Saturday, May 29, 2010

Liposuction: Then and Now

Liposuction is a very popular plastic surgery – among top 3 worldwide. Liposuction involves removing localized fat from the body , with the help of hollow metal cannula( pipe). Technique of liposuction has changed a lot since liposuction was first started 30 years ago.

Liposuction was initially done for removing localized small fat deposits( like bulges on outer thigh) A hollow metal cannula was introduced close to the fatty bulge, through small incision less than a centimeter in size. Tumescent fluid was not injected into the fat prior to liposuction( dry liposuction). Cannula was attached to suction machine. Back and forth vigorous movement of sharp cannula by the surgeon broke down the fat, which was sucked out into the suction machine. Results were good but there was significant blood loss . Therefore only small amount of fat could be removed safely. Those days fat removal was limited to 1000 ml or less.

Tumescent liposuction and usage of blunt cannula were the next major step forward for liposuction. Tumescent or wet liposuction involved injecting special tumescent fluid into the fat 10-20 minutes prior to liposuction. This fluid helped shrink the blood vessels and made fat softer. Usage of blunt cannulas with holes on side reduced the trauma to blood vessels. As a result the proportion of blood to fat aspirated came to less than 100 ml for 1 liter of fat removal. This enabled surgeons to remove larger amounts of fat , upto 5-8 percent of body weight . For example in a person weighing 100 kilograms 5-7 liters of fat could be removed safely without transfusing blood. Addition of local anaesthetic to the tumescent fluid made the fat deposit numb and liposuction could be done under local anaesthesia.

Ultrasound assisted liposuction (UAL) was the next breakthrough in late seventies. Here a special solid liposuction cannula was used which emitted Ultrasound waves at the tip. When the cannula was introduced into the fat through one or more small cuts( about 1 cm), ultrasound waves broke down the fat into liquid. Liquid fat was then was sucked out into the machine. More fat removal was thus possible even from tough areas like back, with minimal blood loss for the patient. UAL went out of vogue after a decade because of increased rates of complications like skin burn and altered sensation of liposuctioned part .

Power assisted Liposuction( PAL) was the next big thing introduced in nineties. PAL or vibroliposuction cannula was designed to vibrate at the tip. This helped in reducing physical strain to the surgeon. Vibrating cannula broke down the fat in tougher areas with a lot more ease.

Many more liposuction techniques are available now like syringe liposuction, laser lipo and vaser liposuction. In syringe liposuction negative suction pressure is created by large 60 ml syringes and fat is collected in syringes. This is the gentlest liposuction technique and suited for small fatty deposits. Fat collected in syringes can be used for injecting into fat deficient areas like hollow cheeks, buttocks or into breasts . This technique of fat redistribution is called liposculpturing.

Laser liposuction cannula has Nd YAG laser beams coming out of the tip. Cannulas are finer and laser seals blood vessels, resulting in less trauma and bruising. Surgeon exertion is understandably less.

Vaser liposuction is 3rd generation ultrasound assisted liposuction . It is safer than original US assisted liposuction, because vaser delivers less ultrasound energy at the tip.

Tumescent liposuction is a misunderstood term. Originally tumescent liposuction was used to enable small liposuction under local anaesthesia . Nowadays tumescent solution injection is an integral part of all types of liposuction. No one does dry liposuction anymore.

Despite so many different technologies available for liposuction, standard( wet/tumescent) liposuction using hollow cannulas and suction machine remains gold standard . Worldwide majority of surgeons use this technique to deliver safe and consistent results. Other techniques like UAL, PAL, Vaser and laser liposuction have not proved to give better results , although they have some advantages for surgeon like less physical effort. Other claims like less pain, less blood loss , faster recovery are not always true. The surgeon behind the machine is more important in delivering better results with more safety, than the machine itself.
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Plastic Hollywood

Hollywood is no stranger to plastic surgery.  Throughout the years there have been many celebrities who have gone under the knife with both exemplary results and those mishaps that grace the cover of weekly tabloid magazines.  The main difference is aesthetic plastic surgery as a whole is that it has become more socially acceptable than in years past.  This "social acceptance" of sorts has become a double-edged sword for both celebrities and laypeople alike.  More and more physicians are coming across patients who don't know when to stop, who seem to be "addicted" to plastic surgery procedures, or frankly suffer from a medical condition known as "body dysmorphic disorder". 

