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Critics slam "botched surgery" of Roald Dahl rewrites

<p>Roald Dahl’s children’s books are a staple on bookshelves across the world, and their subject matter is often a topic of conversation for students. </p> <p>This time around, Dahl’s books have garnered attention over publisher Puffin’s move to bring in censorship readers, and the subsequent decision to remove certain terms and phrases from certain works in a bid to make them more appropriate for modern audiences. </p> <p>“Words matter,” reads the notice on the copyright page of Puffin’s latest editions of Roald Dahl’s books. “The wonderful words of Roald Dahl can transport you to different worlds and introduce you to the most marvellous characters. This book was written many years ago, and so we regularly review the language to ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by all today.”</p> <p>The changes made to <em>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</em> reportedly reach the hundreds, but most notable are those made to the character Augustus Gloop. In the original text, published in 1974, Augustus is described as being “enormously fat”, but in Puffin’s edits, he is simply “enormous”. </p> <p>In <em>The Witches</em>, women are no longer limited to being a “cashier in a supermarket or typing letters for a business man”, but instead can be a “top scientist or running a business”. Additionally, an explanation of the witches’ baldness now concludes with a line about how “there are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.”</p> <p>Of such edits, the Roald Dahl Story Company have said “it’s not unusual to review the language” during new print runs, and that any changes made to Dahl’s works were minimal, and that they had to be “carefully considered”. The changes were made in conjunction with Inclusive Minds, which is described as being “a collective for people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children’s literature.”</p> <p>However, not everyone is on board with this move towards a more gentle and kind reading experience for children. </p> <p><em>Sky News</em> host James Morrow claimed the edits have made the books “boring”, and went as far as to describe one sensitivity reader as an “Orwellian political commissar”. </p> <p>“They were so much fun, and they made fun of people’s appearances,” James said of his passion for the original texts, “so many people loved them. Now apparently, you know, they have been transformed.”</p> <p>James then took to Twitter, where like minded critics voiced their outrage, with many blaming the “woke police” for what had occurred. </p> <p>One even posed the question “I wonder how many 10 year olds will be able to think for themselves in 10 years time?” </p> <p>“These masterpieces should never be edited," wrote another. “Reading these as a kid was a gift and the woke police should not take that away.” </p> <p>Author Salman Rushdie took to his Twitter account to offer his take on the matter, telling both Puffin and the Dahl Estate that they should be ashamed of their actions. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Roald Dahl was no angel but this is absurd censorship. Puffin Books and the Dahl estate should be ashamed. <a href="https://t.co/sdjMfBr7WW">https://t.co/sdjMfBr7WW</a></p> <p>— Salman Rushdie (@SalmanRushdie) <a href="https://twitter.com/SalmanRushdie/status/1627075835525210113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>Dahl passed away in 1990, and despite his enormous success with writing, he was - as Salman Rushdie put it - “no angel”, having made antisemitic comments throughout his life. </p> <p>In 2020, The Dahl family acknowledged the “lasting and understandable hurt caused by Roald Dahl’s antisemitic statements” and issued an apology. </p> <p><em>Sunday Times</em>’ deputy literary editor Laura Hackett also shared her thoughts, and while she recognised that Dahl was “a very nasty man - a racist, misogynistic, antisemitic bully”, she wouldn’t let that stop her from sharing the original texts with her children. </p> <p>“The editors at Puffin should be ashamed of the botched surgery they’ve carried out on some of the finest children’s literature in Britain,” she stated. “As for me, I’ll be carefully stowing away my old, original copies of Dahl’s stories, so that one day my children can enjoy them in their full, nasty, colourful glory.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Books

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"It’s not worth it": Woman shares botched lip filler treatment

<p dir="ltr">A UK woman has opened up about how a lip filler treatment she received made her lips “split open” in a horror reaction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alise took to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@djalise_/video/6934797210857032966?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> to explain exactly what happened during the treatment she received in December 2020.</p> <p dir="ltr">“When I had so much lip filler in my lips they split open and I looked like a duck,” she wrote on the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@djalise_/video/7043832229432151302?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id7019154073816286722" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a>, which showed her miming the words of a soundbite taken from America’s Top Model.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-7b31931c-7fff-2e6d-5c53-91b3cd1c9d22"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The clip also showed a picture of her after the failed treatment, with swollen lips and a split down the middle.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/03/lip-filler.jpg" alt="" width="396" height="451" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>TikTok user and DJ Alise shared how her beauty treatment went horribly wrong. Image: @djalise_ (TikTok)</em></p> <p dir="ltr">Others on the platform were quick to share their sympathy for Alise and their own bad experiences.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They look so much better now and they looked painful before,” one person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Mine are the exact same! Getting them dissolved on Friday,” another shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an earlier clip, she responded to a commenter’s request to see photos of her lips after the treatment with a series of images from before and after the treatment.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alise said the split and swelling began several hours after the treatment, and blisters appeared within several days.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is when I contacted the practitioner and said something’s not right,” she recounted in the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@djalise_/video/6935471841960054021?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">video</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I sent them pictures, I wasn’t able to go into the salon. And they said I had facial herpes, just from looking at a picture.”</p> <p dir="ltr">After seeking medical advice from her GP, Alise said she found out it was just an infection that caused the blisters.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The practitioner gave me a full refund however took no responsibility,” she said in the clip, adding that she was made to sign a contract so she wouldn’t talk about the incident.</p> <p dir="ltr">Alise discouraged her followers from getting the procedure done in another, even earlier <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@djalise_/video/6934797210857032966?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc&amp;web_id7019154073816286722" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clip</a> which prompted her to share her story in several ‘story time’ videos.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I do not recommend you get lip filler,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s not worth it. It will ruin your natural lips over time.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-aadcb866-7fff-4979-2dad-4a2ebee06d01"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @djalise_ (TikTok)</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Linda Evangelista's first photoshoot in five years

