Buy Walking VideosDoes a Twelve-Year-Old Girl Need Liposuction?
I vividly remember what it felt like to be a fat kid. I remember how my grandma treated me. I remember how the kids at school treated me. I remember it all so vividly. If my parents had been able to provide it, would I have had liposuction when I was twelve years old? Hell, yeah!
That’s how the twelve-year-old mind works. I wouldn’t have worried about complications. I wouldn’t have realized that not changing my eating habits would just pack on the pounds again. I wouldn’t have cared about any of that. Just to have the hope of not being the fat kid would have been enough for me. Of course, that faulty logic is the reason that twelve-year old kids aren’t allowed to sign contracts or enter into marriages. We protect our children legally and sexually, but it seems like the story of Brooke Bates and her liposuction surgery left her woefully unprotected.
Fortunately, she is healthy and not dealing with some of the infection and blood loss nightmares that other people have dealt with. When asked if they were scared, her mother said that they weren’t. Their faith in the doctor seems unwise considering how many other people have suffered at the hands of this kind of operation.
I’m disturbed by this article and video in many ways. I keep hearing the word “normal” thrown around like it’s an idol to be worshipped. The doctor that performed the surgery on Brooke said,
“It can change their lives to be a normal person.”
An overweight boy earlier in the interview said,
“I just want to be normal.”
Even the narration joins in the game:
“…even shed hope for a normal future.”
Normal isn’t an ideal to look up to. No matter what you do, you won’t be normal. No matter what your body looks like, the kids at school will find SOMETHING to make fun of, whether it’s your name, how smart you are (or aren’t), or even if you are the fastest runner. The pursuit of normal isn’t a race you can win. It’s like running in a hamster wheel. You burn a lot of energy, but you still end up feeling like an outsider. Liposuction can’t cure it because it has NOTHING to do with the body and everything to do with the mind.
Bad call, Dr. Robert Ersek, bad call.
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November 25th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
I am loss of words.
November 25th, 2006 at 11:02 pm
as a kid who entered middle school at close to 200 pounds, i too would have killed for liposuction, which my parents could not afford. (i did think about having my jaw wired shut.)
but i also think about the medical “advice” i got from a doctor when, at thirteen and 250 pounds, i told her i wanted to lose weight. i was given a calorie count book (which didn’t contain any of the foods that my Spanish/Mexican-American family ate anyway) and told to try to eat less than 1,500 calories a day. sounds like my doctor and this kid’s doc graduated in the same class!
that same year, i tried weight watchers and (pre-points system), the unfamiliar foods in the diet were just too much for me and i finally gave up. (10 years later, i did try ww again and made my goal.)
anyway, there aren’t a lot of options for fat children and teens, and i’m sure the parents, child and doctor thought this was helping.
November 25th, 2006 at 11:06 pm
p.s. i LOVE your blog! i just discovered it a few days ago and it is now one of my favorites!
November 27th, 2006 at 11:31 pm
I agree that teaching a child to love herself is a damn great idea. All children need a consistent message of love and acceptance.
But I also have to say that, no, after a significant weight loss, life doesn’t remain the same or get worse. In some ways it gets better and a lot easier. In other ways it gets worse and a lot more difficult.
December 8th, 2006 at 1:35 am
Hello, My name is Cindy Bates and I am the mother of Brooke Bates. Brooke is so happy to look NORMAL!!! NOBODY WANTS TO BE FAT!! We thought Brooke was just as beautiful heavy as she is thin. What matters is how Brooke Bates feels about herself. I would have felt like such a bad mother NOT to have given my daughter the chance to feel “NORMAL”. Its really sad that most of the general public feel differently about people that have weight issues. If you could have only taken my child to the mall just one time, you might understand what it feels like, or to pick-up your child up from school crying because nobody wanted to be her partner because she was fat. Its alot harder than one could imagine. If you are the parent of an overweight child, then I’m sure you will undertand. Why is it okay for an adult to have the opportunity to feel good about themself (through plastic surgery), but not okay for a child? I don’t understand it. Young folks bounce back better after surgery anyway. It was very minor and I think the reason that most doctors only want to take out a few pounds of fat at a time is for the money. Brooke has gone from a size 22 to a size 8 in less than six months. ITS AMAZING!! Some people have said “what if she gains the weight back” Oh well, it won’t be from neglect if it comes back. She is constantly exercising, jumping rope and moving. Its NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO HAVE THIS MINOR PROCEDURE TWICE, OR EVEN THREE TIMES IF THATS WHAT FLOATS YOUR BOAT. Some people even say that this was the easy way out. Why take the hard way out? THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS LEFT A POSITIVE COMMENT. WE APPRECIATE YOU.
