Watch out for “lots of inspiring stories in the next 6 to 12 months about successful surgeries that helped so many people live more fulfilling lives” says a blogger for the Huffington Post, with sarcasm.
Responding to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and their plans to promote positive media coverage, the post is warning its readers to guard themselves against “mind-bending” stories that might “soften you up” and interfere with your ability to make a rational decision.
Not only would I like to believe that people are smarter than that, but also that the Academy only seeks to counterbalance the disproportionate volume of negative (even absurd) press regarding plastic surgery – the type of journalism that you can regularly find on the Huffington Post. It seems that much of the time, the success stories of plastic surgery get lost amid the sensationalized commentary about celebrities and their complications/addictions.
If you’re reading this, know that we trust you to think critically and think for yourself.
If you’ve hesitated to undergo injectable treatments because you’re worried about needles and discomfort, you’re not alone. Products like Juvederm, Prevelle, Hydrelle and Restylane can effectively restore facial volume, reshape lips and correct wrinkles.
But the looming question for many people is, are these treatments comfortable?
Fortunately the answer is yes, thanks to local anesthetics that numb one or more areas of the face beforehand. Lidocaine is the one most frequently used by plastic surgeons.
Lidocaine blocks pain signals, relieves swelling
Your dentist uses Lidocaine as as a quick and simple way to numb the mouth prior to potentially painful dental work. Likewise, plastic surgeons have found that it’s an excellent local anesthetic for injections. Lidocaine blocks the pain signal sent by the nerve endings on the skin in response to injections of the dermal filler solution. Patients quickly feel the anesthetic taking effect, and numbness kicks in.
The Benefits of Lidocaine for facial cosmetic procedures
reduces or eliminates pain when the doctor is injecting into sensitive facial tissue
minimizes tissue swelling that occurs when solutions are injected subcutaneously (underneath the skin)
reduced swelling allows the surgeon to resculpt the targeted areas of the face with more accuracy to get the most attractive, natural looking result
allows you to relax during the procedure
during longer procedures – filling in the cheek area, for instance – it eliminates the need for general anesthesia
Several of the new dermal fillers, including Radiesse, Prevelle Silk, and Hydrelle, even come pre-mixed with Lidocaine.
The answer is yes, but are these grafts ideal for use in rhinoplasty? Researchers at the University of Texas published a study that sought to answer this question.
An ideal substance, according to the authors, would have these characteristics:
Readily available in large quantities
Resists infection
Resists absorption
Completely integrated into host tissues
Causes little patient morbidity
Analysis of long-term rhinoplasty results with these grafts revealed that patients experienced a low complication rate. Moreover, 94.2 percent of the 357 patients said they were satisfied with the results.
Other common options for rhinoplasty include cartilage from the septum or the ear. In recent years, non-surgical options such as Radiesse have grown in popularity as some patients choose to forgo a surgical operation.
Our very own licensed aesthetician, Casey Linton was just featured on Cincychic.com, giving “the skinny on her favorite treatments to revitalize the skin.”
SkinMedica Rejuvenize peel for treating hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles and acne scars
Oxygen treatment to hydrate the skin while treating rosacea and broken capillaries
Cell-switching to rebuild skin from the inside-out, treating sun damage and other imperfections
During each of these treatments, Casey says she goes “above and beyond” for each patient, offering “arm massage, hot towels, dim lights — the little things to make patients more comfortable, more relaxed.”
Q: Over 350,000 women had a breast augmentation in 2008, according to the ASAPS; why has breast augmentation become so popular in the United States?
A: Without getting into a sociological discussion, the two main reasons for the popularity of breast augmentation are 1) many women in America are dissatisfied with the size and shape of their breasts, and 2) breast augmentation is a very predictable and effective procedure for changing aesthetic characteristics of the breasts.
Q: Since silicone breast implants returned to the market in 2006, have we seen a dramatic increase in their use among plastic surgeons?
A: Only 3 years have passed since restrictions were lifted on silicone implants, so that’s still difficult to measure. 2009 statistics haven’t been publicized yet, but so far saline implants remain the most common choice for women in the United States.
Q: What type of surgeon is best qualified to perform breast augmentation?
