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The Positive Side of "Revenge Surgery"
Post-divorce, many individuals may see “revenge surgery” as a way to get back at an ex, but one plastic surgeon told FOX News he sees surgery after divorce in a positive light.
According to plastic surgeon Dr. Leo Lapuerta, women and even some men who are recently divorced are turning to plastic surgery to get a new lease on life. Often, he says, these individuals turn to plastic surgeons to help them improve the way they look and their confidence as they reenter the dating pool. Rather than using the term “revenge surgery,” Dr. Lapuerta says he sees patients who are motivated to improve themselves instead of getting back at their exes.
Dr. Lapuerta says he would not operate on someone who was motivated to get “revenge surgery,” but says patients should be healthy and motivated for the right reasons. He adds that patients who are recently divorced may need a bit more time to think about the reasons for undergoing a major surgery. Dr. Lapuerta says he needs to ensure that his patients don’t rush into the surgery with the wrong mindset—he wants to understand each patient’s unique motivations.
The most popular post-divorce procedures he performs for women include:
Men most often look to improve the apparent age of their face and might undergo eyelid surgery or a neck or facelift.
Dr. Lapeurta says that as a plastic surgeon, he sees many patients with improved self-confidence after a procedure and counts that as one of the perks of his job.
To learn more about your options for plastic surgery after a divorce, we encourage you to contact the practice of Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Mouchantat.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Surgery to Look Like a Celebrity—Is It for You?
Walk of Fame by m.grinnell, on Flickr
Some plastic surgeons are taking note of a new trend—surgery to look like a celebrity, according to the ASAPS.
Though many patients may not say they want plastic surgery to look like a celebrity in every way possible, many patients pick out certain aspects of a star’s look they admire. You just need to look to the cover of a magazine to see the most sought-after celeb facial features.
Commonly, women desire to have fuller lips, like Angelina Jolie. Plastic surgeons often use injectable fillers to create a larger kissable area on the lips.
Jennifer Aniston’s body is also popular among women. To create a more toned midsection, your plastic surgeon may perform a tummy tuck to remove loose skin and liposuction to eradicate fat that will not go away despite diet and exercise.
Women are not alone in their desires to get plastic surgery to look like a celebrity. Men often undergo nose surgery or rhinoplasty when they desire a profile like Brad Pitt. Male Jersey Shore fans may choose body liposuction to create a more toned stomach, as well. In addition, procedures to create a more masculine chest, like male breast reduction and even chest implants for some men, are increasingly popular.
Should I Get Surgery to Look Like a Celebrity?
If you are interested in any sort of plastic surgery modeled after a star, however, it is important to have a frank conversation with your plastic surgeon. He will help you determine what is possible and what will best showcase your natural features. Please join the mailing list of Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat to learn more about plastic surgery options.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Post-Bariatric Surgery Diet: Less Cravings for Fat?
After undergoing gastric bypass, patients may experience a decrease in their desire for fatty foods.
The study, which looked at what sort of foods patients who underwent the surgery incorporated into their post-bariatric surgery diet. It found that many patients shunned fats high in fat and instead made healthier choices for their post-bariatric surgery diet. Interestingly enough, a study of lab rats found a similar effect lasting up to 200 days after surgery.
The researchers said the avoidance of fatty foods as part of a post-bariatric surgery diet may be attributed to hormones. An increase in certain types of hormones may lead to unpleasant digestive feelings, causing patients to curb their intake of fatty food and drinks.
Of course, in order to maintain the positive effects of the surgery, a healthy post-bariatric surgery diet is necessary. Of great importance, too, for many patients are body contouring procedures which are often needed after losing a great deal of weight.
Cosmetic surgeons often perform body contouring for patients who exhibit loose skin and pockets of fat on the body. These surgeries can include a tummy tuck, thigh lift, breast lift and sometimes and overall body lift.
To learn more about maintaining your body after bariatric surgery, we encourage you to contact Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Seniors May Be at the Best Plastic Surgery Age
Plastic surgery is becoming a more favorable option for seniors looking to maintain a youthful look, according to The New York Times.
People who often wonder about the best plastic surgery age may be surprised about how many patients undergoing cosmetic procedures are in their 70s and even older. The most popular facial procedures among seniors are a facelift to remove jowls, eyelid surgery to correct loose skin or bags and a forehead lift, which corrects a descending brow.
