April 2008 Blog Archive
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Digital Billboards Rejected Because of Plastic Surgery Content
There is an advertising agency in Fayetteville, Arkansas which is seeking to put up a new series of digital billboards. However, the agency might not get the opportunity because the new billboards have drawn a lot of controversy. Some of that controversy is due to the nature of the new billboards themselves but much of the controversy is about the content on those billboards.
The content in question went up on a similar billboard set up by the same advertising agency. The ads were for
plastic surgery. However. it's not the advertising of plastic surgery itself which is a problem for the residents of this area. Instead, they say that the plastic surgery ads are too "racy".
Learn more about this issue
here.
Question of the Day: Are digital plastic surgery billboards better than traditional plastic surgery billboards?
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Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Favorite Spots for International Plastic Surgery
Many Americans and Europeans are interested in
plastic surgery but are concerned about the high cost that can sometimes be incurred when getting this kind of work done. As a result, many people are starting to turn to other countries for surgeries that are much less expensive. The cost of surgery can be as much as 75% cheaper when going out of the country to get it done, even though you have to take into consideration the cost of the travel.
Some of the
top hot spots for travelers seeking safe, cheap surgery include:
- Costa Rica.
- Mexico.
- India.
- Argentina.
- Thailand.
All of these places are considered to be spots that have quality plastic surgeons which provide modern procedures at a low cost. However, it is strongly recommended that you use a plastic surgeon in your own area to avoid the complications associated with international medical care. You can work with a plastic surgery loan company to come up with the funds to get treatment done here.
Question of the Day: Which international city would you choose to go to if you were interested in getting plastic surgery outside of the country?
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Kids' Plastic Surgery Book Stirs Up Controversy
Last week we
took a look at an interesting new book on the market which was written by a plastic surgeon. It's a children's book which is designed to assist kids in better understanding what's happening with their moms who go through plastic surgery. But
it turns out that not all moms (and other women) out there think that the book is a good idea.
The author of the book apparently originally intended for the book just to be used by his patients as a tool in their own homes. Kids have a lot of questions when moms go through the physical transformation and recovery time associated with plastic surgery. Those questions can be answered with a story. And other plastic surgeons agreed because the book has begun to be used by doctors around the nation whose patients are all in this same awkward position.
Nevertheless, plastic surgery remains a touchy subject. Many women fear that telling their daughters that they're getting plastic surgery in order to "be prettier" is going to cause their daughters to have self-esteem problems related to concerns about their own body image. However, getting the surgery and not explaining it to your kids doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense if you're trying to keep your children free from confusion.
Question of the Day: Should a plastic surgery book for kids be stirring up so much controversy?
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Friday, April 25, 2008
Aim to Correct Flaws Instead of Recapturing Youth
We have all heard horror stories of plastic surgery gone wrong. The woman who goes in to get her wrinkles removed and leaves the dermatologist's office unable to crack a smile is a common problem (although it's been significantly reduced as dermal fillers have improved across the market). A
recent MSNBC article takes a close look at what's behind the issue of plastic surgery gone wrong (and also provides a great look at bad celebrity plastic surgery).
And the author of the article comes to a really interesting conclusion:
"The field of cosmetic surgery is at its best when it comes to correcting perceived flaws, like a crooked nose, and enhancing assets, such as bust size. But replicating the look of youth seems to pose a more difficult challenge."
Perhaps this is something to keep in mind when you are working with your plastic surgeon to improve your appearance. Aim towards identifying specific flaws that you want to fix rather than trying to recapture the look that you had in your youth. This targeted approach could end up providing you with better plastic surgery results that will make you glad that you didn't just go in to the procedures with a blind eye towards looking younger.
Question of the Day: Is it true or false that cosmetic surgery is better at correcting flaws than recapturing youth?
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Thursday, April 24, 2008
Advances in Breast Reconstructive Surgery
One area of plastic surgery that has been lacking in comparison with other areas is the reconstruction of breasts after treatment for breast cancer. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recently reviewed this issue in order to summarize the advaces that have been made and the areas that are still in need of attention.
What has been found is that it's increasingly common to do only a partial mastectomy, removing the cancerous part of the breast but leaving the rest of the breast intact. Unfortunately, this means that the breasts are assymetrical and there is a chunk missing from one or both breasts. Advances have been made in trying to conserve as much of the breast as possible at the time of surgery.
