Tag Archives: upswing

Dr. Paul M. Parker of the Parker Center Explains Why Male Plastic Surgery Procedures are on the Rise

Paramus, NJ (PRWEB) June 12, 2012

according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), male plastic surgery has increased 121% since 1997. New Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul M. Parker of the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery explores why more and more men are looking to enhance their appearance.

Plastic surgery for men has been on the upswing for years, even during this tight economy. Plastic surgery that was once reserved for the rich and famous is now commonplace among middle class women and is rapidly becoming more acceptable for men.

“I believe as baby boomers age—both men and women—they see themselves as healthy, active and fit. They’re unhappy when their face or body doesn’t match up with how they feel, and they want to do something about it,” explained New Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul M. Parker.

It has also been speculated that social media and video communication, like Skype, make appearances readily available, allowing people to judge by appearances instantaneously. in a tough economy with an aging population, competition for jobs becomes more intense. Men are feeling the pressure to look more youthful and rested, thus the increase in plastic surgery for men. New Jersey surgeon, Dr. Parker is willing to discuss men’s options with them.

Over one million men underwent cosmetic procedures last year, including non-invasive techniques such as botox and skin fillers. For men, this is an increase of 2% throughout 2009. the top procedures men undergo include facelifts, otoplasty (ear pinning), derma fillers, botox and liposuction, followed by breast reduction for men, blepharoplasty, dermabrasion, laser hair removal and laser treatment of leg veins.

“Our male patients seeking cosmetic enhancements tend to follow national trends, with the exception that I perform more male rhinoplasty, chin implants, and breast reduction for men. New Jersey male patients believe in the impact of cosmetic surgery on their professions. Chin implants especially can make a dramatic difference in your appearance and the surgery is relatively straight forward, done with local anesthetic and IV sedation and the recovery is pretty painless and quick,” said Dr. Parker.

Chin implant surgery is a relatively small procedure that can have a dramatic impact on a man’s appearance. a strong chin and jawline is seen as the ideal masculine profile and a chin implant can give men the strong look they desire. It can also be accompanied by a small amount of liposuction to remove a “double chin” look. When performing male plastic surgery, New Jersey surgeon Dr. Paul M. Parker offers a life changing experience.

Liposuction is another very popular procedure with men. Nationwide, it is the #2 cosmetic surgical procedure performed. in 2010 over 23,000 men had liposuction. It can remove stubborn fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. Some men find as they age, fat deposits settle in their abdomen or other areas and no amount of time in the gym helps. Liposuction can create the smooth, contoured look men are seeking.

While all of the Parker Center’s patients value Dr. Parker’s aesthetic of achieving a natural look with any cosmetic procedure, men are especially appreciative of this fact. Men also tend to look for a greater degree of anonymity when seeking cosmetic procedures. the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery’s fully accredited and certified ambulatory surgery center, Surgiplex, not only provides the privacy patients’ desire but also a safe, warm, relaxing and calming atmosphere.

Dr. Parker has created a unique set of protocols known as the Rapid Recovery Program, which gets patients back to their busy lives as quickly as possible after plastic surgery. New Jersey patients appreciate the program, which includes use of limited incisions and medical tissue glue to speed healing, short acting anesthetic and anti-emetic medication to hasten recovery from anesthesia, a tailored regimen of drugs to reduce post-operative pain, and a combination of pre- and post-op medications to reduce swelling and bruising. Parker Center for Plastic Surgery also provides three post-operative medical manual lymphatic drainage massage sessions to speed healing as well as topically applied skin creams and professionally applied camouflage makeup.

Dr. Parker and the staff at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery know that the decision to have cosmetic surgery is intensely private, and they work diligently to create a warm, caring and supportive atmosphere for all of our patients. from the first phone call for a consultation to the procedure to the follow up appointment, the procedure will be a wonderful experience from start to finish. For male plastic surgery, New Jersey is where patients want to be.

About Dr. Parker Dr. Paul M. Parker, is the Medical Director of the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery. he has over 20 years’ experience and is well known for his surgical results as well as his commitment to patient care and satisfaction. Dr. Parker graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency in general and plastic surgery at New York University Medical Center. Read Dr. Paul M. Parker Reviews and schedule a free consultation on his site.