<p>Linda Evangelista has debuted her first photo shoot since saying her face had been "permanently deformed" and her “life destroyed” after a botched surgery.</p><p>The 56-year-old supermodel has been living in seclusion for nearly five years after once being one of the most photographed women in the world.</p><p>Now, in a new interview with People where she also graces the cover, Evangelista said she is "done hiding in shame".</p><p>"I loved being up on the catwalk. Now I dread running into someone I know," the model tearfully told the publication.</p><p>"I can't live like this anymore, in hiding and shame. I just couldn't live in this pain any longer. I'm willing to finally speak."</p><p>Late last year, Evangelista said she had been left "brutally disfigured" after undergoing a CoolSculpting fat-freezing procedure. She later filed a lawsuit against the company that owns the procedure for negligence and misleading advertising. It is alleged that the company failed to warn customers of the possible side effects.</p><p>Evangelista said that three months after the procedure, she noticed bulges in her chin, bra area and thighs.</p><p>"I tried to fix it myself, thinking I was doing something wrong," the supermodel said. "I got to where I wasn't eating at all. I thought I was losing my mind."</p><p>Evangelista said she went to a doctor about the issue in 2016, and recalled "dropping her robe" for him and "bawling".</p><p>"I said, 'I haven't eaten, I'm starving. What am I doing wrong?'" she recalled.</p><p>She had been diagnosed with Paradoxical adipose hyperplasia (PAH), which is a side effect for less than 1% of CoolSculpting patients where the fat-freezing process causes fatty tissue to expand and thicken.</p><p>Evangelista was told that no amount of exercise or dieting would fix it. She is seeking US$50 million (approx. $69.4 million) in damages as she alleges she has been unable to work due to the rare side effect.</p><p>She claims that Zeltiq Aesthetics Inc, CoolSculpting's parent company — did offer to pay for liposuction to "make it right", but only if she signed a confidentiality agreement. Evangelista refused, and paid for two full-body liposuction surgeries herself.</p><p>Evangelista had to wear compression garments, girdles and a chin strap for eight weeks after the surgery in 2016 to prevent the PAH from returning, but she says it came back again anyway, and in July 2017, she underwent a second liposuction.</p><p>"I don't look in the mirror," she said. "It doesn't look like me."</p><p>The supermodel said that in making her lawsuit public and sharing her story, she is recovering her sense of self.</p><p>"I always knew I would age. And I know that there are things a body goes through. But I just didn't think I would look like this," she confided to People, saying she feels like the supermodel Linda Evangelista is gone.</p><p>She said she hopes she can shed the shame she feels and help others who may find themselves in the same situation as she did.</p><p><em>Images: Getty &amp; People Magazine </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Priest resigns after botching thousands of baptisms with single phrase

