Plastic Surgery Advice

plastic surgery procedures(2005 ISAPS) 6. Hong Kong 0.68 (per 1000) 12. Taiwan 0.44 18. Japan 0.33 27. South Korea 0.19 Asian Plastic Surgery Rank (by most recent) Amount 4. Japan 42842 14. Taiwan 10048 15. South Korea 9560 18. Hong Kong Asian Plastic Surgery Rank…

Ask a teenager about plastic surgery and the youngster will have enough to say about the contoured bodies, broad shoulders and the picture perfect features of the cine stars. For most of them, plastic surgery stands for cosmetic plastic surgery and they strongly believe in what the so-called reality TV shows show – a slight downsizing here and a little enhancement there is going to change their lives. But why just blame the youths? The older generation is doing no better either. There seems a great need of setting their notions right.

Plastic surgery is actually a reconstruction or restoration of deformed, destroyed and injured parts of the body. This corrective surgery improves the appearance of the patient and at the same time adds to the functionality of the once deformed, defective part. Thus, birth defects like cleft lips and palates, disfigurements resulting from accidents like burn-marks or for that matter a deformity acquired in the process of disease treatment (removal of one or both the breasts as part of breast cancer treatment) can be set right by plastic surgery specialists.

The history of plastic surgeries runs back to the days of the ancient Egyptians. The word ‘plastic’ in the name is derived from the Greek word plastikos, which means to form or mold. The molding surgery became popular after the First World War (countless casualties with body disfigurements was an aftermath of the war).

Plastic surgery is real surgery, involving cutting and stitching. Hence, the plastic surgery specialists always emphasize on the patients emotional and physical fitness in order to handle the stresses of surgery. Plastic surgeons, therefore, make it a point to check medical history of patients. An ideal plastic surgery specialist agrees to give a surgical treatment only if he/she finds that the patient is a perfect candidate – nearly the ideal age, ideal weight, not ailing and sticks to a healthy lifestyle. Thus, some surgeons will not perform certain procedures like Rhinoplasty (reshaping the nose) and breast implants on teens.

Plastic surgery costs are a bit exorbitant and especially if you go to a certified plastic surgeon. Nevertheless, considering the complexity involved, you should never be taking any risks. Moreover, if you are undergoing plastic surgery for the right reason (and surgery becomes a dire necessity) you shall have insurance coverage. In case you are opting for a cosmetic plastic surgery and simply want to undergo a metamorphosis from an ugly duckling to a beautiful angel, you will have to bear the costs.

Do not let yourself be fooled by each celebrity plastic surgery news! It may not be possible for you to check for the authenticity of the news but you know, there are simpler and safer ways of changing your looks and gaining confidence if you are thinking of plastic surgery as a makeover option.

For instance, TCA skin peels and laser treatments are external treatments that result in younger looking skin and can treat or even cure many skin conditions from acne and wrinkles to sagging skin and sun spots. TCA skin peels have been used in Hollywood by the stars for years on reality shows like The Swan, MTV’s Made, even on Oprah. Unlike Laser treatments, which are only available as a in office or spa treatment, TCA skin peels can now be purchased for at home treatment and they are considered to be the most effective spa treatment available by numerous plastic surgeons and dermatologists alike. For more information on TCA skin peels for home use and other spa treatments please see the link below.

There are people who think that the boom in plastic surgery is unhealthy to the point of being unethical. What does it say about people who believe that in order to be attractive or worthwhile they must have certain physical characteristics? Why do so many perfectly beautiful Asian women feel like they must have eyelids with a crease? Why do so many perfectly “normal” American women believe the need slimmer thighs and larger breasts?

There are certainly risks associated with any surgical procedure, and the operations are quite expensive. But most plastic surgery patients know quite a bit about the procedures they elect to have due to the proliferation of television shows and internet sites on the subject. For anybody contemplating plastic surgery, it is important to know that in the U.S., in order to be a plastic surgeon, a physician has to: attend at least three years of progressive clinical training in general surgery after receiving a medical degree; go through an accredited two to three year program in plastic surgery; and pass a comprehensive written and oral exam in plastic surgery.

