Plastic surgery may also increase the chin, bend of cheeks, remove a double chin or simply reduce it. Plastic operations enable us to change the shape of breasts and buttocks, remove fat from belly, arms and hips. Plastic surgery is growing in popularity; plastic surgery was originally mostly for women. But men are electing to have plastic surgery at a rapid growth rate.
Plastic surgery is all too common in this modern world. Women of varied ages naturally want to look good, so they take advantage of advances in science to alter their bodies ? Plastic surgery procedures greatly range in cost. By understanding the cost, people are able to decide what procedures they can have done. Plastic surgery is a serious and subtle art, helping people adapt in their environment more easily and feel happier. Specialists of plastic surgery can eliminate such congenital defects as harelip, blood vessel nevus, sticking-out ears, etc.
Plastic surgery isn't something to rush into. If you're thinking about plastic surgery, find out as much as you can about the specific procedure you're considering and talk it over with doctors and your parents. Plastic surgery as a specialty evolved tremendously during the 20th century in the United States. One of the founders of the specialty, Dr. Plastic surgery has become a part of our society. Many people, not just the rich and famous, undergo some type of cosmetic plastic surgery procedure.
We only get one chance at a first impression, and the person who projects the best self-image makes the best impression. In today's competitive society, people recognize the importance of self-improvement, whether it is for social or professional reasons. Exercise, skin care and nutrition are important but can only do so much. Real structural change requires more. In a sense, cosmetic surgery offers a second chance - the opportunity to defy both the calendar and genetics. Here I have compiled some of the most successful techniques used to achieve this goal.
Rejuvenation Techniques
Facelift (rhytidectomy)
Over the past few years, the term facelift has become a topic of increased interest and discussion. The cumulative effects of time, gravity and heredity show on any face. The facelift operation itself, also known as rhytidectomy, is performed to correct double chins and sagging jowls. The modern-day, long-lasting facelift operation, involves the permanent removal of undesirable accumulations of fat. As well, sagging muscles and connective tissue are repositioned and re-supported.
Because excess fat is now removed in the operation, patients no longer need to lose weight before surgery. In fact, for people who previously had chubby cheeks or a fat neck, one of the benefits of facelift surgery is an apparent loss of weight following surgery. The overall effect is a younger, fresher and more vibrant (yet natural) appearance.
Often lumped under the term facelift are a group of operations designed to rejuvenate faces that show signs of aging. These include blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), brow and forehead lift, mid-face lift, and skin resurfacing, among others.
48 year old woman before and after
facelift, browlift, and chin augmentation
Blepharoplasty
Americans stress eye contact and believe that they can judge a person’s character by what they see in their eyes. While people talk most about facelifts, the most popular age reversing operation among my patients these days involves the eyelids. Heavy, ‘hooded’ (drooping) upper eyelids and baggy lower eyelids make people look tired, old, and certainly past their prime. The surgical correction known as blepharoplasty can remove the fatty pouches that cause these unfortunate problems. When present, skin that has become stretched over the years can also be removed. Upper eyelid drooping, which sometimes partially obscures vision, is corrected by removal of excess skin, muscle and fat. Incisions follow natural contour lines in the upper eyelids, and in the lower lid can be made on the inside, so there is no scar at all. In some cases, circles under the eyes can be filled in and the lids tightened.
Brow and Forehead Lift
A pleasing eyebrow shape and arch is associated with youth and beauty. On the other hand, an unfavorable eyebrow shape and angle can make a person look tired, worried or angry. The brow and forehead lift, in addition to lifting the eyebrows back to where they belong, smoothes out a deeply furrowed and pinched forehead. I prefer the high-tech endoscopic method, which is a big improvement to older more invasive surgery, because it requires only very small incisions within the hair. A tiny video-connected scope is then passed under the skin; the tissues are released, repositioned, and secured into position. With this advanced procedure I no longer make the old fashioned long incision across the top of the head and never remove scalp or hair. The benefits are brighter, more open eyes, a fresher, and more pleasant and alert demeanor.
Mid-Face Lift
The mid-face is the area immediately below the eyes, next to the nose and above the lips. It is left behind by the facelift discussed above, which benefits the jowls, under the chin, and the neck. The mid-face lift corrects sagging in this important area in the center of the face, helps circles under the eyes, and enhances cheekbone definition. I perform the mid-face lift with the only incisions in the scalp and inside the mouth under the lip. In other words, it can be done with no facial scars. The mid-face lift can be done alone or in combination with any of the other facial rejuvenation procedures.
Botox
Botox is used for the treatment of frown lines, forehead furrows, "crow’s feet", and lines and wrinkles of the lower face. Botox has proven to be a very popular nonsurgical cosmetic treatment. The type of lines and wrinkles that respond to Botox injections are those caused by muscles—specifically those muscles that contract during facial expressions such as frowning or squinting. It works by relaxing the muscles that cause the lines so wrinkles smooth out. There is no downtime, and patients can immediately resume normal activities.
