February 2009 Blog Archive
Friday, February 27, 200990210
Beverley Hills plastic surgery is pioneering the way yet again, they are truly upholding their stylish and rich ways. A Beverley Hills based plastic surgeon, Dr. John Anastasatos, has developed a non-invasive calf enhancement procedure. The surgery will dramatically reduce calf and ankle size, a problem many people struggle with and frankly are annoyed about. Women have long been trying to find a treatable procedure for this, however to date nothing had been made.
Emax Health an online medical site said, "Leading Beverly Hills-based plastic surgeon, Dr. John Anastasatos, has broken new ground with the use of injectables by developing an excitingly fresh procedure utilizing Botox for strategic injections in selected leg muscles to create an effective treatment for women with oversized lower legs. After only one treatment, his patient's calf and ankle mass decreased in size by five centimeters, with no loss of muscle activity and significant results occurring within only days of treatment."
With the economic downturn still in full force, procedures like this may become the way of 2009. Because they are more cost-efficient and take less time to recover. Minimally invasive procedures in both dermatology and cosmetic surgery are becoming more popular nationwide.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Buyer Beware
New buyers beware that ad's are becoming popular among the plastic surgery industry. Industry experts, physicians, and officials are warning consumers not to fall victim to surgery scams and rogue doctors who are actually not certified surgeons. The industry is getting a boost with minimally invasive procedures, but those of you seeking out tummy tucks, breast augmentations, and face lifts, be wary of who you go to and make sure you do your homework first. In tough economic times, people will do anything to make money, and that means scam you into a disastrous surgery.
Reuters reports, "There are a lot of people doing cosmetic procedures; some are very skilled and some are not. It's really 'buyer beware' in this instance, Dr. Jeffrey Dover, president-elect of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), noted in a telephone interview with Reuters Health."
Similarly those of you looking to pinch a few pennies but still have surgery, be cautious before going overseas for medical tourism, because many of the 3rd world countries also don't have certified physicians. Make sure you go through a credible source for surgery.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Breast Augmentation and Sex-Life: Easy Sell
The cosmetic surgery sales industry is being heavily scrutinized. During this highly unstable economic climate, sales teams are said to be selling plastic surgery treatments at any cost. Some of the sales measures may be a bit to much according to some people. The investigation showed that many physicians and their sales associates were using tactics that touched on women's insecurities, claiming they would find a husband and more men if they got a breast augmentation.
News.com.au reported the story today saying, "You need a boob job. It will boost your chances of finding a man. Check out my sales consultant's breasts - look what it's done for her. Did I mention the discount for allowing before-and-after pictures to be posted on the web? These are the hard-sell tactics revealed in an investigation into cosmetic surgery."
Some critics say such promotion of cosmetic surgery should be banned completely, as should before and after photos which positively promulgate surgery and disregard discussions about scarring, post-op recovery, and pain. So don't listen to pushy salesmen, instead choose cosmetic enhancement procedures for your own personal reasons.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lipo for Lunch
The days where plastic surgery procedures took weeks of recovery, pain and anaesthesia have greatly evolved. Nowadays, patients seeking cosmetic enhancements can get them on their lunch break! Smart Lipo has reinvented and rejuvenated the liposuction and weight loss industry. Patients are finding less pain, time and cost involved in the procedure.
CBS News reported, "Dr. Michael Bruck, director of plastic surgery at the Juva Skin and Laser Center. "First of all, it's performed under local anesthesia. It's a virtually painless procedure. There is very little bruising, a much quicker recovery (than traditional liposuction), and little swelling." It also has a shorter recovery time, and patients can remain awake while it's done. "We don't advise the patients go back to work," says Bruck, "but when I have called patients to find out how they're doing, I have found that they are out to dinner!"
Alongside cost and time efficient plastic surgery procedures, facial fillers and minimally invasive dermatology treatments are the way of the 2009, especially during a post-credit-crisis arena, where people clearly want to look good but lack the savings account to do so.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Post Bariatric Plastic Surgery
A post-bariatric plastic surgeon in the Bay Area has now made it more accessible for potential patients to learn about their plastic surgery options. Many people who have undergone bariatric surgery (massive weight loss) find it necessary to go under the knife one more time to remove loose skin and tighten their figure.
PR Web Newswire released the report about Dr. Thomas McNemar, "After undergoing weight loss surgery in San Francisco and Walnut Creek, many patients become frustrated. Despite all the hard work dedicated to fitness and healthy eating, loose skin, and residual fat still remain," notes Dr. McNemar, "I want them to enjoy the highest quality of results, and for that they need to have access to information that will help them understand their goals as well as their surgical options. The decision to have post bariatric plastic surgery could be one of the most important decisions they make in their lifetime. Significant decisions like this require a considerable amount of mental preparation and knowledge. The more information I can offer, the better."
