/12/09
  
  I quote “The death of this young business woman, mother and wife is undoubtedly tragic, but worst of all Solange Magnano is now a fatality statistic for cosmetic surgery and bottom jokes” WORST of ALL! - being a statistic (for cos surgery) and object of jokes is WORSE THAN DEATH?
  You need to rephrase that Shannon - but I do I agree with the rest of your article
  
  Reply
- RH says:
  
  06:42am | 03/12/09
  
  Talking with such disdain about a mother who has died is despicable. Your sardonic tone falls so far short of journalism that I am baffled that this is published on a News LTD. website. I am appalled with your last line, “Lets hope she was buried with the bottom she wanted” - this demonstrates the insensitivity of your words and detracts totally from the contention of your article. Remember Shannon, the internet makes the world a much smaller place and your “article” could easily be found by the two children- how would they feel? I urge you to withdraw this piece and apologise for your thoughtlessness.
  
  Reply
Kate says:

11:30am | 04/12/09

It’s called an ironic tone RH
Chngster says:

11:46am | 03/12/09

I completely disagree with you RH. You people have missed the whole point. This piece highlights the extreme lengths to which people of today’s age are going to re: superficial objectives. Even in a place like South America where cosmetic surgery is commonplace for the rich…butt surgery, wtf? By contrast, the message of this article is emphasis what is really truly important…human relationships, i.e. substance over form. This is a tragedy that most definately could have been avoided.
DG says:

09:18am | 03/12/09

One would hope that her two young children learn from the mistakes of their mother. If this is the post that gives them such an important message - it has done a major public service.
- RT says:
  
  05:55am | 03/12/09
  
  Now that vanity has become lethal we can probably expect the toll to rise.
  
  Reply