Popular west Boca Raton, FL teen dies after breast surgery

[seafan]

Popular west Boca teen dies after breast surgery

By KEVIN DEUTSCH
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, March 24, 2008

Stephanie Kuleba had a charmed life: captain of the varsity cheerleading squad at West Boca High, a near perfect grade point average, barbie-doll looks and a ticket to the University of Florida, where she would start her journey toward becoming a medical doctor.
Her friends said she was "perfect," so when Kuleba died Saturday of complications from breast augmentation surgery, none of them could understand how the girl whose success in life "was a sure thing" could perish in such a strange and devastating fashion.

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While no official cause of death was released by authorities or Kuleba's family, many of her friends said she suffered a severe reaction to anesthesia given to her during a breast augmentation procedure Friday night. ..... Kuleba was beloved by classmates at West Boca High, more than 400 of whom gathered outside the school Sunday night for a candlelight vigil. They hung Kuleba's shining silver pom pom's and cheerleading t-shirt on the fence outside the school and left flowers, pictures and handwritten notes beneath the display.

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In her reserved "senior" parking spot, the one where she parked her white Lexus every school day, friends placed more flowers, teddy bears and pictures. ..... Kuleba had brains to match her beauty, friends said, earning a GPA above 4. 0, acing advanced placement courses and earning an acceptance letter from the University of Florida, where she planned to head after graduation.

She was excited about taking pre-med courses in Gainesville. But the day she really looked forward to would come in May, when she would go to her senior prom for one last hurrah with her friends.

She'd just brought a stunning dress and made plans with a date.

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In recent years, doctors have been performing an increasing number of procedures such as breast implants, liposuction and tummy tucks on young women and even girls as young as 14.

The enormous popularity of reality TV shows like Extreme Makeover have fueled the desire of adolescent girls to alter their bodies permanently, and they are finding more surgeons willing to oblige them. Breast implants and liposuction are now bestowed by parents as graduation or birthday gifts. Some doctors say they have performed breast augmentations on Baby Boomer mothers and their teenage daughters.

From 2002 to 2003, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of girls 18 and younger who got breast implants nearly tripled, from 3,872 to 11,326.

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This is incredibly sad, for so many reasons.