<p dir="ltr">An Arizona priest has voluntarily resigned from his church after it was ruled that he botched thousands of baptisms over the past 25 years - all by using one incorrect phrase.</p><p dir="ltr">Father Andres Arango left the St Gregory Catholic Church in Phoenix this month <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10511635/Phoenix-Catholic-priest-forced-resign-incorrectly-performed-THOUSANDS-baptisms.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">after</a> revealing he used an “incorrect formula” that made the baptisms invalid.</p><p dir="ltr">Rather than invoking the power of God by saying “I baptise you”, as required by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Father Arango said “we baptise you”, referring to the community.</p><p dir="ltr">As a result of his phrasing, every baptism he has performed since he was ordained in 1995 until June 2021 has been invalid.</p><p dir="ltr">This could also mean that subsequent confirmations and First Communions for those baptised by Arango could also be invalidated.</p><p dir="ltr">The Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix said even some marriages could possibly be affected, though they did not expand on how.</p><p dir="ltr">Father Arango will now work full-time offering spiritual guidance to Catholics whose baptisms have been deemed invalid so he can baptise them again.</p><p dir="ltr">In 2020, the Vatican issued a doctoral note clarifying that baptisms performed with the phrase “We baptise you in the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit” were invalid, prompting church leaders to investigate faith leaders including Father Arango.</p><p dir="ltr">His invalidated baptisms also came from his time working in churches in Brazil and San Diego.</p><p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b2bb13ae-7fff-280b-bab7-d38f8c5653e4"></span></p><p dir="ltr">In a letter announcing his resignation, Father Arango apologised to those affected and asked the community for “prayers, forgiveness, and understanding”.</p><p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/father-arango-letter.png" alt="" width="322" height="826" /></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Father Arango announced he would leave the church after the Vatican ruled that baptisms he performed over the past 25 years have been invalid. Images: St Gregory Catholic Church Bulletin</em></p><p dir="ltr">“It saddens me to learn that I have performed invalid baptisms throughout my ministry as a priest by regularly using an incorrect formula,” Father Arango wrote.</p><p dir="ltr">“I deeply regret my error and how this affected numerous people in your parish and elsewhere.</p><p dir="ltr">“With the help of the Holy Spirit and in communion with the Diocese of Phoenix I will dedicate my energy and full time ministry to help remedy this and heal those affected.”</p><p dir="ltr">The Diocese has said Father Arango remains a priest in good standing and that he has not been disqualified from his vocation or ministry as a result of his mistake.</p><p dir="ltr">Diocese of Phoenix Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted said he didn’t believe Father Arango intentionally harmed or deceived parishioners through his error.</p><p dir="ltr">“On behalf of our local Church, I am too sincerely sorry that this error has resulted in disruption to the sacramental lives of a number of the faithful,” Olmsted said in a <a href="https://www.stgregoryphx.com/note-on-baptism-validity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.</p><p dir="ltr">“This is why I pledge to take every step necessary to remedy the situation for everyone impacted.”</p><p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-a7665fe9-7fff-43e3-b9f2-e43368b1e9d8"></span></p><p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Padre Andres Arango Phoenix AZ (Facebook)</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Couple receives $3000 from Aus Post for botched deliveries

<p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">Australia Post has been forced to pay out over $3000 to a Melbourne couple after drivers repeatedly failed to deliver parcels to their home for over a year during the pandemic.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">Wayne Short and Veronica Libson took the postal giant to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in December to seek compensation, claiming that Australia Post failed to deliver parcels to their home and continued sending them to the local post office instead.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">Mr Short said some of the parcels contained important items such as medication for their daughter, who is waiting for a liver transplant, and other contained goods for their hire party business.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">He told the tribunal that the issues began in 2019, when the couple started experiencing difficulties getting parcels delivered to their home.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">Despite filing a complaint directly to Australia Post at the time, it was not responded to.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">Then in March 2020, the couple were undertaking renovations on their stairs and Mr Short said delivery drivers couldn’t safely deliver parcels for a week.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">However, after the renovations were completed the parcels were still not delivered, with the driver claiming they were still unsafe to climb.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">After this, Australia Post drivers stopped delivering parcels altogether, instead sending SMS messages to the couple to pick up their parcels at the post office.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">In June of the same year, the couple filed a second complaint, this time to the local post office. The manager reassured Mr Short that the issue would be sorted out.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">A few days later, a heated argument erupted between Mr Short and a delivery driver at the couple’s home.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">When the driver handed over the parcel, Mr Short then told the driver they were tired of tracking down all their other parcels. The driver responded by taking back the parcel and telling Mr Short they could “go pick up their own parcels”.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">According to the tribunal, Mr Short lost his temper, grabbing the parcel abc and telling the driver to “get the f**k off his property”.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">After the incident, all deliveries apart from their normal mail ceased.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">As for how the compensation was calculated based on how long it took the couple to collect their parcels.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">Having found that they spend around 30 minutes travelling to the post office every week between June 2020 and December 2021, VCAT member Neil Campbell calculated the compensation of $3100.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">He said the tribunal found the deliveries were “not undertaken with due care and skill” as they were “not delivered to the residential address” and there was “no basis for them not to be”.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">In a statement shared with <em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline"><a style="background-image: initial;background-position: initial;background-size: initial;background-attachment: initial;margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline" href="https://7news.com.au/business/australia-post/australia-post-ordered-to-pay-3000-to-melbourne-couple-over-botched-deliveries-c-5556891" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News.com.au</a></em>, a spokesperson for Australia Post said the company respected the tribunal’s decision.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline">“Australia Post respects the decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and can confirm that parcel delivery has recommenced to the address,” they said.</p><p dir="ltr" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;font-size: 16px;vertical-align: baseline"><em style="margin: 0px;padding: 0px;border: 0px;vertical-align: baseline">Image: @auspost (Instagram)</em></p>

Legal

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Woman has shocking reaction after lip filler

