By Denise Mann, Editor-in-Chief
Icon, comedienne and plastic surgery patient extraordinaire Joan Rivers passed away today at the age of 81. She went into cardiac arrest during a routine endoscopic procedure to repair her vocal cords. I scribed the below letter years ago, and sadly I was never able to do a cover story on Rivers. That said, I never stopped admiring her, laughing with her and routing for her — especially this past week. She will be missed. May her legacy be one filled with laughter. RIP.
Dear Miss Rivers:
I am scribing this open letter to invite you to appear on the cover of Plastic Surgery Practice. It is my hope that you see it or one of our readers tells you about it. I am the editor and write all of the cover stories myself. As such, I would welcome the opportunity to craft a feature article on your experiences with plastic surgery and plastic surgeons. At industry meetings, the sessions that are most well-attended are those that focus on patient recruitment and patient retention.
Who better than you, Joan, to provide such counsel? (I hope you don’t mind if I call you Joan.) Unlike
Who better than you, Joan, to provide such counsel? (I hope you don’t mind if I call you Joan.) Unlike
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| Joan Rivers. Photo by Feature Flash |
many celebrities who deny, deny, deny that they have had any work done, you are outspoken about what you have had and what you would have. This is so refreshing, especially when delivered with your trademark wit.
I feel like I know you, although we have never met. I have been a fan since as far back as I can remember. In fact, I was around 11 years old when my mother bought me a copy of The Life And Hard Times Of Heidi Abromowitz. (Arguably, this book about a girl who can’t say no likely wasn’t the most appropriate book choice for a tween, but that is neither here nor there.) My grandparents also took me to see you perform stand-up in Atlantic City later that same year. (Again, maybe not the best judgment, but they meant well, and if I recall, they also got comped tickets because of all the money spent in the casino.)
Still, the point is clear: I have followed your career as well as your personal ups and downs for as far back as I can remember. You are a living legend and a groundbreaking comedian – a real Piece of Work (which was phenomenal, by the way).
Unlike the lay press, I don’t care if you have had 739 procedures or two. I want to know about your experiences. What kept you coming back for more? Did you ever switch surgeons? Why? What turned you off? Were you ever unhappy with the results? If so, how did the surgeon try to appease you? Did it work? Is there anything you would never have done? I want to hear what Joan Rivers has to say about some of the fringe procedures out there, from “ball-ironing” to plastic surgery palmistry. I want your take on marijuana as a recovery aide, too.
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I loved the way you handled the “skintervention” that took place on Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best? You turned the tables on friends and employees who tried to dissuade you from having another cosmetic surgery procedure by offering to pay for all of them to have a little work done. Well played. Point made.So again, I ask with respect and humility: Will you do the magazine the honor of appearing on our cover?
Think about it. Please!
Sincerely,
Denise Mann, PSP Editor in Chief
