Facelift Result Affected by Many Factors

About 119,000 facelift surgeries were performed in 2011, according to data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.  Meanwhile, this trend and the popularity of facial rejuvenations are expected to continue in the coming years due to aging population.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, has also attributed newer surgical techniques to the growing popularity of facelift surgery.  He cited the SMAS (superficial muscular aponeurotic system) method in which doctors go deeper into the tissue, resulting to a longer-lasting, more dramatic result.

“Nowadays, a full facelift can create results which can last eight to ten years.  This used to be impossible because the previous techniques only stretched the skin and removed any sagging area,” Smaili said.

By contrast, the renowned plastic surgeon said the result of “isolated” or “mini” facelift is shorter, usually five years or less.

But aside from the type of facelift technique used, Smaili has cited other factors which can affect the result of surgery in the long run.

*  Sun exposure

Too much sun exposure over the years can cause photoaging, a term used by dermatologists to describe the appearance of age spots, freckles, leathery skin, fine wrinkles, and spider veins on the face.

Smaili said that using sunscreen when going outdoors can make a huge difference in prolonging a patient’s youthful appearance.  But if photoaging already sets in, the plastic surgeon recommends laser skin resurfacing, medical-grade chemical peels, and/or dermabrasion.

*  Color of skin

People with a darker complexion have more melanin, which gives the skin its pigment, are less prone to photoaging.  But still, a god skincare regimen and use of sunscreen can do great wonders on anyone’s complexion.

*  Genetics

Scientific studies have suggested that genes control how quickly or slowly the normal aging process occurs.  Some notice sagging and wrinkles in their thirties; others do not have these problems until they reach their mid-forties.

*  Complementary procedures

Facelift patients who are constantly receiving dermal fillers to replace the volume lost in their cheeks, temple, etc. of course would enjoy youthful appearance for a longer period of time compared with those who are not receiving “maintenance.”

Other non-invasive procedures commonly used to complement facelift include Botox injection, laser skin resurfacing, natural fat grafting, and dermabrasion.

*  Lifestyle

Healthy diet that consists foods high in anti-oxidant, minerals, and vitamins can postpone aging or even make people look younger.  Exercise, stress management, and good outlook on life can also do wonders on one’s appearance.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty for African-Americans

 

African-Americans account for the lowest number of plastic surgery performed on ethnic patients (only 20-30 percent).  This is probably due to botched results seen on celebrities like Lil Kim, La Toya Jackson, and the late Michael Jackson that make them wary.

Most people of ethnic descent seek plastic surgery to improve their appearance and maintain their unique facial traits at the same time.  Fortunately, this is now possible with the use of ethnic rhinoplasty, which is a technique in nose surgery.

The problem with the celebrities stated above is that there is too much narrowing of the nostrils, resulting to an odd look.  Also, their nasal tip appears too pointy that it destroys their ethnic features.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, believes that the late Michael Jackson is the perfect epitomize of a bad rhinoplasty because his nose almost resembles a Caucasian’s.

“There is no such thing as an ideal nose.  It is even incorrect to say that a Greek-like nose is the standard definition of beauty, so when treating a patient of ethnic descent, I always make sure that the result glorifies, preserves, and even enhances his or her racial traits,” Smaili said.

One way to preserve the ethnic features when treating African-Americans, Smaili said, is to allow a slight nostril flare which can even be flattering for most patients.

Smaili mentioned Halle Berry’s nose as a perfect example of a good ethnic rhinoplasty result because it has the right nasal projection and slight nostril flare that further enhances her beautiful African face.

“Before she had surgery, her nose has a somewhat bulbous tip.  But after her surgery, you can see that her nose has a slightly more definition, although not to the extent of being too pointy, especially in the tip.  You can also see that the size of the nostril has almost been maintained, resulting to a very flattering and lovely feature,” the surgeon added.