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a defined as a disorder in which the affected person is excessively concerned or preoccupied by a perceived defect in his or her physical appearance.  This usually leads to disruption in one's ability to function in their daily activities as the affected person considers their perceived defect to be shameful and embarrassing.  This disorder has also been associated in conjunction with anorexia and bulimia, as well as social anxiety, OCD, and ensuing depression. 
BDD is of concern in the field of plastic surgery, and now more magnified with some celebrities getting repeated procedures, camera-ready with distorted features and all.  Patients with BDD may come to appointments requesting multiple procedures that they are not suitable candidates for.  Plastic surgeons should decline to operate further on patients who display signs of BDD and appropriately refer them to a psychiatrist if needed. Enabling only seems to make things worse, as we saw in the case of Michael Jackson.

As seen in the lay press recently, reality star Heidi Montag, 23, underwent 10 surgical procedures in one day.  What would lead an attractive young lady to want to bring upon such drastic physical changes all at one time?  Is there an underlying psychological issue that should have been addressed or is this just a major publicity stunt (or some wacky combination thereof?).  It's a slippery slope in the celebrity-obsessed culture that we live in, and an issue that seems increaslingly prevalent as plastic surgery takes a front row seat in pop culture--on the internet, film and television. 

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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Skin, Sun, and One Sexy Little Slugger

My roommate Lauren is in love with David Wright, the third basemen for the New York Mets, and since I am a die-hard Yankee fan, we went to the Subway Series this past weekend!

Proudly sporting my pin-striped Yankee hair bow I began chatting with a Mets fan who told me that Wright recently had suspicious moles removed and had helped found Mission Skincare, a new product line infused with SPF for athletes!

Wright, 27, told Cosmopolitan magazine, “ It really wakes you and makes you realize that you need to do everything you can to protect yourself from the sun,” about his recent procedures.

So as you embark on summer vacations, take mine, and Davy’s advice to lather on the sunscreen and protect yourself and your family from those harmful UV rays!

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Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Happy 100th Birthday to the Bra!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2010 marks the 100th birthday of the bra and the Today Show on NBC has put together a tribute piece about the occasion.

But I have an even better idea! Treat your twins to something they'll love more than Vickys latest secret... a breast augmentation!

Enhance your chest and celebrate your sexy little self and sing Shania Twain's Man I Feel Like a Women in front of the mirror with a hair brush.
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OK! Magazine Teaser About Celebrity Plastic Surgery Secrets Revealed!

So I must confess I started subscribing to OK! Magazine because of Bethenny Frankel’s new column Bethenny Dishes, but I have been pleasantly surprised to find that the magazine has turned out very reliable and satisfying for celebrity plastic surgery gossip.

Coming out tomorrow, Thursday, May 27, 2010 Kendra Wilkinson Baskett (The Girls Next Door), Kim Kardashian (Keeping Up with the Kardashians) and Audrina Patridge (The Hills) will be the magazine cover celebrities enticing their cover story about the plastic surgery secrets the stars don’t want their fans to know about!

Frank Ryan, M.D., Beverly Hills, (known mostly as Heidi Montag’s surgeon) said that celebrities will gush about their procedures and doctors to their fellow A-list friends, however, they “don’t want anyone to know” (ie their fans) that their perfection does not in fact come from exercise, a healthy diet and good genetics. “There’s a myth to maintain, that they’re special, just naturally beautiful,” he says in the article.

Here in the office Alix, Olivia and I are dying in anticipation about what sort of gossip OK! is going to reveal tomorrow, and as usual, we will read, research and report back for you all!

So check back!

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Still mulling things over with the zine so I won't bring it up now, instead I think I'll dedicate a full fledged post to it.

Here are some pictures from several weeks ago I had just chillin' in my camera. This is what my room looks like at night.