Skin Resurfacing
Skin resurfacing uses either a laser or special chemicals to smooth the skin, reduce wrinkling, and even out the complexion. I personally use the newer Erbium: YAG laser, which has proven to be a kinder and gentler alternative, with much faster recovery than the CO2 laser.
Some people prefer to correct one thing at a time -- what one of my patients once called "weeding the garden." Others want a more dramatic improvement; they have as much done as necessary and feasible at once so as to achieve maximum benefits. It is an individual choice, and one of the reasons a thorough consultation with a well-qualified, experienced, sympathetic plastic surgeon is so important. I have found that video imaging assists in creating plans for facial surgery that meet each individual's specific needs and desires.
Breakthroughs in anesthesia methods and monitoring devices have made it possible for all of these operations to be performed on an outpatient basis. This is a positive step because patients feel more comfortable and heal faster in this environment. In addition, outpatient procedures reduce expenses overall.
Techniques for the Body
Body Contouring Surgery
In the months leading up to the summer, I see an influx of women seeking to re-contour their figures. They are usually trying to plan ahead, getting their ‘problem areas’ taken care of well in advance of spring and summer's more revealing clothing styles.
According to statistics kept by the prestigious American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Liposculpture, more commonly known as liposuction, has become the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedure. I choose to perform the tumescent form of liposculpture, which can be done on an outpatient basis.
In liposculpture, a combination of saline (saltwater) and local anesthetic is first flooded into the areas to be contoured. Working through tiny incisions just large enough to fit the thin liposculpture vacuum tube, fat cells and some fluid are then gently swept away by suctioning back and forth under the skin. Liposculpture is truly a matter of sculpting the human form; it effectively removes unwanted fat from areas that are often resistant to diet and exercise. These can include the neck, upper arms, chest, sides, abdomen, thighs, hips, knees and ankles.
Other procedures for figure improvement include abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), breast lift, breast reduction, and--last but not least--cosmetic breast surgery. Saline implants, which have now replaced silicone gel implants, are used both to enlarge and to enhance shape. Following surgery, many of my patients are particularly happy that the tops of their bathing suits fit as well as the bottoms.
Any of the procedures described in this article can potentially help to improve physical appearance and enhance self-image. But no matter what procedure you choose, be sure to do your homework and choose a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon.
What is this obsession about beauty that makes us alter our bodies to please the eyes of other people? Is it the fault of television programs and huge billboards that brainwash us everyday to look good? Are they the ones setting the correct meaning of what it beautiful or not?
You have to agree, people are social beings. We belong to different groups in our society such as family, community, work group, sports group, religious group, and our circle of close friends. The people in our lives influence our thoughts and beliefs. For example, if you have intimate friends who are drug addicts, it’s probable that you will become a drug addict too. So if you are frequently associated with people who are obsessed about beauty, you will consider plastic surgery too, just to be an important part of the circle.
Not too long ago, only rich women in their fifties or sixties are thinking about plastic surgery. The famous ones are Botox, liposuction, and face lift. But today, younger women are dipping into the world of artificial beauty too. Can you imagine 18-24 year olds saving every penny they’ve got to get a breast implant? What about those fat young girls who are toying about the idea of liposuction and tummy tuck instead of eating proper diet and exercising to lose weight?
Internet statistics confirm this phenomenon. Majority of visitors to plastic surgery sites are within this age demographic (18-24), and it has been increasing every year. While older women now are visiting sites on keeping healthy and preventing diseases, the young generation is deeply focused in improving outer beauty such as skin care, weight loss, bodybuilding, and of course, plastic surgery.
Although, there is one thing that prevents the majority of these young people from going under the surgeon’s knife: high cost. In fact, a more detailed search statistic reported that common Google searches include the word “cost” such as “breast augmentation cost,” “breast implant cost,” or “plastic surgery cost.” This indicates that even though outer appearance is an obsession, economic consideration is still the number one show stopper, especially in the face of the declining U.S. economy.
Another reason for delaying plastic surgery is the fear that surrounds this procedure. Although there are a lot of successful operations already, there are also risks associated with it. We can never remove the fact that some doctors make mistakes, or the possibility that our body will react adversely to the operation.
Have you heard of the tragic story in the U.S. where Stephanie Kuleba, a cheerleader (18 years old) died of complications as a result of going through a breast augmentation procedure? Scary! And there were many more that ended with the same fate.
So if you are young, think really hard before you decide to have plastic surgery. Remember that you still have a long life ahead of you. Would it be worth it? Do you really think everybody needs to have a perfect body? Maybe you can learn from the old verse that says “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” Just highlight what’s good in your body today, and your beauty will shine through.