Most African-Americans seek rhinoplasty surgery to “tone down” their nasal bridge that is too flat and wide, and a tip that is too bulky in relation to their overall face. 

“Tone down” is the right term because most patients want to maintain their racial traits rather than “completely overhaul” or westernize their appearance.

Meanwhile, patients should remember that not all nose surgery doctors are effective in ethnic rhinoplasty, which is more challenging and involves higher level of skills than ordinary techniques.

Contestant Who Collects Most Mardi Gras Beads to Receive Free Plastic Surgery

Another controversial story about plastic surgery has made headlines.  Just recently, an organization of Buffalo bars has offered free breast implant surgery to the contestant who will collect the most number of beads during the Mardi Gras celebration.

(Throwing beads has been a long-standing tradition in Mardi Gras.  Meanwhile, many people don’t know that each bead color has its symbol: purple represents justice, gold symbolizes power, and green signifies faith.)

Going back to the unconventional prize, the contest is open to men and women.  While the main award is breast augmentation, the winner can opt for other cosmetic surgeries such as nose job (or rhinoplasty), tummy tuck, and other similarly priced procedures.

One manager of a nightclub believes that giving free plasticsurgery “is an attention grabber,” according to the Buffalo News.  

As expected, not everyone is happy with the contest.  Some people have criticized it saying that it somewhat “reinforces poor body image in women.”  However, there are those who have posted more positive comments on the event’s Facebook wall.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time plastic surgery has been used as a prize.  A few months ago, two women in Chicago have won free breast augmentation given by a local radio station.  The contestants were required to tell their reasons why they would want to undergo the knife.

A casino in Atlantic has also offered jackpot in the form of plastic surgery such as breast augmentation, cheek implants, and liposuction, in addition to non-surgical procedures such as Botox and dermal fillers.  The contest, dubbed as the Tuck and Lift Sweepstakes, has surprisingly attracted many gamblers.  

With the growing acceptance and popularity of cosmetic plastic surgery, more contests are expected to offer and raffle off this procedure.  However, not everyone who wants to have some sort of “surgical enhancements” is a good candidate because of certain risks particularly for those with health issues and unrealistic goals and expectations.

Plastic Surgery to Look Like Your Lover?

While some people in the US seek plastic surgery to look like their celebrity idol, this is not the case for some patients in China who want to undergo the procedure so they would look like their lover.

According to a news report, a couple in Chengdu has consulted a cosmetic plastic surgeon to ask for a procedure that would make them look more alike.  And surprisingly, this is not the only time the doctor has heard such request; in fact, he said it was the third time.

The woman—while she shares her boyfriend’s big eyes and thick brows—believes she needs a cosmetic surgery to make her face as thin as her lover’s.

However, Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, disapproves such kind of plastic surgery because the goals and expectations of patients are “unhealthy and unrealistic.”

“You want to undergo plastic surgery because it is an individual decision and no one forced or asked you to have the procedure.  And besides, what will happen if a couple becomes separated, it may be traumatic for the one who had the matching plastic surgery every time he or she faces the mirror,” Smaili said.

The surgeon also said he was concerned with the “feasibility of the desired result of matching plastic surgery because it also depends on the facial structure of a person and certain anatomical limitations.”

“It is very hard, or in many cases even impossible, to look like someone after plastic surgery because the result also depends on the facial structure.  For instance, nose job will not give you a nose that looks like Brad Pitt’s because the final outcome is largely affected by the amount of skin and cartilage,” Smaili said.   

With the cosmetic surgeon’s warning, perhaps couple who are considering to undergo “matching plastic surgery” should instead spend the Valentine’s Day to a romantic getaway. 

Mother Gives 7-Year-Old Daughter Plastic Surgery Voucher

It is quite appalling that a mother gave her 7-year-old daughter a £7,000-voucher for liposuction last Christmas.  According to recent reports, Sarah Burge, UK’s Human Barbie, has given her child this “unusual” gift instead of toys, clothes, and things her age will likely appreciate.