A: This is a subject of much disagreement. There are a few different ways one can receive training for breast augmentation, so it’s best to evaluate each surgeon on an individual basis. Speak to a surgeon in your area, review before and after photos, and talk to former patients.
Q: In what part of the country is breast augmentation the most expensive/inexpensive?
They say beauty is only skin-deep, that a person may be beautiful on the outside, yet weak or ill on the inside. According to new research, that old cliché may be far from true.
Your appearance may be an accurate indicator of your health and potential after all, according to results of the study: “Perceived age as clinically useful biomarker of ageing: cohort study.”
Danish researchers measured the perceived age of twins and found that perceived age was correlated with survival; i.e. the younger looking twin was likely to live longer than his or her counterpart. Researchers also found significant correlations between perceived age and healthy functioning – both cognitive and physical.
The Health writers at CNN recently compiled a list of useful guidelines that cosmetic surgery patients should use to protect their safety. Though we’ve organized them into a shorter format for easy reference, you should read the whole story on CNN.com
Do….
Investigate the procedure of interest.
Though your cosmetic surgeon should be a trustworthy, knowledgeable authority, you still need to seek out more than one resource for information. Research will help you protect yourself and help you decide if cosmetic surgery is truly in line with your personal values.
Ask your surgeon about board certification.
Find out what board has certified your surgeon and what standards must be met to receive that certification.
Find out if your surgeon has a prevention plan for DVT.
Deep vein thrombosis is a possible complication. Your plastic surgeon should take steps to minimize the risk and be prepared to see early signs of its occurrence.
As far as holiday gifts go, cosmetic surgery definitely falls in the “extraordinary” category. But it’s not that uncommon.
We know some women who would much prefer a breast augmentation or mommy-makeover to the usual electronics and clothes that get exchanged each year.
“There are a large number of people who really want cosmetic surgery, and they just need that little nudge or incentive to get it done” says Dr. Mark Berman, President-Elect of the AACS.
However, Berman also offers some crucial advice for those of you considering this type of extraordinary gift: Make sure you’ve discussed the idea with the recipient so it doesn’t come as a total surprise.
A consumer survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery revealed that nearly 50 percent of consumers would forego an expensive vacation or even a luxury car to pay for cosmetic surgery.
I’d say those are pretty good odds that your gift will be a satisfying one.
There are many opinions being expressed about this so-called “Botax” but there’s one problem: patients aren’t voicing their own position – and they would be the ones paying most of it.
As Dr. Steven Teitelbaum told the New York Times this week, “[cosmetic surgery patients] are a disorganized group that has no one of its own representing it.”
“They don’t want to come out and march on Capitol Hill,” he said. “You’re not going to have a million-man Botox march.” Aside from the occasional gripe from one or two people here in Cincinnati, there haven’t been many non-surgeons weighing in on this issue.
Surgeons in the United States have responded strongly against the recently proposed “elective cosmetic medical” tax that was unveiled late Wednesday, calling it “discriminatory, arbitrary, and difficult to administer.”
Plastic surgery statistics have repeatedly shown that middle class females predominantly purchase these services, so any tax levied against them will unfairly discriminate against women.
The bill also imposes the burden of making clear distinctions between procedures that are “medically necessary” and simply elective. This is a very difficult line to draw in certain situations, and many have questioned the government’s role in making such distinctions.
Details of the bill are below:
”SEC. 5000B. IMPOSITION OF TAX ON ELECTIVE COSMETIC MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
”(a) IN GENERAL.-There is hereby imposed on any cosmetic surgery and medical procedure a tax equal to 5 percent of the amount paid for such procedure (determined without regard to this section), whether paid by insurance or otherwise.
”(b) COSMETIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL PROCEDURE.-For purposes of this section, the term ‘cosmetic surgery and medical procedure’ means any cosmetic surgery (as defined in section 213(d)(9)(B)) or other similar procedure which-
”(1) is performed by a licensed medical professional, and
”(2) is not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.
needles and discomfort, you’re not alone. Products like Juvederm, Prevelle, Hydrelle and Restylane can effectively restore facial volume, reshape lips and correct wrinkles.
at the University of Texas published a study that sought to answer this question.
category. But it’s not that uncommon.
Surgeons in the United States have 
