Posted by Padraig O Connell on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 @ 09:29 AM
For the second year in a row, the number of
cosmetic procedures performed in America increased, illustrating that an uncertain economy isn't deterring patients. A total of 13.8 million cosmetic procedures, both invasive and minimally invasive, were performed in 2011, a 5 percent increase over 2010. Reconstructive surgeries were also up 5 percent to 5.5 million procedures, according to reports released this week from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Somewhat surprisingly, facelifts saw a 5 percent increase (119,000 procedures) for the first time since 2004, yet eyelid surgery saw a 6 percent decrease. The top five surgeries included facelifts, as well as breast augmentation (307,000 procedures), nose reshaping (244,000), liposuction (205,000) and eyelid surgery (196,000).
Among minimally invasive treatments, Botox injections lead with 5.7 million procedures, followed by fillers (1.9 million), chemical peels (1.1 million), laser hair removal (1.1 million) and microdermabrasion (900,000). Laser hair removal saw the biggest jump, up 15 percent, since 2010.
"While the rate of economic recovery in the U.S. is still uncertain, 2011 proved to be a good year for plastic surgery," said ASPS President Malcolm Z. Roth, MD. "Consumer confidence was up, auto sales rose 10 percent, so it is not surprising that we would also see increased demand for plastic surgery procedures."
Were you one of those patients who helped increase the 2011 numbers, or will 2012 be the year you opt for a cosmetic procedure? Let us know!
Posted Monday, February 13, 2012 by NewBeauty Staff
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Tue, Jan 24, 2012 @ 08:32 AM
Does Breast Reduction Surgery Increase Breast Cancer Risk?
A patient scheduled for Breast Reduction Surgery recently asked me if her upcoming surgery would increase her risk of Breast Cancer due to the internal breast scarring that occurs as a result of the surgery. This question spurred a review of the medical literature (journals) and over 10 scientific articles related to this subject.
1. Breast Reduction Surgery reduces the volume of Breast Tissue that can cause Breast Cancer. As a result, the predicted risk of Breast Cancer in women who undergo the surgery can be reduced by a much as 50%. The benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery/Breast Cancer Risk Reduction, are significant for women over the age of 40, and even greater for those women over the age of 50. In addition, the larger the breast size prior to surgery, the lower the risk of breast cancer following Breast Reduction Surgery.
2. Only one study reported an increased risk of Breast Cancer in Breast Reduction Surgery patients and only those who had their surgery prior to age 20. Only a small number of patients under the age of 20 were included in this Danish study and none of the other 9 studies reported a similar finding.
3. Many of the scientific studies recommended follow-up mammograms at Imaging Centers that have Digital Mammography equipment with experienced Radiologists due to the post-operative radiographic changes that occur. Several other studies did not recommend pre-operative mammograms in women under the age of 35 due to the risk of false positive results and the subsequent unnecessary breast biopsies that followed.
I advised my patient of the results of these scientific studies and recommended that she proceed with her surgery as scheduled.
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Mon, Jan 16, 2012 @ 02:09 PM
As the Human Medical Tragedy of the PIP Silicone Breast Implants unfolds, additional information has been released by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), the primary Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery Society in the US. According to a recent White Paper from the ASAPS released on 01/12/12 to its members, like myself, all patients who have had the PIP Silicone Breast Implants placed at any time should have them removed even if the implants are not ruptured. In addition to PIP, a Dutch Company, Rolfi Medical, used a similar inferior industrial grade silicone gel in their breast implants. The problems associated with this silicone gel includes a much higher incidence of implant rupture (over 3.5 times higher when PIP ( FDA approved) Saline implants were compared to Mentor (FDA approved) implants) and the unknown risks of the impurities contained in the industrial grade silicone. These risks could include an increased risk of cancer and/or auto-immune disorders.
These implants include all PIP Silicone Gel Breast Implants since 2001 as well as those sold by Rolfi Medical in the Netherlands and Rolfi Medro in Germany. The ASAPS also states that it is believed that the Silicone Breast Implants made by both companies before 2001 are also defective. In addition, No PIP or Rolfi Silicone Breast Implants were ever FDA approved although PIP Saline Breast Implants were FDA approved for sale in the US in the first half of the last decade. PIP and/or Rolfi Silicone Breast Implants were available for sale in the following countries: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Argentina, Brazil, and Venezuela.
