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UK Plastic Surgery Tax to Be Implemented?
UK plastic surgeons are worried that a new tax on plastic surgery could have a negative impact, according to WebMD.
Currently in the UK, a plastic surgery tax only exists on non-surgical treatments like Botox, fillers and laser treatments, a fact that plastic surgeons take no issue with. (In the UK, a VAT tax or “Value Added Tax” is somewhat similar to sales tax in the US in that consumers must pay it on top of the price for a good or elective service.)
Lawmakers in the UK, though, may soon examining whether a plastic surgery tax should apply to elective cosmetic surgeries, like breast augmentation. In the US, patients already pay sales tax on elective plastic surgeries, but not medically-necessary procedures, which are often billed through insurance.
Some plastic surgeons in the UK are beginning to speak out against a possible review in the application of VAT, which may cause patients to have to pay a plastic surgery tax when they previously did not need to.
Current laws regarding VAT tax stipulate that procedures are tax exempt when the “protection, maintenance or restoration” of health is the main goal. A handful of plastic surgeons argue that changing any of these tax laws could put many patient’s surgical desires in a gray area.
Former president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Douglas McGeorge says the common image of plastic surgery is mega-celebrities casually undergoing elective procedures. Rather, he argues, it is members of the general public who choose plastic surgery to improve small aspects of themselves for a positive result.
McGeorge uses the image of an older worker undergoing facial rejuvenation to help make themselves more competitive in the workplace. He sees the difficulty in distinguishing between what is a functional improvement and what is purely cosmetic.
In response to the worry of some plastic surgeons regarding a new plastic surgery tax, the UK government says they currently have no plans to revise the VAT for cosmetic surgeries.
“Medical treatment for purely aesthetic reasons has been, and continues to be, liable to VAT at the standard rate,” it said in a statement.
To learn more about options for financing your plastic surgery in Denver, please contact plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat.
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Patient Sees Cosmetic Benefits from Functional Blepharoplasty
Though some procedures may seem purely cosmetic, some patients can gain functional benefits from plastic surgery, too, according to TampaBay.com.
When 74-year-old Mary Lou began experiencing vision issues from droopy eyelids, her daughter suggested seeing a plastic surgeon for a functional blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a facial procedure in which excess skin is removed from around the eyes to open them up. While it can be cosmetic, for patients like Mary Lou who experience vision issues, it can also improve function.
When she first thought about plastic surgery, Mary Lou was apprehensive about any procedure. She says she always thought she would age gracefully. But after some gentle encouragement from her daughter, she realized the benefits she would gain from functional blepharoplasty were too great to pass up.
In her consultation with her plastic surgeon, Mary Lou learned that the cost of her functional blepharoplasty would be covered by Medicare since it was deemed medically necessary. During her consultation, Mary Lou also decided to undergo a laser procedure to improve the look of puffiness under her eyes. This procedure is considered cosmetic, so Mary Lou paid out of pocket.
After her successful functional blepharoplasty and laser eye treatment, people say Mary Lou looks 10 and sometimes 20 years younger, she shares. Mary Lou says this sort of procedure can help women look better and feel better about themselves.
Mary Lou is not alone in choosing plastic surgery later in life. According to the ASPS, nearly 85,000 plastic surgery procedures were performed on patients over 65 in 2010, a number that continues to grow.
And though some may worry that being older puts a patient at a higher risk for complications from surgery, research shows this to not be true. A report published last spring in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found patients over 65 were at no higher risk than younger patients.
We encourage you to learn more about how plastic surgery options can improve your function, self-confidence and way of life. Please join the mailing list of Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat.
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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 PageSurgery to Look Like a Celebrity—Is It for You?
Walk of Fame by m.grinnell, on Flickr
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 PageSeniors 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 PageWhat Makes People Look Older and How to Reverse It
Depending on many factors, most important among them your skin type, you might age differently than a friend the same age. This aging can appear in various ways. So, the question remains, what makes people look older?
A recent New York Times article delved into this question and distilled how people of differing skin types and colors show age in different ways.
For plastic surgeons, what makes people look older can be grouped into a “holy trinity” of changes. These include wrinkles and age spots, a general loss of volume and an overall sagginess of the skin.
Generally speaking, those with darker skin tones aged more slowly. As dark skin has more pigment in it, it is better protected against the aging effects of the sun. Dark skin also tends to be oilier and thicker, making it more resistant to the signs of aging. Additionally, round faces, as many people with dark skin may have, show the signs of aging more slowly that those with thinner faces as more youthful volume is preserved.
Another cause of what makes people look older is how, over time, the skin has lost volume and begins to droop. This leads to bagginess around the eyes and the appearance of jowls, among other issues. To correct loose skin around the eyes, eyelid surgery can be performed, while a facelift can diminish jowls in the lower face.
