Why You Need to Lose Weight Before Your Mommy Makeover Surgery

Plastic surgeons coined the term “mommy makeover” to describe any cosmetic surgery that aims to reverse the effects of pregnancy such as hanging skin and/or fats around the abdomen, flaccid breasts, and pockets of fats that do not respond to diet and regular exercise.

The aesthetic problems stated above are primarily caused by weight gain and changes in the breast size and shape associated with pregnancy.  While these “issues” can be addressed by plastic surgery, always remember that it is not a “quick fix.”

To enjoy a long-lasting result after a mommy makeover, you should be in normal and stable weight.  And if you are seeking breast enhancement (either you want to increase your bust size or lift your sagging breasts), make sure that all signs of lactation have resolved and your baby is done weaning.

A normal weight is particularly important when you are planning to have abdominoplasty or tummytuck, a procedure that removes the hanging, loose skin and fat bulges if there were any.

While the procedure can permanently remove the excess tissue and fats, you have to realize that your problem will reappear if you gain and then lose a significant amount of weight. 

Minor tweaks are fairly common after a body contouring surgery, although requesting for tummy tuck again and again is a clear sign that what you need is a complete change in your lifestyle rather than another cosmetic procedure.  And besides, repeating means additional scar and probably more risks.

Liposuction, a cosmetic surgery that removes the unwanted fats, also requires you to be in normal, stable weight.  Take note that it only eliminates the fatty tissues close to the skin and not the deeper visceral fats which are responsible for weight-related health problems.

The good thing about the visceral fats is that they respond well to diet and exercise, by contrast, the fats underneath the skin sometimes do not react to natural weight loss.  For this reason, liposuction is helpful for healthy people who want to improve their figure.

A stable weight is also important if you want to undergo breast lift, a problem associated with natural aging, previous pregnancies, and weight fluctuations.  Because it is possible to avoid these factors (except the aging, of course), why not make a commitment so you can enjoy a long-lasting result.

But if you were considering having babies in the future, most plastic surgeons would advise postponing breast lift because repeating the procedure means additional scar. 

Definition of Beauty and How It Affects Plastic Surgery Trends

With the growing acceptance of plastic surgery in the US, it not surprising that about 13.8 million procedures (both invasive and non-invasive) were performed in 2011 alone.  Meanwhile, this trend is expected to continue in the coming years as researchers and plastic surgeons are introducing safer and more effective techniques.

The quintessential aim of plastic surgery is beauty, or at least some aesthetic improvements (but not perfection).  However, “beauty” is probably the most contested word since many believe that it is in the “eye of the beholder.”

But still, experts and plastic surgeons believe that there is such a thing as “universal beauty.”  This is proven by some studies in which respondents were asked to rate the physical appearance of women from a different ethnicity and the result showed that those rated high in “attractiveness” were also considered beautiful by the people from the same ethnic group.

Meanwhile, the list below shows the 2011 most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries (from data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons) and the probable reasons behind their popularity.

1.     Breast augmentation

About 307,000 breast augmentations were performed last year, making it the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery.  This has been the trend over the past couple of years not just in the US but also in many countries.

The breasts have always been associated with not just sexual attractiveness but also fertility.  However, breast augmentation is not always performed to increase the bust size; for some patients the procedure is also used to create fullness in the upper poles, resulting to a more youthful appearance.

Recently, plastic surgeons have noticed that a growing number of patients are choosing smaller breast implants just to achieve fullness and more prominent cleavage. 

2    Rhinoplasty or nose reshaping

 More than 244,000 patients had rhinoplasty last year, making it the second most popular cosmetic surgery.

A good result should complement the face of a person; for this reason, plastic surgeons have developed ethnic rhinoplasty to preserve and even glorify the “quintessential” features of a patient. 

Examples of ethnic rhinoplasty techniques include allowing a slight nostril flare when dealing with African nose; and recognizing that the Asian nose does not tolerate too much projection in the nasal bridge and tip.

According to a recent study, rhinoplasty can result to a younger appearance aside from a more balanced “facial feature,” which has always been known as the universal definition of beauty.

In a separate study, researchers have concluded that balanced facial features usually connote good genes and excellent health—two things which are important in reproduction.