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Sex and the City 2: Samantha Denies Plastic Surgery but Plugs Botox


I won a contest yesterday from MCPriceless and was lucky enough to be given two tickets to the WORLD PREMIERE of Sex and the City 2: Carrie On!

The movie was filled with fabulous clothes (lots of Halston Heritage and Dior) and a surprise performance by Liza Minnelli doing Single Ladies by Beyonce.

Specifically one interesting plotline was when the girls were at brunch and the character Samantha (played by the stunning Kim Cattrell) said she hadn’t had any plastic surgery procedures done and was “all natural,” but then later in the film admitted to having used Botox®.

Catrell has regularly admitted in the press that she uses Botox®, and after seeing her in person, I also think she has gotten a chemical peel, as her skin is flawless.

I won’t spoil anymore for you! I’m sure you will love it! Sex and the City 2 opens in theaters on Thursday, May 27, 2010, be sure to order your tickets in advance from Fandango as it will surely sell out!
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Saturday, May 22, 2010

Just really quickly what I wore last night, plus black lipstick I was just trying out from a halloween costume makeup kit I bought for a school project. I think I was going for a Courtney Love/Lydia Deetz integration with a bit of a Miu Miu twist (the bejeweled collar combo). It's a bit too simplistic considering what I normally tend to wear, but regardless I like it a lot.

I have some pictures of my room I took several weeks ago that I'm going to post soon, as well as my idea regarding a zine still in it's rudimentary stages of brainstorming. It's going to be about Dreamers - I don't mean all about the subconscious, I mean about people who approach art and language with a mentality that contradicts reality; they remove themselves from it to create something illusory and pensive that material reality constantly seems to lack. They thrive off the notion of a utopian world yet simultaneously acknowledge that this world we inhabit will always be tainted with imperfections. What immediately comes to mind that falls under this category is everything about Speed Levitch, Alison Scarpulla's photography, Richard Linklater films such as Before Sunset and Waking Life, and Tim Walker's editorials.

I will discuss this more in depth next post when I have my ideas regarding 'Dreamers' have become less hazy.





Sequin collared shirt is vintage. Dress from Forever 21.
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Thursday, May 20, 2010

Fake It Til You Make It

It seems everyone now has heard of the campaign “There’s an App for that!” Plastic Surgery being no exception!

The Cosmetic Surgery iPhone Application BodyPlastika allows users the opportunity to visualize what they would look like with a rhinoplasty, liposuction, lip augmentation, a chin implant, etc. without ever having a consultation. They just simply upload a photo of themselves on their phone to the application.

Plastic surgeons can even partner with BodyPlastika as an advertising outlet.

It currently has two out of four stars in reviews and costs $1.99. Have you tried this App? Is it accurate?

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Agreed, Kim Kills It!!


I know we have featured Kim Kardashian numerous times on the blog, but I came across the new Self magazine cover with Kim on it and my jaw hit the floor. As we all know magazines are notorious for airbrushing people beyond recognition, but I thought this photo of Ms. Kardashian seemed really true to form. First and foremost she looks AMAZING!! I have always admired her and her sisters for being true to their "curves" and not falling victim to the "Hollywood" body type, which for the most part equals something that borders looking anorexic. She is a great example of someone who really works with her true genetic body type. Ms. Kardashian has a true hour glass shape, and really works on keeping her core strong and tone....which is evident in this photo.

We have discussed in past blogs about Kim's rumored plastic surgery endeavors. It has been talked about that Ms. Kardashian has undergone Rhinoplasty and Breast Augmenation. I also think it is a safe guess to assume she has used injectables such as Botox, and dermal fillers. In addition to these procedures there is NO doubt she takes wonderful care of her beautiful skin. I'm sure she gets regular peels and facials to keep her face looking youthful and her bronzed skin glowing.

I have always thought that she and her sisters are examples of people who have used plastic surgery to enhance their best "natural" attributes. So many times people in Hollywood try to change themselves into something completely different. This scenario results in the "plastic" and "alien" type look that is becoming so common. Remember if you are thinking about possible plastic surgery, always do your research and go to a board certified plastic surgeon. They will be able to help you achieve the best aesthetic results possible.
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Wednesday, May 19, 2010

NeNe or Natalie

It has become all too common for us to see headlines of Bravo's "real housewives" getting nipped and tucked. The irony of the multiple spinoff show's title is enough to make me laugh out loud [LOL ;) ]. Bravo might want to consider renaming the franchise, "The Not So Real Housewives", since you would be hard pressed to find a cast member at this point who hasn't had a little nip here and tuck there.