Dr. Paul M. Parker of the Parker Center Explains Why Male Plastic Surgery Procedures are on the Rise

Why Plastic Surgery Focuses on Beauty and Youth

Dermal Fillers, Face Lift, Facial Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery Blogs, Plastic Surgery Science Comments (0)

In modern society, beauty and youth are the most sought-after physical attributes, which have resulted in an upswing in cosmetic plastic surgery.  In fact, this sector is continuously growing in the US over the past couple of years even if medical spending has slowed down.

Our brains are hardwired to prefer symmetric face and body, which is a universal definition of beauty, because it often connotes health and virility, which are important for any species to spread its genes.

Since the latter half of the 20th Century, the US society has been more focused on physical improvements to the extent that beauty and youth have somewhat turned into a new indicator of social worth.  This trend is different from many Eastern societies where age is concurrent with higher social status, respect, and prestige.

However, the quest for beauty is an age-old story that even literature has depicted women from ancient civilizations using vegetables dyes to color their faces, hair adornments, and clothing to enhance their appearance.  for this reason, it would be safe to surmise that our desire for physical improvements is purely a human nature and deeply ingrained into who and what we are.

Going back to plastic surgery, the trend nowadays is facial rejuvenations such as facelift, Botox injection, and dermal fillers—procedures that aim to make the face look youthful.

According to a 1994 study, older women are mostly concerned with their face, which is why facelift and Botox injection are popular among them; while younger ones are more preoccupied with their body, which is why liposuction, breast augmentation, and other body contouring procedures are popular among this age group.

Nowadays, modern society—or at least in the US—physical signs of aging are somewhat seen as something which must be minimized or even eradicated; rather than being treated as completely natural and inevitable.

Employment is arguably the primary reason for the growing popularity of cosmetic plastic surgery.  In fact, it is not uncommon for aging American workers to seek facelift, dermal fillers, and Botox injection believing that looking youthful would make them appear competitive against younger workers.

Some economists and even plastic surgeons believe that the condition of job market to some degree affects the plastic surgery trends.  because of insecurity and fear of appearing old and “incompetent,” Botox injection, chemical peels to remove wrinkles and age spots, and dermal filler treatments had skyrocketed during the recent economic slowdown.

Cosmetic Surgery Blogger @ March 18, 2012

Why Plastic Surgery Focuses on Beauty and Youth

Swelling After Facial Procedures

The makeover shows on television have resulted in a significant upswing in the popularity of facial plastic surgery procedures. they often fail to show, however, the swelling afterwards.

Swelling after Facial Procedures

Choosing to have plastic surgery is always a big step. more people are deciding to have this permanent form of cosmetic change due to the aging population and the amount of Hollywood stars that talk about their procedures. An especially popular form of plastic surgery for women and men over 40 are facial procedures. Here are a few things that you can expect when going in for yours.

Keep in mind that there are many different types of plastic surgeries for the face that can be performed. There are upper and lower lifts. There are also laser treatments, which are also known as laser skin resurfacing. The goal of all facial procedures is to correct issues on the face that can happen as a person ages. Sagging skin, wrinkles, jowls and deep cheek folds are all issues that traditional surgeries can correct, while laser procedures tend to target smaller skin imperfections such as small wrinkles.

A facial procedure is usually performed by a board certified plastic surgeon under general anesthesia. Cuts are made into the skin at the hairline, and the underlying tissue and muscle is pulled taut. this gives the skin a smoother, more youthful appearance. sometimes, excess skin is also removed from the facial area. All of this work can be done on an outpatient basis. Patients are often up and moving around very soon.

If you have a full or partial surgery, you are going to have to deal with some discomfort afterwards. Swelling will be a part of this and you have to have reasonable expectations. you are not going to come out of surgery and immediately look great. The adjustment of muscles, fatty tissue and skin is going to get a reaction from the body. Swelling will be prominent immediately after the procedure as the body forces blood into the area to help with the healing. Frankly, your face will look like a balloon. after a few weeks, however, the swelling should seriously abate. this will let you get a better idea of the final look. That being said, some minor swelling can last as long as 10 months, so you have to be patient.

