Prison plastic surgery

Last updated

Prison plastic surgery is plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery (often the terms are used interchangeably) offered and performed to people who are incarcerated, as a means of social rehabilitation. These services were normally provided as part of a larger package of care that may include work training, psychological services, and more. Popular surgeries included rhinoplasties, blepharoplasty, facelifts, scar removal and tattoo removal. These programs began in the early 20th century and were commonplace up till the early 1990s. They took place across the US (in 42+ states), the UK, Canada, and Mexico. [1]

Contents

"Incarceration itself is famously hard on the body," reports journalist and author Zara Stone in her book, Killer Looks: The Forgotten History of Plastic Surgery In Prisons; [2] in 2017, facial injuries accounted for 33% of all inmate hospitalizations in New York City, compared to 0.7 percent of the general population. "The existence of prison plastic surgery programs is America’s dirty little secret."

In San Quentin prison, California, the prison's chief medical doctor Dr. Leo L. Stanley was one of the first people to develop a prison plastic surgery practice, focused on reforming the faces of convicts. [3] "Considerable plastic surgery has been done, particularly that done for deformed noses,” Dr. Leo Stanley wrote in his 1918 report to the warden. [4] “This work has been of benefit in that it has improved the appearance of many of the men and removed a deforming feature. Some work has been done on ears which were very prominent." Stanley reported long waiting lists, noted researcher Ethan Blue. [5] Dr. Stanley's "typical prison malingerer," [6] had a fractured nose or scarred face, and was treated with crude methods: for nose surgery, a six-inch length of broomstick was placed against the nose and hit with a mallet. "The physician of the future will be an increasing powerful antagonist in the war against crime," Stanley wrote. [7]

New York was an early adopter, with attention to prisoner beautification baked in from the early 1900s. In 1915, NYC police commissioner Arthur Woods referred to a 15-year-old inmate's appearance in relation to his crime. “He was an inferior looking lad, small and flabby...mild acne on the face...forehead broad, nose small, eyes rather sly…chin pointed and receding,” wrote Woods. [8]

Prison plastic surgery became more prevalent throughout the 20th century. In 1954 the American Correctional Association added prisoner plastic surgery to its manual, stating: “elective surgery…[for] especially repulsive facial disfigurements has a definite place in the rehabilitation of prisoners. [9] ” Many states followed suit, including Texas, North Carolina, and Hawaii.

Some of these early surgeries fell in the eugenics bracket, the idea that criminality could be seen and displayed on the face, reports social Psychologist Ray Bull and Nichola Rumsey. [10] An examination of some of the mid-20th century prison programs suggested that by and large, plastic surgeries did reduce recidivism—in some cases, dropping it from 76% to 33%. Some findings: Plastic surgery is effective in enhancing the outcome for non-addict prisoners. In 1970, the former director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons from 1937 to 1964, James Van Benschoten Bennett, analyzed these programs. [11] "One of the more fruitful areas of research now under way in the federal prisons concerns plastic surgery: the way to rehabilitate a misshapen prisoner."

"Discriminatory practices based on physical appearance perpetuate social inequalities and hinder individuals' opportunities for reintegration into society," noted author Zara Stone, in a Rockefeller research paper. [12]

Ethical considerations

The scholar and feminist critic Jessica Mitford was one of the first to question the ethics of performing plastic surgery on prisoners, and if in such a circumstance the prisoners could really consent to such treatment. In her book, Kind and Usual Punishment, she wrote that one doctor told her that inmates had become “our companions in medical science.. . . . This has been a rewarding experience both for the physician and for the subjects.” This was in regards to a scurvy experiment where inmates suffered hemorrhages in the skin and whites of the eyes, excessive loss of hair, mental depressions, and abnormal emotional responses... at a time when scurvy was already curable and treatable." [13]

The writer Allen M. Hornblum explored the issue of consent [14] in his book, Acres Of Skin, where he reported of strips of skin being flayed off the back of inmates that participated in dermatological trials in the Eastern Penitentiary, Pennsylvania. [15] Ostensibly, they were volunteers, but a payment incentive was the reason for their volunteerism and abuse. [16]

Dark Passage 1947 Lobby Card 1 Dark Passage 1947 Lobby Card 1.jpg
Dark Passage 1947 Lobby Card 1