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After Morgan Proudlock went to get a small amount of lip filler, she decided to go on a night out drinking with her friends. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When she woke up the next morning, her lips were extremely puffy and swollen, and she was in an extreme amount of pain. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing her experience on TikTok, she said drinking alcohol after her procedure was the “worst thing” she could’ve done. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“(The) pain was ridiculous,” she said in the clip.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Morgan said she didn’t drink “that much”, but even a small amount of alcohol was enough to cause a severe reaction. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s because I drank and you not meant to straight after so I’d advise you avoid alcohol for a few days,” she told viewers looking at getting the procedure.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She said despite her “horrid” reaction, the pain and swelling eventually subsided. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to </span><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/lip-fillers-aftercare#what-to-avoid"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Healthline</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, alcohol acts as a blood thinner, meaning people should avoid drinking at least 24 hours after similar cosmetic procedures. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Alcohol can also cause inflammation, increase the likelihood of bruising, and make swelling worse,” the site explains. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s also a good idea to avoid alcohol a few days before your appointment.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Several women commented on Morgan’s video, saying that they had “learned their lesson” about lip filler protocol, not wanting the botched look Morgan managed to achieve. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: TikTok</span></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Want to avoid a botched beauty procedure? This is what you need to be wary of

<p>Recent news that more than a dozen cosmetic beauty operators <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/more-than-a-dozen-dodgy-beauty-salons-in-melbourne-shut-down-20190724-p52abl.html">have been shut down</a> across Victoria in the last year will give many people cause for concern.</p> <p>One beauty therapist was allegedly found to be <a href="https://hcc.vic.gov.au/news/288-cosmetic-service-provider-under-investigation-after-allegedly-treating-clients-back">operating at the back of a jewellery store</a>, offering risky procedures including mole removal, facial fillers and skin tightening. In many cases, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have been required <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/plastic-surgeons-forced-to-fix-rising-tide-of-botched-cosmetic-procedures-20190730-p52c5h.html">to treat</a> the damage caused at these rogue salons, including swelling, scarring, and infection.</p> <p>While low-cost procedures can be alluring, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure the treatments you’re getting are safe and reputable.</p> <h2>Regulation</h2> <p>The skin is the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/17453054.2010.525439">largest</a> and most accessible organ of the body, making skin procedures like laser, dermabrasion, microneedling, skin peels, toxin injections and fillers very common among unqualified or minimally qualified people and clinics.</p> <p>The Medical Board of Australia, supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), are the governing bodies for medical professionals. They register practitioners, and <a href="https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Cosmetic-medical-and-surgical-procedures-guidelines.aspx">enforce guidelines</a> for cosmetic medical and surgical procedures, which serve to protect the community.</p> <p>There have been cases where registered medical practitioners, including general practitioners, have performed procedures <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/push-to-ban-rogue-operators-from-using-cosmetic-surgeon-title-20181120-p50h9e.html">outside their area of expertise</a> or have not conformed with codes of conduct, sometimes with tragic consequences. But in many of these cases, the regulations in place have helped to identify offending practitioners and ensure <a href="https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2018-11-20-Media-release-Former-registered-practitioner-prosecuted.aspx">disciplinary action</a> is taken.</p> <p>Yet for non-medical operators, for the most part, no training or educational requirements need to be met, no uniform national professional standards or codes of conduct exist, and there is no governing body to whom people can direct concerns.</p> <p>Essentially, these beauty salons and non-medical clinics are simply not regulated by an external body or organisation.</p> <h2>The importance of medical training</h2> <p>The skin is an organ, just like the heart or lungs. Its structure and function is complex. In order to practise as a dermatologist, a person needs to first complete their medical degree, and then complete a further six years of specialist training in all matters related to the skin, hair and nails.</p> <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser">Laser treatment</a> is commonly offered to treat things like redness on the skin, brown spots, and to improve skin texture and tone.</p> <p>In order to deliver safe laser treatments, an accurate diagnosis is important. Is the brown spot on your cheek you want to remove a freckle, <a href="https://www.chromaderm.com.au/services/pigmentation/melasma/">melasma</a> (a discolouring of the skin) or a <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/skin-cancer/melanoma.html">melanoma</a>? A person without a medical background could easily mistake a melanoma for a freckle, which could be deadly.</p> <p>Even if you do have just a freckle, what laser settings will be safe and effective? An intimate understanding of the structure and function of the skin and the physics of the laser is necessary to make these important decisions.</p> <p>The regulations surrounding who can operate a laser differ from state to state. In Western Australia, unless you’re a medical doctor, nurse, or hold a diploma or certificate IV in beauty therapy (or equivalent) with a licence, you cannot operate a laser for the purpose of hair removal. Further <a href="http://www.radiologicalcouncil.wa.gov.au/Pages/FAQ/Lasers.html">restrictions apply</a> to the use of lasers for cosmetic procedures and tattoo removal. In Queensland and Tasmania, only <a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/industry-environment/personal-appearance/laser-licensing">those with relevant licences</a> can operate laser devices.</p> <p>For the rest of the country, no regulation exists. This means <a href="https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/september/navigating-the-disparate-australian-regulatory-minefield-of-cosmetic-therapy/">anyone can offer</a> skin treatments – a person who has done some online training or a weekend course could hang a “laser certificate” on the wall and start using lasers and other devices to treat skin.</p> <p>The same can be said for <a href="https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-needling/">microneedling</a>, the insertion of very fine, short needles into the skin for the purposes of rejuvenation or to reduce acne scarring. While some states <a href="https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Skin-penetration-procedures-and-the-law">regulate procedures</a> involving skin penetration, particularly around <a href="https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/-/media/health/files/collections/policies-and-guidelines/i/infection-prevention-control-guidelines---hair-beauty-tattooing-skin-penetration.pdf">infection control</a>, no uniform minimum training requirements exist for providers.</p> <p>The depth of penetration of the microneedling device, the type of needle chosen, and pre- and post-treatment care are critical to maximising the benefits and minimising the risks of the procedure.</p> <p>Similarly, for anti-wrinkle injections and fillers, an intimate understanding of facial anatomy is required to ensure safe and successful treatment. Complications can range from local injection site infection <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5840246/">through to blindness</a>. To have people performing these procedures who are not medically trained is very risky.</p> <p>Medical professionals take precautions to minimise the risk of complications and are trained to recognise and deal with <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11966791">complications</a> that will inevitably occur from time to time. They can also prescribe relevant medications to help with things like infection or pain, if necessary. Non-medical providers cannot.</p> <h2>Equipment and sanitation</h2> <p>There are hundreds of different lasers, microneedling and skin care devices around. There are different brands, different models, and different safety features. So, varying outcomes can be seen with different devices.</p> <p>Any piece of equipment that penetrates the skin needs to be sterilised in a medical-grade steriliser. Sterilising the equipment prevents the transmission of blood-borne infections like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Failing to sterilise properly or not doing so at all places patients and the community at risk.</p> <p>It must be said that there are many trained non-medical practitioners who adhere to infection control measures, understand what is safe and what is not, and who administer treatments in sanitary conditions.</p> <h2>What needs to change?</h2> <p>Regulatory bodies and the government need to work together to safeguard the community. We need to better regulate who can operate lasers and other skin devices, who can inject, cut and treat skin and in what type of environment this can take place. And we even need to regulate advertising – who can use the words “skin specialist”, “medical grade skin peels”, and so on. Because right now, anyone can.</p> <p>So how can a consumer know how to access treatment from a qualified practitioner? Given there are little or no regulations in some parts of the country, it’s very hard to be sure, but these tips can help:</p> <ul> <li>if you want to be treated by a medical practitioner, look up the <a href="https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx">APHRA website</a> to see if the practitioner you are going to consult with is registered</li> <li>you only get what you pay for. If consultations and treatments are very cheap, you may want to look into the quality of the equipment and the experience of the provider</li> <li>don’t believe everything you read online. Medical professionals are <a href="https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2018-0516-New-tool-about-testimonials.aspx">not allowed</a> to have testimonials on their websites, so don’t decide on a provider on this basis</li> <li>trust your gut – if something doesn’t feel right about the place or person, walk away.</li> </ul> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>This article first appeared on <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/want-to-avoid-a-botched-beauty-procedure-this-is-what-you-need-to-be-wary-of-120970" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Woman’s eyebrow procedure leaves her “looking like Mr Bean”

