Tag Archives: cosmetic procedures

Safety Tips in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

The things that you should consider when planning any cosmetic surgery procedure are results, quality and safety. The following article is prepared, in order to educate and guide prospective clients in cosmetic surgery on how to choose the right surgeon to attain their goal.

1. Any surgery with the main purpose of improving the physical aspect of the human body aesthetically, as well as function, is an artistic challenge for us plastic surgeons, and should be a worthwhile experience for the patient. All cosmetic procedures, minor or major, should be done according to certain standards imposed and set by local authorities, in terms of safety. Once your goal is obtained after the procedure, this brings emotional fulfillment and satisfaction to both the surgeon and the person seeking the procedure. But patient’s safety and health should be the main priority of your surgeon.

2. Inquire about your surgeon’s academic profile and formal training in the field of cosmetic/aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. it takes 6 to 8 years of formal training in burns, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery at an accredited institution after medical school before a physician could call himself a Plastic Surgeon. This would include 3 to 5 years of General Surgery Program and 3 years of Burns, Cosmetic/Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery training. in the Philippines, there are only few training institutions with plastic surgery program that are accredited and recognized by the local association of surgeons (Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Board of Plastic and Philippine Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons). Nowadays, there are still a lot of doctors (even non doctors), though board certified, but definitely not in plastic surgery, who perform plastic procedures. with the complexity of the plastic surgery specialty, it is not enough for a physician to just undergo months or even a year of observership or training in an unaccredited establishment, in order for them to comprehend all the principles and applications in the field of plastic cosmetic surgery.

3. A surgeon, equipped with a firm foundation in Cosmetic/Aesthetic Plastic Surgery should be able to evaluate whether you are a good candidate for the surgery you are considering. He must be able to discuss with you, all possible options and its associated risks and advice you which procedure is best to attain your desired results. if there are less invasive or non-surgical procedures that could fulfill your needs, your surgeon should be knowledgeable about this and be able to tell you its advantages and disadvantages. please be aware that there is no such thing as standard cosmetic procedure that would fulfill the desired result of all patients. Each patient should be approach and treated individually, since we have our own personal definition of beauty.

4. do not look for the cheapest doctor, more so, do not be deceived by unrealistic offer. Know your surgeon’s training and academic profile. Take note of his offer, if it is safe and attainable. you could inquire from any physicians’ association, regarding the authenticity of your surgeon’s specialty or training; lastly, ask friends and previous patients regarding his credentials. Try visiting their website, if he has one. your surgeon must be able to provide you details of his training, specialization and the number of years he underwent training.

5. your surgeon must be able to extensively discuss with you all your possible options. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, a good plastic surgeon must be able to entertain all your inquiries regarding your desired procedure. through this, the surgeon can establish rapport with their patients and establish a comfortable environment.

6. Don’t allow yourself to undergo liquid silicon injection at your nose, breasts, or any part of your body. The use of silicon oil injection has long been abandoned and condemned because of its unpredictable result and complications, not to mention its untoward results such as extrusion and infection. your doctor must be able to provide you data or clinical study regarding the use and safety of the product he is trying to promote.

7. Don’t be attracted to newer procedures, drugs and prosthetics without proven long term studies with regards to result, efficacy and safety. Inquire about its approval for use by local and foreign regulatory agency such as US-FDA, Department of Health, etc. Take into consideration the quality, safety and efficacy rather than the cost.

8. Take note if your surgeon’s clinic or cosmetic center were able to meet certain standard of safety and certified by the local Health Department. But be informed, that there are certain procedures that are best done in a hospital setting.

9. Ask your surgeon regarding affiliations or membership to any local Plastic Surgery organization that is recognized by both local and international body of Plastic Surgeons. in the Philippines, only the Philippine Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons under the umbrella of the Philippine College of Surgeon is recognized internationally by other foreign Plastic Society. This organization usually require their members certain standard in terms of training and competence in their specialty.

For more information on Philippine Cosmetic Plastic Surgery you may visit philippinecosmetic.com

Author:
Dr R Lorenzo
Plastic Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgeon
Certified and fully trained Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon, with 6 years of formal training in the field of Aesthetic, Reconstructive and Burn Plastic Surgery.

Safety Tips in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group » Blog Archive » Beirut overtakes LA as the world’s plastic surgery capital

Published on August 16, 2012 by Lucinda Maxwell

New figures have suggested that Beirut has become the world’s capital for plastic surgery, replacing LA at the top of the table.