Advances have also been made in trying to immediately reshape the breast using tissue taken from other parts of the body. The result isn't ideal but it provides a more fully-formed breast and a more symmetrical appearance for the breast cancer survivor.
Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: Should breast reconstructive surgery be included in the medical expenses covered by health insurance?
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Plastic Surgery Book for Kids!
When you think about a shelf full of children's books, do you picture that one of them might have information about
plastic surgery? Probably not since that's an area that hasn't been covered yet by most children's book authors. But one plastic surgeon decided that he wasn't afraid to set that trend.
Dr. Michael Salzhauer has written a book called
My Beautiful Mommy which serves to teach kids what's going on when their mothers get plastic surgery. The book comes from the perspective that there are a lot of women out there who want to get plastic surgery after having kids so that they can get their pre-baby bodies back. It also pays attention to the fact that kids might not understand that Mommy isn't hurt when she gets back home from the doctor ... after all, those bandages can be a little scary right after the surgery has taken place. Assuming that the kids will have questions about that
My Beautiful Mommy provides answers in a language that children can understand.
Learn more from
Strollerderby.
Question of the Day: What's the best way to explain to your kids about your plastic surgery decisions?
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Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Cosmetic Surgery Book: Beauty Junkies
People who are interested in getting cosmetic surgery should always do as much research as possible into the treatments that interest them. Speaking with doctors, reading the literature that's available and asking questions of people who have gotten similar work done can all help you to make the most informed decision about your treatment. As such, you may be interested in reading a new book that's available on the topic of cosmetic surgery.
Beauty Junkies: Inside Our $15 Billion Obsession With Cosmetic Surgery by Alex Kuczynski is an interesting book because it's written a by a journalist who has also be an elective cosmetic surgery patient. As a result, it has a really balanced look at the business of cosmetic surgery but it also shares some personal perspective. In other words, reading this book can make you feel like you're speaking to a very informed friend.
Learn more about the book from
this recent review.
Question of the Day: What other cosmetic surgery books would you recommend to people interested in learning more about the work they want to get done?
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Monday, April 21, 2008
5 Tips for Weight Loss Surgery
A significant (and growing) number of people have taken an interest in
weight loss surgery in recent years. This is due in part to the fact that these surgeries have been proven successful over time for certain populations. It is also due to the fact that weight loss surgeries are increasingly available and affordable.
However, just knowing that weight loss surgery is an option doesn't mean that you're ready to get it done. A
recent report suggests five different things that a potential patient should know before proceeding with the surgery:
1. You should be open to considering different types of weight loss surgery. They aren't all the same and there may be one that's right for you which differs from what you originally planned.
2. You should make sure that your weight loss surgeon has extensive experience in the type of surgery that you're getting done.
3. You should make sure that you develop a good rapport with the surgeon prior to weight loss surgery.
4. You should take your time reviewing a number of different doctors so that you select the one who is right for you.
5. You should make sure that there will be extensive follow-up care and post-surgery support.
In other words, it boils down to really reviewing your surgery options carefully and finding the right doctor to meet your needs.
Question of the Day: What is the number one characteristic that you would seek from a weight loss surgery doctor?
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Friday, April 18, 2008
Plastic Surgeons Serve Our Country in Time of War
There have been many casualties of the war in Iraq, not the least of which is those soldiers who are severely injured while serving in the military there. Many different people are trying to do their part to assist those soliders in their time of need. One group that's playing a crucial role in that is plastic surgeons.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has reported that this group of doctors will spend the next five years developing groundbreaking therapies that can treat the injuries that are being experienced by the soldiers in this war. One specific group of plastic surgeons who will be central to this effort is the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM) which has recently received an $85 million grant from the Department of Defense to develop the
reconstructive surgery advances needed to treat these soliders.
This is not the first time that plastic surgeons have risen to the challenges posed in wartime. Many of the surgical advances of the twentieth century occurred in response to the need to treat soldiers wounded in World War I. Read more about this topic
here.
Question of the Day: Do you think that the plastic surgery grant is a good use of government funds during this war?
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Thursday, April 17, 2008
Brazil Severs Ties Between Plastic Surgeons and Lenders
Brazil has been a center for cosmetic surgery for awhile now due to the fact that it's a place where plastic surgery is affordable but the doctors are reported to be reputable. However, that reputability has come under attack in recent months because of the strong ties between
plastic surgeons and plastic surgery loan compaies. Those ties now appear to be
severed as the result of a ruling by Brazil's Federal Medical Council.