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">UK mum Sarah Donnelly has proved that we go to extraordinary lengths for beauty.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sarah took to Tik Tok to share the results of a beauty treatment that she said left her “looking like Mr Bean”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She went to have her eyebrows laminated, which according to </span><a href="https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/a29030088/eyebrow-lamination-review/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Elle magazine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“is like a </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">lash lift for your brows ... Every hair stands to attention, giving a result very similar to the full and feathery effect of microblading, but without any needling or pain.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During the procedure, eyebrow hairs are “straightened” using a chemical solution that has results lasting for several weeks. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Sarah showed off her new brows to her online followers, she said she “couldn’t stop laughing”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In hysterics in her car after her treatment, Sarah said, “I look ridiculous! What have I done to myself?”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I don’t know whether I want to laugh or cry.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The clip was captioned, “I was trying to keep up with the kids, so I got my brows laminated, and this happened.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Among the 1,600 comments on the video, one follower likened her thick black brows to Mr Bean, to which Sarah responded, “Hilarious! I actually really look like him, don’t I?”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Luckily, Sarah was able to find the humour in the situation, as she even referred to her new brows as “slugs” in one comment. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While many poked fun at the trendy procedure, one person questioned why the beauty professionals would use such a dark tint colour. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They asked, “Why on Earth would they put black tint on a blonde-haired woman?” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite many in the comments vowing to never risk the procedure themselves, a few people insisted Sarah’s new look would be worth it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“In a couple of days these will look epic,” one person reassured her.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Lamination is the ultimate, trust the process!”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We can only pray that Sarah publishes an update for us all to enjoy.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: TikTok @sarahdonnelly5</span></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Woman's warning after Botox treatment leaves her with "crazy eyes"