According to a report by the Huffington Post, the capital of Lebanon has overtaken Los Angeles and Miami to become the world’s plastic surgery hotspot.

It has been reported that demand for cosmetic procedures has grown to such a level, that banks in the country have begun to offer loans to those who would like to undergo an operation or non-invasive treatment, but cannot afford to pay for it outright.

Workers under the age of 64 can turn to the First National Bank for advances of between $500 and $5,000.

Tummy tucks, skin tightening, breast implant surgery and rhinoplasty are all popular treatments in the country, partly because it is considerably cheaper to have work done in Lebanon compared to other parts of the world.

Edouard Abdelnour, a plastic surgeon in Beirut, told the news website: “we are cheap, with a rhinoplasty costing around $2000 and breast augmentation around $4000.

“We’ve seen an increase in ‘combined surgery’ too in which I’ll perform a breast enlargement, a tummy-tuck and a nose-job at the same time.”

See original story here: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/david-j-constable/beirut-boobs-botox-and-babes_b_1759183.html

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This entry was posted on Thursday, August 16th, 2012 at 1:06 pm and is filed under Cosmetic surgery news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group » Blog Archive » Beirut overtakes LA as the world’s plastic surgery capital

OSU Plastic Surgeons on Importance of Exercise Post-Surgery

COLUMBUS, OH, Aug 15, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –Many people choose to undergo cosmetic procedures in order to obtaina certain desired look or feel. However, the actions people takeafter a procedure is often what ensures optimum health, and whetheror not the results will last. Columbus plastic surgeons of the OhioState University Department of Plastic Surgery say exercise isessential to staying healthy following any cosmetic procedure. Thedepartment says when combined with a sedentary lifestyle, certainpost-treatment effects can involve the alteration of the body’snatural occurring processes, thus creating complications in otherareas of the body. They add that to obtain the highest quality ofresults and avoid problems down the road, they advise all theirpatients to maintain a regular exercise routine following anycosmetic procedure.

the OSU Department of Plastic Surgery offers a comprehensive varietyof treatments and procedures ranging from breast augmentation andrhinoplasty, to liposuction and skin cancer reconstruction. Thedoctors and their staff utilize the most advanced proceduralequipment and techniques while focusing on providing the highestlevel of medical care possible. the department says no matter whatthe procedure, patients are encouraged to begin some sort of physicalactivity after the recommended recovery time has been fulfilled.However, they add that while exercise is beneficial after surgery,recovery times often vary between individuals, so patients shouldconsult with their doctors before implementing a routine so as to notjeopardize the overall result.

the body has many natural processes that, if disturbed, might reactand overcompensate in a negative way. OSU’s plastic surgerydepartment says procedures such as liposuction can have an adverseeffect on the body if not coupled with exercise. They say aside fromthe obvious recurrence of weight gain, liposuction patients who donot implement a physical routine into their post-treatment lives havebeen known to develop a buildup of fat in other areas of theirbodies. according to the department, the fat cells removed duringliposuction will never return, so the body may instead start toaccumulate fat on internal organs which could lead to an increasedrisk for disease. However, they also add that the key to helpingavoid complications and health issues involved with any cosmeticprocedure is developing a post-surgery exercise plan.

the Ohio plastic surgery practice says exercise is not the cure-allwhen it comes to lasting cosmetic plastic surgery results, but itdoes go a long way towards maintaining the highest quality resultspossible. They add that every individual is different, so patientsshould talk to their surgeons to determine what amount of physicalactivity will be the most beneficial. Additionally, they say in orderto ensure the safest, most effective results, patients should consultwith qualified doctors when deciding where to take care of theirplastic surgery needs.

about the OSU Department of Plastic Surgery

Located in Columbus, Ohio, the OSU Department of Plastic Surgery iscomprised of a highly experienced team of doctors focusing oncosmetic and reconstructive surgeries. as part of the OSU School ofMedicine, the plastic surgery department is fully equipped with thelatest and most advanced technology available to modern surgery.Featured in multiple news and media stories, the OSU Department ofPlastic Surgery continuously devotes time to research and furtheringeducation in plastic surgery and aesthetic enhancement. Numerousdepartment specialties include complex wound care, burnreconstruction, and pediatric plastic surgery among others.

the Department of Plastic Surgery is located at 915 Olentangy RiverRoad, Suite 2100, Columbus, OH 43212, and can be reached via phone at614-259-7920. the doctors can also be contacted online atosuplasticsurgery.com or facebook.com/OSUPlasticSurgery.