Three years ago, when a 15-year-old British girl decided to get breast implants for her sixteenth birthday, the story made headlines around the world. Since then, media reports have continued to speculate that cosmetic surgery, once the exclusive domain of wealthy older women, is a trendy new option for any teenager with an adolescent hang-up.
Dr. Darrick Antell, a top New York City plastic surgeon, says he has seen an increase in the number of teenage patients but cautions against calling it a trend. “One of the main reasons for the increase is visibility: today’s teenagers are growing up with parents who have had cosmetic surgery, so they see and hear about it more. The media has also done a good job of making people aware of the procedures available. Another reason is acceptability. In a way, plastic surgery has come out of the closet,” Dr. Antell says.
When details of cosmetic procedures are frequently discussed on talk shows and published in magazines, it’s not surprising that they filter into our consciousness. “Sometimes when I’m out to dinner with my friends, we’ll play a game called ‘What would you have done?’ where we sort of daydream and discuss what we would do if money was no object and the procedures were safe,” says 18-year-old Alison Preiss, an Ontario high school student. While Preiss doesn’t think she could actually go through with a procedure, she says it could go either way. “I could grow up to realize that there are more important things than my nose, or it could really bother me to the point where I decide to have surgery. I suppose it depends on my lifestyle and career choices,” Preiss says.
Suzanne Ma, a 19-year-old Ryerson University student, has considered a double eyelid procedure popular in Asia. “I’m Chinese, and I don’t like my eyes. I don’t have double eyelids, so I feel that my eyes look a lot smaller than they really are. My concerns are not entirely for cosmetic reasons. With my heavy eyelids, my eyelashes don’t grow out properly. Some of them get trapped under the eyelids and it’s very easy for me to get an infection,” Ma says.
As in North America, plastic surgery is booming overseas, especially in wealthier Asian countries like Taiwan and Korea, where it is seen as a way to improve career prospects and self-confidence. In China, women and some men are paying thousands of dollars to have a brutal surgical procedure performed that lengthens their legs so they can fulfill height requirements often used to narrow down the number of job applicants.
Although reasons for cosmetic surgery range from getting a better look to improving job prospects, often the common factor among patients is more than skin deep. “Teenagers who are thinking about having plastic surgery to change the way they look are often addressing issues of self-esteem,” says psychotherapist Dorothy Ratusny. “Between the ages of 13 and 19, there’s a lot of emphasis on peers and what others think of you. It’s also a time when things such as not being part of the popular crowd, changes in financial situation and divorce can negatively affect a teenager’s self esteem.”
Cosmetic surgery may have a positive impact if your body image is consistently tied to a negative focus on a particular facial feature or body part. Dr. Antell says, “The classic case is a teenage patient of mine who had reconstructive surgery to correct a significant discrepancy between her upper and lower jaws. When she came into my office for the initial consultation she was constantly looking at the floor. After the surgery, she was looking up and smiling. Now she’s singing in her local school group.” Dr. Antell is careful to point out that there are murky areas. “Liposuction is one of those areas. So is breast augmentation because you’re not really sure that the teenager has stopped growing yet. But there are exceptions, for example, if a patient has breast asymmetry.” Dr. Mitchell Brown, a plastic surgeon at Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre in Toronto says, “Correcting breast asymmetry, when women develop breasts that are different in terms of shape and size, can be appropriate for teenage girls because it causes a very significant psychological impact on them during their developmental years.
Doctors are very aware of the psychological drama affecting our lives and it has become a very important factor when evaluating a patient. Dr. Brown says, “The key thing from my perspective is to assess physical, emotional and psychological maturity before treating a patient. I spend a great deal of time with my patients, regardless of their age, to determine that they have thought out their concern carefully and have reasonable goals and expectations.” In other words, cosmetic surgery can improve a patient’s body but it won’t necessarily improve their self-image or guarantee happiness. Dr. Antell says, “I’ve done liposuction on a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. This is somebody most people would think looked perfect. But she was very insecure. She didn’t see herself the way others did. I can’t give people confidence.”
So, if you’re considering cosmetic surgery you need to ask yourself what you hope to achieve because it’s not going to be the one magic solution that makes everything better. In fact, it may even change you for the worse—just surf the Web and read the thousands of horror stories from people hoping to find peace of mind or happiness by going under the knife.
Dr. Ratusny says, “[Teens] need to be really realistic with the fact that cosmetic surgery may be only one piece of many things that serve to improve aspects of themselves. There may be physical changes but the real change begins with who they are inside.”
We only get one chance at a first impression, and the person who projects the best self-image makes the best impression. In today's competitive society, people recognize the importance of self-improvement, whether it is for social or professional reasons. Exercise, skin care and nutrition are important but can only do so much. Real structural change requires more. In a sense, cosmetic surgery offers a second chance - the opportunity to defy both the calendar and genetics. Here I have compiled some of the most successful techniques used to achieve this goal.