Alongside helping patients who have just gone through bariatric surgery, Dr. McNemar says his clinic does many surgeries for people seeking weight loss: liposuction and tummy tucks. Bariatric surgery has become a very popular alternative to such procedures, because it allows the patient to remove mass amounts of unwanted weight.
Friday, February 20, 2009
The Incision Decision
Most women undergoing breast augmentation have one main concern: size, shape, and aesthetics. However, what many women fail to realize is how important the incision location and type of incision is. Today women have the choice of choosing their size, implant material, and even shape. They can also choose the location of their incision. Popular locations are around the nipples and underneath the breast.
The two incisions are called periareolar and inframammory. Best Syndication reports about the two types and the positives and negatives of both, "This incision type (under the nipple) is the least visible of all incisions, but is associated with higher instances of the patient being unable to successfully breast feed when compared with other incision types. This incision under the breast fold is generally more visible than the periareolar incision site, but it's normally concealed under the breast. It is associated with less nipple and breastfeeding problems than the periareolar incision site."
Though there are other options available like underneath the arm and armpit or endoscopic placement (smaller incisions), these two are still the wisest and most popular choices of incisions.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Fessing Up
Plastic surgery has long been considered a field dominated by women hoping to look better or younger. Though the growing trend in the industry is men getting work done. Increasingly surgeons are finding business-men and middle-aged men opting for a touch up, for a sundry of reason. Some men seek out cosmetic enhancements to keep up with younger men in the workforce, others to simply look younger or more fit. Regardless of the reason, men fessing up about there cosmetic surgery jaunts.
The Financial Times reported about men and surgery saying, ""There are definitely more business guys coming in and they have very focused demands," says Cap Lesesne, pictured, one of Manhattan's leading cosmetic surgeons. "They are worried about their job futures and their professional longevity." Typical male patients might be in their mid-forties, he adds. "They're fairly successful and they're looking to work into their sixties."
As the financial crisis worsens, granted people won't be investing loads of money into procedures, some will however opt for a nip and tuck to better compete with young peers and counterparts.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Mommy Make-Over has New Meaning
Typically when we think of 'Mommy Makeovers' we hear about women having a pseudo-mid-life crisis and seeking out anti-aging procedures like Botox, facial fillers and tummy tucks. But a Newport Beach, California plastic surgeon is giving mommy's a new makeover.
PR Web has released a report from Dr. Semira Bayati about her new style of surgical makeovers, "And one Orange County cosmetic plastic surgeon is using her expertise and skills in a broad array of aesthetic enhancement and reconstruction procedures to restore new moms to their pre-pregnancy figures."
Rather than simply trying to make the women look younger, Dr. Bayati's makeovers instead use both reconstructive and plastic surgery techniques to restore women back to their pre-pregnancy, pre-aging days. This not only aids in their new more fit figures, but also boosts the women's self-esteem; something that many new mothers find a struggle. Watch out for these Orange County hot Mama's!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Teens and Plastic Surgery
Just when we thought the plastic surgery industry had reached it's limits in the current dismal economy, the industry has fought and crawled it's way back into the hearts, faces and minds of us all again. The genius industry boom has come from beauty-hungry teenagers seeking out cosmetic enhancements with hopes of looking like Hollywood celebs, joining the sorority of their dreams or simply looking better and fit. This has begun to revitalize a struggling business. In lieu of the financial turmoil circulating worldwide, many industry pundits had said elective surgeries would take a hit as most people cannot afford to budget thousands of dollars for surgery, though teenagers are more influential than we thought.
NBC News reported on this recent phenomena saying, "The American Society of Plastic Surgery reported a spike of 42 percent in the number of teens seeking filler injections. As some younger teens turn to more expensive and invasive procedures like injections or even plastic surgery to get the Hollywood look, parents are urged to pay attention, because ultimately, they have the power of the purse."
But is this the boost the slumping plastic surgery industry really needs? Should our teenagers be the one's getting aesthetic enhancing procedures? A question of age comes into play as well, is it healthy for teenagers to be having invasive procedures like breast augmentation and rhinoplasty?
Monday, February 16, 2009
I am Woman hear me Roar
According to a survey administered by Reuters Health, plastic surgery means more to women than just aesthetic enhancements. Cosmetic surgery and the aftermath of the procedure seems to enable women; they develop a devout sense of emotional and physical confidence and lift. The research also found that these statistics go hand-in-hand with how magazines and media portray cosmetic surgery to be: a mechanism to boost female emotional and beauty confidence.
