Plastic Surgery Blog

Modern Medical Marvel Miraculously Mends Mug

In May of 2005, Isabelle Dinoire suffered extensive injuries to her face as a result of an incident involving sleeping pills and her dog. Her injuries left her unable to talk or even eat in a normal capacity.

The Surgery

On November 27^th of the same year, she underwent the first partial face transplant in medical history.

Now, almost a year later, her progress is nothing short of miraculous. The most recent progress being her ability to smile again, something that undoubtedly she thought wouldn’t be possible from a physical or emotional state ever again.

The Aftermath

Her doctor, Professor Devauchelle, was recently quoted as saying that “Isabelle Dinoire, …can go out without people noticing her scars.” This sort of feel good story, just in time for the holidays, brings up some interesting ethical questions. Where is the line drawn between physical plastic surgery and emotional plastic surgery?

Reality shows such as MTV’s “I Want a Famous Face,” are already beginning to toe that ethical line. In a recent episode, a Drew Barrymore fan was set to undergo various surgeries in order to resemble her idol. Upon hearing of the upcoming show, Barrymore contacted her fan, convincing her not to go through with it.

Plastic Surgery is at it’s best a way to help someone look as good as they feel, and at it’s worst, a way for a person to feel as good as they perceive they will look. Leaning on the crux of plastic surgery to solve personal problems will always fail. It’s like trying to mend a damn by sticking your fingers in the cracks. Eventually, it will all come crashing down right on top of you.

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The same reason why people look to get cosmetic surgery, is the same reason why people villify it in our society. That reason as was so eloquently the focus of the film “ American Beauty ” is “In order to be successful, one must project an image of success at all times”.

In our capitalistic dog eat dog society, shark ethic is the guideline of social interaction, eat the wounded.

An indication of this in action is evident in the opinions of the public when confronted with an imperfection (plastic surgery) topic (and try not to choke on the irony of the beautiful women telling everyone they don’t need plastic surgery).

In the end plastic surgery can do wonders to augment a person’s self esteem . Just be sure that the base of your self esteem is grounded in something more integral or personal than physical appearance. Perfect tits and ass are no match for grace and wit, if you don’t believe me just look at the success of Steve Buscemi. Or take this quote from an interview with a prominent Hollywood Plastic Surgeon.

‘‘ ‘(It) gets desperate on a deeply metaphysical level,’ he says. ‘I’ve seen it get very dark. They wake up one day and realize that they are nothing but a shell of skin. They didn’t do anything on the inside. And I don’t care how many yoga classes you go to, they won’t be able to cope. They’re not equipped. And they don’t know why.’ ”

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Not ready for breast augmentation surgery? Not to worry. You can still achieve a beautiful, boast-worthy bust without cosmetic enhancement. If you’re looking for a quick way to boost your bust, consider the following tips and tricks:

Get professionally fitted for your bra. Size varies according to style and manufacturer. A properly fitted bra will accentuate your natural shape and size. This is perhaps the most important thing you can do to enhance your bust without surgery!

Buy a push-up bra that has a foam insert or graduated pad for lift. Make sure to buy your bra a full cup-size larger to prevent unsightly lines and bumps, which are created when the breasts spill out of the cup.

Add a gel insert for extra boost. Inserts made of water or foam also work well.

Use a contour padded push-up bra to create kissing cleavage. When shopping for a contour padded push-up, look for one that has padding that extends to the side of the cup. This padding will help to push your breasts closer together — into a “kissing” position.

Try any or all of these to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing bust. You never know. You may decide to make the boost permanent. If you do decide to make the leap from push-up to permanent, make sure to contact us – your trusted plastic surgery resource!

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You probably think that the perfect butt is determined by cultural preferences or patterns, right? Think again. There’s actually research showing that the ideal posterior is a matter of science, not culture. It all comes down to a magic number – 0.7.

This number has less to do with the size of the butt and more to do with the overall shape of the torso. The significance of this number - known as the ideal waist-to-hip ratio - dates back to antiquity and can be found in ancient statues and sculptures. Even though body-shape ideals change over time, this number remains the same across all cultures.

Interestingly enough, two separate analyses – one of Miss America pageant winners over the course of six decades and the other of 300 “supermodels” – support this conclusion. Both analyses revealed that, despite an overall decrease in average body weight over time, these women tend to have the ideal waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7. Unfortunately, not all of us are pageant winners or supermodels. Still, it is possible for us regular women to approximate, if not achieve, this ideal ratio. Here’s how:

Liposuction is frequently used to help create a more appealing shape in areas prone to small but stubborn pockets of fat such as the hips, thighs, abdomen, and buttocks. Women whose butt is out of proportion to their waist and hips may wish to consider liposuction, which can help make the area more proportional.

Buttock implants are best for women who need extra fullness in that area to achieve the ideal proportion. The implants are solid, meaning they won’t leak, and can be placed above or beneath the muscle.

Fat transfer involves the transfer of fat from areas of the body where it’s not wanted to areas where it is. To achieve a more feminine shape, some women have liposuction on their lower back. The fat harvested is then transferred into the buttocks, creating an “inward sweep.”

The bottom line: The perfect bottom may not be beyond your reach! Click here to contact a board certified plastic surgeon near you who can help you understand your options.

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Looking to inject “a little life” into those frustrating problem areas? Russian salons claim to have the answer.

While most work revolving around the highly debated “stem-cell” research is regulated and confined to petri dishes and microscopes, some salons in Russia are claiming to have the “miracle cure” available to the paying public right now. The problem is that with a largely ineffective overbearing state and the inability or resources to develop effective private review organizations, these Russian salons are free to claim whatever results they please.

This ambiguity in research and results has lead to some varied beliefs of what these medical marvels are capable. From cures for Parkinson’s to paraplegia the seemingly limitless theoretical uses for stem cells are as varied as the imaginations of the paying public. The most recent of which is a belief that stem cells could hold the key to the ever-elusive fountain of youth. But much like Ponce De Leon, those seeking eternal youth may be destined for a lifetime of searching. Stem cell research is just that, still research.

We still aren’t quite sure what effect stem cells can have on an adult body. In theory, stem cells retain the ability to renew themselves through cellular division and can differentiate into a wide range of specialized cell types. That means stem cells are basically the equivalent of a wildcard or joker in a poker deck. They have the potential to be anything. The problem with something that can be anything is the belief that it can fix everything. However, there is no nor has there ever been a miracle cure.  Each problem has it’s own unique set of issues and are too complex for a single, universal answer.

It has often been said that, “the best cure is the one that works” and that cure now and for the immediate future is Botox. Recent research is projecting an explosion in Botox treatment, stating that only 3% of the potential market is currently receiving treatment. Noticing the potential for growth in the market, many of the statistics and promises provided by the Russian Salon’s are clouded in a haze of self-serving results. All in an attempt to cash in on the growing anti-aging market. Through the haze of medical miracles and cure-alls it’s still best to keep your feet solidly planted on the ground and your head out of the clouds.

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