Basically, the way that it should work when you want to get plastic surgery is that you should find the doctor that you want to do the work and then have a consultation with that doctor to discuss the details of the surgery. However, that hasn't been the customary procedure in Brazil where patients are asked to first speak to a plastic surgery funds lender who will help them figure out how they are going to pay for the work. They are being asked to sign paperwork related to the loan before they've even seen a doctor to discuss the surgery.
There are obviously concerns about this. The financial lenders are certainly an important part of the process because many people in Brazil can't
afford to pay out of pocket for plastic surgery. However, the patient should be working primarily with the doctor before figuring out payment for any procedures. To prevent ethical problems, the Federal Medical Council has banned all ties between doctors and lenders. The lenders are expected to argue against this decision.
Question of the Day: What do you see as being the biggest problem when there are ties between doctors and lenders?
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Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Celebrity Plastic Surgery: Ashlee Simpson
Ashley Simpson apparently got
really worked up recently when a reporter asked her if the reason that she's getting married to Pete Wentz is because she's pregnant. It's been suggested that her irritation could be caused by one of two things. Either she is pregnant and she's not comfortable discussing that fact yet. Or she's not pregnant and she's uncomfortable with the fact that celebrity gossip magazines are pointing out weight gain and saying that the bulge must be a baby.
In the past, Ashley Simpson
has said that she's happy with her looks the way that they are and that she doesn't have any self-esteem problems related to her body image. This is information she willingly provided last year after admitting to geting
celebrity plastic surgery. She's in the camp of people who believe that it's perfectly okay to get some cosmetic work done to enhance your appearance and that it doesn't indicate that you feel bad about yourself when you do.
So that begs the question as to whether Simpson would feel the same way if she was gaining weight? Would she start thinking that a little lipo might be the answer? Or is she so unlikely to find flaws with her body that she's probably hiding a baby secret?
Question of the Day: Do you agree with Simpson's statement that plastic surgery has nothing to do with how you feel about your body?
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Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Celebrity Plastic Surgery: Christina Ricci
If you're someone who follows the women of Hollywood then you probably watched Christina Ricci grow up. From her days as Wednesday on
The Addams Family to her recent roles in
Monster and
Black Snake Moan, Ricci has grown up considerably. Not yet thirty, she's still in her prime and doesn't seem to be showing any signs of aging that would be in need of cosmetic repair.
But according to
Make Me Heal, Ricci wouldn't hesitate to get plastic surgery if she saw signs that she was getting older. In a practical manner, she compares it to needing to get dental work done. If you saw a problem with your teeth, you'd go to the dentist; if you see a problem with your features, you should see a plstic surgeon.
What would Ricci consider a problem in need of repair? She mentions saggy knees but says that any sign that she had "aged unfortunately" would deserve a little attention from someone who could repair the issue.
Question of the Day: What type of plastic surgery do you think Ricci could need some day?
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Monday, April 14, 2008
Cosmetic Surgery Gets Safer in Canada
One of the biggest risks that people take when going in for
cosmetic surgery is that they fail to do their background checks on the credentials and reputation of the surgeons who are doing the work. They assume that the doctor must have the right legal and educational background to be able to perform cosmetic surgery. Unfortunately, that's not always the case.
Laws are getting tighter around the world to help protect people from this problem. Here in the United States, there are several states which are considering a
Donda West Law which strengthens regulations for plastic surgery procedures. And in Canada there have just been
recent changes to the naming of professionals in the industry. Previously, Canadian doctors could misrepresent their credentials by saying they were surgeons when they weren't qualified to do surgery; now that's been changed since its misleading to the people getting the work done.
As always, it's important that you act as your own advocate when getting plastic surgery or any other medical procedure. Just because someone got through school doesn't mean that he or she should be your doctor. Ask a lot of questions, get references and make sure that you're comfortable with your doctor before moving forward with any cosmetic work.
Question of the Day: Would you be more inclined to trust a doctor that called himself a "cosmetic surgeon" than one who did not?