3     Liposuction

About 205,000 liposuction procedures were performed last year.  This surgery involves removing the “unwanted” fats to achieve a better figure.

For women, a flatter stomach and wider hips connotes fertility and sexual attractiveness.  With this fact, liposuction often involves removing the excess fats in the abdomen, flanks, and back to achieve the much-coveted hourglass figure.

The abdomen is also a common target in male liposuction, although some patients seek the procedure to achieve a “six-pack.”  With a technique called abdominal etching, plastic surgeons strategically remove some of the unwanted fats to create grooves, thereby resulting to a muscular appearance. 

4  Eyelid surgery

About 196,000 eyelid surgeries were performed last year.  Many experts believe that the growing popularity of the procedure is attributed to the aging baby boomers and growing acceptance of plastic surgery.

The eye is usually the first area to manifest the signs of aging.  Fortunately, the problem (sagging skin and fat bulges around the eyes) can be addressed by eyelid surgery, which can result to rejuvenated and youthful eyes.  

5  Facelift surgery

Approximately 119,000 facelifts were performed last year, making it to list of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in 2011.  Meanwhile, its popularity is expected to continue in the coming years due to a new employment trend in which more workers postpone their retirement.

Nowadays, older workers are facing tougher competition with younger employees, and for this reason many are seeking facelift surgery so they can appear youthful and reliable to their officemates.

Egyptian Solon Apologizes for Plastic Surgery Lies

An Egyptian solon who became famous following a nose job scandal has apologized publicly for lying about his plastic surgery.  MP Anwar al-Balkimi cited “human weakness” during his speech at the People’s Assembly, the country’s lower house of parliament.

While in the Western society plastic surgery is almost as common as having a haircut, Balkimi has been criticized by his colleagues for changing his appearance as doing so is like “changing God’s creation.”

But despite admitting going under the knife for cosmetic reasons, Balkimy, who is now called by the media as the nose job MP, still insists that his surgery was not meant to meddle with God’s work, in reference to the ultra conservative stance of his colleagues.  (It seems that politicians have an innate talent of playing with words, saying sorry but at the same time not owning up their mistakes completely.)

A few weeks ago, Balkimi lied that his bandages were from injuries after he was beaten up by armed robbers.  But when the media got wind of his story, the manager of the hospital where he had plastic surgery said the lawmaker was lying and even presented documents to prove his claims.

Balkimi was a member of conservative Al-Nour party which has immediately expelled him after finding out that his bandages were from a nose job.

For his detractors, the MP said that any action taken against him would not prevent him from performing his duties as an “Egyptian” and “Muslim.”

Whether the controversy will die down or not, at least Balkimi is now enjoying his smaller, straighter nose.

Heidi Montag’s Plastic Surgery—What We Have Learned from Her Story

In November 2009, then 23-year-old reality TV star Heidi Montag had 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day; these include ear pinning, liposuction to the neck, butt augmentation, eyebrow lift, chin reduction, Botox in the forehead, revision breast augmentation to further increase her implant size, and fat injection in the cheeks and lips.

Meanwhile, it was not the first time Montag had gone under the knife.  At the age of 21, she had a nose job, lip augmentation via collagen injection, and breast implant surgery.

Just shortly after the procedures, Montag said she was very happy with her transformation and even claimed that she has started to become more confident with her new image.  

 “I never felt so beautiful and sexy,” Montag said during an interview.

But a year after her transformation, she has changed her tune and said that she regretted having nearly-dozen surgeries which she claimed have resulted to “painful and embarrassing scars” all over her body.

“I would love not be plastic girl,” she was quoted saying.

Perhaps her dissatisfaction with the results of her plastic surgeries all boils down to one thing: she is not a good candidate for cosmetic procedures in the first place.

While cosmetic plastic surgery can have a positive impact on a person’s self-esteem and body image, this would not be the case if one is suffering from body dysmorphic disorder or BDD, a condition Montag may have.

People with BDD are excessively concerned about their appearance to the point that they develop imaginary defects in either one feature or several areas of their body.

Aside from being a bad candidate in the first place, Montag has pushed the limit of her body.  Always bear in mind that longer operating time from multiple procedures results to higher surgical trauma, more bleeding, more risks, and prolonged recovery.