The research showed, "Of articles discussing emotional health, 59 percent specifically linked negative pre-surgery emotional health with positive post-surgery indicators, Polonijo and colleagues report. Moreover, articles regularly denote cosmetic surgery as "restoring lost youth" and age as "a problem that needs to be fixed."
Even in times of economic despair women seem to seek out confidence and beauty boosters.Whether this is a good or bad thing, well that's up to you to discuss.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Dangers of Unlicensed Cosmetic Surgery
Reports have been released today by a number of news organizations, like the UK Daily Mirror and Daily Star, that a pair of girlfriends seeking out a 'J-Lo Butt" are now in critical condition. The duo, both whom are in their thirties, were hoping to come out of the procedure with a plump bum, instead the derriere lift and injections have left both of them fighting for their lives. All the while the unlicensed surgeon who gave them silicone injections is on the run from authorities.
This is the precise reason why plastic surgery procedures should only be done by FDA approved and licensed physicians. Even if you are attempting to cut-costs, pain or time it is not a wise choice to seek out poor quality or unlicensed practitioners.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Surgery and Success
I've decided to propose a question to all the devout plastic surgery blog readers. Does cosmetic surgery equate to success? Many people, women more specifically, feel that having the financial means to get cosmetic enhancement procedures means they are successful in the workforce. Likewise many women (and men) use plastic surgery procedures and beauty to get further in the workforce. Should these two things go hand-in-hand? Why has our workforce, pre and post financial crisis, gone mad for beauty? Has society lost its grip on reality? Some would say yes, due in part to the fact that so many of us are beauty-crazed and obsessed with image.
Just yesterday the women with the largest breast implants (after 18 rounds of surgery) came out and spoke to the media. And roughly one month ago we reported on the Korean woman so obsessed with plastic surgery that when her rights to surgery were revoked she injected cooking oil into her skin, causing serious deformations. Maybe surgery and success don't make the perfect equation.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Financing Plastic Surgery
At the moment though there is a drought in the overall numbers of people getting plastic surgery, for those people who are keen for a nip and tuck, now is the best time to finance it. If you have saved enough pennies and are not feeling the heat from the crisis, it may be a good option to finance surgery in incremental instalments. Many physicians are ok with this during tough financial times, likewise the price for financing surgery has decreased in recent months with the wake of the downturn. If you have the monetary means is a viable option to look more fit or younger.
Likewise this may be a wiser choice as opposed to go going overseas to third world countries to save a buck or two for a procedure. Often times medical tourism, if it is not a credible source, can be quite a risky move. In fact just this week Usher's wife was said to have undergone a plastic surgery procedure in Brazil and has fallen victim to serious post-op problems.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
38KKK
Yes ladies and gentleman 38KKK is a bra size, this week the world's largest breast implants were done on Shelya Hershey. The world's largest breasts contain nearly 2 galls of silicone in them! You heard me right, 2 gallons. Now tens of thousands of women undergoe breast augmentations each year to perk up their jaw-dropping busts, but this 28-year-old woman has been under the knife 18 times to get the busting breasts she currently has.
I've heard of plastic surgery junkies, but this story has not only made headlines for the sheer enormity of the breasts, but also the financial aspects. To undergo 18 cosmetic surgery procedures would cost a fortune, and frankly in a time of serious economic despair forking out hundreds of thousands to have the world's largest breast seems outlandish. We'll see if 38KKK manages to be worth it's price.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Pay Outs for Surgery
One time high flying banking executives are now seeking out plastic surgery to revitalise their looks after added stress induced wrinkles and pounds from the global financial crisis. The GFC as I like to call it, has adversely impacted the cosmetic surgery industry and financial sector, however on the wake of this turmoil, bankers, financiers, and C-level executives are opting for a boost in beauty. These new surgery junkies are being dubbed severance surgeries. Many of whom are wallowing in their recent lay-offs, are taking their severance pay to nip, tuck, and lift sorrows away.
The Financial Times reported about the ex-banking surgery flurry saying, "Demand for tummy tucks, face lifts and male breast reduction has surged in the City, according to the Harley Medical Group, the UK's largest cosmetic surgery provider. Surely those who clamoured for cuts in the banking sector didn't have this in mind?"