When it comes to cosmetic procedures, however, doctors sometimes learn these through workshops or even videotapes. There is also the matter of “board certification.” The problem is, there are any number of “boards” the doctor can claim certification with, but the one that really means something is the certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, which is the only certifying board for plastic surgery recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Should adults be prevented from having plastic surgery? Like it or not, people do things they ought not all the time, and some people may consider plastic surgery as something people ought not do. Are they hurting anybody by doing it? The most likely person they’ll hurt is themselves if things do not go as planned.

There are those rare cases where people die while undergoing plastic surgery. Best selling novelist Olivia Goldsmith and Donde West, mother of hip-hop star Kanye West are two women who died having plastic surgery, and obviously other people – family and friends – were hurt by their choice. But you have to consider the risks that people take every day, like driving long distances to work, smoking cigarettes, or drinking too much alcohol. These risks are well known, and yet people make those choices all the time. Banning plastic surgery would be akin to banning anything that has similar risks, and there is as yet no outcry to do that.

If you’re considerably overweight, you’ve probably considered weight loss surgery. This is especially if you’ve seen various celebrities positively describing their experiences in recent years. The results of weight loss surgery can be truly remarkable, but you need to be sure it’s right for you.

Weight loss surgery is no quick and easy fix. It’s the procedure of last resort for people who are very overweight (morbidly obese), and is only done after other methods of weight reduction have proved ineffective.

The first step to finding out if you’re a suitable candidate is to calculate your body mass index (BMI). You do this by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in metres. Then divide the resulting number by your height once more. Optimum weight ranges from around 18 to 25. Obese runs from 30-40 and morbidly obese from 40-50.

Generally, if your BMI is above 30 and you’ve been unable to loss weight via diet or exercise, you should consider weight loss surgery. This is especially so it there are serious health complications resulting from your excess weight.

After decided you’re a suitable candidate for weight loss surgery, you should now understand the procedure. Weight loss surgery is of two main types – restrictive and restrictive/malabsorptive.

Restrictive weight loss surgery works by restricting the amount of food that enters your digestive system by reducing the size of the stomach. The main method for doing this is with ‘banding’ in which a band is applied around the top part of the stomach. Thus the ‘pouch’ formed by the constriction fills quickly and the stomach sends a message to the brain announcing that it’s full. Lap band is the most popular procedure of this type.

Lap band surgery involves constricting you stomach by attaching an adjustable gastric binding in the form of a silicone ring. This is connected to an access port by a length of fine tube. The access port is located under the surface of your skin at the top of your abdomen and allows your doctor to adjust the size of the silicon ring until it’s optimal for you.

The lap band procedure involves laparaoscopic (keyhole) surgery. The surgeon operates through small openings in the abdomen so it’s relatively noninvasive. No radical surgery is carried out on the digestive organs and the actual process of digestion is not affected.

Restrictive/malabsorptive is involved. The most common procedure is the gastric bypass operation. A pouch is formed at the top part of the stomach. Meanwhile the small intestine is cut and a section attached to this new pouch. Following this procedure, the flow of food bypasses most of the stomach and the duodenum completely. This massively reduces the volume of nutrients absorbed.

Gastric bypass can be a highly effective operation with a reduction of 80 per cent of excess weight in the first year. However, it is major surgery with attendant risks and complications.

Obesity brings with it a litany of ills and dangers such as diabetes and high blood pressure, not to mention a low quality of life. So the benefits of normalising your weight are enormous. Not only are there tremendous health benefits but also you can choose the clothes you want, you can get behind the wheel of a car again, and the boost to your self-esteem is life-changing. Weight loss surgery can truly makeover your physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

If you’ve decided weight loss surgery could be for you, the next step is to consult with a surgeon. He will determine if you’re a suitable candidate. This will depend on your motivation as well as your physical condition. Make sure you find a surgeon that specializes in bariatrics (obesity cure). This way you’ll get the expert advice you need before undertaking this important procedure.

Reconstructive surgery is a valuable option for many people, from young children affected by birth defects to adults who have experienced traumatic accidents. Unlike traditional cosmetic surgery, reconstructive surgery is often performed to improve function or attain a more normal appearance.

Recent advances have also help plastic surgeons achieve astonishing results that may not have been possible in years past. While absolute perfection is never possible in any type of surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery often helps patients gain confidence and improve self-esteem. As Italian plastic surgeon Gaspar Tagliacozzi said in 1597, the goal of reconstructive surgery is to “…restore, repair, and make whole those parts….which nature has given but which fortune has taken away, not so much that they may delight the eye but that they may buoy up the spirit and help the mind of the afflicted.”

