Blog Archives
Posted on March 28th, 2013 in
Body Surgery

A new survey from
Allure magazine shows big differences between the genders when it comes to aging. Those surveyed stated that women are more greatly pressured by aging, and men are believed to age more gracefully.
According to the study, which was discussed recently in the
New York Daily News, 90% of US men and women feel that women are under a greater pressure to appear young. The survey also showed that women cross the “old” threshold about five years sooner than men, who get away with looking “distinguished” rather than elderly. Men were even found to peak in physical attractiveness at an older age than women, around 34 for men in comparison to 30 for women.
Many of Those Polled Would Consider Cosmetic Surgery
In the words of Kristin Perrotta, executive editor of
Allure, “People overwhelmingly said they were concerned about the effects of aging. They were concerned about how it would affect their attractiveness to the opposite sex and particularly with women, how aging would affect their career.” In fact, nearly twice as many women in their fifties reported that they felt they had to look young in order to succeed at their career.
While only 5% of the 2,000 people who participated in the survey had previously undergone cosmetic procedures, 42% of women and 18% of men reported that they would think about it as a future option.
The most common anti-aging procedures are non-surgical injections, like
Botox or
dermal fillers. Surgical procedures, such as brow lifts, face lifts, and
breast lifts are particularly impactful for giving an impression of youthfulness. And this is an important factor, since according to Perrotta, “this survey definitely shows that aging, when we are talking about appearance, is a real emotional touch point for both men and women, no matter whether they are 20, 40, 60.”
Photo by UggBoy/UggGirl on Flickr.
Posted on March 21st, 2013 in
Body Surgery

An online leg appearance craze may be leading to more cosmetic procedures,
according to the
Daily Mail. The new trend involves the pursuit of a defined space between the upper legs, known as a “thigh gap.”
Although women throughout history have always pursued the perfect legs, the level of devotion which this trend has gathered is drawing media attention. In addition to widespread online content focused on this goal, including Facebook groups and countless websites, the trend is contributing to the rise in specific leg contouring procedures. According to the article, these groups have more than 700,000 followers, and some surgeons are reporting dramatic increases in the number of leg procedures performed.
Treatments to Help Shape the Inner Thigh
The two most commonly performed procedures for the legs are the
thigh lift and
liposuction, both of which are procedures that can have a dramatic effect with a relatively short recovery period. Each procedure varies based on the extent of the treatment goals, which are unique to each patient.
Liposuction comes in a variety of forms, and is generally used for more minimal treatments where the skin still retains a healthy amount of elasticity. It may be specifically targeted to address certain trouble areas of the legs where the fat deposits persist despite focused exercise.
Thigh lifts represent a more significant treatment, in which excess skin is surgically removed along with the excess fat. Often, liposuction will be used to enhance the overall appearance of the final result. A thigh lift is typically done in cases where greater amounts of fat must be removed, and the skin has lost its elasticity, meaning that if only liposuction were to be performed, excess skin would be left behind. Other procedures that may be performed in this area at the same time include buttock lifts and
tummy tucks.
Photo by Lorena Cupcake on Flickr.
Posted on March 14th, 2013 in
Plastic Surgeon

A recent European study has shown that cosmetic surgery improves self-esteem and happiness after a procedure and for several months afterward.
The study, which was conducted by Ruhr Universitat and the University of Basal, worked with 544 first-time surgical patients to establish information about those who choose cosmetic procedures. In addition, the study included 264 people who were interested in cosmetic surgery but chose not to get it, and 1,000 people who were not interested. The study was written up in the journal
Clinical Psychological Science, and recently
discussed in the
NY Daily News.
Realistic Expectations Crucial to a Successful Plastic Surgery Outcome
Prior to their plastic surgery, there were no real happiness or self-esteem differences between those intending to have surgery and those who were not. However, when the
breast lift, face lift,
tummy tuck, and
breast augmentation patients were interviewed again at three, six and twelve months post-surgery, the surgical patients were noticeably improved in these areas.
In the words of the study authors, “these patients felt healthier, were less anxious, had developed more self-esteem and found the operated body feature in particular, but also their body as a whole, more attractive. No adverse effects were observed.”
Another part of the study involved assessing how realistic the patient’s expectations were regarding their plastic surgery. According to these numbers, only about 12% of potential patients had unrealistic expectations of their outcomes and the effect their surgery would have on their lives. The American Psychological Association noted that previous research had firmly established a link between dissatisfaction, poor outcomes and unreasonable expectations.
Overall, other statistics collected by the survey showed that woman remain the driving force behind plastic surgery. According to those numbers, 87% of patients who choose cosmetic procedures are women.
Photo by Stf. O on Flickr.
Posted on March 7th, 2013 in
Breast Surgery

The natural changes to womens’ bodies that happen as a result of pregnancy and breastfeeding serve an important purpose, but may greatly impact their appearance in the long term.
For many women, a breast lift is an excellent way to meet these challenges by firming and reshaping the breasts for a younger appearance. The procedures may be performed with or without breast implants, depending on whether you are looking for a volume increase in addition to the lift.
Choosing a Breast Lift After Pregnancy May Be the Best Choice for Many Patients
Many women choose the
breast lift option because it is an excellent way to firm and lift their breasts without adding any foreign material. This greatly decreases the aesthetic age of the breasts. The lift may also be combined with either a
reduction or an
augmentation of breast volume depending on the specific patient situation. These procedures may often be performed in one surgical episode, rather than multiple episodes spaced out over time, which increases recovery periods and lengthens the results timeline.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are often key concerns of women considering this procedure. As with many other breast procedures, it is generally still possible for women to become pregnant, give birth and breastfeed following a breast lift. However, as a result of the common breast changes during pregnancy, it may not be practical to have a breast lift prior to expected children, as a revisionary procedure could then be required.
For this reason, most patients are encouraged to postpone any breast lifts until after they have birthed and nursed all the children they intend to have. However, the personal nature of this question makes it a particularly common one for women considering a breast lift. The trusted site
RealSelf.com has dozens of questions from women wondering about the best timing for their particular situation.
Photo by mahalie on Flickr.