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Friday, April 11, 2008
Plastic Surgery for the Battered Wife
The Daily Pilot, a newspaper serving the Costa Mesa, California region, has a report about a woman local to the area who is going to be appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show. And it's not the first television show for the local gal named Norma Jean. She recently appeared on TLC's
10 Years Younger, a makeover show which uses cosmetic procedures and other makeover tricks to help their participants look and feel their best.
So why does that need to be on Oprah? Norma Jean is an advocate for women who have been the victims of domestic violence, an issue that Oprah loves to spread the word about. She says that her
plastic surgery done for the show (which included a double eye lift among other procedures) helped her to leave behind the woman who had been battered. She can look in the mirror and see a new, strong woman that doesn't resemble the person who got herself into a violent relationship.
Question of the Day: Do you think it's a good idea or a bad idea to get plastic surgery to renew your life after leaving a violent relationship?
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Thursday, April 10, 2008
Hills Cast and Friends Plastic Surgery Rumors
Television show
The Hills seems to be a favorite topic for people interested in celebrity plasic surgery gossip. At the end of last year it
was reported that Heidi Montag had admitted to getting a
nose job and it was speculated that co-star Jen Bunney had done the same.
Heidi didn't stop at getting her nose done, she also had her breasts augmented.
New reports suggest that a
breast augmentation was also a procedure received by Audrina Partridge, another gal from
The Hills.
So what does this all mean? That you have to have plastic surgery to appear on
The Hills? Not necessarily since others from the cast, Lauren Conrad is a prime example, haven't gotten any work done. It just means that there are a high percentage of women on this show who may have seen a plastic surgeon. Some of them admit it, some don't but either way, people love to talk about it!
Question of the Day: Which Hills cast member do you believe has had the most celebrity plastic surgery?
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Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Baby Boomer Facelift is Back
Although the
facelift has steadily remained one of the leading
plastic surgery treatments over the years, it saw some decline in correlation with the rise of non-invasive procedures like dermal fillers. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons
now reports that the face lift has made a comeback amongst the baby boomer generation. Does this mean that
dermal fillers are on the decline? Not at all. Reports indicate that the face lift is now used in conjunction with non-invasive procedures to improve the total results of the cosmetic procedure.
The jump in face lift surgery was rather large with nearly a 15% increase in the population of people aged forty and older. It's both men and women in this baby boomer generation that are causing the increase. The rise may be due to a number of factors but one that has been cited is that people are starting to realize that non-invasive procedures only work for a limited amount of time and may not be the most beneficial option for those people whose faces are seriously starting to sag.
Question of the Day: Does it cause you any sense of surprise to learn that facelifts are rising in popularity?
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Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Plastic Surgery and the Golden Ratio
Go back to your academic days and you might be able to remember hearing something about the
golden ratio. This is a mathematical formula that was appled to art and architecture during The Renaissance to determine what was considered to be beautiful. Using symmetry and proportions, it eventually came to be applied to the human body and for a time helped define human beauty.
We don't hear as much about the golden ratio today as we once did, particularly in terms of human beauty. We're living in an age when we generally accept that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. But there's a good chance that we could start hearing more about the golden ratio again as the result of
a new advance in technology.
Computers have long been able to use facial recognition software to determine basic characters of a human face, such as whether the person is male or female. However, a new advance has been made which now allows computers to determine the "beauty" of the female face. The report doesn't specifically say that the golden ratio was used; a number of factors were taken into consideration by the computer.
If we do decide that we're going to start judging beauty by a specific standard, such as the golden ratio, then there's a good chance that there will be a rise in
plastic surgery interest directly intended to create the desired form.
Question of the Day: Do you believe that there is a mathematical equation for beauty - and if so, would you use plastic surgery to achieve it?
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Monday, April 07, 2008
Online Plastic Surgery Game Gets Bad Press
There is online game designed for teens and young adult girls which has been taking a hard hit in
the media in recent weeks. The game, called Miss Bimbo, allows girls to create an avatar which they move through this virtual reality world. They can do a variety of different things in this world but the main purpose appears to be that they go fashion shopping and
suntanning as part of an effort to snag a hot billionairre boyfriend.
One of the biggest areas of contention has been that the site offered the sale of virtual diet pills and
plastic surgery procedures to assist these girls in boosting their beauty points. The game has since stopped doing the diet pill thing but avatars can still get breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures done as part of their ongoing makeovers. Many say that this sends a bad message to young girls about their bodies. However, others would argue that this game merely reflects the real-life choices girls are making.