However, what is more surprising is that Montag’s doctor has agreed to conduct 10 procedures all at the same time.  This practice is very uncommon, in fact most board-certified plastic surgeons would likely decline to perform this on their patients due to higher risk of complications.

For patients who are considering drastic transformation through cosmetic plastic surgery, many experts suggest that this should be done slowly over the years; in this way, there will be enough time to get used to the new appearance.

Another benefit is that the body has enough time to recover from the surgical trauma, reducing the risk of complications and avoiding poor results.

Nose Surgery for Male Patients—What Are the Factors to Consider?

Over the past couple of years, rhinoplasty or nose surgery has been the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery among male patients.  But to enjoy its full benefits, certain factors must be considered including age, goals and expectation, underlying cartilage and bone, and skin thickness.

To make sure the result of rhinoplasty can last longer, most plastic surgeons require their patients to be at least 15 years old, the period when the face is fully developed.  However, this age requirement is only applicable for men seeking aesthetic improvements and are not suffering from breathing problems.  

If performed for cosmetic reasons, patients should be in good health, both psychologically and physically. 

While it is tempting to think that rhinoplasty can help you achieve the same look of your celebrity idol, always bear in mind that the result largely depends on the nasal structure including the skin, and amount of cartilage and bone.

Because the definition of beauty between men and women is different, plastic surgeons use a slightly different approach.  In male rhinoplasty, the goal is to retain and/or emphasize the masculine looks which are characterized by a strong, straight nasal bridge.

To achieve the best and most natural results, plastic surgeons consider the fact that aesthetically speaking, the best angle between the nose and upper lip for men is about 90 degrees—which is quite different from a beautiful woman’s.  Also, the space between the nasal tip and upper lip is a consideration to make. 

Another thing to consider is that men tend to have more injuries from sports, leading to a crooked or deviated nose.  In severe cases, the condition results to breathing difficulties, frequent nosebleed, and other medical problems which must be immediately addressed.

Compared to previous years, modern male rhinoplasty involves a more conservative approach.  This means that plastic surgeons do not remove too much cartilage to ensure that the new contour will have a strong support and the result can be long lasting.  In addition, the changes are carefully done in order to achieve facial harmony.

In case that you have a weak chin (it disappears from the neck), you can achieve a better result if your rhinoplasty is complemented with chin implant surgery; this additional procedure may prevent the nose from appearing too pointy compared to the rest of the face.

Aside from chin implants, some rhinoplasty patients may benefit from facelift particularly if their goal is to achieve a more youthful appearance. 

Couples Seeking Plastic Surgery Is a New Trend

There is anecdotal evidence showing that more couples are having cosmetic plastic surgery together.  And with men becoming more open with the idea of going under the knife, this trend is expected to continue in the coming years.

According to a 2011 data released by the American Society of Plastic surgery, men accounted for about 9 percent of all cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-invasive in nature.

Overall, more than 1.2 million cosmetic procedures were performed on male patients in 2011, an increase by 6 percent from the previous year.

Leading Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Tarick Smaili believes that men’s changing attitude toward cosmetic procedures has been the main reason for the new trend in which couples seek these treatments together in order to improve their appearance.

“It is not uncommon these days for couples to seek cosmetic procedures.  And in some cases, even if the husband has no plan of having aesthetic treatments, just seeing his wife who looks younger and more energetic than him after receiving a certain procedure may encourage him to do the same thing,” Smaili said.

Smaili also believes that men nowadays are more conscious of their appearance than in previous years because of a new employment trend.  As more workers postpone their retirement, the plastic surgeon said the number of couples seeking cosmetic procedures together would further increase.

But compared to women, men tend to choose non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as Botox injection, dermal fillers, and laser skin resurfacing which involve little or no downtime unlike surgeries.  For this reason, Smaili said that it is not uncommon for a wife to have a facelift while her husband resorts to other alternatives like collagen injection to achieve a more youthful appearance.

Meanwhile, couples seeking plastic surgery should bear in mind that certain procedures or surgical techniques may provide great results to women but not on men, and vice versa.

One example, Smaili said, is liposuction in the upper arm, a procedure that is almost exclusively performed on women.

