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Beauty Is Not One Size Fits All
While the old adage is “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” a New York plastic surgeon suggests it is rather the perception of beauty that matters. In an article for The Huffington Post, Dr. Robert Tornambe points out that each of us consider varying aspects of the human form to be beautiful. In a similar manner, plastic surgery procedures are customized with aesthetic sensitivity in mind, as no two people’s faces or bodies are exactly alike.
Take, for example, a facelift. This procedure, which tones sagginess in the lower parts of the face, could not successfully be performed in an identical manner on a man and a woman. For the man, the ideal result might be a strong, toned jaw line and the woman may desire a softer look, if applying conventional beauty standards.
It is with these conventions that Dr. Tornambe also takes issue. Rather than use a checklist for what is beautiful, he suggests that each woman has a Beauty Quotient. This is made up of three components: Physical Health, Psychological Health and Personal Appearance. He asserts that the combination of these three elements, which can be improved greatly with even minor tweaks or changes, make up a woman’s individual beauty.
When you go in for a cosmetic appointment, like a facelift, rhinoplasty or even a body procedure, such as a tummy tuck to tone hanging midsection skin, your plastic surgeon will keep this aesthetic sensitivity at the forefront of their mind. The goal of any good plastic surgeon is not to mold you into someone else’s idea of beauty, but rather to highlight your own beautiful features.
Surgical Procedures for Men Saw a Surge in 2010
More men than ever are choosing to undergo plastic surgery in order to look as young as they may feel inside, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In new statistics published this month, the ASPS found that the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures chosen by men rose 2% from 2009 to 2010. More dramatically, however, was the increase in the popularity of individual procedures for the face and body, some of which saw rises of nearly 15%.
Of the more than one million cosmetic procedures men chose in 2010, a majority of the top 10 were surgical, a change in the previous trend toward non-invasive options.
Plastic surgeon and ASPS President Dr. Phillip Haeck said this is largely because “as you age and gravity takes over, surgical procedures that lift the skin are necessary in order to show significant improvement.”
The procedure that saw the greatest spike between 2009 and 2010 was the facelift, which saw a 14% increase. This procedure tones the sagging skin of the lower face to remove jowls and deep wrinkles.
Otoplasty, a type of ear surgery that decreases the size and projection of protruding ears saw an 11% increase. Though this jump was among adult men, this procedure is often performed on children, as well.
Two body procedures that saw the greatest boost were liposuction and male breast reduction. Both of these body slimming procedures aim to create a more masculine form through the removal of excess fat and tissue.
On the non-surgical side, injectable fillers and Botox, which treat many moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds saw increases of 10% and 9% respectively. This indicates that even with a greater spike in surgical procedures, some men still choose the non-invasive route, at least at first.
Some Tax Rebates Going Toward Surgical Tweaks and Makeovers
As tax season ramps up, refund checks are being sent out and, if the money isn’t going into savings, it’s likely to be used for an indulgence. For many, this means finally going in for a long put-off cosmetic surgery, according to abc15.com.
Plastic surgeons in the Phoenix area say they are seeing a dramatic uptick in the number of individuals who are coming in during tax season, using their tax refund check to cover all or part of a procedure.
Kristy Harris in Phoenix chose to use her tax refund to pay for part of her breast lift surgery and used some savings to cover the rest of the $8,400 procedure (cost based on patient-reported averages on RealSelf.com). The mother of two said that raising children took a toll on her body and she wanted to do something to help herself achieve a “different look.”
Another popular procedure for the breasts is breast augmentation, which costs approximately $6,600. This surgery can improve shapeliness and body proportion.
Liposuction remains one of the most sought-after body procedures and costs about $5,600. Liposuction is often performed to remove stubborn fat deposits nearly anywhere on the body.
Even if your tax refund check is a bit smaller than you would hope, non-surgical treatments are available at a fraction of the cost of surgery. The ever-popular Botox, is used to reduce lines and wrinkles on the face. Chemical peels are also non-invasive and remain one of the key facial rejuvenation treatments and work to reduce many skin imperfections like a dry, dull complexion, blemishes and pigmentation issues. Botox and chemical peels cost about $472 and $610 for full treatments, respectively.
Professional Grade Topical Botox on the Way?
