August 2009 Blog Archive
Monday, August 24, 2009Saudi Arabia Surgery
Cosmetic surgery has been a booming profession in Saudi Arabia. The most popular procedures for women were liposuction, breast augmentations, and rhinoplasty. Three years ago, surgeons and clerics came together to discuss which procedures would be acceptable in accordance with the Islamic religion.
"The outcome was that procedures intended to reverse damage or disfigurement from an accident, or procedures that enhance or fix features that cause a person grief, are considered acceptable" reports the Daily News.
Women looking to have a nose job to look more like Jennifer Aniston may be looked down upon. Women in Saudi Arabia are required to wear cover ups over the majority of their body. For many, this seems contradictory to the new increased interest in plastic surgery. These women claim that cosmetic enhancements increase their self esteem in private and when they travel. Many believe that the increased media attention on plastic surgery has also aided in this trend.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Back To School Surgery
With school starting back up soon, teens are preparing themselves for summer's end and new year of education. But when school starts again, teens may find that many of their friends don't look the same. Why? Teenage plastic surgery was booming this summer.
"In between 8th grade and a student's first day of high school is an important time for many teenagers to make some changes to their appearance. The 16th birthday, the 18th birthday, both factor into the decision. I'm doing a lot of nose jobs on 14 and 15 year-old girls this summer," said one plastic surgeon in the Examiner.
The stress to gain acceptance within social circles can lead many teens to want a change in their appearance. The downtime between the school years gives teens ample time to recover. The most popular procedure was reported to be rhinoplasty. Parents must sign consent before any teenage surgery can begin, but more parents now are open to the idea ever before. Parents are willing to send their child back to school with new books and a brand new nose.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Nipple Reduction
Breast reductions are a popular plastic surgery option for women who wish to decrease the size of their natural breasts. Women undergoing breast reduction often use nipple reduction as well to enhance the overall look of their breasts. The procedure has recently crossed over to women who wish to change the shape and size of their nipples, regardless of the size of their breasts.
"Nipple surgery can make a big difference in breast aesthetics. Traditionally, it was common to reduce and reshape the nipples as part of breast reduction procedures, but now we're seeing more and more breast augmentation and breast lift patients who are interested in nipple correction" remarks one surgeon from Marina Plastic Surgery Associates.
The Marina Plastic Surgery Associates even have an online program where potential patients can choose their perfect nipple shape for their body. Nipple correction may also help women with non-cosmetic nipple issues. These include inverted nipples, nipple pain, hardening of the nipples, or nipples that are enlarged causing difficulty with breastfeeding. This type of surgery may gain popularity as a combination procedure for all women having surgery on their breasts.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Surgery Desired by Asian Men
The popularity of plastic surgery amongst middle aged Asian American men is growing. Plastic surgeons are seeing a large boost in Asian American males inquiring about plastic surgery procedures ranging from Botox injections to liposuction.
"Although in general the number of people from ethnic communities going for plastic surgery continues to rise, Asian Americans are the fastest growing segment. According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Asian Americans underwent 866,000 cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2008, a 290 percent increase since the year 2000" reports Asian Weekly.
Asian American men may be using this plastic surgery as a way to stay competitive in the workplace. Age can play a large factor in hiring for new jobs, and Asian American men are joining in the large group of men already using plastic surgery as a way to stay ahead of the competition. In addition, Asian American women have been utilized plastic surgery for years. It seems that the men are starting to catch up with their romantic partners.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Time to Get a New ID Picture
Those looking to get plastic surgery may choose to travel to other countries to have their procedures completed. Reasons for this type of travel range from financial motivation to issues of privacy. However, returning back to your home may be more difficult than you think. After cosmetic surgery, often times the face and body may no longer match with your passport photo.
A large group of Chinese women recently traveled to South Korea in pursuit of cosmetic surgery. However, the women ran into identity issues during their attempt to fly back to China. Security officers spent extra time examining the women to ensure that their faces matched the photos in their passports.
"We had to compare their uncorrected parts with their photos very carefully" reported the airport security officer. After plastic surgery, a person's face may be altered and may no longer reflect the identification photo. It is suggested that patients update their photos after recovery from surgery to ensure that these types of delays do not occur.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Charitable Trip to Vietnam
Five plastic surgeons recently traveled to Vietnam to perform reconstructive surgery on burn victims for charity. The charitable organization Interplast Australia & New Zealand (IANZ) funded the trip. The goal of the trip was to help these burn victims who were too poor to pay for surgery. In addition, the surgeons practiced alongside local Vietnam doctors to share information and techniques.
"It's very good to teach and to help [Vietnamese medical staff] and the doctors here are very keen to learn. Vietnamese are very good [with] their hands and the surgeons here are very good and quick to learn" explains one IANZ doctor to the Thanhnein News.
The charity project has been sending surgeons every year to perform these free surgeries. The hope is to help the public while also training local doctors on new technology. Plastic surgeons are able to exchange ideas across the globe and help develop the practice of the other.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Fat Grafted Boobs
Breast augmentation is most commonly performed with the use of a silicone or saline implant. But there may be a more natural way to fill out your bust line. Fat is harvested from other areas of the body, such as the hips or buttocks, and then grafted for use in the breasts.
"There's no implant. It's just you. Nothing will feel more natural than this" says Dr. Robert Schwartz, a practicing surgeon in Dallas who uses the procedure.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has recently given approval for the procedure, but still warns caution by users. Users should be warned that some of the fat will be reabsorbed, unlike implants which will are not absorbed by the body. Calcifications or cysts may also develop from the fat, which may mimic the feel of a breast cancer tumor. Safety tests are still being conducted to ensure the long-term viability and safety of the procedure.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Price for Lying to Patients
Five plastic surgeons in Albany have been convicted of injecting patients with an unapproved substance similar to Botox. The surgeons mislead their patients to believe they were receiving Botox injections. Instead, these were injected with a Botox imitation not approved by the FDA.
