[nckerr]

The funny thing is the US Army on a space available basis provides free breast augmentation surgery for female Soldiers. The Soldier has to pay for the supplies, but to keep our plastic surgerons trained in all facets of their profession, the Army allows them to perform the surgeries on Soldiers who want them so the physicians stay marketable in the civilian world once they leave the Army. Sounds controversial, but the truth is, it would hurt retention and recruiting of plastic surgeons (who fix blown up faces in Iraq etc.) if they didn’t allow it.

[Erasmus]

the Army allows them to perform the surgeries on Soldiers who want them so the physicians stay marketable in the civilian world once they leave the Army.

Somehow, my eyes played a trick on me. On first reading, I thought it said

"the Army allows them to perform the surgeries on Soldiers who want them so the soldiers stay marketable in the civilian world once they leave the Army."

[Laurita]

Not to mention female soldiers run the risk of having their breasts damaged or destroyed by IEDs. Also, breast cancer is covered under TRICARE. As a female soldier, I expect to leave the military with all the parts I came in with, or at least a reasonable facimile and I don't want to be the very first one my Army Doc has ever done surgery on. Funny how there's never been ANY uproar concerning the treatment of facial trauma or male reproductive system surgery or medication (re: Viagra).

On the other hand, as far as fixing a soldier whose breast implant burst on the obstacle course in BCT? Not worth the money.

[ReignOfError]

The funny thing is the US Army on a space available basis provides free breast augmentation surgery for female Soldiers. The Soldier has to pay for the supplies, but to keep our plastic surgerons trained in all facets of their profession, the Army allows them to perform the surgeries on Soldiers who want them so the physicians stay marketable in the civilian world once they leave the Army. Sounds controversial, but the truth is, it would hurt retention and recruiting of plastic surgeons (who fix blown up faces in Iraq etc.) if they didn’t allow it.

Breast implants are usually augmentations, but not always. Female soldiers could lose a breast to injury or cancer, and the military should be prepared to treat that as they would any other injury or ailment. Military plastic surgeons doing elective breast implants serves the same purpose as rotating military surgeons through ER duty in inner-city trauma wards to keep their skills sharp..