In the movie Dark Passage, Humphrey Bogart plays the role of Vincent Parry, a man sentenced for murder. [17] Parry escapes San Quentin and undergoes plastic surgery to change his appearance and hide from the law while he tries to clear his name. In the 1996 movie A Face to Die For, Yasmine Bleeth plays the part of a scarred young woman that is conned into participating in a crime. [18] In prison she gets plastic surgery as part of a reform program, and when released sets out to seek her revenge.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plastic surgery</span> Medical surgical specialty

Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery. Reconstructive surgery includes craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, and the treatment of burns. While reconstructive surgery aims to reconstruct a part of the body or improve its functioning, cosmetic surgery aims to improve the appearance of it. A comprehensive definition of plastic surgery has never been established, because it has no distinct anatomical object and thus overlaps with practically all other surgical specialties. An essential feature of plastic surgery is that it involves the treatment of conditions that require or may require tissue relocation skills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Face</span> Part of the body that is at the front of the head

The face is the front of an animal's head that features the eyes, nose and mouth, and through which animals express many of their emotions. The face is crucial for human identity, and damage such as scarring or developmental deformities may affect the psyche adversely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scar</span> Area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury

A scar is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. Scars result from the biological process of wound repair in the skin, as well as in other organs, and tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natural part of the healing process. With the exception of very minor lesions, every wound results in some degree of scarring. An exception to this are animals with complete regeneration, which regrow tissue without scar formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disfigurement</span> State of having ones appearance injured or changed

Disfigurement is the state of having one's appearance deeply and persistently harmed medically, such as from a disease, birth defect, or wound. General societal attitudes towards disfigurement have varied greatly across cultures and over time, with cultures possessing strong social stigma against it often causing psychological distress to disfigured individuals. Alternatively, many societies have regarded some forms of disfigurement in a medical, scientific context where someone having ill will against the disfigured is viewed as anathema. In various religious and spiritual contexts, disfigurement has been variously described as being a punishment from the divine for sin, as being caused by supernatural forces of hate and evil against the good and just, which will be later atoned for, or as being without explanation per se with people just having to endure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhinoplasty</span> Surgical procedure to enhance or reconstruct a human nose

Rhinoplasty, commonly called nose job, medically called nasal reconstruction is a plastic surgery procedure for altering and reconstructing the nose. There are two types of plastic surgery used – reconstructive surgery that restores the form and functions of the nose and cosmetic surgery that changes the appearance of the nose. Reconstructive surgery seeks to resolve nasal injuries caused by various traumas including blunt, and penetrating trauma and trauma caused by blast injury. Reconstructive surgery can also treat birth defects, breathing problems, and failed primary rhinoplasties. Rhinoplasty may remove a bump, narrow nostril width, change the angle between the nose and the mouth, or address injuries, birth defects, or other problems that affect breathing, such as a deviated nasal septum or a sinus condition. Surgery only on the septum is called a septoplasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhytidectomy</span> Type of cosmetic surgery

A facelift, technically known as a rhytidectomy, is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure used to give a more youthful facial appearance. There are multiple surgical techniques and exercise routines. Surgery usually involves the removal of excess facial skin, with or without the tightening of underlying tissues, and the redraping of the skin on the patient's face and neck. Exercise routines tone underlying facial muscles without surgery. Surgical facelifts are effectively combined with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) and other facial procedures and are typically performed under general anesthesia or deep twilight sleep.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blepharoplasty</span> Surgical modification of the eyelids

Blepharoplasty is the plastic surgery operation for correcting defects, deformities, and disfigurations of the eyelids; and for aesthetically modifying the eye region of the face. With the excision and the removal, or the repositioning of excess tissues, such as skin and adipocyte fat, and the reinforcement of the corresponding muscle and tendon tissues, the blepharoplasty procedure resolves functional and cosmetic problems of the periorbita, which is the area from the eyebrow to the upper portion of the cheek. The procedure is more common among women, who accounted for approximately 85% of blepharoplasty procedures in 2014 in the US and 88% of such procedures in the UK.