Having plastic surgery on your face requires significant surgical invasion into muscles, skin and fatty material. The body is going to act to heal itself by pushing blood into the area. this will result in swelling on a large scale. Don’t panic when you see yourself for the first time after the surgery. The swelling will go down with time.

Swelling After Facial Procedures

Billings mirrors national trend with uptick in youth seeking cosmetic surgery

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers and adolescents are seekingplastic surgery each year to boost their vulnerable self-esteem, tocorrect physical flaws, ease emotional and physical pain, and tofit in with their peers.

Some long to change their looks to stop the taunting andteasing, to stave off ridicule, stop the stares and put an end toinsensitive questions.

And, some of their parents have borrowed thousands of dollars tohelp ensure their child’s emotional well-being.

Dianna Murphy of Billings is one of those parents. she hasracked up more than $40,000 in debt to help her daughter, Rachael,correct an abnormal skin condition that deformed her ears, herchest and now her arm.

“When she woke up from surgery and saw her ears, she juststarted crying,” Murphy said, choking back tears. “I didn’t carethen if it cost $1 million. It’s one of those things where you’rehelpless. It’s your kid. What do you do? it traumatized our wholefamily.”

Although teens make up only 2 percent of cosmetic surgerypatients in the United States, according to the American Societyfor Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the numbers are on the upswing aftera one-year decline.

And, what’s happening nationally is mirrored locally as teens,with the help and support of their parents, turn to the knife tocorrect protruding ears, overly large breasts, asymmetric breasts,or severe acne and scarring.

While Montana isn’t exactly a hotbed for these surgeries, thetrend exists here, too.

Dr. Steven Grosso, co-owner of Billings Plastic Surgery, saidhis practice has experienced a 10 percent increase in pediatricpatients since 2002. The trend has been even more pronounced in thepast three years. between Jan. 1, 2008 and Jan. 1, 2011, Grosso andhis partner, Dr. Alan Muskett, have operated on 300 patients underage 20. all were for either cosmetic or reconstructive purposes.about 10 percent of those operations were strictly for cosmeticpurposes, done solely to improve their appearance, according toGrosso.

Propelling the uptick is a broader acceptance of using cosmeticsurgery to improve one’s appearance at any age. And, parents aremore willing to consult a plastic surgeon to help their child makephysical improvements that can only be achieved throughsurgery.

For young people, it’s rarely about getting a boob job or atummy tuck. It’s about removing emotional stumbling blocks thatcould hinder their performance in school, affect socialrelationships, or hobble potential professional careers.

“Cosmetic surgeries are appropriate for deformity because thesedeformities are tremendously isolating and can lead to severepsychological problems and the inability to socialize normally,”said Wendie Howland, RN and a principal in the Massachusetts-basedHowland Health Consulting.

These days, cosmetic surgery is also more acceptable — andaccessible — than ever before. thirty years ago, it was a notionreserved for the Hollywood elite. Today, it’s used as a way to helpcreate a positive environment for struggling youth who are oftenself-critical. The stigma of having plastic surgery has all butvanished.

Also playing a role in the spike is an increase in disposableincome in the past 30 years. Youth and parents alike are willing tospend it on quality-of-life issues. Looking good makes people feelgood and physical appearance plays a huge role in today’s society,especially among teens.

“Cosmetic surgery is just an extension of a lifestyle, abehavior, or a thought process,” Grosso said. “They work out. Theyeat well. they go to the gym and lift weights. they want to lookgood. It’s just that they need a surgeon to help them getthere.”

It’s not unlike fitting your child for braces. Most parentswould not hesitate, if they have the means or the insurance, tosend their child to the orthodontist, Grosso said.

“If you’ve got a child who has the stigma of something theydon’t like, and the only way to improve that or to get rid of it isto undergo a surgical procedure, most parents would certainly wantto make that available to their child if they could,” Grossosaid.

Most experts, including Grosso, agree that for appropriatelyselected teenage patients, successful cosmetic surgery can have apositive impact on a youth’s physical and emotional development.those who withdraw socially because they feel or look differentoften gain a new-found confidence after surgery.