NeNe Leakes appeared at a benefit Monday night in her home city of Atlanta where she debuted a dramatically enhanced nose. You can see in the above picture, taken from US Weekly's website, that NeNe is practically unrecognizable with her new face. If I were at that party I would have thought Natalie Cole just walked in! It is very common for people to bring in pictures of celebrities they wish to resemble to their plastic surgeon and I wouldn't be surprised if NeNe walked into her doctor's office singing unforgettable. Doesn't she look just like her? There is no question that she has had a nose job and it appears as though she may have had some fat removed from her lower cheeks as well as lip injections.

It's a lot of work to have done but I think it paid off for her. Her nose is much more refined and in proportion with the rest of her face. The definition in her cheeks, and volume to her lips, give her an overall chiseled look that suits her very well. NeNe was no stranger to surgery prior to this extreme makeover. Right now the official homepage of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' contains a video titled, "NeNe Drops her Double D's". The footage shows the cast member at a plastic surgeon's office getting a consultation for breast implant exchange and abdominal liposuction. She says on camera, "there is nothing wrong with giving yourself a little tune up every now and again". I guess what she really meant to say was, " there is nothing wrong with getting a complete overhaul of parts every now and again!". No harm I guess in downplaying the situation, it's certainly not illegal, stealing Natalie Cole's face however might be...
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Monday, May 17, 2010

Just a really quick write about this particular piece from designer Dion Lee's S/S10-11 collection at RAFW.


This blue pleated dress was probably my favourite (aside from the crystal heels). The architectural symmetry composed by the intricacies of the knotted pleats made my eyes literally widen (to be quite frank I almost audibly gasped). I’m constantly reminded of the almost rudimentary stages of a Roman soldier’s uniform when I see this dress, the shape the fabric over her shoulders and the taut wrap of the pleats a presumable catalyst of this reminder. Though the harshness is negated by the visual fragility of the dress. It’s almost as if the only thing left to make these uniforms out of was brilliant powder blue organza, so the Romans had nothing more to do but work with the resources they had.

(Photo via Jak&Jil)
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Friday, May 14, 2010

We NOSE its Fake Doll


I know what you’re thinking… that’s Kim Kardashian?!
This picture, taken sometime before October 2006, has been getting a lot of buzz lately because of the obvious difference in the shape of Kardashian’s nose in the comparison picture from this past fall.  These pictures strongly point to a well done rhinoplasty that served to shorten, narrow and straighten her preoperative nose. 

It is also rumored that she uses Botox® and dermal fillers like Restylane and Juvederm. She also must be using some effective skin care products that may have smoothened and lightened her skin tone.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I’d say this one is just that!
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Thursday, May 13, 2010

Sorry for being such a bad blogger guys; my Macbook broke several weeks ago and I've been busy weeping/petting it/moaning for it to revive itself. Since then I've been using my old pre-modern chunky desktop Windows which whurrs like a dying beehive whenever I turn it on. I sound ungrateful even though this is technology! and I should be grateful! (quote unquoting all of my foreign relatives) , it's just that once you've gone Mac it's hard to go back. I'm also hesitant to send it in for repair; the guy behind the counter at Future Shop said my entire hard drive has the possibility of being completely erased and when he showed me the price of a temporary hard drive I probably had all eyes in the store curiously glaring in my direction (wouldn't you glare too if you heard a little girl's voice frantically screaming FUUUUUUUU- in a basically silent electronics store?). POINT IS, I need to get it fixed so I can up some clothes photos STAT.