December 13th, 2006 at 7:54 am
LOOK AT WHAT I FOUND THE MOM WROTE – “IF BROOKE GAIN’S THE WEIGHT BACK IN A FEW YEARS – WE WON’T STRESS – THE PLASTIC SURGEON’S OFFICE IS ONLY 30 MINUTES AWAY! This story is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Every single doctor and plastic surgeon has said it was wrong, yet this family and this plastic surgeon will not back down. It is horrible and the saddest story I have every read. Look at what this mother wrote: SICK! And also… there are bandages around this little girl’s face. Someone noticed it and said those type of bandages are given to adults that get face lifts. They asked why are there bandages all around your little girl’s face leaving the surgery center? Her face looks night and day from before and after surgery if you look at pictures in the people’s magazine. Several people have noticed that. It was asked of the family. If plastic surgery was performed to a little girl’s child’s face. A little 12 year old girl’s face – That is disgusting! You mean to tell me a plastic surgeon in Austin, Texas actually did some sort of face lift TO A CHILD? A procedure usually for people in their 60’s or so? He did it to a 12yr old little girl? That’s it. I have heard enough. Read what the mother wrote about she will take her daughter back to the plastic surgeon if any weight comes back! THIS IS HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 17th, 2006 at 9:19 pm
More pictures of Brooke that show a better look of her face: http://www.viiphoto.com/detail-story3.php?news_id=555
Look at cheeks and neck in this one: http://www.viiphoto.com/pictures/LaurenGreenfield/LG-TeenLippo/LG-TeenLippo-018.jpg http://www.viiphoto.com/pictures/LaurenGreenfield/LG-TeenLippo/LG-TeenLippo-016.jpg
As somebody who is researching getting a double chin fixed (at 37) those results look most like a facelift to me.
December 19th, 2006 at 7:04 pm
How old is this girl in the photos? I thought she was 12 when she had the surgery? She is dressed/looks like a much older person… how long ago was the surgery?
December 19th, 2006 at 8:51 pm
The girl it says is now 13yrs old. The surgery wasn’t that, that long ago from what the article states – You are correct – she was 12yrs. old when the surgery was performed. That IS a little 13yr old girl now in that pink bikini type thing. Can you believe your eyes? And her parents allowed her to create it and flash her little 13yr old body like that for the world to see and view it!!!! How lovely of the family, huh? Let all of the men out there in the world see my little 13yr old girl flashing her body in a little nothing of a bikini type thing. Her breasts hanging out of the little pink bikini type thing. Oh ya, that’s what I want as a mother for my little 13yr girl!!!! Why would her mom enjoy showing that to the world – her belly being shown so freely and breasts coming out of the bikini showing it to the world on the web-site for a little 13yr old girl? And be PROUD of it showing it and showing off her daughter’s new body for the entire world to see this website wearing hardly nothing on but a little bikini? And create a web-site for it flashing for the camera and her body and she is 13yrs old. But they are just as proud of it as can be and sure DON’T mind what part of her little girl’s body is shown for the world to view or else they NEVER would have allowed a web-site like that to be created. You are so correct. She sure is dressed and looks much older now, doesn’t