“A slender arm is a much coveted feature if you are a woman.  However, this is not the case for men, which is why liposuction in this area is rarely performed on male patients,” Smaili said.

Couples should also consider the anatomical and biological difference of the two sexes, in addition to different lifestyle.  For instance, men tend to have more signs of photo-aging such as fine wrinkles and skin discoloration than women due to lack of proper skincare regimen.

Ashley Judd Denies Plastic Surgery, Cites Steroids for Her Puffy Face

Over the past couple of days, Ashley Judd’s photos were circulating the Internet over speculations that the actress had undergone plastic surgery or dermal fillers because of her unusually puffy cheeks. 

Rumors of the actress’ plastic surgery started after she appeared on a Canadian talk show to promote her new show Missing.  However, her representative immediately released a statement saying the star has been “battling an ongoing, serious sinus infection and flu,” requiring her to take heavy doses of medication, including steroids.

Steroids may lead to swelling, apparently making Judd’s cheeks “puffier” than usual.

On Wednesday, the actress tweeted “Thanks to all asking how I’ve been feeling, still very sick (flu + viral infection in sinuses = wicked) but staying positive & having fun.”

Meanwhile, RadarOnline.com was the first to write about Judd’s unusual appearance which was allegedly caused by too much dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm.  However, many doctors came to her rescue saying that steroids and bouts of sinus infection can trigger swelling especially in the face.

And with three weeks of having sinus infection and “two rounds of drugs,” it is not uncommon to have some swelling in the cheeks.

Many people are also not convinced by rumors of celebrity plastic surgery because the actress has apparently gained some weight—something which may also lead to “chubby cheeks.”

Perhaps the rumors of plastic surgery was based on assumption that Judd has joined the bandwagon of celebrities with “pillow face,” which is a term used by doctors describing over-plump faces due to excessive use of dermal fillers like Restylane and Sculptra, leading to a very unnatural appearance.

Because of having a pillow face, celebrities like Madonna, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Pamela Anderson, and Courtney Love were once dubbed as “cheeky girls,” which is some kind of derision.

Why Plastic Surgery Focuses on Beauty and Youth

In modern society, beauty and youth are the most sought-after physical attributes, which have resulted in an upswing in cosmetic plastic surgery.  In fact, this sector is continuously growing in the US over the past couple of years even if medical spending has slowed down.

Our brains are hardwired to prefer symmetric face and body, which is a universal definition of beauty, because it often connotes health and virility, which are important for any species to spread its genes.

Since the latter half of the 20^th Century, the US society has been more focused on physical improvements to the extent that beauty and youth have somewhat turned into a new indicator of social worth.  This trend is different from many Eastern societies where age is concurrent with higher social status, respect, and prestige.

However, the quest for beauty is an age-old story that even literature has depicted women from ancient civilizations using vegetables dyes to color their faces, hair adornments, and clothing to enhance their appearance.  For this reason, it would be safe to surmise that our desire for physical improvements is purely a human nature and deeply ingrained into who and what we are.

Going back to plastic surgery, the trend nowadays is facial rejuvenations such as facelift, Botox injection, and dermal fillers—procedures that aim to make the face look youthful. 

According to a 1994 study, older women are mostly concerned with their face, which is why facelift and Botox injection are popular among them; while younger ones are more preoccupied with their body, which is why liposuction, breast augmentation, and other body contouring procedures are popular among this age group.

Nowadays, modern society—or at least in the US—physical signs of aging are somewhat seen as something which must be minimized or even eradicated; rather than being treated as completely natural and inevitable.

Employment is arguably the primary reason for the growing popularity of cosmetic plastic surgery.  In fact, it is not uncommon for aging American workers to seek facelift, dermal fillers, and Botox injection believing that looking youthful would make them appear competitive against younger workers.

Some economists and even plastic surgeons believe that the condition of job market to some degree affects the plastic surgery trends.  Because of insecurity and fear of appearing old and “incompetent,” Botox injection, chemical peels to remove wrinkles and age spots, and dermal filler treatments had skyrocketed during the recent economic slowdown.

Kim Kardashian Sues Plastic Surgeon

Kim Kardashian is planning to sue a plastic surgeon in Mexico for using her image without her consent on a billboard promoting his work.   