Although the FDA is often critiqued for delaying the introduction of new medical devices from around the globe, in this case, FDA oversight prevented American women from being exposed to this health hazard. All Allergan and Mentor Breast Implants that have been available for sale in the US have always been subject to FDA evaluation/approval and are deemed to be safe.
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Mon, Jan 09, 2012 @ 04:23 PM
Over the last several weeks, a tragic story of greed and arrogance has unfolded across the EU and South America. A French Breast Implant Company, Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) has been charged with selling an unsafe silicone breast implant containing an additive, Baysilone, used in the industrial fuel and rubber industries. This additive along with Silopren and Rhodorsil were found in the silicone gel of PIP Breast Implants recently analyzed by a French Toxicologist hired by the French Network RTL. These additives combined with the industrial grade silicone gel are attributed to cause the high rate of rupture of these implants compared to those produced by the US FDA approved silicone gel breast implants sold by Allergan,Inc. and Mentor Corporation. In fact, PIP Saline Breast Implants have not been FDA approved for sale in the USA since 2000, and PIP Silicone Gel Breast Implants have never received FDA approval.
The former President of PIP, Jean-Claude Mas, is in hiding from French Authorities who are seeking to arrest him over charges of manslaughter and fraud. In the recent past he was quoted as saying that his customers are "psychologically frail' women who are only trying "to make money" from him.
According to his Attorney, Yves Haddad, PIP produced a more expensive silicone breast implant using FDA approved medical grade silicone sold by Nusil. However, the company was facing bankruptcy and as a result, created a second silicone breast implant that contained a internally fabricated industrial grade silicone gel that was at least 80% cheaper to produce. This silicone was never intended for human use and would have never been approved by any of the EU Health Ministries.
Thus, Mr. Mas could be considered to have begun his own clinical trial studying industrial grade silicone gel Breast Implants using European and South American women as his test subjects...More to follow...
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Sun, Dec 18, 2011 @ 01:31 PM
For years, Jane Fonda has been an example of the best way to age and recently she has admitted that plastic surgery is a part of her regimen, along with healthy eating and exercise.
73-year old Jane Fonda revealed her plastic surgery earlier this year, including a blepharoplasty and necklift along with chin
liposuction In a recent interview on TODAY, Jane discussed her decision to go under the knife with Matt Lauer.
“I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s me,’” said Jane. “I feel so great and so rested and I look so different and I just decided — and I’m not proud of it — I decided I wanted to look more like how I feel.”
“I just decided I wanted to buy myself some time and look more like how I feel,” said Fonda.
Immediately after her surgery, Jane gave away her procedures by wearing sunglasses and a turtleneck to hide bruising during her
plastic surgery recovery.
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Sat, Dec 10, 2011 @ 01:58 PM
Christina Ricci has been in front of the camera since she was a child. Like many child actresses turned grown-up stars, she looks to have taken a little time away from fame for plastic surgery recovery after a possible nose job.
31-year old Christina Ricci has said in the past that she wouldn’t mind going under the knife one day, ostensibly to fight aging.
As she says, “(I’d have surgery) if I aged in a really unfortunate manner. Or something happened, like the skin on my knee dropped. I don’t mind having dental work or any surgery, because I like the pills they give you.”
But it looks like she may have already had a little plastic surgery and knows exactly how much she likes the “pills they give you” because she has had a nose job in the past, helping to give her a more defined tip and smaller nostrils.
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Wed, Dec 07, 2011 @ 02:53 PM
Fans of Dancing with the Stars may have noticed that professional dancer Lacey Schwimmer got a little plastic surgery in the downtime, helping to give her athletic body some curves.
23-year-old Lacey Schwimmer danced with Chaz Bono (See Make Me Heal’s story on Chaz Bono’s plastic surgery) this past season, and her partner wasn’t the only one who had gone through some changes. It seems that Lacey had returned to the program after breast augmentation had helped give her something to fill out her clingy costumes.
A source tells UsWeekly that Lacey had breast augmentation to bring her from a B to a D cup.
“Lacey’s told friends she got a boob job. She’d wanted one for a while so she went ahead and did it.”
Lacey’s breast implants are certainly noticeable, but they may not be a good thing, they look a little oversized and obvious.