Contact: Rosemont Media Aaron Hurst Email Contact (858) 200-0044 www.rosemontmedia.com

SOURCE: the Ohio State University Department of Plastic Surgery

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OSU Plastic Surgeons on Importance of Exercise Post-Surgery

Breast Implants for $214 per month – Financing your Plastic Surgery

There are countless procedures to improve your body, but because these are elective cosmetic procedures, they are not covered by insurance or flex-spending accounts. For obvious reasons, plastic surgeons require payment in full prior to the procedure and this can be in the form of check, cash, or credit card. There is another method of payment that is becoming extremely popular – financing.

Dr. Schulman, board certified plastic surgeon in NYC, participates with two financing companies. These companies will essentially pay Dr. Schulman for your procedure, and you make payments to these companies based on a pre-selected payment method. There are a variety of options ranging from short term loans (3, 6, or 12 months) or long term options (5 years). The interest rates will vary depending on the plan you select and your credit rating, but oftentimes the interest rate is lower than that of the credit card you are carrying around.

They key to getting approved for financing is having good credit. We recommend applying to several financing companies for amounts larger than you need. There is no obligation and no charge applying. you may choose to finance part or all of your procedure. For smaller procedures like Botox and fillers, the finance companies will even issue you a card that can be swiped like a regular credit card.

It is important for you to understand how these companies make money. Obviously they make money by charging interest from the patient. But, they also charge a finance fee to the surgeon and this fee can be quite high. this high finance rate charged to the surgeon is one reason why many cosmetic plastic surgery offices in New York City and throughout the US do not participate with financing companies. Dr. Schulman believes that participating with these companies is important. “These companies charge me a very high fee to allow my patients to finance the procedure. this certainly decreases my profit, but it makes the surgery possible to people who would otherwise be unable to afford it. It is a win-win for everyone”.

For example, $9,000 may seem unaffordable at first, but let’s look at the typical monthly payments through a company like Care Credit:12 month plan – $75018 month plan – $50036 month plan – $31248 month plan – $25060 months plan – $214

As you can see, these affordable monthly payments may make your $9,000 surgery possible. The application process is quick and easy. It takes just a few minutes and can be done before you come to the office or can even be done in the office right after your consultation. Approval is given within minutes if you qualify.

Here are two financing companies that Dr. Schulman participates with, click on the logo to learn more about financing options or to apply:

To schedule your consultation with Dr. Schulman or to learn more about financing your cosmetic plastic surgery procedure or treatment, contact his office by call 212-289-1851

Breast Implants for $214 per month – Financing your Plastic Surgery

Which Country Is Taking the Gold for the Most Plastic Surgery?

Don’t look now, but the United States may be losing its reputation as the nation most obsessed with plastic surgery. Sure, the United States still has the most cosmetic procedures performed overall, but when you account for the population size of each country, the USA only ranks #6. 

South Korea is actually now the king of cosmetic procedures, according to an Economist graph. as ABC News reports, 20% of women who live in the capital city, Seoul, have had a surgery of some sort. Blepharoplasty, AKA eyelid surgery, is a particularly popular procedure amongst South Koreans who want eyes that look more Western.

Greece finished in second place, which comes as quite a surprise considering that nations with struggling economies are not usually as receptive to elective surgeries. nonetheless, breast implants remain popular in the country and keep the industry thriving. also of note, on average, Greece had ten times the number of penis enlargement surgeries as other countries… I’ll let you draw your own conclusions on that one!

Botox injections helped boost Italy to #3, just enough to edge out Brazil at #4. Brazil’s position toward the top of the list can be expected thanks to the country’s numerous tax breaks that make cosmetic surgery not only aesthetically, but also financially appealing.

interestingly, it’s the South American countries like Brazil, Columbia (#5), Venezuela (#12), and Argentina (#19) that have the biggest percentage of invasive surgeries. While non-invasive procedures account for roughly half of the total procedures in other continents, the majority of South American procedures are surgical. This difference indicates that going under the knife is more culturally acceptable in South America.

Photo Credit: Olympic photo by David W. Carmichael, Graph from the Economist

Which Country Is Taking the Gold for the Most Plastic Surgery?

Top Cosmetic Procedures for Men: Laser Hair Removal

Cosmetic enhancements aren’t reserved just for women. These days, more and more men are seeking out cosmetic procedures to improve their self-esteem and body image. but what procedures are topping the list for male consumers?

According to American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), they’re reaping the benefits of a variety of non-surgical enhancements, especially laser hair removal for men.