Facial rejuvenation is a cosmetic treatment, which aims to restore a youthful appearance to the human face. Facial rejuvenation can be achieved through either surgical and/or non-surgical options. Procedures can vary in invasiveness and depth of treatment. Surgical procedures can restore facial symmetry through targeted procedures and facial restructuring and skin alterations. Non-surgical procedures can target specific depths of facial structures and treat localized facial concerns such as wrinkles, skin laxity, hyperpigmentation and scars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facial toning</span>

Facial toning, or facial exercise, is a type of cosmetic procedure or physical therapy tool which alters facial contours by means of increasing muscle tone and facial volume by promoting muscular hypertrophy, and preventing muscle loss due to aging or facial paralysis. Facial toning and exercise is therefore in part a technique to achieve facial rejuvenation by reducing wrinkles, sagging, and expression marks on the face and skin. As a physical therapy, facial toning is used for victims of stroke and forms of facial paralysis such as Bell’s palsy. Facial toning achieves this by performing facial muscle exercising. There are two types of facial toning exercises: active and passive face exercises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exfoliation (cosmetology)</span> Removal of dead skin cells from the epidermis

In cosmetology, exfoliation is the removal of the surface skin cells and built-up dirt from the skin's surface. The term comes from the Latin word exfoliare. This is a regular practice within the cosmetic industry, both for its outcome of promoting skin regeneration as well as providing a deep cleanse of the skin barrier. Being used in facials, this process can be achieved by mechanical or chemical means, such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels. Exfoliants are advertised as treatments that enhance beauty and promote a youthful and healthy appearance.

Cosmetic camouflage is the application of make-up creams and/or powders to conceal colour or contour irregularities or abnormalities of the face or body. It offers an answer to solve all related skin problems such as Congenital origin, Traumatic origin and Dermatological origin. Furthermore, cosmetic camouflage solves the psychological problems that a skin imperfection is sometimes able to provoke, it allows to rediscover its own beauty and to return with serenity to its own social life. Cosmetic camouflage creams were first developed by plastic surgeons during World War II to cover the massive burns received by fighter pilots. Nowadays, men, women and children can use cosmetic camouflage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nasolabial fold</span> Two skin folds in the face

The nasolabial folds, commonly known as "smile lines" or "laugh lines", are facial features. They are the two skin folds that run from each side of the nose to the corners of the mouth. They are defined by facial structures that support the buccal fat pad. They separate the cheeks from the upper lip. The term derives from Latin nasus for "nose" and labium for "lip".

Aesthetic medicine is a branch of modern medicine that focuses on altering cosmetic appearance through the treatment of conditions including scars, skin laxity, wrinkles, moles, liver spots, excess fat, cellulite, unwanted hair, skin discoloration, and spider veins. Traditionally, it includes dermatology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery, surgical procedures, non-surgical procedures, and a combination of both. Aesthetic medicine procedures are usually elective. There is a long history of aesthetic medicine procedures, dating back to many notable cases in the 19th century, though techniques have developed much since then.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holmesburg Prison</span> Former detention center in Pennsylvania, United States

Holmesburg Prison, given the nickname "The Terrordome," was a prison operated by the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Prisons (PDP) from 1896 to 1995. The facility is located at 8215 Torresdale Ave in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia. It was decommissioned in 1995 when it closed. As of today, the structure still stands and is occasionally used for prisoner overflow and work programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lip lift</span> Plastic surgery procedure

A lip lift is a plastic surgery procedure that modifies the cosmetic appearance of the lips by reshaping them to increase the prominence of the vermilion border; and to enhance the facial area above the lips into a more aesthetically pleasing shape. In corrective praxis, a lip lift procedure is distinguished from lip enhancement, the augmentation of the lips, which can be effected with a non-surgical procedure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prison healthcare</span> Medical treatment in prisons, jails, and other penal institutions

Prison healthcare is the medical specialty in which healthcare providers care for people in prisons and jails. Prison healthcare is a relatively new specialty that developed alongside the adaption of prisons into modern disciplinary institutions. Enclosed prison populations are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases, including arthritis, asthma, hypertension, cervical cancer, hepatitis, tuberculosis, AIDS, and HIV, and mental health issues, such as Depression, mania, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These conditions link prison healthcare to issues of public health, preventive healthcare, and hygiene. Prisoner dependency on provided healthcare raises unique problems in medical ethics.

