Tag Archives: job security

Plastic Surgery In Hollywood Vs. Utah

Let’s talk about plastic surgery. Do you think of cosmetic procedures when you hear the phrase “plastic surgery”? I know I do. I think of breast augmentations, tummy tucks, liposuction, nose jobs, Botox, and many other types of cosmetic surgery. I think one of the biggest reasons we associate plastic surgery with nothing but cosmetic procedures, has something to do with Hollywood. Celebrities are always getting cosmetic procedures performed in an attempt to stay young and attractive for the big screen. Those in the movie and television industry see breast implants, laser skin resurfacing, and tummy tucks as job security. Plastic surgeons are their employment specialists.

Through the media, we, the general public hear all about the plastic surgery that happens in Hollywood. since most of the surgery that is performed there is purely cosmetic, plastic surgery does not have the greatest reputations. People don’t know that plastic surgery is often performed for mechanical or health purposes. there is a surprising amount of plastic surgery here in Utah. I see a lot of services in Utah advertised all along the freeway and online. I see things like facelift Utah, breast enhancement Utah, breast enlargement Utah, and breast augmentation Utah. I see things like nose surgery Utah as well, but not as often.

It think Utah has become the perfect place for a plastic surgeon to set up shop. Plastic surgery is only going to get more and more popular in Utah. Plastic surgery probably has a strong correlation to the amount of children born in Utah every year. Mothers tend to be young and frequent in Utah. Pregnancy and breast feeding is very hard on breast tissue, the muscles and fat tissue around the abdominal area, and frankly, a woman’s self confidence. many times, women in Utah will have a plastic surgery procedure done that reverses the damage done by pregnancy. This type of reconstructive surgery is often called the “mommy makeover”. It can consist of breast augmentation or just a breast lift. there are also ways to correct damage done to the actual birthing organs.

Pregnancy is hard on a woman’s body, so plastic surgery can become a must. It is not always purely cosmetic and needless to get plastic surgery. Even though women in Utah are probably not movie stars, they do not want to live with damaged breasts and be uncomfortable with their body. Sometimes, plastic surgery procedures can help a woman with her confidence, her career, and her health. Plastic surgery is not always an expression of vanity like it seems to be in Hollywood.

You may think that you will never need plastic surgery. Really, you never know when you might need reconstructive surgery or any cosmetic surgery. many people who would never dream of getting plastic surgery end up getting it because of some sort of accident. Sometimes, a plastic surgeon with have to reconstruct part of a person’s face or body. Even if it is not an accident that causes you to need plastic surgery, you may decide to have some plastic surgery done in an effort to repair damages from something like a pregnancy.

Plastic Surgery in Hollywood vs. Utah

Pregnancy is hard on a woman’s body, so plastic surgery can become a must. It is not always purely cosmetic and needless to get plastic surgery. Even though women in Utah are…. Learn more at Plastic Surgery Utah and plastic surgery procedures

Plastic Surgery In Hollywood Vs. Utah

Health Care

As the economy improves and savings accounts rebound, more consumers going are under the knife to improve their appearance. According to a recent study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic procedures including facelifts, Botox and breast augmentation rose by 5% from 2009 to 2010.

“What we’re seeing today is 100% related to the improvement in the economy,” says Dr. Craig Vander Kolk, a plastic surgeon at Mercy Medical in Baltimore, Md. “People are finally feeling more comfortable with their financial situation as they see their job security return, and they’re much happier putting their disposable income into a luxury item than they were two or three years ago.”

During 2010, 13.1 million plastic surgery procedures were performed, according to the ASPS, which noted a trend toward more invasive procedures like facelifts and rhinoplasty.  Facelifts were up 9% in 2010, while thighlifts (often done following extensive weight loss) were up 8% and breast augmentation surgery ticked up 2%.

“Every person out there has considered having plastic surgery,” says Vander Kolk “Whether they choose to have it or not is another story, but stability in the market makes people feel more comfortable investing in themselves.”

Certainly, more money in the bank is a good reason to bite the bullet on a luxury procedure, but ironically, a bad economy may be just as much of a driver behind the increase in surgery.

“There are many people driven into plastic surgery who are using it to look younger so they can get a job in what is still a very tough economy,” says Adam Hanft, founder of Hanft Projects, a branding strategy and marketing firm. “It’s really a signal to continuing stress we’re seeing in the economy. Older people are doing it to make themselves more agile competitors as they search for work.”