“Men are great fans of low-maintenance grooming,” says Dr. Vince Bertucci, a Torontoarea dermatologist. “The appeal of laser hair removal is that it can free them from shaving or waxing and give them smooth, stubble-free skin. This translates to convenience, comfort, and time saved.”

Laser hair removal for men can be used to remove unwanted hair virtually anywhere on the body. It’s ideal for men who wish to thin out or completely eliminate hair from their back, chest, stomach, arms, shoulders or genital area.

Many men choose laser hair removal because it one of the few (other than electrolysis) hair removal techniques that can thin out, rather than completely remove unwanted body hair.

During a laser hair removal session, a practitioner uses a handheld device to apply laser energy to unwanted hair. The energy safely passes through the surface layer of the skin, destroying the hair shaft and root.

Treatments generally take about 30 minutes, and up to eight treatments may be needed to achieve optimal results. The final results of your laser hair removal may be more or less permanent. however, many patients do require regular maintenance treatments (about once per year) to achieve long-lasting results.

Are you interested in learning more about laser hair removal for men? Contact us!

Sources: Healthcare Global and WebMD

Top Cosmetic Procedures for Men: Laser Hair Removal

Doctor: Plastic surgery is ‘Wild West’ of medicine

Dr. Anthony Youn says he has been horrified by botched cosmetic procedures on patients who later turned to him for help: a liposuction that left shark bite-sized divots all over a woman’s thighs and stomach, another woman given “watermelon-sized” breast implants and liposuction that left her stomach “a rippled, lumpy mess.”

In addition to bad outcomes, both cases had this in common, says the California plastic surgeon: neither doctor was a board certified plastic surgeon.

Youn, a California plastic surgeon and author who has been quoted frequently, wrote a cautionary tale on CNN.com recently.

- “Plastic surgery has become the Wild West of medicine, with an increasing number of doctors performing invasive cosmetic procedures without proper training or credentials,” he says.

- Medical boards don’t restrict doctors from performing surgery outside their specialty, so many physicians are drifting into plastic surgery to make extra cash.

- the procedures are “almost never” performed in real hospitals, where surgeons are vetted and permitted to practice only in their field of expertise. “Doctors get around this by performing cosmetic procedures in their own in-office operating rooms or at ambulatory surgery centers, where the credentialing requirements may not be as strict,” he writes.

The bottom line: If you are contemplating plastic surgery, he says, seek out a physician certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery certifies facial plastic surgeons.

Doctor: Plastic surgery is ‘Wild West’ of medicine

What’s Up With Bruce Jenner’s Face? A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Weighs In

Last night, Bruce Jenner was on Andy Cohen‘s Watch What Happens Live to talk about the Olympics and compete against Amy Sedaris in various Cohen-invented categories like “ball sack” and “awkward hug.” he also made an inappropriate crack about picking up “girls with big asses,” i.e. his wife and step-daughters. What the hell?

In honor of his appearance, we decided to address a question that’s been plaguing us for quite some time: what, exactly, is going on with that man’s face? His skin is stretched tighter than one of the soccer balls he pulled out of that sack, and he’s veering dangerously close to getting that feline look that people get when they’ve had too many cosmetic procedures done. (See also: Jocelyn Wildenstein, a.k.a. “Cat Woman.”) How could any rational human who once looked like this:

End up making himself look like this?

We contacted triple board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Chaffoo and showed him some photos of Jenner, and he was able to answer all of our questions. Read and learn.

Jamie Peck: What kind of procedures do you think Bruce Jenner has had done? And where did he go wrong?

Richard Chaffoo: It appears that he has undergone a complete face lift but he looks rather operated on and unnatural looking. His face seems stretched and somewhat distorted and also asymetrical. There is some swelling under the chin more on the left side than right. In addition, his face has taken on a somewhat feminine appearance which happens when men have excessive and repeated facial plastic surgery. Also, the natural ear landmark called the tragus or cartilage prominence in front of the ear appears distorted or lost in this photo.

JP: How would someone go about correcting this?

RC: Unfortunately, there is no simple fix for this problem in many patients. if they have been stretched too tight, then it is a matter of time until the facial tissues relax and have a more natural appearance. This can take several years, though.

JP: What do you think is going on with his hair?

RC: It does appear that he has significant thinning and actual hair loss. You can notice that one can see his scalp along the frontal hairline. Normally, you should not really see the skin or scalp in the frontal area where the hairline is usually quite dense.

JP: What would you do about it?