While I'm here for appearing to be the opposite of negligent's sake, I want to show you a few of my favourite stylists' works. I mainly post this on my Tumblr since I practically reside there whenever I find I am on the internet browser (which isn't Safari thus it angers me, but holy shit am I digressing), but I felt it was necessary to acknowledge them here as well since the tumblr is merely an inspiration board and not a very credible manner to cite my endearing sentiments towards the editorials they style. I'm going to narrow it down to three today even though I could definitely mention more (sorry Camille-Bidault Waddington :c).

NOTE: Clicking each picture for #1 and #2 will link you to a post on TFS which has the source + complete editorial.

1) Panos Yiapanis
I don't even know where to begin regarding my love for Panos' work. This dude's layering skills are absolutely incredible, and he does it without making it appear ostentatious. I first stumbled upon the editorials he styled via Tumblr (I'd probably discover more stylists/photographers/the like if some people credited what they were posting, in the cases where they consciously are aware of the source). I was in such adoration with the variety of textures, prints and vibrant colours so evident in the outfits he put together that I had to see more. His work integrates this sense of destruction and neurotic tendency within the aesthetics, and these contradictions work together to create this imperfect perfection which should overwhelm the viewer if successful. And his outfits without a doubt do (I can't stress enough how much they do). I'm really at a lack for articulating myself properly when it comes to his stuff. All I know is it makes my heart swell and my knees buckle. So fucking good.









2) Marie-Amelie Sauve
I came upon Marie-Amelie after I began getting really interested in who was behind all the outfits in my most cherished editorials. After extensively searching the "Behind the Lens" sub forum on TFS I came upon her thread, and after dissecting each post within I realized that she was the stylist for nearly every. single. editorial. I've swooned over in the past. I find she has similar stylistic tendencies as Yiapanis, particularly in the layering, which is probably why they are the stylists I am fond of the most. There are several blatant differences between their individual styles however; for example, I find Sauve approaches her work by manipulating the way she styles to coincide with the mood of the editorial, whereas Panos' manner of layering is so determined that I find it's actually his outfits which affect the mood, rather than the other way around. Also, Sauve evokes a femininity that Yiapanis' editorials lack - not to imply that this missing effeminity negatively impacts his work, there is just a notable difference which creates this distinct individuality in the manner that they style. Finally, I find Marie-Amelie focuses on appropriate colour schemes more than Panos does, but not as drastic as to go into detail about the fact of the matter. Regardless of these comparisons and contradictions, both of these stylists rock every fucking editorial they style. 10/10. They are literally untouchable.



3) Catherine Baba
With Catherine I find her personal style bleeds into her editorial work much more than the previous two. I know this is probably breaking some sort of artistic code, one which states that the artist is not a representation of their work; that although their creation, the work they produce is channeled through a different perception of understanding, extinguishing the artist's personal characteristics and acknowledging this mirrored version of their being; the removed version that creates the art objectively as much as the viewers see it objectively. What I'm trying to essentially state is that there is this inevitable rule, in music, in art, in literature, where the outer party see the work of the artist as an autobiography of their psychological state. And although I typically prefer art that contradicts this notion (where the artist removes themselves from their art), I find Catherine Baba is the ultimate exception. This editorial from 10 Magazine Summer 2009 highly exemplifies that.






Here are some street style photographs further exemplifying this integration. (Both photographs via Jak&Jil.)

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Monday, May 10, 2010

Beautiful Betty White


"Thank you for being a friend....travelin' down the road and back again..." Sorry, I can't help it!! I don't think it is possible to think of actress Betty White and not sing the theme song to "The Golden Girls"!! Anyway, I will stop singing long enough to brag on Ms. White a little. Unless you don't have a facebook account....or you live under a rock.....you watched Betty White give a LEGENDARY performance on Saturday Night Live last weekend.

All the big guns came back for this special event....Tina Fey, Amy Poeller, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer....the list goes on and on. I must say I was not surprised to see everyone so eager to come back for this special night. Overall it was one of my favorite SNL shows to date.

The thing I was the most impressed with was Betty herself. The actress is 88 years old. Ms. White was funny, energetic, and very sprightly. I only hope I can run around like that when I'm her age. In addition to tickling every ones funny bone, Betty looked beautiful. I don't think she has had much done over the years....maybe a possible face lift, but it is doubtful. Her skin is really beautiful and I'm sure that is a case of great genetics.

