 PART ONE
Plastic surgery is soaring in popularity in Kern County.
Plastic nation
When Patricia Amparan hit her 40s and was all done raising her two children, she decided to do something for herself.
For woman, miracle's in needle
If it comes in a jar and promises beauty miracles, there's a good chance Kathy Cronkhite has tried it.
'I love my stomach. My pooch is gone'
Karen Baughman doesn't want radical change -- just to put her breasts where they used to be and get rid of that lower-stomach "pooch" frustratingly immune to exercise.
For shorts lover, spider veins are an unwanted accessory
Forty-year-old Sandra Barajas is in great shape -- thin and athletic -- but doesn't like one thing: spider veins on the outside of her legs, just above the knee.
PART TWO
Before going under the knife, know what to ask.
Who's your doctor?
On the surface, two doctors advertising cosmetic surgery services in The Californian look very similar. Both claim to be one of the best surgeons around. They both refer people to their Web sites and offer a wide range of procedures, from breast augmentation to liposuction to face-lifts.
For insurance companies, not all surgeries are created equal
Delano bariatric surgeon Ara Keshishian plops a large pile of documents on his desk and sighs.
Goodbye baggy T-shirts -- hello 'skinny' clothes
Angela Carrera says looks are hugely important in the real-estate business -- and she's not talking about the houses.
Adventurous woman ready to look 'normal'
Editor's note: This story was revised Dec. 1, 2004, to clarify the name of the doctor who perfomed cosmetic surgery on Bakersfield resident Carol Lisman.
Pair go from nip-tuck go-getters to nip-tuck naysayers
Judy Harris and Michelle Maxwell were looking for a confidence boost when they decided to have plastic surgery, but afterward only ended up miserable.
PART THREE
Weight loss surgery has become very popular but there are risks.
Weight-loss surgery: Too risky, or too risky not to?
Sean Fowler was bright and fun-loving, a junior high teacher and football coach from Bakersfield who made telescope lenses and deep sea fished.
It isn't about vanity, says surgery pro
Kathy Young, a 54-year-old Bakersfield hairstylist, is a plastic surgery pro.
Don't want the works? Consider effectiveness of partial face-lift
Kathy Patt says she's not one to dwell on her age, but school is out and the money's available, so why not splurge on a little plastic surgery?
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