Just previously, Burge said that she gave her daughter a £6,000-voucher for breast augmentation as a present for her birthday.

First and foremost, plastic surgery should never be imposed by parents to their children unless these are purely done for reconstructive purposes—and apparently, liposuction and breast augmentation are not. 

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said that cosmetic surgery should only be conducted on patients who are physically and emotionally mature, adding that “such procedures should never be brought up by parents to their children, especially those who are not bothered by their appearance.”

“The desire to have cosmetic surgery should only come from the patients themselves, not from anyone else.  Even your parent, husband, wife, or friend should not dictate what you have to do with your appearance,” Smaili said.

However, Burge claimed that she just want to “invest in her daughter’s future” and even compared the plastic surgery vouchers to something like “an investment for education.”

Burge, who has been reported to spend nearly $1 million for cosmetic plastic surgery, disproves accusation that she is a bad mother and defends her stance by saying that “good looks is important and there should be no stigma for anyone wanting to be beautiful.”

But despite her claims, Smaili believes Burge’s presents to her daughter can send a bad message to her young mind.

“Any ethical, self-respecting cosmetic surgeon would not recommend such thing.  First and foremost, board-certified plastic surgeons like me would not perform procedures if there is really no flaw or if the patients are too young to understand the ramifications of such procedures,” he said.

Last year, Burge gave her daughter a breast augmentation voucher and claimed that it has always been a request of her child.  (In the UK, the legal age for this procedure is 16, while in the US the Food and Drug Administration requires a patient to be at least 18 if she will choose saline implants, or 22 if she wants to have silicone implants.)

Meanwhile, perhaps Burge has to realize that the best gift she can give her daughter is letting her develop physically and emotionally at an appropriate rate for her age.

Eyelid Surgery for the Asian Eyes

Contrary to popular belief, Asian eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), which is a cosmetic procedure that defines or creates new eyelid creases, does not aim to westernize the look of patients or hide their “ethnic features.”  First and foremost, it cannot change the fundamental shape of the eyes.

The result of Asian eyelid surgery is the same as the one found in about half of the Chinese population.  Aside from creating a new set of eyelid folds, this cosmetic surgery can also correct an “incomplete” eyelid creases that stop from the middle. 

The procedure, which is also called the double eyelid surgery, is also used to balance the eyes.  Ten percent of the population from the South East Asia and Far East has a natural fold on one of their eyelids while the other lack this feature.

There are many techniques used in the Asian eyelid surgery to provide patients with the most natural result possible.  The variations are also necessary because of the different goals: create a new set of eyelid folds; change the height of the existing creases; or complete an “incomplete” pleat.

One of the techniques involves the use of internal sutures that act as a support to the new eyelid creases.  Plastic surgeons make sure the devices are attached to a strong cartilage called tarsal plate so they are less likely to tear through the skin and the result can be long lasting.

Aside from suturing techniques, cosmetic surgeons also use incisions (made by scalpel or surgical knife) to create new eyelid folds or place them to a higher position.  However, this method results to longer recovery and more bruising and swelling during the first few days of healing period.

Because the incisions made by scalpel are often associated with increased bleeding, some doctors use laser beam that prevents this problem as it cauterizes the tissues and blood vessels.  However, the same principle is applied: remove a small amount of fats, skin, and/or muscle to create eyelid folds.

In general, the recovery after Asian eyelid surgery is longer than the typical blepharoplasty in which the only goal is to remove the sagging skin and fats to make the eyes appear younger and more rejuvenated.  Meanwhile, most of the healing takes place within the first six weeks following the surgery.

The cost of Asian eyelid surgery typically ranges between $3,000 and $5,000 although it still depends on the location and surgeon’s fee.