“A facial feature that makes a young person stick out is oftendevastating to them at a time when they need to build theirconfidence,” said Dr. Russell Kridel of The Texas Medical Centerand the only plastic surgeon on the American Medical Association’sCouncil on Science and Public Health. “Young kids with protrudingears and-or large or hooked noses are often teased mercilessly bytheir ‘friends.’ It’s amazing to hear the stories from these youngpeople after surgery who often say we have changed theirlives.”

Still, cosmetic surgery in teens is not without controversy.

If an individual has a disfigurement that sets him or her apartsignificantly, then cosmetic surgery can make a difference to thecycle of teasing and bullying, said Dr. Bobbie McDonald, a doctorof psychology and the founder and executive director of theMeridian Centers in Los Angeles and Costa Mesa, Calif. However, ingeneral, plastic surgery is not going to break this type of cycle,McDonald said. Everyone has features, attributes and physiques thatare different in some way from another.

“Making a change to an aspect of one’s physical appearance isusually not going to be the solution for an issue such as bullying,which is usually based on a number of complexities rather thansolely on a physical attribute, even though this may be the focalpoint of the teasing.”

Susan Fee, a professional clinical counselor in Cleveland, Ohio,said each case must be decided on an individual basis.

“It’s not the procedure itself that needs examining, but whatthe teen expects will change by having it,” Fee said. “Often, theseexpectations are unrealistic.”

Some believe they will have more friends, or be more confident,Fee said. these are all learned social behaviors that must bepracticed and are not the automatic result of a change to theoutside of the body, Fee said. In addition, parents often have thesame unrealistic expectations.

Though cosmetic surgery is available and safe in properlyselected patients, it’s not for everyone. And, not everyone whowants it can get it — at least in Grosso’s office. they must beemotionally mature and understand the limitations of plasticsurgery.

One 14-year-old sought Grosso’s help to reduce the size of herbreasts. An avid horseback rider, she complained that her breastsgot in the way of her riding.

“They were big but not big enough for me to justify cutting onher,” Grosso said.

Grosso also refuses to perform breast augmentation for anyfemale under age 18, in accordance with the standards of theAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons.

While cosmetic surgery has tremendous benefits, there are alsorisks and drawbacks, including extensive, unsightly, and lifelongscars.

“People think plastic surgeons can operate in ways that don’tresult in scars, but that’s not true,” Grosso said. “They have tounderstand the big picture. People don’t heal in a scarlessway.”

The distinction between a purely cosmetic surgery and a purelyreconstructive surgical procedure is usually not difficult to make,gross said. However, there are some procedures done for cosmeticsurgery, which are also performed to improve functional problems.An example may be a browlift or upper eyelid blepharoplasty, asurgical procedure to remove excess folds of skin in the upper lidsand pouches under the eyes. Many patients undergo these proceduressolely to improve their appearance, but if there is visualobstruction due to descending brow tissue or excess skin of theupper eyelids that is impairing vision, then the same procedureperformed for cosmetic improvement may also alleviate a functionalproblem.

Although health insurance does not pay for cosmetic plasticsurgery, coverage is often provided when a procedure alleviatesphysical symptoms or improves a body function. That may be thecase, for example, when breast reduction eliminates severe back andneck pain. for his pediatric patients, Grosso said about 90 percentof proceedures are paid for by insurance, the other 10 percent isout of pocket.

If a patient has a functional problem, or their condition isrelated to a birth defect, an accident or injury, treatment ofcancer or other acquired or congenital anomalies, then insurancecompanies generally pay for the surgical treatment.

Grosso is the only surgeon in Billings, and in the easterntwo-thirds of Montana, who is a member of the American Society ofAesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of PlasticSurgeons. they are the leading societies for his specialty. Inorder to maintain membership, a plastic surgeon must meet rigorousstandards. these include being board certified in plastic surgery,having recommendations by colleagues, maintaining ethicalstandards, and meeting practice and credentialing requirements.

Contact Cindy Uken at cuken@billingsgazette.com or 657-1287.

Billings mirrors national trend with uptick in youth seeking cosmetic surgery