It’s certainly not news that wrinkle-reducing injectables like Botox and Dysport are seeing sales increases as the economy rebounds. It is noteworthy, however, what the companies are working toward in the wake of renewed consumer interest—topical versions, according to bnet.com.
Botox, produced by Allergan and Dysport, produced by Medicis, contain similar components of the botulinum toxin, which controls muscle movement when injected between the brows and diminishes glabellar lines and wrinkles. On top of this cosmetic use, botulinum toxin-based products have been used to treat excessive sweating and migraines and now the makers are taking the next steps in making their products widely available to those averse to injections.
So far, the news is good for consumers. The second phase in trials for topical Botox, which was completed in October, was successful. While no market date has been set for the topical version of Botox, nor for its Medicis-produced rival Dysport, needle-shy individuals can still test the possible effects of Botox by using Allergan’s Treatment Visualizer.
To learn more about injectable treatments as well as other skin care options, we encourage you to join the mailing list of Denver based plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat and to call to schedule a consultation.
Benefits of Breast Surgeries on TODAY
Having breast surgery can be a dramatic change for a woman, and as seen on the TODAY show’s Life Changers segment, two women who underwent breast surgeries experienced positive changes.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Erica, who underwent breast augmentation for what she called her “zero” breasts, actually an A-cup, said that her silicone gel implants made her feel like she had “the Bentley of boobs.” As an alternative to silicone implants similar to Erica’s, saline implants, which may feel less natural, are available at a lower cost. As well as the implant type, other options include the size, shape, placement and the location of incisions.
Another woman, Jeanne, underwent a breast reduction due to her D-cup sized breasts that caused back, neck and shoulder pains on her small frame. More than just the associated pain, she also experienced indentations from her bra straps and had difficulty finding clothing that fit comfortably. In the type of breast reduction procedure that Jeanne underwent, the surgeon removes excess skin and tissue that add weight to the breasts and often moves the nipple areola to a more youthful position.
In addition to the cosmetic breast augmentation and reduction procedures, breast lifts are often performed to lift breasts that have begun to sag over time or after weight loss. While excess skin is removed and the nipple areola often moved in a breast lift, implants may also be used to restore breast fullness.
Traditional Liposuction Still Popular Among Plastic Surgeons
In a survey published in the February issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) found that many of its members prefer more traditional liposuction methods to newer techniques.
The survey asked members about various liposuction techniques including newer technologies. It found that overall, most respondents perform between 51 and 100 liposuctions per year and they said traditional liposuction was their preferred method over other techniques such as Ultrasound-assisted Liposuction or Laser-assisted Liposuction.
Jamil Ahmad, MD, lead author of the survey said, “Our survey found that ASAPS members tend to more frequently employ the fat removal methods that have the longest track records and the most data to support their efficacy and safety.”
Ahmad went on to say that surgeon preferences may change as they become more experienced with newer methods and continue to improve patient safety standards.
Members surveyed also said they encourage on-going training of those in the aesthetic field, but are concerned about some doctors practicing outside their field of expertise. This stresses the importance of ensuring your surgeon is specifically trained and experienced to perform any procedure you will undergo.
Roger Ebert Gets New Jaw After Cancer Battle
After battling thyroid cancer, film critic Roger Ebert had cancerous cells removed and the cancer finally necessitated the removal of his right jaw and Ebert lost his ability to speak. However, with the use of a prosthetic, which he wrote about for the Chicago Sun-Times, Ebert has been able to recreate the lower part of his face and uses the prosthetic for some shots of his new television show.
The silicone prosthetic, which was created specifically for Ebert by a team of doctors from the Milwaukee area is composed of silicone and is similar to prosthetics used to recreate limbs for children.
Ebert acknowledges that many know his condition and that the prosthetic won’t fool too many people, but says, “Symbolically, it’s as if my illness never happened and, hey, here I still am, on the show with these new kids.”
Does Economy Drive Plastic Surgery Desires, Book Asks
Though President Ronald Reagan is often credited with ending the Cold War and having a hand in bringing down the Berlin Wall, in her book American Plastic: Boob Jobs, Credit Cards, and Our Quest for Perfection, author Laurie Essig asserts that The Gipper’s trickle down economic theories have made plastic surgery more readily available to lower-income Americans.