Candidates for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually performed for one of two reasons. The first is to correct congenital birth defects such as a cleft palate and hand deformities. The other reason is to repair damage that has occurred after birth, usually due to infection, accident, aging or disease. Many procedures that are often viewed as purely cosmetic in nature are actually vital tools in reconstructive surgery. For example, breast augmentation is often used to correct abnormal breast development. Another example is the use of facial plastic surgery to restore both function and appearance to people whose faces have been affected by paralysis due to stroke or trauma.

Benefits and Risks of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

As with any type of cosmetic procedure, it is important to consider both the potential benefits and risks of a surgery before deciding if it right for you. No surgery is without some type of inherent risk, although some are riskier than others. In order to determine if the procedure is right for your needs, carefully weigh what you might gain by having the surgery against the possible negative outcomes. Consider side effects such as swelling, infection and excessive bleeding along with potential emotional side effects as well. In some cases, surgery might not produce the results you anticipated, so it is important to be prepared for such an event.

Choosing the Right Reconstructive Procedure

The type of surgery you require will depend largely on your individual needs, but your own goals will play a role as well. In some cases, you may be trying to regain function of part of your body, while in other cases you might be focused on improving physical appearance. The first step you need to take is to discuss your questions and concerns with a plastic surgeon that specializes in reconstructive surgery.

Brazil is located in South America and is the largest Latin American country and the fifth largest country in the world. It is bordered by French Guiana, Surinam, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia in the north, with Uruguay and Argentina in the south and Paraguay, Bolivia and Peru to the west with the Atlantic Ocean extending along the entire eastern side of the country. When you think of Brazil, the Amazon rain forest, magnificent beaches, football and samba beats will probably spring to mind, but Brazil is also a world-renowned location for plastic surgery and its growing medical reputation is now attracting tourists from abroad who are taking advantage of the competitively priced, high quality cosmetic surgery while also enjoying a holiday in this exotic, pulsating country.

Brazil is an excellent consideration for cosmetic surgery with breathtaking scenery and warm hospitable people and is known all around the world for its professionalism and the expertise of its plastic surgeons, who undertake eleven years of intensive study and training in order to practice. Looking good is very important to the Brazilians and due to the favourable exchange rate cosmetic surgery is available at a fraction of most US prices. The medical tourist in Brazil can expect to pay 3,000 US$ for rhinoplasty compared with between 6,000 and 8,000 in the US, and a facelift can cost as little as 4,000 US$ compared with typical prices of 8,000 to 12,000 in the US.

Fortaleza is the 4th city in Brazil and reputed for the quality of its plastic surgeons. Private clinics/hospitals in Brazil have modern operating and anaesthesiology equipment and must adhere to the government’s high standards of hygiene. Portuguese is the national language but medical staff who work in the private Brazilian clinics and hospitals do speak English, or have qualified bilingual assistants to hand.

Fortaleza is situated on the north-east coats of Brazil, close to the Equator line. It is the closest large brazilian city to the USA, with a very relaxed lifestyle. With an average temperature of around 27 degrees Celsius, Fortaleza is a popular year round destination and has a warm climate balanced by the Trade Winds. All things considered Fortaleza is an excellent location to combine an unforgettable holiday with quality, yet affordable cosmetic surgery where savings of 50 to 70 % can be made and daily flights are available from the US via Miami with TAM-Airlines.

The predominance of plastic surgery in the news and on the internet has made it common knowledge to the general puiblic. But yet many have misconceptions aboout what plastic surgery is and does. Here are some of those questions….and answers.

Why is it called “plastic” surgery?

From the Greek word, plastikos, comes the meaning of plastic surgery, to mold or shape. That is also the origin for the name of the man-made material that is found almost everywhere today -plastic. Plastic is part of most everyday materials, from creedit cards to window shades, as it can be made into any physical form.

The term “plastic surgery” then refers to surgery that molds or shapes the human body. Unfortunately, despite the latest advances in plastic surgery, we still cannot mold the human body into any desired form. And we very rarely (with the exception of breast implants) actually use a plastic material to do the surgery. We can, however, make a big difference in either sculpting one’s face or body for cosmetic purposes or reconstructing a missing or lost body part by using today’s state-of-the-art surgical techniques.