The Botox imitation Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A is about half the price of Allergan's true Botox. Over 150 patients paid full price for their injections, not knowing of the switch. Although no patients were harmed, investigators prosecuted the plastic surgeons with misdemeanor charges in a federal court. The FDA warns that these imitation substances may be dangerous and should be used for research purposes only.
Patients should strictly research their physicians prior to any procedure commitment. This court case also acts as a warning to any other physician who may be using the same substitute.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Walk Down the Aisle
The wedding day can be one of the most important days in a woman's life. Women want to look their best on this day and one woman decided to make a drastic change in her life to prepare for the wedding. Jane, a 45 year old mother of 4, saved all her money and flew around the world to have plastic surgery. On the day of the wedding, her friends and family barely recognized the new woman before them.
"I had a huge tummy, a wobbly bum, crows' feet and jowls - anybody who looks in the mirror and sees that will understand why there was no way I could be the center of attention for a day and, even worse, pose for pictures" explained Jane to MIrror UK News.
Jane had a tummy tuck, eyelid surgery, laser wrinkle treatment, liposuction on her body and chin, and a face lift. She traveled across the world for less expensive treatment options to fit her budget. On the day of her wedding, she felt and looked better than ever. Many women undergo some cosmetic procedures prior to their wedding. Although this is an extreme case, surgery and cosmetic enhancement can boost the self esteem of the potential bride-to-be.
Friday, August 07, 2009
The Ideal Implant
When going in for a breast enhancement surgery, patients are given a choice between saline and silicone. There are positives and negatives to both choices. Silicone implants has been proven to be more harmful to a patient if punctured, however saline implants are said to feel less natural.
A new company, Ideal Implant Incorporated, has decided to revolutionize the implant world with a new type of saline implant that has just received FDA approval for trial. The Ideal Implant contains multiple layers of saline shells resting on top of each other. There are many benefits to this type of implant. The implant has a much firmer feel than a traditional saline implant. The outer shell of the implant is resting upon the inner layers, allowing for less dimpling and deflation over time.
The FDA trial of the Ideal Implant began in February with 500 women choosing to partake in the trial. The implant will not be available to the public until tests have been conducted on safety and long-term stability of the implant.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
What to Eat after Surgery?
After bariatric weight loss surgery, patients are required to alter their diets and lifestyle. This includes monitoring the quality and quantity of food they eat. Nutritionist Margaret Furtado has created a cookbook specifically for these patients so that "they feel more like people and less like patients."
Furtado told Weight Loss Surgery Channel, "I tell people all the time, they operate on your gastrointestinal tract, not your brain. You really want to make sure you have real support, and realistic expectations."
The cookbook includes recipes that are healthy and will help maintain an ideal weight. The book takes into consideration portion sizes, calorie counts, and offers helpful tips for everyday cooking. Patients after bariatric surgery may face difficulty adjusting their lifestyle to their new body. Furtado hopes that her hints and recipes will make life after surgery much more pleasant for patients and allow them to live a normal life.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Non-Surgical Nose Job
One of the most popular facial cosmetic surgery procedures today is rhinoplasty. The common nose job involves surgery, recovery, and often bruising. Patients that do not want this invasive surgery have another option: a dermal filler called Radiesse. One cosmetic dermatologist, Dr. Rokhsar, performs his popular "15 minute nose jobs" in his New York City office.
Radiesse is approved by the FDA and can also be used to fill facial wrinkles. The procedure can be completed in a few minutes with a few injections of Radiesse into the contours of the nose. Patients desire this quick fix because dermal fillers are less expensive, less invasive, and require less recovery time than traditional surgery. The dermal filler will last about 2 years, at which time the patient can have a second procedure or return to their natural nose.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Changing Ideals of Beauty
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery have recently released a survey to discover changing attitudes about beauty. The respondents were asked what they determined to be the most appealing quality in themselves and in others. Women ages 20 through 60 were surveyed and the results showed a change in both answers over time.
"It is always important to understand what our patients are most concerned about at different stages of their lives. We want to be equipped to help our patients make the right decisions to maintain their beauty at every age -- no matter which type of cosmetic medical procedure they are interested in," said the President of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Women in their 30s were found to find their abdomen/hips as their number one part of their body to change, while women in their 20s, 40s, 50s, and 60s responded that their face was the part of the body they were most concerned about. The survey also showed that women had a decreased concern about their breasts and hips as they aged. Knowing statistics like these can help physicians identify changing ideals of beauty in women as they age and allow them to focus on areas that women are most concerned about.
Monday, August 03, 2009
2 for 1 Special: Forehead Lift and Migraine Relief
Migraines affect a person's health, work, stress level, and ability to perform daily tasks. A common plastic surgery procedure may be a miracle cure for those afflicted…and it was discovered on accident. Patients who underwent a forehead lift many times reported a decrease in their migraine symptoms. A double-blind study was performed in Cleveland to test the results.
Doctor Guyuron spoke to FamilyHealth about his study and how he came upon this discovery by accident. "I operated on a patient who came for a follow-up after a forehead lift. Not only did she like the way she looked, she didn't have migraines headaches for six months since the surgery."
Dr. Guyuron believes that migraines are caused by the nerves in the face, neck, and scalp. With a forehead lift, the tension in the muscles is released and the migraine symptoms subside. More studies need to be conducted for a conclusive answer. This can be a very drastic procedure for those just suffering from migraines and should be used with caution and after careful discussion with your doctor.