And for those out searching for work, the downtime between jobs may be important when considering an invasive procedure, according to Kolk.

“It’s difficult to take three weeks off work for a facelift. It’s involved, and it takes time for recovery, sometimes as much as a month if you don’t want anyone to know that you had work done.” 

For many older-than-50 members of the work force, plastic surgery has become the equivalent of a “new suit,” Hanft says. but the desire to look good isn’t the only reason numbers are up–a loosening in the credit markets within the last year could also be sending more people to the doctor.

“Statistically, a vast amount of cosmetic surgery procedures are put on credit cards, and in 2009 it was difficult to get that credit, but things have relaxed substantially in 2010, moving into this year,” says Hanft. many plastic surgeons are also offering financing for patients that was previously off the table when the economy was tighter.

Yet even as the working population ages and the economy improves, another large factor in plastic surgery’s popularity can’t go overlooked.

“It’s the new normal,” Hanft says. “People are returning to their old ways, and cosmetic work is the most intimate form of consumerism there is. We see cosmetic surgery everywhere—on TV, in movies, it’s become part of our consciousness, and anytime that happens, an increase in popularity follows closely behind.”

Although more people are opting for intensive surgery, minimally-invasive procedures are also up 5%, according to the ASPS. A total of almost 11.6 million minimally-invasive procedures including chemical peels, laser hair removal and Botox injections were performed in 2010.

“We have reached an equilibrium where people say they are going to allow themselves to have a few luxury items here and there,” says Dr. Raghu Athre, a plastic surgeon at Athre Surgical Associates in Clear Lake, Texas. “Certain minimally-invasive procedures have come down in price and have become commodity items.”

For example, Radiesse, a filler agent that is injected into wrinkles around the mouth and on the forehead has come down in price to $525 from $800 in 2009. The company that makes the product, Athre says, dropped the price as part of a marketing push and is reaping the rewards.  other similar products like Botox and Restylane have followed suit, and have reached a new threshold that makes them more accessible to the general public.

And procedures of all types will likely become more accessible in the coming year, Athre said.

“Like any other industry, plastic surgery goes up and down, but we are seeing a big uptick right now. Take a look around. There are a lot of deals out there.”

Health Care

Serial Drama: Another One Bites The Dust

If you've been reading this blog long enough, you know that bad news typically makes me get my shriek on. I'm sure you'd expect my reaction upon hearing the news that Rebecca Herbst was let go from General Hospital to include an absurdly long screed filled with, well, screed-length remarks in parentheses in the middle of a run-on sentence, and lots of ANGRY CAPS LOCK TYPING, and questions about Brian Frons and Bob Guza's job security that, if they were spoken aloud, would be verbalized in the form of a long, plaintive wail and a sneer (I'm not sure what the written equivalent of a sneer is, but roll with it) at ABC's somewhat terse statement about her exit:

"Storyline dictates the exit of Elizabeth Webber this spring. the next few months promise to be a 'not to miss' story for the character. We at ABC and GENERAL HOSPITAL wish Rebecca Herbst nothing but the best in all of her future endeavors."

(I am guessing that those are sarcastic airquotes, incidentally.)

But mostly? I am just really, really sad. I am sad that a daytime veteran (who plays a legacy character!) who was part of multiple (!) hugely successful pairings and some hugely memorable storylines is getting unceremoniously written off the show after spending years uncertain of whether she'd be dealing with the backburner or character assassination. I am sad to be losing a character that I have loved for years (I realize that this is not an opinion shared by many people; Liz seems to be one of the more polarizing characters on daytime)–I mean, she has not been written well in a REALLY long time, but, because I am an optimist and also a fool, I held out hope that the writers would realize how much story potential this character has in her.

And, selfishly, I am sad that my Things To Look forward To On General Hospital list–which was crazy short to begin with. And, like, five of the things to look forward to are Carly-related. CARLY!–is going to become even shorter. I will no longer be able to swoon over Rebecca Herbst's shiny, shiny hair and…I hardly want to type this, because I am just speculating and jumping to the worst case scenario, but: we may no longer have Cameron. I know. I'm perishing the thought and biting my tongue and so on! Ugh, I hate everything.

Serial Drama: Another One Bites The Dust