The Scotsman 04/02/08

RECORD numbers of people across the UK are going under the knife, according to new figures which show a large increase in plastic-surgery procedures.

The figures, released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (Baaps), show the stigma of “having some work done” is falling away.

Some 32,453 people chose to have cosmetic surgery last year, an increase of 12 per cent on 2006, when 28,921 procedures were carried out.

Facelifts are becoming ever more popular according to data, with 4,238 women opting for the procedure last year, a rise of 37 per cent on 2006.

Breast implants remained the most popular procedure, with 6,497 woman undergoing the operation, while 5,148 women had eye surgery, and 3,990 women had liposuction, an increase of 15 per cent.

While 91 per cent of all cosmetic surgery was carried out on women, the figures show more men than ever are open to “self-improvement”.

Last year, 98 men had tummy tucks, a rise of 61 per cent, while the number of males who had liposuction rose by 18 per cent.

Leading plastic surgeons believe factors encouraging the trend include the higher profile of surgery – driven by a rise in TV shows featuring live cosmetic work – and the availability of “softer” options such as botox, which act as an introduction to the idea of face “rejuvenation”.

Douglas McGeorge, consultant plastic surgeon and president of Baaps, said: “This year’s audit clearly reflects the UK’s continued acceptance of aesthetic surgery, particularly in the area of anti-ageing.

“Wide media coverage has helped educate the public about the latest advances and choices available, but it is crucial that people do their research carefully when choosing a provider.”

Rajiv Grover, consultant plastic surgeon and Baaps secretary, said that the dramatic rise in surgery may be related to the increase in non-surgical cosmetic treatments such as face “fillers” and peels.

He added: “The effects of these less invasive treatments can sometimes be limited once jowling or loose skin has developed, so this could explain why more patients now feel ready for the surgical option.”

Concerns have recently been raised about the growth of the industry – predicted to be worth £1 billion by the end of 2008.

Last month, consumer body Which? revealed many clinics used hard-sell techniques to encourage people to opt for expensive or risky operations.

Undercover researchers found unqualified sales assistants made false claims that procedures would last for life, or offered two-for-one deals.

Psychologists also claimed the statistics highlighted a worrying social trend.

Dr Cynthia McVey, head of psychology at Caledonian University, said: “We judge people on youth and beauty, rather than character and behaviour.

“We are all going to get older, but a sense of attractiveness should be more than skin deep.”

She added that the increasing willingness of celebrities to admit to “having work done”, as well as the reduction in cost, had helped legitimise surgery.

Cary Cooper, professor of psychology at Lancaster University, said: “Some people have a psychological need to have their nose or their tummy or their breasts done to make themselves feel better. They are quite genuinely in psychological distress.

“But I think what we are seeing is a definite rise in the number of people that see surgery as a way of helping them get on – to get a better job or be more successful with the opposite sex.

The Sunday Times October 14, 2007
These days it’s not just women who are opting for a nip or tuck. Since 2004, the number of men turning to cosmetic surgery has more than doubled to about 2,500 last year, according to figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).

The most popular procedures are nose jobs (rhinoplasty), eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), liposuction, ear correction (otoplasty) and face or neck lifts. Many people expect surgery to change their life, improve their job prospects or fix a relationship, but this is not necessarily the case. About half the men who have nose jobs aren’t happy with the immediate results, warns BAAPS.

more http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article2642484.ece

emediawire.com 26/09/2007
Prospective patients can actually view cosmetic surgeries in their entirety online. This website also includes voice-over narration and even post-operative photographs, according to Dr. Edward Domanskis, the innovative plastic surgeon who has introduced this free service.

Viewable surgeries at www.seesurgery.com include liposuction, breast enlargement, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and abdominoplasty(tummy tuck), which are the five most common cosmetic procedures that patients have done.

“I have patients who really wanted to see how these surgeries were performed, and how they looked after them,” said Dr. Domanskis, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery(Plastic)WOC at the University of California(Irvine).

“This free service makes it now possible,” continued Dr. Domanskis, Orange County Physician of Excellence in Plastic Surgery for the past several years. Not only are the surgeries edited and professionally narrated, but also, the patients are shown immediately after and then, during their recovery, and up to two and one half years after their procedures.

Michelle Miller at first was skittish about watching the tummy tuck surgery that she was considering, but found it extremely enlightening. “It helped me prepare for my surgery and showed me how I would look after it.” “I was much reassured by what I saw and it proved invaluable to me!”

There are presently ten surgeries ranging from breast enlargement to facelift available for viewing on www.seesurgery.com. Another twenty have been taped and will be periodically added to the site.

(HealthNewsDigest.com) 
Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care, today announced Presource® Standard Cosmetic-Surgery Packs – prepackaged kits that provide the core surgical components needed for common cosmetic surgery procedures.

The new procedure packs are available for liposuction, abdominoplasty, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, facial rhytidectomy, breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lift. Consumer demand for these procedures is growing at a rate of 12 percent annually, with Americans spending approximately $12.4 billion on cosmetic procedures in 2006.

“As the demand for cosmetic surgery procedures continues to grow, health-care providers must be focused on improving the quality and safety of patient care, while also improving the efficiency with which that care is delivered,� said Steve Inacker, president and general manager of Cardinal Health’s Presource® Products and Services business

By Angela Parker Indystar.com 15/08/07
If you’re thinking those laugh lines aren’t so funny anymore or that surgery might be the only way to shed dangerous extra pounds, here’s a tip: Having realistic expectations and determination are requirements for successful cosmetic or bariatric surgery.
 