she? Plastic surgery CHANGES YOUR APPEARANCE. That’s why she looks so different – keep in mind – plastic surgery changes looks. BUT IT CAN’T CHANGE WHAT IS ON THE INSIDE – THEY DON’T GET THAT THOUGH. Her parents are proud of this? YEP! They still won’t answer what was done to her face. The statement where the mom wrote if she gains the weight back we won’t stress the ps office is only 30 minutes away… Where is that statement now? Gone! WHY??? I think maybe now deep in their heart they they know it was so wrong. Why would certain statements be deleted that they originally made and certain questions NOT answered if they are sooooooooo proud of it? I think their hearts are convicting them now BIG TIME! But yes, she was 12yrs. And she is now only 13yrs old in those pictures. Sad, but very, very true hate to admit. But that is called what plastic surgery does to people – it changes how they look! Sad, but true that it had to happen to a 12yr old little girl as we see here, and now she is 13yrs old. And that is how she learned in life to feel good about herself. And now we are learning about plastic surgery of some sort done to her face and that is why bandages around the little girl’s face and she looks so different? So so so sad, but true. Someone made the comment somewhere else they were afraid of what this little girl would look like in 4-6 years – PLASTIC. When the only way you have ever learned to feel good about yourself at such a YOUNG age is through plasic surgery… They mentioned a “barbie doll effect” it having on her later in life – but nobody in their family can see that right now at all. They are so caught up in the moment of how their 13yr old now looks because of plastic surgery. Can you imagine if she lost the weigh through diet and exercise? How healthy she would be? How proud she be be of HERSELF? Working so hard to do it. Losing the pounds, exercising, swimming, running, etc. Can you imagine how great she would feel on the INSIDE? How healthy should be on the INSIDE? All of the good foods she had put in body to get that skinny. All of the excercise she did to get that skinny. She would hold her head up so high feeling so healthy and so proud.
December 26th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Hi, (TO LISA) I am Brookes mother and the statement that was on this site about going back to the plastic surgeons office to have the procedure done again if needed at a later time should not be gone. I certainly didnt remove it!! I HAVE NO REGRETS AT ALL!!! DR. ERSEK DID NOT DO A DAMN FACE LIFT EITHER. HE SUCKED THE FAT FROM UNDER HER CHIN. Why do you have such a negative attitude towards plastic surgery? This is 2006, almost 07 and Once again, THANK GOD FOR CARING PEOPLE LIKE DR. ROBERT ERSEK!! Do you believe in plastic surgery for adults? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if modern technology has brought us this far, why not take advantage of it? Why would I want my child to suffer any longer if she didnt have to. Do you even have children? Read the story about all of the dieting and exercising that Brooke did over the years. Like I had mentioned earlier, there is NOTHING AT ALL WRONG WITH BEING HEAVY. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY THAT OVERWEIGHT FOLKS GET TREATED AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US CAN CHANGE. THIS IS SAD, BUT TRUE. You had also mentioned that you just couldnt believe that I let my twelve year old wear a pink bikini.
