When Belly Buttons Go Missing, Lawsuits Appear

What would the boys at McNamara/Troy do? Thirteen people are suing the head of plastic surgery at Montefiore for various instances of malpractices. The Post reports that one woman says Dr. Berish Strauch "removed so much of her skin he didn't have enough to form a belly button" and that her surgery took twice as long as it should have. And another woman's right nipple wouldn't reattach after a breast-reduction surgery. Strauch's lawyer would only say, "Plastic surgery is a high-profile medical specialty that, by its nature, attracts unwarranted litigation and media attention." Sure, plastic surgery has its pros and cons, but should losing a nipple or belly button just be collateral damage?

For more information about plastic surgery, check out the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Less reassuring but pretty fun is Awful Plastic Surgery, which looks at snafus from celebrities.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on July 17, 2006 8:23 AM

Comments [rss]

Tummy tuck

Its really pathetic story whether plastic surgery is still in trend. Hope she gain weight as soon and cut it.
Tummy tuck

Usha Rajagopal

As each and every procedure has cons and pros. But it does all depends upon the treatment as well as patient care. In that case i think treatment has gone wrong.

Plastic Surgery blog

A strange story, especially when plastic surgery is an increasing trend

Kojak

If it was a perfect world where no one was judged on their appearance no matter how they looked, then maybe I would agree with you Toby.

Toby

And we are supposed to have sympathy for people who want to mutilate themselves?

Dave H.

Could be worse; this could be a story about botched circumcisions. That's a lawsuit and a half.

micro

Strauch is a great doctor and surgeon. I would imagine that much of this is unfounded drivel. Plus, from my view of the girls at Saturday's Siren Festival, the tummy tuck or a good old fashioned diet needs to be used much more often. :)

Kojak

"removed so much of her skin he didn't have enough to form a belly button"

Thats not reason enough to file suit. After some time and a little more weight gain I'm sure she can go back and have one cut in.

As for the Nipple, I can understand that.