If this trend persists it looks like we will have an ample supply of good looking bankers looking for jobs around the world. The GFC may actually begin to revamp the dwindling plastic surgery industry with the influx of laid off financial gurus.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Italy Stiffens Plastic Surgery Laws
The Italian government is beginning to implement more stringent plastic surgery laws for minors. Officials are hoping to sanction girls under 18 from having breast augmentation surgery. Welfare Minister Francesca Martini said today, ""We are considering creating a guideline which forbids mammalian implants to girls younger than 18," stated Martini. "It is often the case that the girls requesting for larger breasts are the most fragile of the bunch, easily susceptible to the messages of mass media."
Many countries internationally have opted to place more restrictions on cosmetic surgery for teenagers. Australia has implemented a ban against plastic surgery and solariums for youngsters under 18, while the US is doing the same for teenagers under the age of 18. Most pundits believe that the media, more specifically Hollywood, markets to swaying teenagers ideas about cosmetic enhancements, surgery and beauty. Similarly, physicians believe there are a number of health risks associated with teenagers and invasive plastic surgery procedures.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Age Matters
Even with stringent FDA laws intact about breast augmentations and age, many young teenage girls are getting breast implants for birthdays and graduations. But does age really matter? The fact of the matter is, yes it does. The FDA urges that surgeons abide by some age related recommendations: 18 years old for saline implants and 22 years old for silicone. These age restrictions are implemented to ensure that a young woman's breasts are fully matured, and to make sure potential patients are aware of the risks associated with each type of implant.
Despite these recommendations and restrictions many young girls opt for surgery whether its because of societal and social pressures, we are not sure. But it is vital that women seeking breast implants are aware of these guidelines. Similarly, women over 50 should also be wary about getting the procedure done.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Wrinkles, Stress and Surgery
We may think that since our mother and father aged gracefully that we are in the clear, and that serious age marks and wrinkles are genetically passed on. Well true, they are, however doctors are finding out that stress is one of the key factors correlated to wrinkles. Stress induces wrinkles, and wrinkles provoke many to opt for plastic surgery. No serious breakthrough here, but what it does mean is that more people are realizing they can learn to prevent and tame their wrinkle-outbreaks by taking better care of their mental health. Working late? Take a coffee break, sit back, relax and then read on.
Dr. Bahaman Guyuron of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) says, "A person's heritage may initially dictate how they age -- but if you introduce certain factors into your life, you will certainly age faster. Likewise, if you avoid those factors, you can slow down the hands of time."
Studies done by the ASPS show that people with added stress in their lives: divorce, death, high stress jobs are more likely to have wrinkles than laid back care free individuals. Also, antidepressants and massive weight gain also induced wrinkles and need for plastic surgery.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Medical Tourism Reaches New Heights with Economic Downturn
If you thought Americans and Londoners were plastic surgery crazed, Singaporeans, or often times referred to as S'poreans are enjoying the delights and low costs of medical tourism around Asia. Most North Americans, Europeans and Aussies tend to opt for medical tourism hubs like Brazil and Argentina, but Thailand has recently become the hot destination for jet-setting cosmetic surgery fiends and fans. "A new nose for only $350. Double eyelid surgery at just a little over $250.These are the prices for plastic surgery done in a clinic in Hat Yai, Thailand. Compare these to the cost of cosmetic surgical fixes in Singapore, which is at least 10 times more. Nose surgery, for example, costs from $4,000 while prices for double eyelid surgery start from $2,500. It is little wonder then that more Singaporeans are checking out lower-cost places like Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan." With prices this low for surgery, fellow plastic surgery travelers should venture to Asia-Pacific for a nip and tuck. However, before jumping on board the jet plane, make sure physicians are not compromising quality of work and experience for cheap prices. The global financial crisis may mean low costs for surgery, but quality is a cost you can't afford to cut.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Desensitization
In the US plastic surgery has become so common, everyone has had surgical work done, celebrities can no longer hide it. Have we driven Americans to become desensitized to the price of beauty and plastic surgery? Is it becoming a necessity to have a nip and a tuck?
During my year overseas living in Australia, I have realized the difference in our plastic and cosmetic driven culture from other western nations. Australia is the US circa 1960s - pure, wholesome, and less enthralled and enthused with plastic surgery. However, the beauty bug is about to bite the Aussies as hard as it did the Americans, Londoners, Argentinians and Brazilians. Sydneysiders are falling head over heels for cosmetic enhancements like breast augmentations, nose-jobs, and even dare I say derriere 'bum' lifts.
In a country fixed on the foundations of being laid back and have no worries, where people chop all their words down and simplify them, will the plastic surgery industry boom with citizens like their northern hemisphere counterparts? We'll just have to wait and see. For now, no worries mate.