In many ways, the game mirrors reality for girls growing up today. Sure, it's taken to a magnified level - most eighteen-year-old-girls don't have the money to buy the fashion accessories and get the plastic surgery that they opt for in the game. But it presents a basically realistic look at how girls make decisions in life today, including the decisions that they make about their bodies and the reasons motivating them to make them.
Question of the Day: Do you think a game like Miss Bimbo is good, bad or neither?
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Friday, April 04, 2008
Madonna on Plastic Surgery
People have often
speculated about what kind of
plastic surgery Madonna may have gotten over the years. After all, this is a woman who definitely doesn't look her age. However, Madonna isn't one to nip and tell.
In a recent
People.com report, Madonna gave a terrific quote summing up her feelings on the subject:
"I'm not against plastic surgery, I'm just against discussing it."
When it boils down to it, the reality of plastic surgery is that it's nobody's business besides yours and your surgeon's. If it's something that you're happy to talk about, by all means go for it since it's not a taboo subject at all. However, just because you get some work done doesn't mean the whole world has the right to know what you did at the doctor's office.
Question of the Day: For some Friday gossip, do you think that Madonna has had plastic surgery?
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Thursday, April 03, 2008
The Thailand Divide: Sex Reassignment Plastic Surgery
Thailand is known as a hot spot for quick-and-easy sex reassignment plastic surgery amongst men wishing to become women. However, there are two different types of people who get this surgery and the experiences they have in Thailand differ greatly.
On the one hand, there are the people who are from the area and who continue living there as so-called "ladyboys" once they have made the transition through plastic surgery. These men are able to get local surgery at a very low cost. And there is no requirement that they undergo psychological counseling prior to surgery (like would be required here in the United States).
And then there are the tourists who go to Thailand to get sex reassignment plastic surgery. They have to pay a bit more than the locals and they have to prove that they have gotten the counseling that is required here in the U.S. But that's not the only difference this group experiences; they may also get better (and safer) care during the plastic surgery.
Thailand is so concerned about this discrepancy that they have placed a temporary ban on this type of plastic surgery. Learn more
here.
Question of the Day: Would you see a doctor in Thailand for any type of plastic surgery?
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Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Technology to Assist in Plastic Surgery Decisions
Have you ever tested out any of that software that will show you what you would like look with different
plastic surgery procedures? The way that it works is that you upload a photo of yourself and then select certain information to show what your face would look like with a face lift or what liposuction would do for your body. Many plastic surgeons make use of this in their own offices in order to show patients what they can expect from different types of cosmetic procedures.
These tools are great for getting an idea of what you'll look like with certain work but there may be another technology tool that can be integral in assisting you in deciding what kind of plastic surgery work you want done. It's new age-progression software from beta site Aviary which lets you upload a picture, answer a few questions and then get an image of what you're going to look like in a certain number of years.
So let's say that you're not ready for plastic surgery yet but that you think you might want to consider some down the line. Input your photo and answer some questions about your health habits. Then choose a date in the future that you want to see yourself. The software will provide you with an image that should be a fairly close approximation of what you'll look like on that date. This may help give you a good idea of whether or not you'll be needing some plastic surgery work down the line - and how much you'll need to save up in advance!
Learn more about this software
here.
Question of the Day: Would you be interested in seeing yourself with age-progression?
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Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Documentary on 12-Year-Old Model Discusses Plastic Surgery
There is a new independent film documentary that's
about to be screened in Chicago which follows the career of a twelve-year-old fashion model. The film is about America's obsession with beauty (presumptively focused particularly on how this impacts young girls) and so it also delves into many different aspects of the beauty industry. For example, it takes a look at the chemicals that are in cosmetics and it reviews some of the risks of
plastic surgery.
While some in the plastic surgery community would say that films are like this present a one-sided story that paints cosmetic procedures in a negative light, others support the idea that we should spread information such as this to the general public. Plastic surgery is something that should be taken seriously and the person who is considering it should know all of the risks and rewards that are associated with the procedure.
Of course, a documentary on a model's career isn't going to provide you with complete plastic surgery information if you're seeking to make a decision about your own work. You'll have to consult a plastic surgeon for that information. But films like this can get you started and can pose some questions for thought that will assist you in making your own plastic surgery choices.
Question of the Day: Do you know of any other documentary films that deal with the issue of plastic surgery?
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