Plastic Surgery Blog

As reported by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 11.5 million Americans went under the knife in 2006 for cosmetic surgery. A new study shows that this statistic is largely due to the number of baby boomers that are opting to nip and tuck their imperfections away.

40 Is the New 30

Many 40-somethings are making surgery appointments for both major and minor surgeries from a little botox to a full facelift. As both women and men get older, we lose elasticity in our skin and by the time we reach 40 the lines and sagging that results can’t always be fixed with injectable fillers.

According to Dr. Eleanor Barone, a surgeon at Advanced Dermatology in New York, people now feel as if 40 is the new 30 and are taking action to look as good as they feel.

“All we want is for our outward appearance to match our inner perceptions of age,” explains Barone.

Study Conducted

A recent study showed that the majority of women, ages 35 to 69, wanted their faces to look 13 years younger and wished there was a quick fix to get rid of wrinkles and sagging skin.

The study also found that there are many misconceptions about plastic surgery.

Surgery Misconceptions

The study found that there were five main misconceptions that the women had regarding plastic surgery its process.

The misconceptions are:
· You won’t get scars
· After surgery, you will look perfect
· The correction will last forever
· A “mini” facelift will give you the same results as a full facelift
· All aesthetic or cosmetic surgeons are plastic surgeons

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We all have our imperfections and while some choose to simply hide behind their cellulite with black, baggy clothes, others hit the operating table for a seemingly “quick fix” operation.
Although procedures like liposuction, breast augmentations and rhinoplasties are among the most popular in the United States, the possibilities of what can be “fixed” and “nipped” are endless this day in age in the forever changing world of cosmetic surgery. To my surprise, anything can be operated on these days, and people are willing to go to great lengths to alter their bodies, no matter what the reason.
Getting an Earful
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 20, 417 Americans went under the knife to better the appearance of their ears in a procedure known as otoplasty.
To most, ears are like hands, forgotten about in daily life but without them, life would be altered in a way I don’t want to think about. However, as I found in a recent article regarding ears and Star Trek fans, some (and I hope this “some” refers to a VERY small percentage of Americans) are opting to have otoplasty for the strangest of reasons.
Surgeons across the country have reportedly seen a number of patients come to them for a pair of their very own Vulcan ears from Star Trek. Yes, let that one sink in. Apparently these surgically enhanced ears can enhance your music listening experience and you can run around town looking like Spock too! Oh, the benefits.
The Procedure
The surgery is done under a local aesthesia and the surgeon uses existing cartilage and skin to extend the top of the ear.
After two to four weeks, the ears typically will heal and patients can be on their way to take on the universe, and the many, such as myself, that will stare at them in awe.

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Anesthesia comes in different forms, each of which carries its own risks and benefits. If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, it’s important to understand fully your options for anesthesia. To help you make a more informed decision, be sure to ask your surgeon the following five questions:

• What anesthesia options are available to me for this procedure? What are the risks?
• What are the qualifications of the person who will be responsible for administering my anesthesia?
• Who will monitor me throughout the procedure?
• Will you or an anesthesia specialist conduct a pre-surgery evaluation?
• What should I expect while coming out of anesthesia and as it wears off?
• Making knowledgeable decisions with regard to your cosmetic procedure is key to having a safe surgical experience and achieving an optimal outcome. Never be afraid to ask questions!

Technorati Tags: anesthesia, anethesia options, anethesia surgery

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Want to get rid of unsightly acne scars? Varicose veins? Other pesky skin problems like rosacea or uneven pigmentation? Now is the time to take action. Recent advances in cosmetic and dermatologic procedures make dealing with skin issues easier than ever.

Consider these effective treatments for four of the most common skin problems:

Acne scarring—Microdermabrasion represents a more subtle, conservative approach to treating acne scars. The procedure is used to gently resurface the skin and is usually done in a series of six or more visits. Dermabrasion can be used to achieve more dramatic results and involves the “sanding” down of scarred areas. Injectables like Juvederm and Restylane can be used to fill in depressed scars with immediate results. However, results are only temporary. Fractional resurfacing is the only FDA approved long-term, light-based procedure for treating acne scarring. It resurfaces the skin and also stimulates collagen production, improving texture and repairing structural damage.

More than 14 million Americans suffer from a skin condition known as rosacea, which is characterized by facial redness and acne-like symptoms. Remedies for rosacea include prescription topicals and/or oral antibiotics as well as light-based treatments such as IPL PhotoFacial.

Leg veins are more than an aesthetic problem. They can also cause a variety of health issues including blood clots and infection. Spider veins and varicose veins can both be treated with a procedure called sclerotherapy, which involves the injection of a solution into the vein that causes it to swell and seal shut. Once the flow of blood is stopped, the vein turns into scar tissue and eventually disappears. Laser treatments can sometimes also be used to eliminate unsightly leg veins.

Irregular pigmentation, including dark splotching and sun spots, can be treated with topical lightening products, chemical peels, or light-based treatments. Topical treatments can be obtained over-the-counter of by prescription but must be used consistently to achieve optimal results. Chemical peels can be used to exfoliate the upper layers of skin, diminishing the appearance of pigment irregularities and also improving texture. Fractional resurfacing, IPL and other light-based treatments can significantly improve coloration problems, sometimes completely. These types of treatments are usually conducted in a series of multiple office visits and often require follow up to maintain results.

Technorati Tags: microdermabrasion, juvederm, restylane, acne scarring, sclerotherapy, rosacea

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In an episode of the plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck, a man brings his show dog to McNamara/Troy for some cosmetic tweaking. The doctors declined to perform plastic surgery on a dog, and the job was taken up by a less scrupulous surgeon. I remember wondering if the show was mocking the industry or if plastic surgery for pets was real. Apparently, it is.

The demand for pet plastic surgery is particularly high in Brazil, where one veterinarian has been performing aesthetic procedures on man’s best friend for 15 years. The Sao Paolo vet extols the benefits of plastic surgery for pets—from Botox for Shar-Peis to mammary gland tucks on post-pregnancy show dogs.

And despite prohibitions from the American Kennel Club (the organization that sets the guidelines for breeds on the show-dog circuit), not to mention objections from breeders and animal rights activists, pet cosmetic surgery continues to gain popularity in the United States.

I have to ask why? Is it really important to have attractive pets?

The Brazilian doctor argues that the more attractive the pet is, the better the owner-pet relationship. This, to me, seems absurd. We love our pets because they provide us with unconditional love and companionship. Not because they’re pretty. Or because they can win a show.

I’m not saying that aesthetic enhancement can’t be a good thing. In fact, I think it very much can be. But only for people who are capable of making their own decisions.

Technorati Tags: pet plastic surgery, nip tuck

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