RC: It is now possible to restore such a hairline using a revolutionary hair replacement surgery system called Neograft. This device extracts hairs from the back of the head where the hair is quite dense and implants it into areas of hair thinning or hair loss. The hair which grows is permanent and looks entirely natural. This system replaces the old technique which created a hairline that looked like a doll’s head or “corn row” appearance. It really does recreate one’s hairline to its original look and density. Also, the area from which the hair is removed heals naturally without a scar and no need for stitches.

JP: good to know!

Image: Bravo TV

What’s Up With Bruce Jenner’s Face? A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Weighs In

Explore Plastic Surgery – Dr. Barry Eppley » Blog Archive » Financing For Plastic Surgery

A major contributing factor to the rise in the number of cosmetic procedures, particularly those involving surgery, is financing. While once a non-existant or negligible part of most plastic surgeon’s practices a mere decade ago, it is now a significant and important component of patient conversion today. Like many other luxury services, the ability to finance the purchase is often the determining factor of whether that procedure is done in the near future.

While there are numerous companies, both nationally and locally, that provide cosmetic procedure financing, one of the most well known is that of Care Credit. It is the sole financing company that I use in my practice because of their ease of customer use online and the credibility and reliability of the company. in addition, they are endorsed by the American Society of Plastic Surgery as their health-care credit card company. I had no idea, however, that Care Credit has been in business for over two decades until their most recent announcement.

Care Credit is celebrating its 25th year in business of financing plastic surgery and other medical and dental procedures, having served over 20 million patients. As an appreciation, it has announced its “25 Years of Caring Sweepstakes” with a grand prize of $25,000 and 25 other prizes of $1,000 each. this sweepstakes exists for Care Credit cardholders and is time-limited, running from April 15th to may 31st. Existing patients with good-standing with Care Credit receive an automatic sweepstakes entry and those who use their card at any medical practice during this time period will receive an additional entry.

The consideration of having a plastic surgery procedure financed is a personal one and should be evaluated carefully. When looking at the cost of surgery, and how much money to borrow, be aware of the total cost of the procedure. Often a listed fee by a practice may be just the surgeon’s fee and not the total cost of surgery. Most cosmetic surgery procedures have four different variable costs. These include the surgeon’s fee, operating room time, anesthesiologist charge and the cost of any implants or devices used during the surgery. (e.g., breast implants, chin implants etc) Make sure that you know the total cost of your desired procedure(s) before applying for financing.

Indianapolis, Indiana   

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this entry was posted on Sunday, April 29th, 2012 at 12:14 am and is filed under care credit, financing. you can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. you can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Explore Plastic Surgery – Dr. Barry Eppley » Blog Archive » Financing For Plastic Surgery

Types of Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is a term thrown around with a lot of frequency. the term, however, is rather vague given the fact there are different types of cosmetic surgery. here is a guide to the different types of cosmetic surgery.

The world of cosmetic surgery is growing quickly each year. as time passes, more and more people are looking into the benefits of having cosmetic procedures performed on their bodies – and more and more procedures are being developed to fit patients’ needs. while medical science has not yet come up with surgeries that are able to provide solutions to all of the cosmetic problems people have, the many types of cosmetic surgery that are available today are attempting to correct most of the physical issues patients have.

The types of cosmetic surgery that are available for patients right now can be loosely grouped into two types: those that add something to the body and those that take something away. many people are unhappy with the size and shape of parts of their bodies, and they would like to either reduce the size of the body part or increase its size.

Liposuction is perhaps the most popular of the procedures that are used to take away unwanted areas of the body. Liposuction involves making a small cut into an area of the body that has too much fat tissue (such as the hips or stomach), and then a cannula is inserted into the cut. the cannula is a small, flexible tube with which the surgeon can dislodge and vacuum out the unwanted fat cells. In this way, stubborn areas of fat that aren’t responding to diet and exercise can be removed.

Some of the most popular types of cosmetic surgery, however, involve adding volume to areas of the body. One of these is seen in collagen injections, which plump up the lips. but, the biggest of the addition surgeries is breast augmentation. With this surgery, implants (usually made of saline) are inserted into a woman’s breasts in order to enlarge her cup size. these implants can be modest, and used to enhance breasts that may be undersized or sagging, or large – these are usually given to women who are looking to make a big impact.

While there are many more types of cosmetic surgery out there, the most popular across all age groups have to be liposuction and breast augmentation. while many people are tempted to jump into getting cosmetic surgery, it’s very important to consult a board certified cosmetic surgeon to find out what is the best procedure for you. never rush into any type of surgery or cosmetic procedure.

Types of Cosmetic Surgery