If by some chance you missed this hilarity, you must go to hulu.com and check out the clips from this EPIC show!

Happy Monday
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Saturday, May 8, 2010

Use it or lose it: study shows consistant BOTOX use can allow longer results


Confirming what many Plastic Surgeons have noticed, a study just published suggests that patients who maintain their treatments with BOTOX for several years need fewer treatments to maintain their results.

On average, someone receiving treatment of their forehead or glabella (area between the eyebrow) requires retreatment every 3-4 months. The new study from the OHSU School of Medicine in Portland,OR shows that after 2 years of consistent treatments, the interval between treatment could be extended to 6 months with no difference in results.

Rob
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Monday, May 3, 2010

Poking Fun Never Tased So Good


Around Dr. Walden's office we are busy, busy, busy....but we do laugh....a lot. The other day Alicia put a Snickers candy bar add on my wall and when I turned the corner I died laughing. It is the newest add by the company featuring iconic Hollywood stars making jokes of themselves. By the way....this is MY type of humor. The add Alicia posted was of plastic surgery alumni Joan Rivers with the tag line stating, "When I'm hungry, I get my face lowered" - You're not you when you're hungry. Genius.

I love it when people don't take themselves too serious. Life is way to short for that. Especially under the scrutiny of Hollywood, it is nice to see people "embrace the funny". I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeve next!
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Two Thumbs Up

Movies weren't the only thing being premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this year. Alexa Ray Joel made an appearance which introduced her new surgically refined nose to the world. In keeping with film lingo I give her "two thumbs up" for her final result. She looks beautiful! She is 100% recognizable as herself and has gone on the record to say how happy she is.

It is no secret that Alexa has had a tough year. It was only months ago that she was admitted to the hospital after an intentional overdose of the homeopathic medication Traumeel. Luckily this remedy for inflammation and joint pain wouldn't have killed her, but it was certainly a wake up call to her family and friends that she was not okay. Even before her rhinoplasty she seemed to rebound quickly, however now she appears more comfortable in her skin than ever before.

I can't imagine what it must be like to have Christy Brinkley as a mother. How is a young girl supposed to feel beautiful when you're staring at the face of perfection everyday of your life. We can be told thousands of time from a young age that beauty is only skin deep and true beauty comes from within, but let's get real. Have you met the society we live in? Not exactly the most forgiving critic of "outer beauty" flaws. I would have never looked at Alexa and thought she "needed" plastic surgery. Nobody "needs" plastic surgery. It is called elective surgery for a reason. It's done by choice and Alexa said having a rhinoplasty was something she'd been wanting to do for years. She has made a point to let the world know that she does not plan on having any further procedures.

Alexa was a great candidate for rhinoplasty. Her narrowed, more refined, nose allows the rest of her features to shine. She has beautiful facial structure, skin, and eyes. The subtle changes made to her nose give her a more delicate, feminine appearance. Working in the field of plastic surgery I have seen countless number of women and men credit their nose jobs for changing their lives and boosting their self esteem. The transformation inside and out is nothing shy of amazing. I am thrilled for Alexa! She has her whole life ahead of her and I hope this new beginning brings her lots of joy. She is a beautiful, talented musician with a very bright future. Christy who?
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Saturday, May 1, 2010

So several weeks or so ago, Melissa Luk emailed me asking if she could take some better quality photos of previous outfits captured with a bad quality cam (aka Photobooth on my mac), and I accepted. This project was extremely convenient for we both attend the same university, so we decided to meet up one day during finals week (procrastinating the efficient way) and just roam around and photograph and whatnot. It was a new experience for me seeing as I'm typically the one behind the camera and not in front, so it was a bit awkward at first. Eventually I got the hang of it though (I think I don't even know dudes). But the pictures turned out great and I'm happy lappy (thanks again Melissa!).






Outfit numba two!

Ghost World! Fun fact: I'm staring at ("reading") my favourite part from the entire comic.



You can see the entire set here (I'm technologically deficient and can't figure out how to blog all of these flickr photos at once using the Blog This button, so this'll have to do).
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