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Foundation For Facial Plastic Surgery
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Question: It's obvious why this theory is so inflammatory. It challenges the
foundation of transgender identity politics. It implies that people like
Deborah need therapy, not surgery. Paul McHugh, a psychiatrist at Johns
Hopkins University, goes further. He believes that all the social, medical
and psychiatric resources employed in turning men into women are "a
misdirection of psychiatry." He is even more reviled than Dr. Bailey.
Deborah's transition will probably turn out okay, for her if not her
family. When the Clarke Institute patients were tracked down a few years
after their sex-change surgery, most said they were happy they'd done it.
But their hopes of becoming more emotionally fulfilled were largely
unrealized. They had much the same problems with relationships, work and
emotions as before.
Does anyone have comments about this?
Answer: Much the same kind of point can be made about most voluntary plastic
surgery. There is research evidence that plastic surgery seldom makes
a person happier. Of course issues dealing with "sex" bring out all
the ideological police and so you won't find this kind of piece on
breast ot nose jobs. But breast and nose jobs also raise these issues.
Indeed, future attempts to enhance the body and brain in various ways
will also raise these issues.
I think, unless a person can be shown to unable to think rationally,
it is probably best left in the realm of free choice. Plastic surgeons
and gender reassigning surgeons, should, of course, make sure that
their clients have reflected on what they want and have counseling
available.
Comment:
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