The most popular body procedures among seniors are also highly popular among younger groups. These include liposuction and tummy tuck to remove excess fat and loose skin on the midsection. Breast surgeries like lifts and reductions are also popular. Somewhat interesting, too, is the fact that breast augmentation is favorable among senior women.
One patient who felt at 83 that she was at the best age for plastic surgery is Marie, who has more than two dozen children and grandchildren. In an effort to help her “children to be proud of what I look like,” Marie underwent a breast lift with augmentation, which lifted her breasts and restored lost volume.
Are seniors at the best plastic surgery age?
While some may worry that the older you get, the higher the rate of complications from surgery, not all research points that way. In fact, some in their 70s, 80s and even older may be at the best plastic surgery age as long as they have maintained a healthy lifestyle.
Two different studies, one published published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the other by the Cleveland Clinic found seniors were at no greater risk for complications than their younger counterparts when screened properly.
To find out if you may be at the best plastic surgery age and to learn about your cosmetic options, we encourage you to join the mailing list of Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Problems with Medical Tourism, Despite Cost Savings
Some shoppers who choose medical tourism for plastic surgery rather than staying in the US find it may not be the best deal, according to the Huffington Post.
Some savvy internet users may be able to find what seems like a low rate for a plastic surgery procedure abroad when compared to prices domestically, according to plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Yaremchuk. Still, there are problems with medical tourism, he says. Even if the price is cheaper, the old adage is true, he says—you get what you pay for.
While there are, of course, exceptions to the rule, going to a cheaper plastic surgeon will not always yield the results you would want. Often with a surgeon who charges less and is able to practice overseas, the training, expertise and experience are not what you would get with a board certified plastic surgeon.
While Yaremchuk admits only anecdotal evidence is available about patients who travel overseas for plastic surgery, it’s not all good news. In his own experience over the a three month period, Yaremchuk saw patients who had complications from previous plastic surgery procedures. Almost universally, he says, the patients did not know the qualifications of their original surgeon or of the facility where the procedure took place. This a one of the key problems with medical tourism—lax enforcement of qualifications.
In one recent study, over a two year period, eight American patients were infected with Mycobacterium abscessus after undergoing liposuction procedures in a Dominican Republic clinic. Conversely, over a five year period at a New York hospital, more than 230,000 patients underwent surgeries and no cases of the bacteria were reported.
While still just anecdotal evidence, these cases do present some of the problems with medical tourism being selected without proper research.
In order to make sure you are choosing the best practitioner for your plastic surgery, Yaremchuk offers a quick tip—make sure your plastic surgeon is certified by the ASPS or ASAPS. With proper training, experience and credentials, you can be assured you will come out of the surgery healthy and having met your aesthetic goals.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Beautifying Your Bellybutton Through Surgery
Though everyone has a bellybutton, they may appear dissimilar and many plastic surgeons can work to change the look of a bellybutton, either on its own or as part of a body contouring surgery.
The bellybutton, or navel, is created by the shedding of the umbilical cord following birth. The tube that once supplied all of our nutrients within the womb falls away as babies are forced to rely on their own mouths, stomachs, and lungs. As Cari Nierenberg discusses on The Body Odd, the bellybutton is one of our least understood body parts, both strange and commonplace.
Cosmetic surgery for bellybuttons is rare, but it does occur. The bellybutton can change shape after weight gain or pregnancy, which may cause some people to be dissatisfied with its new shape or size. Others will pursue the surgery following their lifelong dislike of their “outies.” While surgery to convert an innie to an outie is an option, Dr. Curtis Cetrulo, Jr. says that he has never encountered someone who wanted that performed. Bellybutton reconstruction surgery requires local anesthesia and has few side effects beyond some soreness and swelling.
However, the majority of umbilicoplasties will typically occur in conjunction with another surgery, such as a tummy tuck or umbilical hernia repair. The bellybutton often has a unique role in tummy tuck surgery:
- The bellybutton must be isolated from the surrounding skin, so that it stands on a stalk of tissue.
- Excess skin is removed and a new hole is created for the bellybutton.
- The bellybutton is incorporated into the hole and retains its natural position on the abdomen.
The surgeon may perform some cosmetic adjustments to the bellybutton during the surgery, based on the patient’s desires.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Liposuction After Effects Examined in New Study
A recent study published in Obesity by the University of Colorado called into question the effectiveness of liposuction and has piqued the interest of plastic surgeons and patients alike.
The writers of the study said they found that after patients had undergone liposuction on their lower body, the fat returned a year later in their upper body. The researchers said they found that the body “defends” its fat stores in this way.