Excessive frowning and other extreme facial expressions can add to what makes people look older, as well. These actions can cause lines to form in areas of the face like the brows and nasolabial folds, but both can be easily corrected. For forehead lines, Botox limits the movement of the muscle, causing the wrinkle to smooth out. In the case of laugh lines, injectable fillers can diminish their appearance, restoring a more youthful smoothness.
To learn more about combating the common signs of aging, we encourage you to contact Denver plastic surgeon Dr. Mouchantat.
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Brow Lift Technique: Less Really Can Be More
Performing a brow lift where the brow is only lifted minimally may yield the best results for some patients.
Using special brow lift techniques, plastic surgeons are able to help a patient appear younger and open an eye area that may suffer from a descending brow. Rather than fully lifting the brow to a higher position, your surgeon may only lift part of the brow for an ideal result, as discussed in Cosmetic Surgery Times.
One way a brow lift is sometimes performed is by unilaterally lifting the entire brow, but this may not be the ideal brow lift technique. In fact, in some cases, it may make the patient appear older and create a hollow appearance above the eyes, which may later need to be corrected.
Rather, the brow should ideally be lifted in a minimal manner, which can still create a dramatically younger-looking visage. In the case of plastic surgery, oftentimes less is more.
Instead of focusing on how high the brow should be after surgery, the shape of the brow overall may be more important. In the past, what was considered a beautifully shaped brow was different than it is today. At one point, a downturned brow was desirable, and later a more upturned brow.
Today’s ideal is somewhere in the middle, where the brow is lower near the center of the face, higher near the end and with a peak above the iris of the eye.
If you struggle with a descending brow but may not yet desire one of these brow lift techniques, Botox may be used to treat some types of brow deformities. Botox works by paralyzing the muscle at the treatment site, allowing the skin and brow to relax in a more natural position.
To learn more about brow lift techniques or how your plastic surgeon may use Botox to treat an aged-looking brow, we encourage you to join our mailing list.
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Plastic Surgery: Debbie Harry Sees Lasting Benefits
Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry sees plastic surgery as important and appreciates the benefits she still sees as a result of a facelift in the 90s, she told Showbiz Spy.
Plastic Surgery: Debbie Harry Speaks About the Importance of Research
While Harry says some people might rush into a decision to have plastic surgery and go to a plastic surgeon without doing some “homework,” she knows its importance. When considering plastic surgery, you want to make sure you choose a board certified plastic surgeon. This plastic surgeon will show you examples of their patient work and walk you through the procedure, making sure you feel comfortable. Your plastic surgeon will also discuss your options with you during your consultation. Your board certified plastic surgeon has the aesthetic eye and experience to suggest appropriate procedures and treatments to help you reach your aesthetic goals. Harry says she met with several plastic surgeons even after doing research. This careful process helped her choose a plastic surgeon who was right for her individual needs.Debbie Harry: Plastic Surgery Considerations “Important”
Harry says that as a woman, she feels its important to think about the aging process and what she can do to stop it. Harry adds that women have a more “rigorous time physically than men.” Even if she wasn’t a well-known person, Harry says she would have still had the facelift, which she feels helped bring her out of a depression. Even nearly two decades after her facelift, Harry says it has held up well. While a facelift surgery like Harry underwent can remove sagging skin and jowls on the lower face, it is important to maintain a skin care regimen, as well, especially as your skin continues to age. When you visit your plastic surgeon for a consultation regarding a facelift or other facial rejuvenation procedure, make sure to ask about skin care products to protect and repair your skin to maintain its youthful glow. « Previous PageChin Surgery in the Limelight After Palin's Corrective Jaw Procedure
A recent “corrective jaw surgery” for Bristol Palin also gave her what she saw as added cosmetic improvements, too, according to Us Weekly.
Though Palin said she underwent the procedure to help align her jaw and teeth, her appearance is now more streamlined. Palin said because of the surgery she looks more mature and has less of a “chubby little baby face.”
Women, as well as men, who wish to improve the projection of their chins actually have several cosmetic options. Though Palin said she chose surgery for medical reasons, the aesthetic improvements that can be made include permanent chin implants as well as more temporary options like fillers.
By augmenting the shape and projection of the chin, your facial features can be streamlined and harmony between your chin and other prominent facial features can be improved.
Chin augmentation with an implant can add projection to an underdeveloped chin. In this procedure, an alloplastic implant is placed in front of the jaw through an incision under the chin or inside the mouth.
For patients whose chin is only slightly underdeveloped, a dermal filler may be used to fill out its shape, though this is only a temporary solution.
In addition to these procedures to augment the chin, your other facial features can be modified surgically to improve facial harmony. These procedures may include lip augmentation or rhinoplasty, to reshape the nose. Additionally, neck liposuction may create a more refined jawline and chin.
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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.
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