Lift: Wanting, Fearing and Having a Facelift (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"I had hoped that a face-lift would make me recognizable to myself again and lift my spirits. And it did. It also gave me something I hadn't bargained forAa new careerAor, more precisely, a new niche in my old career." A seventy-something veteran of two face-lifts, Kron (Home Psych) has written a highly informative guide for men and women considering whether to "prune the treeAstop the skin, fat, and muscle from heading south." Kron offers sound practical advice on how to find "Dr. Right," choose types of anesthetic and navigate the hospital, as well as emotional guidance on how to decide if one is really ready for a lift, dealing with disapproving family and friends and coping with the post-op carnage. She paints a full picture, incorporating a limited historical and sociological overview of aesthetic surgery, interviews with noted plastic surgeons, sociological studies and, most compellingly, her own experiences under the knife. However, Kron, who covers plastic surgery for Allure, clings to a largely positive and uncritical stance that may not convince a skeptical audience, failing as it does to challenge the reasoning that youth and beauty are essential to happiness and success. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Celebrity face-fixes get the headlines, but Ms. (or Mr.) America--with an income of $50,000 or less--has become the real consumer. Cosmetic procedures of every type are popular, but even the simplest nips and tucks are still options as frightening and confusing as they are alluring. Veteran reporter Joan Kron uses what she learned both through her own face-lift and in her years of covering cosmetic surgery to arm the potential client with the whole story. Lift covers the technical aspects, but also the psychology of appearance and cultural history--from Elizabeth I's white-enameled wrinkles to Hollywood's hush-hush face peel. A sensitive overview as well as a nuts-and-bolts primer, Lift brims with real-life stories and interviews with doctors and sociologists, that demystify just what a lift can and cannot accomplish. Wanting one is between you and your mirror; having one is a complex decision that calls for this book as a companion.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670870609
• ISBN-13: 978-0670870608
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,635,422 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book by an Outstanding Writer, April 20, 2000

By	Jean M.Loftus, MD, Plastic Surgeon (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

As a board certified plastic surgeon, and author of my own book about cosmetic plastic surgery, one might assume that I would write an unfavorable and possibly harsh review of a book written in my area of expertise by one who is not a plastic surgeon. However, that is far from the case. This book is an outstanding guide, written in an insightful and entertaining style - so much so that I recommend it to my own patients! Further, Joyce is an accomplished and experienced writer who knows her topic well and presents it objectively. Congratulations on a book well done!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lift, March 4, 2000

By	Liz Cox (Florida) - See all my reviews

Of all the books I have read so far, Joan's "Lift" is one of my favorites. She gives that personal touch to the surgery by describing without glory the tedious days and weeks of after care. When I decide to take the plunge, I will no doubt reread this personal and informing book.Believe it or not, I emailed Joan to tell her how much I liked her book, and she emailed me back with encouragement the next day.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear explanation of face-lift told in conversational manner, January 26, 1999

By	[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

Joan Kron reads your mind as she tells you of her concerns about having a face-lift and then answers them in an intelligent, friendly manner. She has researched the topic thoroughly and is sharing her insights and experience with you. She chats with you while informing you about every aspect of choosing a surgeon, having the operation and recovering. I found the historical background glances into the various procedures to be fascinating and educational. The general tone of the book is optimistic but she states the risks and benefits clearly. Who could have thought such a detailed exploration of surgery could be such an absorbing, fast read?