<p>A US woman has taken to social media to warn about the possible perils of Botox after she suffered an unusual side-effect from the procedure.</p> <p>Whitney Buha, who runs a lifestyle blog called Something Whitty, has documented the results after a botched Botox job made one of her eyes go droopy, making her look "two-faced."</p> <p>The correct name for the reaction is eyelid ptosis, where the upper eyelid droops over the eye.</p> <p>It's usually caused by ageing, an eye injury or as a result of eye surgery, but in Buha's case it happened because Botox was injected into the wrong part of her eyebrow.</p> <p>Taking to Instagram and TikTok, the 33-year-old from Chicago explained how it happened and to raise awareness of the potential side-effects of Botox.</p> <p>Buha went for a second treatment after she realised her right eyebrow hadn't "lifted" as well as her left.</p> <p>But unfortunately, round two did not go according to plans it made her eyelid droop significantly.</p> <p>After consulting with a plastic surgeon, she was told the left eye is overcompensating for the droopy right eye.</p> <p>“I look two-faced, it’s so embarrassing,” she said.</p> <p>“I can’t believe I’m showing this, like, are you kidding?”</p> <p>The plastic surgeon told her it was the worst case of eye droop she had ever seen.</p> <p>Now, Buha has to take special eye drops and do workouts so that her body metabolises the Botox more quickly.</p> <p>Despite the botched Botox job and her embarrassment over her “crazy eyes”, Buha said she wouldn’t stop getting injections, which she started at the age of 30.</p> <p>“You can judge me and say I’m crazy, but I’ve had Botox for three years, and I’ve never ever had a problem until this,” she said.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Tips on how to avoid a botched beauty procedure