According to a news report, Dr. Victor Ramirez has used the reality tv star’s photos on a billboard posted in Mexicali, which is near the California border.  The advertisement involves a message saying “No arriesgue su belleza, ni su salud,” which translates as “Do not risk your beauty or your health.”

Meanwhile, the plastic surgeon has admitted that he did not ask for the star’s permission to use her photo; in fact, when gossip website TMZ called the doctor, he even said that he did not “speak to Kardashian and did not even know her number.”

Because the TV personality has long been associated with plastic surgery—despite her claims that she did not undergo any surgical procedure to improve her appearance—it is not surprising that some people will use her as an “example” of great cosmetic result.

While the star has previously admitted Botox injection, she adamantly claims that she did not undergo any plastic surgeries, particularly buttock augmentation, breastn enlargemet, and nose job.  In fact, she was quoted saying that “some women often go too far in their quest to retain their youthful appearance,” adding that she would think twice before going under the knife.

Kardashian has long the favorite of bloggers not just because of the controversies surrounding her but also due to her somewhat changing appearance.  For instance, her derriere is larger these days compared to previous years, resulting to rumors that she had butt implant surgery.

But in an attempt to disprove the plastic surgery rumors, Kardashian had X-rays done on an episode Keeping Up With The Kardashians to show that her curve is as natural as it gets.  However, some plastic surgeons said that it is possible to augment the backside by simply collecting fat from one area and then transferring it to the buttocks.

The reality TV star has also been rumored to have had breast augmentation, which she is also denying.  In fact, in an interview with ABC’s Cynthia McFadden, she admitted that if she takes her bra off, it is not surprising that someone would tell her that she need to get them done.

Kardashian attributed her great look to regular exercise and good make-up, although in a previous interview the star said that she is not dismissing the idea of having plastic surgery in the future. 

Basketball Star Charlie Bell Accuses Ex-Wife of Spending $110,000 on Plastic Surgery

In the world of celebrities, amicable divorce is a rare event since two individuals have to fight head on to get the most money they can.  Basketball star Charlie Bell and Kenya know this too well.

Just recently, Charlie said his estranged ex-wife spent around $110,000 on plastic surgery aside from other “unnecessary things” such as $82,000 on a Corvette, $9,000 on luggage and shoes, and $12,000 on a motorcycle.  These allegations were not just to malign Kenya but also to defend himself from the same accusations of being “excessive.”

On the other hand, Kenya, who starred in reality TV show Basketball Wives, has filed complaints against the basketball star for living a too lavish life and splurging on shopping while she claimed to be struggling financially to support their children.

As of this writing, the judge has not yet ruled on Kenya’s request that Charlie must provide financial support for her and their children.

In March, Charlie filed for divorce in Michigan court based on allegations of domestic violence and assault with dangerous weapon after his ex-wife stabbed him in front of their children last year, according to his claims.

Meanwhile, Kenya denies spending more than $100,000 on plastic surgery and tweeted saying, “If I spend $110,000 on plastic surgery I’d look like Joan Rivers! lmbo!”

Egyptian Solon Who Had Nose Job Loses Parliamentary Immunity

In Egypt, it is hard to be a politician and fan of plastic surgery.  Anwar El-Balkimy, who is a member of a conservative Islamist party, learned this lesson the hard way when he got a nose job and was forced to make up stories just to prevent any suspicion among his colleagues who think that all cosmetic procedures “meddle with God’s work.”

On February 29, the parliamentary member went to a hospital and claimed that he was beaten and robbed by unidentified men.  However, his colleagues found that the story was just an attempt to cover up his nose job and prevent any suspicion on why his face was covered with heavy bandages that only his mouth, chin, and eyes could be seen.

After initial investigation revealed that El-Balkimy was just making up stories, he was immediately expelled from the conservative Islamist party.  And in an attempt to mend his reputation, he requested other lawmakers to lift his parliamentary immunity so he can face the lawsuit against him.

Meanwhile, state prosecutor is considering filing the estranged solon with lawsuits based on “creating anxiety among the public” and “worrying public officials” with his lies.  At first, many people were hooked on his “robbery story” and it even lead to criticism over the government’s failure to address street crimes which have erupted after authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak was overthrown. 

