is it common practice to remove flight feathers surgically in macaws?

by Nick
(Aloha, Oregon, USA)

I have a 7 year old macaw that I aquired recently. I was told at the time that I brought her home that her flight feathers had been surgically removed and that she couldnt fly. I have limited experience with birds that have had their feathers clipped, but after watching her flap her wings as she does sometimes, her wings appear to be normal. They look exactly like ones of birds that can readily fly. She does not seem to be able to fly, but I dont see any reason why she couldnt. Is there some surgical procedure that renders flight improbable, but still leaves the wings looking normal, or were they pulling my leg.