Dr. David Shafer, celebrity plastic surgeon in New York City says, ” Based on the pictures, Lacey’s breast implants are not positioned properly and the implant choice is not a good fit for her body. It is important when working with your plastic surgeon to ensure that the surgery and the implants are customized for your specific body shape and size.”
Although Lacey had previously said in interviews that she was happy with her athletic figure, rather than model shape, her breast implants have reportedly boosted her confidence.
According to the source, “She loves the results and she’s proud of her new shape.”
Lacey looks to have had a positive result from plastic surgery and is likely to be showing off her new assets on seasons to come.
Posted by Dr. Chris Prevel on Tue, Oct 25, 2011 @ 08:06 PM
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal by Katherine Hobson indicates that women in their forties and fifties who receive a yearly screening Mammogram over a 10 year period have a 7% to 9% chance of a false positive mammogram study. That means that 7 to 9 women out of 100 received an unnecessary breast biopsy due to a falsely positive mammogram study. Women who chose to receive bi-annual mammograms have a 1/3 lower risk of a false positive biopsy and do not have a statistically higher risk of a diagnosis of late stage breast cancer.
The important message of this study is that women without a positive family history of breast cancer or other significant risk factors for breast cancer may be better off receiving a bi-annual instead of an annual mammogram after the age of 40. However, this decision must be made only after a long and detailed consultation with your gynecologist.
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Mon, Oct 24, 2011 @ 02:35 PM
1
Tummy tucks ranks 5th in the top five most popular cosmetic surgical procedures. Breast augmentation is the most popular on the list. 2 181,653 people had a tummy tuck in 2009 in the US. 3 14,786 men had a tummy tuck last in the in US which makes up 4% of the total number of people who had one. Tummy Tuck operations in men are increaseing every year. 4 You will need to plan for at least 2 weeks of rest after your surgery. If you are in good shape going into the surgery then your healing time will be shorter. Its important to get on a low impact exercise regime as soon as your Doctor advises you it safe to begin. 5
There are 2 types of tummy tucks; a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck. When you have your consult with your doctor be sure to discuss both options. The mini tummy tuck is less invasive, only tightens the skin below the navel, does not use an incision around the navel and does not include muscle tightning. The full tummy tuck thighens the skin above and below the navel as well as tightens the muscle. Liposuction is included with both procedures.
6
Not everyone undergoing abdominoplasty will have the same degree of fat and skin removal. In fact, some individuals are candidates for a mini-tummy tuck because the excess fat and skin is only below the belly button and the muscles do not need to be tightened. 7 Tummy tuck benefits are long-lasting! Keep in mind, nonetheless, considerable weight fluctuation might compromise the effects with restretching of skin and recurrence of adipose tissue.
Posted by Padraig O Connell on Wed, Oct 19, 2011 @ 03:55 PM
Over the last several years, Plastic Surgeons have utilized Fat Transfer/Fat Grafting to aid in the Reconstruction of the Breast following Mastectomy/Breast Tumor surgery. When used for this purpose, the procedure is a safe and effective method for Reconstruction of the Breast. However, over the last 2 years, Wall Street Investors have funded several companies that promote the use of Fat Transfer for Cosmetic Breast Augmentation instead of Breast Implants to increase Breast Size. This is despite several significant disadvantages:
1. Fat Grafting will only reliable increase the size of the breast by 1/2 Cup.
2. Fat Grafting to the Breast can result in calcifications to the Breast that can be confused with early Breast Cancer. (Reference: ASAPS Patient Safety: Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation – What Women should know)
3. Fat Grafting can result in Breast Cysts and Lumps due to Fat Cell necrosis/death with resultant scarring that requires additional surgery for removal.
4. "The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in the interest of Patient Safety, do not recommend fat grafting for breast enhancement at this time. Because there is little clinical evidence available to document safety and efficacy, we urge patients to consider the procedure as one undergoing continued evaluation." (Reference: ASAPS Patient Safety: Fat Grafting for Breast Augmentation – What Women should know)
Be certain that Fat Grafting is the procedure that is best to achieve your cosmetic breast goals. Fat Grafting is a widely accepted technique for Reconstruction of the Breast following Breast Cancer surgery, but is still a highly debated procedure for elective cosmetic breast augmentation surgery.