December 26th, 2006 at 6:01 pm
Hi, (TO LISA) I am Brookes mother and the statement that was on this site about going back to the plastic surgeons office to have the procedure done again if needed at a later time should not be gone. I certainly didnt remove it!! I HAVE NO REGRETS AT ALL!!! DR. ERSEK DID NOT DO A DAMN FACE LIFT EITHER. HE SUCKED THE FAT FROM UNDER HER CHIN. Why do you have such a negative attitude towards plastic surgery? This is 2006, almost 07 and Once again, THANK GOD FOR CARING PEOPLE LIKE DR. ROBERT ERSEK!! Do you believe in plastic surgery for adults? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but if modern technology has brought us this far, why not take advantage of it? Why would I want my child to suffer any longer if she didnt have to. Do you even have children? Read the story about all of the dieting and exercising that Brooke did over the years. Like I had mentioned earlier, there is NOTHING AT ALL WRONG WITH BEING HEAVY. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY THAT OVERWEIGHT FOLKS GET TREATED AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NONE OF US CAN CHANGE. THIS IS SAD, BUT TRUE. You had also mentioned that you just couldnt believe that I let my twelve year old wear a pink bikini in the photos . Why not? You also sound like you have a problem with men. Why? You are darn right that I amProud of her!! This body didnt come painfree. We didnt do anything to her except suck the fat out. She has always looked older. She was taller than me when she was in 5th grade. This wasnt her first surgery either. Are you a Christian? I AM !! HE WALKS WITH ME AND HE TALKS WITH ME AND I JUST KNOW THAT THIS WAS THE RIGHT DECISION AND I HAVE NOT ANY REGRETS AND WOULD DO IT AGAIN IF NEEDED. This does not mean re-do the surgery again if she gains the weight back from neglect. Brooke has always watched what she ate and everyone has a different metabolism. I just cant understand why you are so darn negative. This was brought out in Public to help other people that have struggled with their weight for along time. I am a good mother and I Love my kids more than anything in the world. My daughter is so happy now. One last thing. If people arnt discriminated against for being heavy thank why did Brooke go from having about 10 friends to 100 friend within the last six months? Brooke only changed on the outside. She has always been a wonderful child and she also IS A BELIEVER IN THE GOOD LORD ABOVE!! HE IS NOT GOING TO LEAD YOU TO IT AND NOT LEAD TO THRU IT!! LIFE IS ABOUT BEING AS HAPPY AS YOU CAN BE. PRAISE GOD. HE IS OUR STRENGTH. I will continue to pray for all of the people that left negative comments. Why cant we just be happy for people and not be so critical? You would be a much happier person if you will get rid of all of the Negative thoughts. BE POSITIVE. THANKS TO EVRYONE THAT HAS WRITEN NICE COMMENTS ABOUT Brooke. We appreciate you. She has been invited to the Tyra Banks show and everyone can see then what Brookes all about and her Family. We are just common people that LOVE GOD!! If nothing else comes out of this, at least I AM GETTING TO SPREAD THE WORD OF GOD AND THATS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANY OF THIS OTHER STUFF.
Sincerely,
Cindy Bates MOTHER OF PINK BIKINI BROOKE BATES
December 26th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Its Cindy Bates again. One last thing. Brooke will probably be geting the LAP BAND SURGERY BEFORE LONG. I KNOW THIS WILL ALSO UPSET THE NEGATIVE FOLKS IN THE WORLD. NOT THE GASTRIC BYPASS, BUT THE LAPBAND. THANK GOD FOR MODERN TECHNOLOGY. Heavy people dont have to suffer any longer. There is help out there. Cindy Bates Mother of the girl in the Pink Bikini.
December 27th, 2006 at 2:39 pm
Why does she need the lapband? She is already at a normal weight… I thought lapband surgery was only for people who are obese enough to where it is a health issue?
January 2nd, 2007 at 12:11 am
Hey everyone out there! I have known Brooke practically her whole life, I’m 20 now, and I have lived near the Bates’ since I was 4. I have seen Brooke through this entire ordeal and I have never seen her happier than she is post op. So what if she wants to wear a bikini? I did when I was 13.Being able to wear whatever she wants isn’t just a physical thing, it has changed her inside as well. Bottom line, she is happy. Isn’t that what it really should come down to? Good luck with everything in the future Brooke! You’re awesome!
January 3rd, 2007 at 2:41 pm
And did you mom post it all over the internet? That is what we are talking about! HELLO PEOPLE! What kind of family and friends does Brooke have!
January 4th, 2007 at 7:11 am
To get her belly from where it was to where it is took a tummy tuck. Skin had to be cut off. To get her face from where it was to where it is would also require that SKIN BE CUT OFF. That’s a facelift.
January 10th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
So, let me get this straight. This child’s parents would rather spend 25 thousand dollars (which they can afford, what with the father having cancer and all) and plan on future surgery rather than teaching their child that it takes self discipline to exercise, not sneak food in the middle of the night and to value herself enough to put actual effort into getting where she wants to be …. they’re all sad, sad, sad.
January 11th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Due to malicious commenting, comments have been closed.