Rumors of El-Balkimy’s nose job started when local media showed pictures of him with his face covered with bandages, citing suspicion that it may be the result of plastic surgery.  For this reason, his colleagues brought him to a hospital and was examined and interviewed by doctors.

Perhaps El-Balkimy could have avoided the blunder if he admitted having nose surgery in the first place and just made some white lies that he needed it to correct breathing problems or nasal injuries.  Unfortunately, he chose a more action-packed, harder-to-believe story. 

plastic surgery, plastic surgeons, eyelid lift, facelift

Being good-looking—but not particularly drop-dead-gorgeous—not only leads to personal pleasure.  According to several studies conducted over the past 20 years by researchers and economists, attractive individuals in general enjoy more economic opportunities than most homely-looking Janes and Joes.

One study even went further by stating that an American worker who was among the bottom rank in terms of looks—based on the assessment made by random observers—earned 10 to 15 percent less per year than someone with the same skills but happened to be in the top one-third.

Because of the advantages of looking good, especially in terms of employment, it is not surprising that many employees—particularly in the financial and corporate industry—are lured by cosmetic plastic surgery.  And no matter how much we deny our superficial side and claim that we are more than our instincts, one study has shown that if we see an attractive person look, or even take a quick glance at us, one area of our brain lights up under a CT scan.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a survey showing that in 2011, about 13.8 million cosmetic procedures, both surgical and minimally invasive, were performed in the US, an increased by 5 percent from previous year.  And for two years in a row, despite the decline in medical spending, aesthetic surgeries and non-surgical treatments have increased.

Because modern society is obsessed with youthful beauty, it is not surprising that eyelid lift and facelift were ranked in fourth and fifth place, respectively, in terms of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgeries in 2011.

The popularity of eyelid lift and facelift, along with other facial rejuvenation procedures, can be attributed to the new employment trend in which more workers postpone their retirement.  Many older workers who sought plastic surgery have cited job insecurity and their motivation to appear “competitive” to their superiors and younger workers.

Contrary to popular belief, the appearance of men—rather than women’s—has bigger impacts on their jobs.  On the other hand, beauty—or the lack of it—has more influenced on women’s opportunities in finding a mate.

However, improving one’s appearance does not necessarily entail that he or she should undergo plastic surgery.  There are non-invasive treatments such as laser skin resurfacing, Botox injection, dermal fillers, chemical peels which can also help people make themselves look and feel better.

But in some cases, a dash of confidence and good clothing—and perhaps huge sums of money and expensive cars—are enough to improve one’s appearance

Study Shows Plastic Surgery Can Really Result to Younger Appearance

Plastic surgery can make individuals look younger—and that is a fact.  While cosmetic surgeons have the tendency to use the term “more youthful,” a recent study published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery has suggested that on average, patients had a 7.2-year reduction in perceived age.

While most previous studies depend on the patient-reported satisfaction in assessing the success of cosmetic plastic surgery, the researchers from the University of Toronto and the NorthShore University Healthy System focused on the opinion of third party individuals.

The study involved 60 patients—54 women and six men aged between 45 and 72—who had received facial rejuvenation procedures in the form of facelift, necklift, forehead lift, and eyelid lift.

The before-and-after pictures of patients were then evaluated by 40 medical students who were divided into four groups.  Then they were asked to view the same set of randomized photos and provide estimated ages for each patient.

On average, the med students estimated that the plastic surgery patients were 8.9 years younger than their chronological age following the procedure.  In general, those who had more procedures achieved the most reduction in perceived age.

For instance, patients who had forehead lift, eyelid lift, and facelift all at the same time reduced their perceived age by 8.4 on average. 

For patients who had facelift only, the perceived age reduction was 5.7 years; and for individuals who had facelift and eyelid lift at the same time, it fell by 7.5 years.  

In a statement, the researchers said the “results show a modest to significant reduction in perceived age after aesthetic facia lsurgery.”

With the findings, Dr. Tarick Smaili, who was not involved in the study, said he was not surprised.

“Some studies have already proven that aesthetic facial surgery really do wonders, although the focus was more on the patient satisfaction.  But still, I commend the researchers from using an objective way to measure the surgical success and that is by assigning third party individuals to assess the result rather than by asking the patients themselves,” Smaili said.

