July 2, 2009

Take your Implants on a Test Run

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A new product from Natrelle allows women to feel and test out the size of their future implants prior to their surgery. The kit comes with multiple sizes of real silicone implants, as well as a specialize bra to hold them in place. Although this does not take the place of a consultation with a plastic surgeon, this new product does allow women to get a feel for how their new body may feel.

Many women run into questions regarding implant size prior to breast augmentation. Instead of using household items to gauge size difference, this new kit allows women the chance to experience how the implants will feel and the new look they may have.

Speaking with a physician about proper implant size is always best, but having a test drive of implant sizes at home may give women a better idea of size prior to consultation.

June 30, 2009

Teen Surgery Slump

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For the past few years teenagers and plastic surgery were becoming virtually
synonymous, from high school graduation presents to birthday presents,
plastic surgery was all the fuss for teens. With the advent of the global
financial crisis, teen cosmetic surgery has dwindling alongside the economy.
In fact, the numbers of teens opting for breast augmentations and
rhinoplasty (among many other procedures) was causing serious concern among
some parents and industry observers.

Arizona Central reported on the recent figures, "Nationwide, 18- and
19-year-olds had about 9,000 breast enhancements last year, according to a
survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That's down 14 percent
from the previous year but up 388 percent from 1998. A survey by the
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery found similar trends. Its
report said girls 18 and younger had about 4,100 breast enhancements last
year, down 48 percent from 2007 and up 343 percent from 1998."

Some physicians are staunchly against performing such procedures on
teenagers as it may induce negative perceptions or superficial ideas about
beauty and aging.

California Surgeon Develops New Plastic Procedure

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A Sarasota, California based plastic surgeon has created a fiber optic laser
that has the ability to zap away fat from patients face, chin, neck, jowls
and nose. Dr. David Holcomb has dubbed the new procedure AccuLift, which
takes Holcomb roughly 90-minutes to perform the procedure. The beauty of
the procedure is that is requires only a local anaesthetic and can be done
at Dr. Holcomb's offices.

The Lakewood Ranch Herald reported on their local plastic surgeon saying,
"The results the doctor has gotten are so dramatic that he is setting up a
training program at the Holcomb Facial Plastic Surgery Center at One School
Ave., Sarasota - to be called The Institute for Integrated Aesthetics - so
other plastic surgeons can learn his procedure. s Shields watches, Holcomb
makes an incision near where the work is to be done and guides the laser
using a light at the tip. As the laser delivers the wave length of energy,
the fat melts into a liquid and actually runs out like tears."

Although the procedure requires little down-time, it may take a toll on your
budgeting this year. Procedure can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000,
based on how many areas are being lifted and melted. Likewise, post-surgery
injections and fillers may be necessary, those of which will also cost a
fair bit. So for those of you keen on convenience and have expendable money
this may be a great option for anti-aging and fat-removal.

June 26, 2009

Lipo-Sculpting

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Lipo-sculpting is being dubbed the weight loss procedure of the future. Everyone woman’s dream – to lose weight in one place and gain assets in another. Fat transfers are still considered quite taboo and controversial in the plastic surgery industry, but some clinics and surgeons are nearly converted. Some questions still remain about the procedure, however women seem to love the idea of using their own body parts as opposed to foreign materials.

The Denver Post said, “Because so little of it has been done, we don't have a lot of data," said Dr. Karol Gutow ski, a Chicago plastic surgeon and head of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons task force that investigated the technique. Most plastic surgeons aren't doing the procedure, instead waiting on results of long-term studies, Gutowski said. A key question is how long bigger breasts will last — will the fat melt away if the woman loses weight?”

Also surgeons have cautioned women keen on the procedure that fat transfers can’t do the work of breast augmentations. They can’t turn an A cup to a D cup, but a slight perk and boost from A to B is definitely doable.

June 25, 2009

The young and the plastic

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Nearly a decade ago it was completely unheard of for teenagers, children and frankly even people in their early twenties to undergo elective cosmetic surgery treatments. Nowadays, Gen-Y’s line up by the droves for a breast augmentation or a casual Botox injection. But what is after Generation Y – Generation Z? Reports show that teenagers and children today are acting much older than their age. In fact many are turning to plastic surgery for confidence boosts and aesthetic enhancements.

USA Today article said, “According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 160,283 children 18 and under had cosmetic interventions in 2008. The figure was even higher in 2007, tallying 205,119, but industry experts say a slowing economy probably forced the numbers down in 2008. In 2000, the number was just 145,094.”

However today’s children aren’t those in dire need of plastic surgery like those of the past who had cleft-chins remedied or reconstructive surgery. No, today teens and youngsters are getting more risqué procedures like rhinoplasty, ear-pinning and in some extreme cases even the ‘eye surgery’ which is used to make people of Asian descents eyes wider.