Plastic Surgery Blog

Stagnant Social Stigma

The social stigma of men and plastic surgery is reaching an impasse. The former roadblock of macho-ism is yielding to and melding with the causeways of functionality to form a new societal view on men and plastic surgery.

The unwritten “Stigma Statuette of Men” states that: any activity that serves no practical purpose but to improve one’s aesthetic beauty is taboo.

Change Is Possible

However there is a loophole in the statuette. When a practical purpose can be applied, the stigma is dropped. For example, Dirty Harry, a virtuoso vigilante of macho-ism incarnate, applied gangland justice while…. gasp, wearing make-up!!! This violation of the Stigma Statuette occurred when a set director noticed that makeup would reduce glare cast by the set lights on the actors. With a practical purpose for make-up in Hollywood the macho stigma of make-up and male actors was dropped and Dirty Harry was able to be bad-ass and beautiful.

A New World View

With this loophole (a practical appliance for an aesthetic procedure) in mind, a recent procedure referred to as “functional rhinoplasty” is marketing functionality as the major selling point to men. The logic being that the procedure not only shapes and contours your shnoz, but also clears the airways. What marketers and plastic surgeons alike are hoping is that this new found functionality will simultaneously clear not only their clients airways, but the social stigma of men and plastic surgery.

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The face of beauty is ever-changing – in part because of new, revolutionary technologies. Cosmetic procedures once considered to be in the realm of fantasy are now part of our everyday reality. Twenty years ago, the idea of injecting the face with a toxin to minimize wrinkles seemed to many to be far-fetched, if not altogether crazy. Now, Botox injections are one of the most sought after cosmetic procedures available.

So, what’s on the beauty horizon? Keep an eye out for these five innovative cosmetic technologies. And remember that what’s seems like science fiction today could be reality tomorrow…

1. Hair follicle cloning (follicular neogenesis or hair multiplication) could revolutionize hair restoration surgery, which currently only allows for the transplantation of no more than 20,000 hair follicles – any amount greater than that would only create a bald spot to remedy another. Some patients, however, require as many as 60,000 follicles to create a natural-looking density. Cloning would provide doctors with the ability to create as many hairs as necessary from a single follicle.
2. Juvista for scar-less healing – Still only in the clinical trial stage (and in the United Kingdom, not in the United States), Juvista is showing significant potential for healing unsightly scars after injury or surgery.
   
3. At-home silicone screening test – The FDA is poised to approve the return of the silicone breast implant later this year. One of the main points of discussion among health officials and plastic surgeons with regard to silicone breast implants is the potential for silicone leaks. Women who currently have silicone implants are urged to undergo an annual MRI screening, which can be expensive and time consuming. In the future, women may be able to take an at-home urine test to screen for silicone. The test is already patented and FDA approved.
4. i-CAT for smiles, or the Cone Beam 3-D Imaging System, may soon become integral to dental diagnoses. The technology produces an immediate 3-D reconstruction of your mouth, helping dentists diagnose pain or reconstruct dental structures.
5. Fat injections for breast rejuvenation and reconstruction – While it seems that being injected with one’s own fat would be a perfect, not to mention more natural option, for breast procedures, fat injections for breasts are still very experimental. But fat injections to restore a natural appearance to breasts after breast conserving surgery (BCS) to treat cancer seem to be on the horizon. Using stem cells harvested from one’s own fat, surgeons may soon be able to reconstruct breasts left ravaged by cancer.

The bottom line: Who knows what the future of beauty holds, but it certainly looks exciting. We’ll keep you posted!

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Breast augmentation surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures performed annually in the United States. More than 360,000 women received breast implants last year alone, making it second only to liposuction.

New plastic surgery research, which suggests that not all breast implants are created equal, may have important implications for the millions of women across the globe considering breast augmentation.

Implant Leakage Rates: The Study

A study published in the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery examined the deflation rates of 1,000 saline breast implants – half of which were manufactured by Mentor Corporation and the other half by Poly-Implant Prosthesis (PIP).

According to the results, PIP implants had a failure rate of 15.4 percent over a four-year period compared with a 4.4 percent Mentor implant failure rate. Although leaking saline implants are not linked with adverse health effects, they do require replacement and thus an additional surgery.

Other Implant Options

Since the Food and Drug Administration restricted the use of silicone implants in the 1980s, saline implants have been the only real option for those seeking breast augmentation.

Even though many patients are happy with the results of saline implants, some still prefer silicone gel implants – which are only used in reconstructive breast surgeries or in clinical trials.

Now breast augmentation patients may have another implant option. “Cohesive” gel implants are less likely to leak and are firmer than other types of implants. They have consequently been nicknamed “gummy bear implants.”

“Saline implants remain popular, but we have had a huge amount of interest in the cohesive gel implants. Our experience with the new implants has been very positive, said Dr. David A. Stoker, plastic surgeon who co-authored the study.

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A new breast surgery technique, which focuses on the shape of the breasts, provides enhanced long-term results and minimal scarring. Dermal suspension breast surgery, an innovative procedure developed by a Houston plastic surgeon, involves using sutures in specific parts of the body wall to aid in keeping the breasts in place.

In addition, dermal suspension surgery involves designing an internal suspension bridge system from the patient’s own skin that would normally be discarded in traditional breast surgery. This suspension bridge provides extra support and enhanced strength to keep newly shaped breasts in place.

The method, designed by Dr. Eser Yuksel, an assistant professor of plastic and cosmetic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, is about improving the shape and projection of the breasts for women seeking breast reductions and/or breast lifts.

“There are a number of different techniques used for breast reductions, breast lifts,” Dr. Yuksel said. “The advantages of dermal suspension are better shaped breasts with better projection, and in some groups of patients we’re able to eliminate the vertical scar used in the standard procedure,” he said.

Risks and complications with dermal suspension breast surgery are similar to those of standard breast reduction and breast lift methods. Most patients are able to resume normal activities within a week, but a recovery time is dependent on each individual.

“I believe that this new technique with its improved shaping and reduced visible scars, provides an attractive alternative to the currently applied surgical approaches,” Yuksel said.

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