Aside from facelift and other traditional forms of facial rejuvenation surgeries, rhinoplasty or more commonly referred to as nose job has also been found to make the patients look younger.

In a separate study, patients who had rhinoplasty on average looked 1.5 years younger than their perceived age after the procedure. 

Meanwhile, the age of the patients at the time of surgery had a very small effect on the age reduction.

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.

Cindy Jackson, Plastic Surgery, and Her Quest for Beauty

While women tend to deny having cosmetic surgery and claim that their beauty was genetic, Cindy Jackson, who currently holds the Guinness World Record for having the most cosmetic surgeries, is even proud of her “surgically enhanced” appearance that she even said she will not stop her quest for youthful beauty.

While Jackson is about to celebrate her 57^th birthday, her appearance is far from looking old.  In fact, she can be mistaken as a 25-year-old vixen—a clear proof that plastic surgery, if done carefully to a patient who has a deep understanding with beauty, can do great wonders.

It was 25 years ago when Jackson started having plastic surgery to turn herself from a plain-looking country girl to a beautiful swan.  She said that on average, she spends two weeks each year having the procedure and recovering from it.

Her undying quest for youthful beauty started in 1977 when she migrated from Ohio to London to study fine arts.  During her college years, she learned that Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and other great artists were able to capture the beauty in their works because of their deep understanding with an “ideal face.”

But even at a young child, Jackson said she was fascinated with the near-perfect appearance of a Barbie doll, a gift she received from her parents when she was 6 years old.  Also, she realized that beauty can give a girl more advantage than those plain-looking ones.

“The teachers were kinder than them (pretty girls),” Jackson was quoted saying in a previous interview.

In her playful, young mind, Jackson imagined that she was the doll who is living a glamorous and happy life in London.  Surprisingly, such fantasy became a reality when she decided to go to UK and live there for good.

But before going under the knife, she made a wish list of plastic surgeries that would turn her into a beautiful woman that almost resembles a Barbie doll.  She wrote down the changes she wanted and these include fuller lips, perfect white teeth, more feminine jawline, smaller nose, wider eyes, smaller waistline, smoother skin, thinner thighs and knees, and higher cheekbones.

According to her estimates, she spent £62,000 or around US$98,000 on 52 cosmetic surgeries including two eyelid lifts, countless of liposuction, nose job, cheek implant surgery, jaw restructuring, and five facelifts.  On the other hand, she spent £20,000 or about US$31,700 on non-invasive procedures such as microdermabrasion, dermal fillers, and Botox.

Surprisingly, she gets most of her funds from exclusive interviews and two books she wrote about plastic surgery.  To date, she also offers her own skincare products and has made herself a cosmetic surgery consultant.

Houston Denied for Plastic Surgery 2 Weeks Before Her Death

Two weeks before Whitney Houston was found dead inside a hotel, the singer has been allegedly turned down for plastic surgery after failing in medical examinations, according to a report published by RadarOnline.

Plastic surgeon Marc Mani has been reported to reject Houston from having facelift surgery, a procedure the singer deemed necessary to make her appearance youthful again.  However, the doctor refused to comment citing the federal medical privacy laws.

While the results of the medical examinations were not revealed, it has been reported that Houston’s lungs, liver, and heart were tested.

One source who asked for anonymity said the singer was concerned with her aging face and wanted to undergo a facelift surgery.

Last Saturday, the singer, whose one of the most famous songs were “I Will Always Love You” was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel.  While the cause of death is yet to be determined, preliminary reports showed she had taken sedatives; prescribed medications were also found inside her room including Valium, Lorazepam, and Xanax.

With the rumors of plastic surgery, there are some speculations that the star has medical issues that led Mani to decline performing any elective procedure.

One of the criteria for having cosmetic procedures like facelift is to be physically healthy.  This is important to avoid or at least minimize the risk of complications such as excessive bleeding, delayed healing, gangrene, and infection.

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 Procedures Rise in 2011

For the second straight year, the number of plastic surgery patients increased in 2011, according to data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 

A total of 13.8 million plastic surgeries were performed in 2011, an increase of 5 percent from the previous year.  Meanwhile, ASPS has attributed the growing demand for such procedures to the strong consumer confidence.