Injectable filler is a soft tissue filler injected into the skin at different depths to help fill in facial wrinkles, provide facial volume, and augment facial features: restoring a smoother appearance. Most of these wrinkle fillers are temporary because they are eventually absorbed by the body. Most dermal fillers today consist of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring polysaccharide that is present in skin and cartilage. Some people may need more than one injection to achieve the wrinkle-smoothing effect. The effect lasts for about six months or longer. Successful results depend on health of the skin, skill of the health care provider, and type of filler used. Regardless of material filler duration is highly dependent on amount of activity in the region where it is injected. Exercise and high intensity activities such as manual labor can stimulate blood flow and shorten the lifespan of fillers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Korean beauty standards</span>

Korean beauty standards have become a well-known feature of Korean culture. In 2015, a global survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons placed South Korea in the top ten of countries who had the highest rate of cosmetic surgeries. Korean beauty standards prioritize a slim figure, dewy skin, v-shaped jaw, pale skin, straight eyebrows, and smooth skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zara Stone</span> American writer

Zara Stone is a San Francisco-based author and journalist. In 2020, her first book, The Future of Science Is Female: The Brilliant Minds Shaping the 21st Century, was published by Mango Publishing. Local News Matters says it "will STEM the tide of male domination in science." KALW described it as "about projects that women in STEM are working on." It was listed in Women's History Month New Nonfiction for Teens March 2021 by the Seattle Public Library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leo Stanley</span> American surgeon

Leo Leonidas Stanley was an American surgeon who served as the Chief Surgeon of the San Quentin State Prison from 1913 to 1951. He was most notable for performing unethical human experiments on inmates during his tenure.

References

  1. ↑ Stone, Zara (2021). Killer Looks: The Forgotten History of Plastic Surgery In Prisons. Prometheus Books.
  2. ↑ Stone, Zara (2021). Killer looks : the forgotten history of plastic surgery in prisons. Lanham, MD. ISBN   978-1-63388-673-5. OCLC   1245957812.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ↑ "Marin History Watch: Practicing medicine at San Quentin". Marin Independent Journal. 2013-03-12. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  4. ↑ "Early San Quentin doctor pushes prison medicine into 20th century -". Inside CDCR. 2018-11-08. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  5. ↑ Blue, Ethan (2009-05-01). "The Strange Career of Leo Stanley: Remaking Manhood and Medicine at San Quentin State Penitentiary, 1913––1951". Pacific Historical Review. 78 (2): 210–241. doi:10.1525/phr.2009.78.2.210. ISSN   0030-8684.
  6. ↑ SFGATE, Katie Dowd (2019-08-13). "The San Quentin prison doctor who performed over 10,000 human experiments". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  7. ↑ Hallinan, Joseph T. (2001-06-01). Going Up the River: Travels in a Prison Nation. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN   978-0-375-50693-2.
  8. ↑ "Prison Plastic Surgery: The Biopolitics of Appearance and Crime in New York's Civil Rights Era". rockarch.issuelab.org. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  9. ↑ Stone, Zara. "Plastic surgery has a troubled history inside prisons. Some advocates want it to make a comeback". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  10. ↑ Bull, Ray; Rumsey, Nichola (1988). The Social Psychology of Facial Appearance. New York, NY: Springer New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-3782-2. ISBN   978-1-4612-8348-5.
  11. ↑ Bennett, James Van Benschoten (1970). I Chose Prison. Knopf.
  12. ↑ "Prison Plastic Surgery: The Biopolitics of Appearance and Crime in New York's Civil Rights Era". rockarch.issuelab.org. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  13. ↑ Bass, Stanley A.; Bixby, F. Lovell; Bromley, Marion; Califano, Joseph A.; Chord, John C.; Dellums, Ronald V.; Drinan, Robert F.; Evett, Robert; Fletcher, Errol C. "Jessica Mitford: An Inventory of Her Papers at the Harry Ransom Center". norman.hrc.utexas.edu. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  14. ↑ Hornblum, Allen M. (1999). "Ethical Lapses in Dermatologic "Research"". Archives of Dermatology. 135 (4): 383–385. doi:10.1001/archderm.135.4.383. PMID   10206044 . Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  15. ↑ "Holmesburg Prison". Democracy Now!. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
  16. ↑ Weyers, Wolfgang (2009-07-01). "Medical experiments on humans and the development of guidelines governing them: the central role of dermatology". Clinics in Dermatology. Ethics. 27 (4): 384–394. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2009.02.011. ISSN   0738-081X. PMID   19539167.
  17. ↑ Variety (1948). Variety (January 1948). Media History Digital Library Media History Digital Library. New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company.
  18. ↑ Everett, Todd (1996-03-11). "A Face to Die for". Variety. Retrieved 2024-02-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.