'Invest in Breasts': Crowdfunding Site Encourages Viewers to Donate for Breast Enhancement Surgery of Random Women
Women who are thinking of obtaining larger breasts but cannot afford the charges can ask for donations through the website My Free Implants. By encouraging random people to "Invest in Breasts,"' the crowdfunding site is drawing flak from a number of media sources and groups.
Since 2005, My Free Implants offers women a place to get funding for breast surgeries. In exchange for donations, contributors (often men) can receive tokens such as messages, photos or videos from the female beneficiaries.
Australian news site News.com.au says the website now has 5000 active donors with over 3500 listed projects. With 1,200 success stories, the founders maintain that the website has helped raise $13 million dollars for breast enlargement surgeries.
However, not everyone is pleased with the company's success. She Knows labels My Free Implants as sexist and degrading towards women.
Independent sees the website as exploitative towards the female gender, encouraging men to browse through the blogs and women's profiles like shopping in a mall.
Medical institutions from the U.S., U.K. and Australia have expressed their concern. President Hugh Bartholomeusz of the Australian Society Plastic Surgeons says the website propagates a "dangerous misconception" of cosmetic surgery.
"Cosmetic surgery is serious, invasive surgery," Bartholomeusz said on the Australian publication. "This is not something that should be treated in the same way as the purchase of a new outfit or hairstyle."
The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has deemed the site and its services as 'outrageous,' 'degrading,' and 'inappropriate.' The Association intends to remove surgeons who are found to knowingly provide services to the website.
According to the UK-based publication, the General Medical Council has followed suit. The Council has recently introduced a number of rules and guidelines, preventing surgeons from knowingly operating on patients featured on the crowdfunding site.
Doctors found guilty of breaking any of stipulated guidelines may have their licenses revoked by the Council.
Jay Moore, one of the founders of My Free Implants, believes the criticism stems from misconceptions on what the website provides. On the Australian news site, Moore explains that people normally communicate with one another before donating to a woman's cause.
"You're asking people for money and it does take work," Moore explained on the Aussie website. "Generally, people find it's harder than they thought to fundraise it really does require effort.
With all the criticism being thrown at the website, the founders continue to see their concept as a success. A trial run on funding nose jobs and bum lifts is reportedly being considered.