Photoshop strikes again!!!

Please don't roll your eyes and leave......please, please.....I know it is another blog about one of The Hills chicks, but even I couldn't pass this one up! So, apparently Heidi Montag is releasing her debut album tomorrow. As we all know, Ms. Montag, is no stranger to our blog or plastic surgery in general. The reality star has been very open about her journey going under the knife. Heidi has admitted to breast augmentation and rhinoplasty, but it is rumored that the pint size star has also had chin refinement, possible liposuction, and injectables to the face and lips.

Well, this time I am not here to talk about what she has had done surgically....today I am simply pointing out what was done to her by the computer mouse!! In addition to her announcement of the album coming out today they released a promotional picture. Like so many planned pictures we see today of celebrities, once again she was photoshopped to a point where this could have been a drawing. I mean I get it....this is Hollywood and the music industry and you have to be perfect and all that jazz, but give me a break. Ms. Montag is a young beautiful woman in her 20's....why would there be a need to photoshop her to a point where you have to take a double take just to make sure who it is?? The portion of the photo that is the worst is the face. I can't quite figure out what they did exactly....it looks at if they tried to lengthen the face which in turn gives her a very "upside down triangle" or "alien" shape. There are so many paparazzi pictures of the blond beauty with no photoshop applied and she always looks gorgeous....I just don't understand.

I have real mixed feelings about photoshop in general. I feel like it can be such an amazing tool for publications and photographers. If you have taken the most perfect picture of a subject but there is a really distracting piece of hair out of place or an article of clothing at an odd angle or even an unsightly blemish.....I am all for fixing it and have total understanding of what a great piece of technology it is. It just seems like you can't look at a photograph today where the person is so "touched up" that they look almost inhuman or like a painting. I am hoping that like most trends this will pass and we can get back to a more "natural" version of photography. We need to give the human race....especially woman....a break and embrace our imperfections maybe even celebrate them. It is what makes us "human" after all!

Happy Monday!!!

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The Mayo Clinic decision signals the health care bill is "One Big Ass Mistake, America"

I've been on a little hiatus but hope to get back to semi regular output here on PS 101.

Since I last wrote, the Senate voted their version of the health care reform bill to consensus conference with the house. Even for Washington, the "sausage making" of this bill was pretty ugly. The naked bribes required to get Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) & Mary Landrieu's (D-LA) votes were particularly offensive, and quite possibly illegal (see here).

One story that is very symbolic but did not get much play in the media was the announcement that one of the Mayo Clinic satellites in Arizona would no longer see Medicare patients. Mayo is doing this because it lost $840 million last year on Medicare patients, and specifically it's Arizona hospital and four primary-care clinics lost over $120 million. No matter how efficient you are, that is unsustainable. It must be particularly embarrassing to Pres. Obama to see his "model" franchise for health care telling him to his face that he does not understand the effects of the legislation both he and his party are foisting on America.

To doctors in practice, it was always amusing to see the Mayo clinic proposed as a replicable model for our health care system. For starters they operate in a coccon on a largely wealthy, educated, and homogenous patient group. Even more ironic is the fact that the Mayo clinic doesn't even really take Medicare, but exists as a "non participant (non-par)" where they reserve the right to balance bill the patient for what they think their services are worth. From the Mayo website

"Mayo Clinic is a non-participating provider in the Medicare Program. We do not accept assignment on claims submitted to Part B Medicare except:

•where the law requires us to;
•in the case of documented financial hardship;
•when the supplemental insurance is a contract payer;
•when the patient resides in the state of Minnesota.
When claims are sent to Medicare on a non-assigned basis, the benefits for the services are sent directly to the patient. Mayo Clinic is entitled to bill the patient for the difference between our billed amount and Medicare's approved amount. We do not have to accept Medicare's approved amount as payment in full. Mayo Clinic limits its charges according to the limits set forth by HCFA for the Medicare program. Mayo hospital claims are sent assigned."

Expect to see real push back from providers at other places who treat these patients.

Rob

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What's your vote for best of 2009?

Happy New Year everyone!! I know we are all moving forward into the new year, but it also means it is time to look back on 2009 and all that happened in celebrity plastic surgery news. You can't turn a page in a magazine or go to a website without stumbling across best and worst of 2009 lists. I was recently on Makemeheal.com and looking at their best and worst breast augmentations of 2009 lists. There were many that seemed like no brainers, but some were actually surprising. One of my favorites on the list for best breast augmentation was Twilight's very own Ashley Greene. As some of you may know I make no secret about my love for The Twilight Saga, so I was excited to see Ashley added to this list!

It is rumored that the actress underwent breast augmenation and by the looks of it her surgery was very successful. She tops the "best of" list because she had a good surgeon who helped her pick out implants that fit her frame and body type. This expertise resulted in a very natural look for Ms. Greene. I will say that she also has a great team of stylists that dress her and always accentuate her best features which is always helpful. I have no doubt we will be seeing Ashley's beautiful figure for many years to come on the silver screen!

I can't wait to see who tops the 2010 list....come on celebs give us something good to chat about this year!! Wooohooo!

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