Titty Bar and Breast Press

Why am I writing about a strip joint you might be wondering? I am not. I am thinking about the rather infamous wall of breast implants that I have in my office that I have lovingly and appropriately named the Titty Bar. The Breast Press is an amateur piece of art created by myself and the women in my world with acrylic paint and our breasts on a piece of canvas that hangs in surgery center. Let me explain…

When a patient comes to the office for a breast consultation, if it involves the addition of an implant for their desired result, we allow them to try on a range of implants in an attempt to determine their desired size. With hundreds of implants available in many different volumes and profiles, this lends itself to a magnificent visual display. At one time I had samples of breast implant in each of the exam rooms for patients to see and feel. As you can imagine, these all grew little legs and walked off over the years…hence the need to keep our beloved implants in one place in the office: on display at the Titty Bar.

I got the idea for Breast Press from a children’s art project I once saw with handprints on canvas. It is such a happy thing to look at…colorful and innocent. We could have certainly done a handprint canvas here but when you’re an office full of females, with breasts, and your predominant patient population is females, desiring rejuvenated breasts: I think the answer to that art project became obvious very quickly. It was a more discrete endeavor than you might imagine. I selected paint colors that complement the office and purchased a reasonable sized canvas. One by one we went alone into the bathroom, applied our paint and pressed ourselves into the canvas. I do not think I’m overstating it when I say it is a wonderful thing to behold. Many patients and friends and expressed their desire to add to the canvas but I feel strongly it must remain in its original condition. Perhaps I could offer individual presses to future patients once they’re healed?

There are so many incredible things about being a female plastic surgeon. The most obvious reason is that I can relate very personally to my patients interests. One less obvious reason is my ability to embrace the tools of the trade…both real and artificial breasts in this case…for art. Breasts are beautiful in every form. It would not be appropriate for a male surgeon to display implants and announce to the patients browsing the shelves in delight and awe (it happens here every day) that it is called the ‘Titty Bar’. It might be appropriate for a male surgeon to have breast art in his office but probably not if he had the women if his office create the piece then advertise to his patients ‘that’s my team!’. I’m OK with playing the female card whenever I need to: surgery is a man’s world and we all know it. I am going to embrace my stance and stake my claim as a girl with the goods and the capability to use it to my advantage.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I think this is very important as it brings attention to a very serious disease that has certainly affected someone that everyone knows. In my world it is a chance to bring attention to breast surgery in its various forms and use that to support foundations and causes dedicated to breast cancer patients and their families. For every five breast surgeries that I complete from the month of October through the end of the year, I will donate $1000 to a local organization, Bras for a Cause. Patients who join Team Ta-Ta will receive a specially designed T shirt and a chance to bring family and friends to the team by purchasing additional shirts with proceeds donated as well.

If you join Team Ta-Ta you will get your chance, perhaps, to visit the Titty Bar and I may just launch another art project: Breasts to ImPress. Until then…

Here’s up to it!

E