Aging Gracefully with Plastic Surgery

Aside from the sagging, leathery skin, signs of aging are also manifested by sagging brows which can sink by as much as a third of an inch; and cheek pads which can droop by a half-inch.  According to a recent study, about 30 percent of the facial area may sag.

In addition, aging may also cause the nasal tip to droop by a quarter of an inch; in fact, the nose can stretch by as much as 10 percent.  Aside from aesthetic reasons, these changes may result to breathing difficulty particularly if the nasal wall has collapsed.

To correct the problems associated with aging nose, rhinoplasty or “nose job” can be performed.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, most people who undergo facial rejuvenation surgeries are in their middle age.  However, the trend is slowly changing as patients aged 65 years and older are starting to seek such procedures to make their appearance younger and more rejuvenated.

During the past five years, surveys have suggested that the number of patients aged 65 years and older who asked for facial rejuvenation surgeries has tripled, with about 450,000 procedures conducted in the same period.

The most common procedures for patients aged 65 years and older are eyelid surgery, facelifts, Botox injections, soft tissue fillers such as Restylane and Sculptra, and chemical peels.

Meanwhile, the number of patients seeking facial rejuvenation procedures is expected to soar in the coming years as baby boomers reach their 60s.

Aside from the growing obsession to remain youthful, the growing popularity of plastic surgery is also attributed to the fact that seniors are more sexually and socially active than ever before.

In addition, more and more employees are postponing their retirement and the need to appear “competitive” in the workplace is more important than ever.  In fact, some experts suggest that looking good—sooner or later—will become as important as one’s education and professional skills.

Dr. Tarick Smaili, one of the leading Los Angeles plastic surgeons, said that there is really no age limitation when it comes to facial rejuvenation surgery.  However, he noted that patients aged 70 years and older generally face more risks because they are likely to suffer from hypertension, heart disease, and other age-related health problems.

“But as long as they are medically stable and have no serious conditions, these patients are likely to be a good candidate of facial plastic surgery that aims to reduce the signs of aging,” Smaili said.

JWoww of Jersey Shore Denies Having Plastic Surgery

Despite the growing number of plastic surgery patients in the US, many of them are still denying the procedure and claim that their beauty is on their genes—and not because of the skillful hands of their cosmetic surgeons. 

Jersey Shore’s JWoww, whose real name is Jennie Farley, has been rumored to have undergone “facial plastic surgery.”  However, the reality TV star is adamant that she is “all natural from the neck up and even said during an interview with Wendy Williams Show that she is willing to submit herself to facial recognition test.

While JWoww has previously admitted that she have had breast augmentation surgery, she denied rumors of her having cheek and chin implant surgery, collagen injection to augment her lips, and “nose job.”

JWoww said that losing 15 lbs. probably changed the way her face looks, and also the projection of her nose.  

Over the past couple of months, there have been rumors of JWoww’s alleged facial plastic surgery because of her seemingly tighter skin and plumper lips, which some showbiz writers claim to be the works of collagen injection or implants.

The rumors of her alleged plastic surgery started after the August 4 season premiere of Jersey Shore as fans noticed that her chin and nose look thinner while her cheeks are somewhat more prominent.

While the brunette beauty claims that she did not have any plastic surgery on her face, she was quoted saying that she is open to the idea of having “touch-ups” such as Botox injection in case that aging starts to manifest on her face. 

“May be I’ll get Botox by the time I’m 30”, she said during her TV appearance.

Meanwhile, JWoww is also open to the idea that she will have her breast augmentation redone after several years as saline and silicone breast implants, although they are now made of a thicker shell, are not designed to last a lifetime.  However, her main concern is that pregnancy might affect the appearance of her surgery.

“I’ll have my breast implants redone in a few years after I’ve had kids”, the reality TV star said.

Regardless if JWoww went under the surgical knife again or not (and the improvements were just caused by weight loss and great make-up skills), most TV commentators and showbiz bloggers think that she looks better nowadays compared than during the season one of Jersey Shore.