What is the difference between plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, aesthetic surgery, and reconstructive surgery?

Aesthetic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and plastic surgery potentially all refer to the same type of surgery; surgery done to change a physical structure that is otherwise normal or improve appearance. This is why cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance.

Reconstructive surgery is performed to reshape abnormal structures of the body, from either accidents, injuries, infections, cancers, or other diseases, as well as congenital deformities. These types of problems are usually covered by your medical insurance.

What are the most common cosmetic plastic surgery procedures?

In 2005, 10.Several million cosmetic procedures were performed in the U.S of which 1.8 million were actual intraoperative surgeries. Total U.S. revenues generated from these procedures was 9.4 billion dollars.. The five most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the United States are nose reshaping, liposuction, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, and facelift. With the latest innovations in cosmetic plastic surgery, patients may now benefit from more natural results, faster recovery, and safer procedures. Consequently, more and more people have decided to take advantage of these advanced procedures to help them their appearance or restore a more youthful look. In fact, the number of people choosing cosmetic plastic surgery has nearly tripled in the past 10 years!

The most popular plastic surgery procedures for women include nose reshaping, liposuction, breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, facelift, brow lift, tummy tuck, and breast lift. Men also have nose reshaping, liposuction, eyelid surgery, facelift, as well as surgery to treat gynecomastia, or male breast reduction.

Why is rhinoplasty so popular?

The first plastic surgery performed, thousands of years ago, was nasal surgery in India and Egypt. People have had concerns about their noses for a long time! The popularity of rhinoplasty (nose reshaping) is due to its effectiveness at changing the shape of the nose (as the whole appearance of the face) as well as improving breathing through the nose. Rhinoplasty can reduce or increase the size of the nose, change the shape of the tip or bridge, narrow the span of the nostrils, or change the angle between the nose and the upper lip. It may also correct a birth defect or injury, or help relieve some breathing and sinus problems.

Common reconstructive plastic surgery procedure would be?

In 2005, 5.1 million reconstructive procedures were performed by plastic surgeons in the U.S. The top five procedures performed include skin cancer removal, laceration repair, scar revision, hand surgery, and breast reduction

Nose Augmentation/ Rhinoplasty/Alar trimming/Tip Plasty

Rhinoplasty or cosmetic nose procedure enhances the features and contour of the nose. Each individual have different nasal features. The nose of each patient requesting for rhinoplasty surgery, have specific characteristic that is greatly influenced and dependent on their racial origin. Caucasians for example, they often have a high bony bridge that may be accompanied with dorsal hump, crooked bony bridge and drooping nasal tip. While for Asians, they often have low bony bridge, round or bulbous nasal tip, wide and flaring alar base with overhang of the alar rim. These gives a strong facial feature. This is why most Asians have a more masculine nasal profile.

These less pleasing features of the nose, may affect self-esteem of some patients and the way other people look, appreciate, and accept them.  This can be corrected and enhance by rhinoplasty procedure. Rhinoplasty is not a single standardize procedure for all patients requesting aesthetic improvement of the nose area. There are several procedures that can enhance the features of the nose and theses are; infracture rhinoplasty, reduction rhinoplasty, tip plasty, augmentation rhinoplasty and alar trimming. This can be performed alone or combined together to satisfy the needs of the patient.

To better evaluate the nose, this is divided into 3 general parts or region,  the nasal dorsum or bony bridge, nasal tip and ala or alar lobule. The type of cosmetic enhancement procedure of the nose that a patient will need varies and depends on the area of the nose that is of great concern to the patient.

For Caucasians that have a dorsal hump or crooked nasal dorsum, they would need infracture rhinoplasty to straighten and smoothen the bridge of their nose. While for a drooping nasal tip, they will need a tip plasty to increase their tip projection.

However for Asians, rhinoplasty is a more challenging procedure. There are  numerous features of the Asian nose that may need correction or enhancement with rhinoplasty. Very common among Asians is a low nasal bridge because of a less prominent or not fully developed nasal bone. This can be enhanced with augmentation rhinoplasty. This is performed by inserting a nasal implant, either silicon or gortex, through an incision inside the nose. The nasal implant is inserted into a pocket created under the skin and on top of the bony bridge. This will increase the height of the bony bridge or dorsum of  the nose. 