While this may be somewhat disheartening news for some, others like Grand Rapids plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Ringler are skeptical. Dr. Ringler said on his blog that he has performed traditional and newer technology forms of liposuction for two decades and has not seen the same result.
“Once fat cells are removed via liposuction, they do not return. They are permanently destroyed,” Ringler said regarding patients who are not overweight and undergo liposuction. “If the patient does not gain weight, they usually are extremely happy with their results and the area of fat does not automatically show up in some other area of the body as the study suggested.”
Ringler stressed that liposuction is not a weight loss solution and concedes that in overweight patients, where a healthy diet and exercise are not adhered to after treatment, the results of liposuction may not be long lasting.
Ringler reminds patients of the importance of consulting with your plastic surgeon to ensure a procedure is right for you.
“Proper patient selection and communication about what liposuction can and cannot accomplish are the best tools to ensure patients are satisfied with their results,” Ringler said.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Four Common Liposuction Myths Debunked
Maintaining realistic expectations is important when considering liposuction, so it is also therefore necessary to separate fiction from fact. Here are four common liposuction myths that frequently confuse and frustrate patients.
Myth: Liposuction is for Weight Loss
Fact: Liposuction does not actually help with weight loss and will not cause a noticeable reduction in weight.
Liposuction is also not an effective way to combat obesity. Obese patients are typically not good candidates for the procedure, as health problems caused by obesity can make elective surgery too risky. Liposuction is best for patients who have a healthy weight and lifestyle, but simply want to improve body proportions or get rid of stubborn fat deposits in specific body areas.
Myth: Liposuction Removes Cellulite
Fact: Liposuction removes fat in deeper tissue layers, but doesn’t affect superficial fat deposits which, in combination with loss of skin elasticity, cause cellulite.
Laser treatments and non-surgical skin tightening procedures may be able to provide temporary cellulite reduction, but the best way to get rid of cellulite is with lifestyle changes that help you maintain well hydrated, collagen rich skin.
Myth: There are Non-Surgical Liposuction Options
Fact: Liposuction is a surgical procedure. There are some body slimming devices out there that claim to provide fat reduction without surgery, however these are often only mildly effective, if at all, and will not provide the same results.
Although liposuction is minimally invasive, it does still involve some sort of anesthesia and incisions needed to insert the suction tube, or cannula, that removes fat cells. So, very small, discreet liposuction scars will be present after the procedure, and patients will need to take at least a few days off work following liposuction.
Myth: Liposuction Can Also Treat Loose Skin
Fact: Liposuction is not an effective skin tightening treatment and cannot get rid of loose skin. However, liposuction is frequently performed in combination with procedures that address flab and excess skin such as a tummy tuck or arm lift surgery.
Some laser liposuction devices claim to offer skin tightening benefits in addition to fat reduction, but any skin tightening achieved with lasers during liposuction is usually minimal and will not do much for patients with moderate to severe skin laxity.
« Previous Page — Next Page »Hand Transplant Restores Function for California Woman
Photo by Francine Orr, courtesy the Los Angeles Times
Surgeons are often regarded as giving a helping hand to reconstructive patients. For Emily, a 26-year-old Californian who recently underwent a hand transplant, according to the Los Angeles Times, this could not be more true.
This process, in some ways is a much more advanced version of hand surgery, which aims to correct hands and fingers that have suffered trauma or a birth defect. Following hand surgery, patients often experience not only increased mobility, but also improved aesthetic appearance, both of which can positively affect many aspects of their lives.
Though Emily is only expected to gain about 60% of the mobility of a normal hand, her spirits seem up near 100%.
“About a week after the accident, my mom said, ‘You can be the kind of person who says ‘Woe is me’ and gives up, or you can say, ‘This sucks, but I’m moving on.’ I chose that one,” Emily said of her attitude.
Unlike what one might expect, Emily’s new donor hand, which her physical therapists are working to get Emily to recognize as her own, is not attached with a circular scar around her wrist. Rather, it is attached using a scar that extends partway down her forearm and then back up to the wrist. Much like techniques that plastic surgeons use for scar revision, this asymmetrical scar greatly improves mobility.
Despite being early in her journey toward gaining more everyday use of her hand, Emily is pushing forward, maintaining her drive.
“The minute you tell me I can’t do something, I do it,” Emily said.
« Previous Page — Next Page »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.
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