<p>Recent news that more than a dozen cosmetic beauty operators <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/more-than-a-dozen-dodgy-beauty-salons-in-melbourne-shut-down-20190724-p52abl.html">have been shut down</a> across Victoria in the last year will give many people cause for concern.</p> <p>One beauty therapist was allegedly found to be <a href="https://hcc.vic.gov.au/news/288-cosmetic-service-provider-under-investigation-after-allegedly-treating-clients-back">operating at the back of a jewellery store</a>, offering risky procedures including mole removal, facial fillers and skin tightening. In many cases, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have been required <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/plastic-surgeons-forced-to-fix-rising-tide-of-botched-cosmetic-procedures-20190730-p52c5h.html">to treat</a> the damage caused at these rogue salons, including swelling, scarring, and infection.</p> <p>While low-cost procedures can be alluring, there are several things to keep in mind to ensure the treatments you’re getting are safe and reputable.</p> <p><strong>Regulation</strong></p> <p>The skin is the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/17453054.2010.525439">largest</a> and most accessible organ of the body, making skin procedures like laser, dermabrasion, microneedling, skin peels, toxin injections and fillers very common among unqualified or minimally qualified people and clinics.</p> <p>The Medical Board of Australia, supported by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), are the governing bodies for medical professionals. They register practitioners, and <a href="https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Cosmetic-medical-and-surgical-procedures-guidelines.aspx">enforce guidelines</a> for cosmetic medical and surgical procedures, which serve to protect the community.</p> <p>There have been cases where registered medical practitioners, including general practitioners, have performed procedures <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/push-to-ban-rogue-operators-from-using-cosmetic-surgeon-title-20181120-p50h9e.html">outside their area of expertise</a> or have not conformed with codes of conduct, sometimes with tragic consequences. But in many of these cases, the regulations in place have helped to identify offending practitioners and ensure <a href="https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2018-11-20-Media-release-Former-registered-practitioner-prosecuted.aspx">disciplinary action</a> is taken.</p> <p>Yet for non-medical operators, for the most part, no training or educational requirements need to be met, no uniform national professional standards or codes of conduct exist, and there is no governing body to whom people can direct concerns.</p> <p>Essentially, these beauty salons and non-medical clinics are simply not regulated by an external body or organisation.</p> <p><strong>The importance of medical training</strong></p> <p>The skin is an organ, just like the heart or lungs. Its structure and function is complex. In order to practise as a dermatologist, a person needs to first complete their medical degree, and then complete a further six years of specialist training in all matters related to the skin, hair and nails.</p> <p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser">Laser treatment</a> is commonly offered to treat things like redness on the skin, brown spots, and to improve skin texture and tone.</p> <p>In order to deliver safe laser treatments, an accurate diagnosis is important. Is the brown spot on your cheek you want to remove a freckle, <a href="https://www.chromaderm.com.au/services/pigmentation/melasma/">melasma</a> (a discolouring of the skin) or a <a href="https://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/skin-cancer/melanoma.html">melanoma</a>? A person without a medical background could easily mistake a melanoma for a freckle, which could be deadly.</p> <p>Even if you do have just a freckle, what laser settings will be safe and effective? An intimate understanding of the structure and function of the skin and the physics of the laser is necessary to make these important decisions.</p> <p>The regulations surrounding who can operate a laser differ from state to state. In Western Australia, unless you’re a medical doctor, nurse, or hold a diploma or certificate IV in beauty therapy (or equivalent) with a licence, you cannot operate a laser for the purpose of hair removal. Further <a href="http://www.radiologicalcouncil.wa.gov.au/Pages/FAQ/Lasers.html">restrictions apply</a> to the use of lasers for cosmetic procedures and tattoo removal. In Queensland and Tasmania, only <a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/industry-environment/personal-appearance/laser-licensing">those with relevant licences</a> can operate laser devices.</p> <p>For the rest of the country, no regulation exists. This means <a href="https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2017/september/navigating-the-disparate-australian-regulatory-minefield-of-cosmetic-therapy/">anyone can offer</a> skin treatments – a person who has done some online training or a weekend course could hang a “laser certificate” on the wall and start using lasers and other devices to treat skin.</p> <p>The same can be said for <a href="https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-needling/">microneedling</a>, the insertion of very fine, short needles into the skin for the purposes of rejuvenation or to reduce acne scarring. While some states <a href="https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Articles/S_T/Skin-penetration-procedures-and-the-law">regulate procedures</a> involving skin penetration, particularly around <a href="https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/-/media/health/files/collections/policies-and-guidelines/i/infection-prevention-control-guidelines---hair-beauty-tattooing-skin-penetration.pdf">infection control</a>, no uniform minimum training requirements exist for providers.</p> <p>The depth of penetration of the microneedling device, the type of needle chosen, and pre- and post-treatment care are critical to maximising the benefits and minimising the risks of the procedure.</p> <p>Similarly, for anti-wrinkle injections and fillers, an intimate understanding of facial anatomy is required to ensure safe and successful treatment. Complications can range from local injection site infection <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5840246/">through to blindness</a>. To have people performing these procedures who are not medically trained is very risky.</p> <p>Medical professionals take precautions to minimise the risk of complications and are trained to recognise and deal with <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11966791">complications</a> that will inevitably occur from time to time. They can also prescribe relevant medications to help with things like infection or pain, if necessary. Non-medical providers cannot.</p> <p><strong>Equipment and sanitation</strong></p> <p>There are hundreds of different lasers, microneedling and skin care devices around. There are different brands, different models, and different safety features. So, varying outcomes can be seen with different devices.</p> <p>Any piece of equipment that penetrates the skin needs to be sterilised in a medical-grade steriliser. Sterilising the equipment prevents the transmission of blood-borne infections like hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Failing to sterilise properly or not doing so at all places patients and the community at risk.</p> <p>It must be said that there are many trained non-medical practitioners who adhere to infection control measures, understand what is safe and what is not, and who administer treatments in sanitary conditions.</p> <p><strong>What needs to change?</strong></p> <p>Regulatory bodies and the government need to work together to safeguard the community. We need to better regulate who can operate lasers and other skin devices, who can inject, cut and treat skin and in what type of environment this can take place. And we even need to regulate advertising – who can use the words “skin specialist”, “medical grade skin peels”, and so on. Because right now, anyone can.</p> <p>So how can a consumer know how to access treatment from a qualified practitioner? Given there are little or no regulations in some parts of the country, it’s very hard to be sure, but these tips can help:</p> <ul> <li>If you want to be treated by a medical practitioner, look up the <a href="https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx">APHRA website</a>to see if the practitioner you are going to consult with is registered</li> <li>You only get what you pay for. If consultations and treatments are very cheap, you may want to look into the quality of the equipment and the experience of the provider</li> <li>Don’t believe everything you read online. Medical professionals are <a href="https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2018-0516-New-tool-about-testimonials.aspx">not allowed</a>to have testimonials on their websites, so don’t decide on a provider on this basis</li> <li>Trust your gut – if something doesn’t feel right about the place or person, walk away.</li> </ul> <p><em>Written by Michelle Rodriques. Republished with permission of </em><a href="https://theconversation.com/want-to-avoid-a-botched-beauty-procedure-this-is-what-you-need-to-be-wary-of-120970"><em>The Conversation</em></a><em>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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How a mum’s Groupon tattoo session went horribly wrong