A round or bulbous nasal tip, which is also a common feature of an Asian nose is due to a well develop and large cartilage at the nasal tip. This cartilage widens the tip of the nose and making it less defined. This is corrected with tip plasty procedure that excises the excess cartilage at the tip of the nose. With this, the tip will narrow down and will have more definition. Tip plasty also increases the projection of the nasal tip, which is very much needed in Asian nose because of the deficiency in height at the nasal tip.

For the alar region of the nose, ideally the width of the alar base should not go beyond the medial end of the eyes. And an aesthetically appealing nose when viewed from the side, the collumela of the nose should be exposed and not covered by an overhanging alar rim. It is very common among Asians to have a thick and overhanging alar rim with a wide and flaring alar base. This can be enhanced by alar trimming surgery, this procedure narrow down the alar width of the nose and remove the excess or overhanging alar rim, thus exposing the collumela. 

Nasal implants are soft, solid material. These can be in many forms and composition e.g. silicon block, gortex, medpore etc. These implants are biocompatible, does not cause toxic reaction to the body, it can be sterilize, the shape can be contoured and it can be remove when needed. Silicon oil that has been used in the past, for injection to augment the bridge of nose, is different from silicon implants. Silicon oil is liquid in form and had been associated with many complications, and these are infection, extrusion, inflammation and contour deformity.  Results with silicon oil injection are very unpredictable and complications rate is very high, this is the reason why most trained Cosmetic Surgeons don’t perform this procedure. 

As we mentioned, Rhinoplasty is not a single standard procedure that may address all the features or needs of an Asian or Caucasian nose. There are several types of rhinoplasty procedure. And it will be difficult for the Cosmetic Surgeon to recommend what procedure will best suit a particular patient with out doing a thorough physical examination. It is best that patient visit their cosmetic surgeon to know all their options.

Rhinoplasty patients need to prepare prior to surgery. They are required to avoid the following for 2 to 3 weeks; smoking, alcoholic beverages, aspirin, steroids, NSAID’s pain medications like mefenamic acids and naproxen, Vitamin E supplements, herbal tea, herbal medications, blood thinning medications like coumadin and heparin. This medications and social activity will make patients bleed a lot during surgery and delay their healing. Patients must be of good heath to be a good candidate for surgery. Patients with any medical illness like asthma, allergies, hypertension, bleeding disorder, emphysema, poor wound healing, and others will require further treatment and work up prior to surgery. This is best discussed with your cosmetic surgeon.

The rhinoplasty procedure is commonly performed under local anesthesia in a doctor’s office or outpatient surgical facility that is accredited by the Local Health Department. Patients that are agitated before the procedure may request sedation for more comfort and relaxation during surgery. Patients may be required to wear a splint in the form of tapes or Plaster of  Paris on your nose for approximately a week or longer depending on the type or extent of operation and surgeon’s preference. Some bruising and swelling should be expected on the first 2 to 3 days after the procedure but will subside after 1 to 2 wks. This is only transient and patient’s nose is usually socially presentable by the 7th to 10th day.  It may take several months for your nose to fully settle, so it takes time before you may appreciate the full effect of the procedure. Sutures are usually removed on the 3rd to 4th day after surgery.

For the rhinoplasty procedure, patients are advice to allot 8 to 10 days. This period of time is enough for consultation, laboratory, surgery, follow up, suture removal and recuperation. After these patients are safe to travel back home or work since all of the wounds are dry and healed.

Possible risks and complications:

Infection Poor wound healing Anesthesia risks Bleeding (hematoma) Nose asymmetry Cardiac and pulmonary complications can occur in longer surgical procedures and may be associated with the formation of, or increase in, blood clots in the venous system Change in skin sensation (numbness) Nasal airway alterations may occur after a rhinoplasty or septoplasty that may interfere with normal passage of air through the nose Nasal septal perforation (a hole in the nasal septum) may develop but is rare; additional surgical treatment may be necessary to repair the nasal septum but in some cases, it may be impossible to correct this complication Pain, which may persist Unfavorable scarring Skin contour irregularities Skin discoloration and swelling Skin perforation by nasal implants or implant extrusion Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal Possibility of revision surgery

For more information on affordable cosmetic procedure, selecting qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon and to know all your options for the procedure you want to have you may visit www.philippinecosmetic.com/ or www.cosmeticplasticsurgeryphil.com .