Breast augmentation still remained the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery, with 307,000 procedures conducted in 2011 or jumping by 4 percent from the previous year.  However, facelift surgery made it to the top five for the first time since 2004 due to the aging baby boomers.

Over the past couple of years, facelift has been one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery, a trend which is attributed to the fact that more workers are postponing their retirements in addition to the growing number of seniors.

The second most popular procedure was rhinoplasty or more commonly referred to as “nose job,” followed by liposuction, eyelid lift, and facelift.

While the surgical cosmetic procedures have increased by 2 percent from the previous year, the growth of the market has been primarily driven by minimally invasive procedures which increased by 6 percent to about 12.2 million procedures.

Examples of minimally invasive procedures include dermalfillers, Botox injection, laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, chemicalpeels, and microdermabrasion.

Botox has remained the most commonly performed minimally invasive procedure, with about 5.7 million procedures last year, increasing by 5 percent from 2010.  This treatment uses a small dose of toxin that paralyzes the facial muscles to prevent them from moving too much, thereby minimizing the appearance of wrinkles.

Dermal filler like (brands) Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, and even natural fats grafted from the patient’s own body has also been one of the most commonly used minimally invasive facial rejuvenation treatments.  These are used to correct the gaunt appearance and “fill in” the creases caused by the loss of facial volume.

Meanwhile, the number of reconstructive plastic surgery has also increased 5 percent in 2011.  This is often covered by health insurance because unlike the cosmetic procedure, this is performed to improve body functions and correct severe abnormalities and defects.

The top five reconstructive plastic surgeries in 2011 were tumor removal, laceration repair, maxillofacial surgery, scar revision, and hand surgery.

While breast reconstruction was not included in the top five reconstructive surgeries, it continues to rise, with more than 96,000 procedures performed in 2011 or jumping by 3 percent from the previous year.

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. 

Top 5 Extreme Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery in general can provide the best outcome as long as two important factors are present: board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience, and good candidate for the procedure.

Take note that an “ideal candidate” does not simply refer to someone who is healthy and has no healing problem.  Another important thing is that the patient has realistic goals and expectations, and is considered to be emotionally and psychologically stable.

However, some people seem to go overboard when it comes to their physical appearance that they made it to the list of top five extreme plastic surgery:

5. Sheyla Hershey

Because no plastic surgeon in the US would want to operate on Hershey, she went to Brazil to further inflate her breast implants to achieve an astonishing 38KKK bust size.  And after eight breast surgeries, now she has the largest augmented breasts in the world.

Just recently, Hershey has been in a car accident and was arrested for driving under the influence.  When her vehicle hit a tree, she said the airbag did not deploy so her breasts ended up cushioning the impact and saving her life.

4. Amanda Lepore

Arguably the world’s most recognizable transsexual, the New York-based model and actress has gone multiple cosmetic procedures including breast augmentations.  There are also some reports that she received silicone injection into her buttocks, hips, lips, and forehead—despite the fact that such procedure has already been banned by the US FDA (the agency only allows silicone implants).

And with countless of plastic surgeries, she now looks like a caricature of herself—if there’s such a thing.

3. Hang Mioku

The Korean woman made headlines when she injected her face with cooking oil after running out of silicone.  And because of her unhealthy obsession with cosmetic procedures, even plastic surgeons no longer came near her.

But when a local media broadcast her swollen face, the public took pity on her and raised funds for plastic surgery.  However, doctors could not make her appearance normal after 20 years of abusing injections, lifts, and surgeries.

2. Michael Jackson

As the King of Pop became more famous, his obsession with plastic surgery worsened that his once luscious, chocolate-colored skin turned impossibly pale white while his nose became too pointy and “structurally unstable” that his doctor has been reported to decline another operation.

1.  Jocelyn Wildenstein

In an attempt to prevent her late husband from philandering and leaving her, Jocelyn is said to undergo countless of plastic surgeries to look like a cat, which was the favorite animal of her spouse.

But despite the drastic transformation, Jocelyn’s husband left her with another woman.

According to reports, Jocelyn had fat grafting, lip injections, brow lift, and facelift that gave her the feline look.