<p>Microblading has become the latest craze in the beauty world, with the tattoo-procedure mimicking life like hairs to give you the appearance of fuller brows.</p> <p>And while generally, people walk out quite happy with their new found eyebrows, one woman from Kansas City couldn’t have been more distraught over the final result.</p> <p>Jami Ledbetter was born without eyebrows, so she was ecstatic when her daughters purchased a Groupon for her to have them microbladed in November. But that elated feeling of happiness didn’t last long as she looked into the mirror and discovered a botched job.</p> <p>“I would never wish this on my worst enemy,” said the 42-year-old.</p> <p>“What it’s done to my self-confidence, it’s been hard.”</p> <p>The $250 voucher was for services by a woman claiming to be qualified in microblading. But that clearly wasn’t the case after Ledbetter’s traumatic experience.</p> <p>“I was devastated,” said Ledbetter.</p> <p>“I was even dating a guy, and he stopped dating me at that point.”</p> <p>The mother-of-three’s self esteem took such a hit that she only left the house for work and grocery shopping. She attempted to cover her new brows with makeup, but her attempts at masking the tattoo failed miserably.</p> <p>She then went to another woman who told her she could “camouflage” her eyebrows, but after six weeks, the situation seemed to be getting worse.</p> <p>“It was pretty painful,” said Ledbetter.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fjami.mortonledbetter%2Fposts%2F848961932149736&amp;width=500" width="500" height="612" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>“I tried to have a good attitude, but it burned a lot. It kind of felt bruised.”</p> <p>It was only when she visited Kara Gutierrez, a licenced and insured tattoo artist who specialises in permanent cosmetics that Jami found relief.</p> <p>“It took everything in me to hold back tears because this is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Gutierrez.</p> <p>“Within 24 hours of a botched job, I can remove the bad brow.”</p> <p>Ledbetter is currently undergoing a treatment known as Li-ft – a pigment lightening solution that is tattooed into the bad ink, slowly removing the colour in eight-week intervals.</p> <p>“It’s very unpredictable to how much you can remove, but it works,” said Gutierrez.</p> <p>The cosmetic artist has growing concerns over the industry, as she claims more and more women are falling into the trap of dodgy tattoo artists.</p> <p>“Nobody’s governing this,” she said.</p> <p>“No one is saying, ‘This is the right way. This is the wrong way’.”</p> <p>She has advised those wanting to go through with the procedure to do plenty of research.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Sally Faulkner speaks out one year on from botched child recovery

<p>It’s been one year since Sally Faulkner last spoke to her two children.</p> <p>The Brisbane mother was forced to leave behind her kids in Lebanon <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/2016/07/60-minutes-kidnapping-charges-for-sally-faulkner/">following the infamous botched child abduction recovery operation by Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes.</a></span></p> <p>“This time a year ago I was about to be arrested and was about to go to jail for doing what any parent would do given the circumstances,” Ms Faulkner wrote on Facebook. “Lahela and Noah were about to be so cruelly taken from their mum again... this past year has been hell.”</p> <p><img width="316" height="421" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/79fbe9a93175f77d1bd23588848c0a0b" alt="Sally Faulkner's estranged husband Ali Elamine with their children Lahela and Noah. Picture: Supplied by ABC TV" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>These days Faulkner spends her days trawling the internet and social media for glimpses of information about her children. It’s the only way she can keep updated about their lives on the other side of the world.</p> <p>The last time she had contact with Lahela, 6 and Noah, 4 was at a McDonald's in the Beirut suburb of Furn El Chebbak. She kissed and hugged them goodbye in the fast food outlet’s play centre on April 22, 2016. The children now lives with their father Ali Elamine in Lebanon.</p> <p>“I do not have, and did not have any contact with them from the moment I said goodbye to them at the Lebanon McDonalds,” Faulkner recently said.</p> <p>The most recent photo Faulkner found of her children showed them at a daycare centre table with framed pictures of the smiling children with their mothers to mark Mother’s Day in Lebanon. The one of Noah shows him alone.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsallyfaulknerparentalalienation%2Fposts%2F416807758685743%3A0&amp;width=500" width="500" height="610" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p> <p>“I’ve had countless photos taken with my children for the years before we were so cruelly separated from each other,” Faulkner wrote on Facebook earlier this week. “This morning I woke up to find this photo. My heart absolutely broke into a million pieces. Our little angel Noah. His daddy couldn’t even find a photo of the two of us and put it on the table with the other photos. Instead a simple portrait photo of Noah went on the table. The only child in that class that didn’t have a photo of their mummy with them.”</p> <p>Faulkner then asks her estranged husband “why [he was] doing this”.</p> <p>“How does your heart not hurt? Because mine just broke so much more this morning seeing this,” she asked. “I can only imagine what our little children thought during Mother’s Day without their mum. A phone call or some form of communication is not hard.”</p> <p>In December 2016, Faulkner found a photo that of Lahela staring off into the distance in a group of smiling classmates.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsallyfaulknerparentalalienation%2Fposts%2F366373033729216%3A0&amp;width=500" width="500" height="689" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></p> <p>In an emotional post to her Facebook page, Faulkner wrote, “What is she thinking in this moment? She looks so lost! I miss you Lahela. I hope you were looking out the window dreaming of the moment you and your brother come home and are truly happy again.”</p> <p>Faulkner said she will fight for her children until she gets to see them again.</p> <p>“Mummy misses you so much my heart could burst with the pain it feels,” she wrote in a post to her children. “Not one moment goes by where I can forget about the memories we had made. Not one single thing in this world could ever make me forget and it’s the only thing I hold on to for now. Come home please.”</p>

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