Essig claims that after the implementation of trickle down economics, a theory she sees as less-than-successful, many Americans were put at an economic disadvantage and later began to see plastic surgery as a remedy to their financial troubles, though it could put them into deeper debt. Some saw plastic surgeries increasingly as a way to further their careers (or simply hold onto them), and less as just elective procedures to look more thin or beautiful, according to a 2.5 star review of the book for Bloomberg Businessweek.
Most of the 140 patients Essig interviewed for American Plastic saw plastic surgery as somewhat of a necessity in an ever-growing (and increasingly younger) job market. To that effect, one woman told Essig, “it’s about how you look, not what you do. I do believe that nine times out of 10, women with the hot bodies get the best jobs.”
More than just tummy tucks and liposuction leading the industry, Essig sees Botox with its dropping prices and ease of availability driving middle and lower income consumers into their plastic surgeon’s office and as they seek increased confidence in an uncertain economy.
Plastic Surgeons Warn Against "Awake" Brand Cosmetic Surgeries
An alarming new trend in cosmetic procedures is taking hold and respected surgeons in the plastic surgery field want to warn patients about the dangers of some procedures marketed as “Awake cosmetic surgery.”
Awake surgeries are now being noticed not for the beautiful results they yield (they often do not), but rather the unsafe conditions and unprofessional manner in which they are conducted. According to an article on msnbc.com, patients who have undergone Awake procedures, such as extensive liposuction and breast augmentations, are now raising their voices against the doctors who performed the procedures with little training that left them in great pain and with poor results.
These patients’ stories stress the importance of looking into your plastic surgeon’s background and making sure he/she is board certified to perform the procedure you wish to undergo.
Awake patients are given an unknown mixture of drugs without an anesthesiologist present. Aside from a cheaper cost, the main selling point of Awake procedures is that the patient remains somewhat conscious during the procedure and can evaluate the result before completion of the surgery, however, with an unknown amount of drugs coursing through their system, it’s unclear how lucid these patients truly are.
Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Mouchantat questions the validity of decisions made under the influence of sedatives and painkillers, saying, “Any decision made on the table by a sedated or not sedated patient would be too highly influenced by the enthusiasm of the people present.”
Dr. Mouchantat adds that during the consultation is the time for the patient’s desires and the surgeon’s skills and techniques to be rectified, not during surgery.
The final chilling fact about Awake procedures is that for a doctor to perform these procedures (as approved by a nebulous “academy” located in Arizona), he/she only needs to undergo two days of training, whereas a board certified plastic surgeon has undergone years of training and a residency program.
To avoid the pain, both physical and emotional, and the poor surgical outcome, it is important to keep a few things in mind when looking into a cosmetic procedure.
- Research your surgeon and verify that he/she is board-certified to perform the procedure
- Insist on an open dialogue with your surgeon and learn about the techniques he/she uses
- Ask to see before and after photos from the surgeon’s previous patients and read patient testimonials, if available
We encourage you to learn more about how Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Mouchantat safely performs liposuction and breast augmentation procedures with beautiful results.
Reconstructive Procedures Help Patients Rebuild
Though elective plastic surgery gets headlines and reality shows, the more compassionate side of the field, reconstructive surgery, is where many doctors choose to spend a good deal of their time helping patients rebuild their lives. A recent Yahoo! News story highlighted a young girl who underwent a new type of reconstructive surgery called anaplastology to restore one of her ears that had been badly burned in an accident. The surgical procedure Elise underwent to recreate her right ear used a prosthetic can last about six years before needing to be replaced (a much easier follow-up procedure). Though this form of reconstructive surgery is only performed by about 150 plastic surgeons worldwide, Dr. Mouchantat offers a host of reconstructive procedures in Denver.
Otoplasty is an ear pinning surgery performed by your plastic surgeon that reforms the cartilage of your ear to reshape it and reposition the ear so it is closer to the head.
Breast reconstruction options range from the more common breast implant procedure to skin and tissue grafting surgeries that use donor sites on the patient’s own body (often abdomen or buttocks) to recreate the breast.
Tissue expansion procedures are also used for reconstructive patients who lack the sufficient skin to move forward with reconstruction. In this procedure, a balloon-like instrument is placed under the skin and gradually filled with saline to stretch the skin.
Your plastic surgeon may also be able to remove or diminish scars you have from previous skin trauma. This process may utilize injectable fillers to fill a depressed scar, or the removal of scar tissue.
Call Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat at (303) 232-8585 to learn more about how he can use his reconstructive skills to help you.