For cosmetic surgery patients, realistic expectations are like best friends who tell the truth even when it hurts. Expecting surgery to turn a Phyllis Diller into a Julia Roberts is just not realistic — but expecting to look like a younger version of yourself is totally achievable. Dr. Catherine P. Winslow, FACS, Winslow Facial Plastic Surgery, recommends looking at photographs from 10 years ago to get an idea of what surgery can accomplish.

“Anti-aging surgery is designed to take the years off, not alter the way you look,� Winslow said. “If patients have good expectations, they are going to be pleased with the results. If they have inappropriate expectations, they are going to be unhappy no matter what you do.�

Extensive presurgery counseling with a surgeon or psychologist helps ensure patients have the proper perspective, and it can reveal unhealthy attitudes that would make them poor surgery candidates.

After surgery, patients might experience mild depression early in the healing process. Though they know to expect some swelling, seeing their faces in that condition can be disconcerting.

“A lot of hand-holding is involved in getting patients to the point where they are happy with the results,� Winslow said.

For bariatric surgery patients, determination is the critical element. It’s a mistake to think surgery alone is a cure for obesity. After the initial dramatic weight loss, patients must be determined to keep the pounds off for a lifetime.

“We can deliver a lot of skill and advice and performance. But if the recipient is not going to be a team player, then no matter how good our work is, it’s not going to work out,� said Dr. Samer G. Mattar, medical director, Clarian Bariatric Center.

Ironically, patients must start losing weight six months before surgery. Bariatric surgery risks are about the same as with gall bladder surgery, but obese patients can reduce their risk by changing their diets and shrinking their enlarged livers. This enables the surgeon to maneuver more easily behind it to work on the stomach.

Patients who are unwilling to make this effort likely won’t have the determination to make their surgery a lifelong success.

“The only patient who is not suitable is the patient who is not willing to see me in preparation for surgery,� said Ruthanne M. Hilbrich, RD, nutrition coordinator, Clarian Bariatric Center. “They have to shrink that liver, and if they are not willing to, I postpone their surgery.�

By Lesley Thomas DAILY TELEGRAPH
9:14am BST 01/08/2007
 
Frank Sinatra advised in the song Wives and Lovers: “Don’t send him off, with your hair still in curlers. You may not see him again.”

However, it seems that British women couldn’t care less after a survey showed they are the least likely to put effort into their appearance for the sake of men.

They have the lowest levels of concern in the world for what husbands, boyfriends and other male observers might think, with only 51 per cent caring whether men liked their appearance, the study said.

Japanese women were second bottom with 53 per cent followed by Americans at 56 per cent.

advertisementIndian, Spanish and Korean women were far more worried about having a man’s seal of approval, but it was Russia which topped the poll of 10,000 women, with 77 per cent saying that they cared what their men thought.

Janet Saunders, of Clinique, the cosmetics company which commissioned the study, said: “British women like to feel confident and beautiful for their own pleasure and take pride in their outward appearance.” Susan Quilliam, a relationship psychologist said: “It’s a delicate balance. It’s a positive thing in an equal relationship to reference the other person’s tastes and preferences sometimes.”

The survey also showed that Britons are among the keenest on cosmetic surgery. Thirty five per cent of British women said they have gone, or are willing to go, under the knife for beauty.

Only Korean women were more likely to consider surgical enhancement, while just three per cent of Indian women condone it.

The survey also asked which of the 12 countries polled had the most beautiful women. Although most found their country’s own women the best looking, Britons rated Italian and Indian women more beautiful than themselves.
 

by HILARY FREEMAN The DAILY MAIL 2nd August 2007
Full story- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=472558&in_page_id=1879
Dark hollows under the eyes can make you look tired and are very ageing. A new non-surgical procedure called tear trough rejuvenation promises to restore your looks quickly. HILARY FREEMAN spoke to two women who have tried it.
Fran Cook, 42: For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a tendency to develop dark circles around my eyes, which worsen when I’m tired.
I should drink more water and do more exercise, but I’m a working mum and never seem to have the time.
I don’t spend a lot on skin care, although I do use concealer.
Recently, a couple of incidents made me feel very self-conscious about the circles.
First, my boss asked me if I’d considered having a health check-up because he thought I looked really tired and feared I was ill.
A couple of days later, I showed someone round an acquaintance’s house.
My client was an ocular plastic surgeon named Raman Malhotra. He called me that evening. “I hope you don’t think I’m being rude,” he said, “but you look very dark around your eyes. Have you ever thought about doing something about it?”
He said that hollows under the eyes are very common in women my age and that he was using a new, non-surgical procedure called tear trough rejuvenation to treat them, which research has shown to be much more effective, safer and quicker than surgery.
The surgeon uses Restylane injections to fill in the hollows under the eyes, which deepen when fat is lost as you age. It’s these, rather than eye bags, that make you look tired and old.

Whether a person loses weight through diet and exercise or through bariatric surgery, there are a few problems that arise as a result of the weight loss. One that will be most noticeable is the loose skin that remains after the weight is gone. When someone is overweight, the skin stretches to accommodate the increased volume of weight. After weight loss, the skin often fails to tighten, and so it sags. In many cases, it hangs (especially in the arms, stomach, thighs, breasts, and buttocks). It acts as a constant reminder of the weight you once carried around. Exercise WILL NOT tighten skin (exercise never tightens skin – only muscles). The only way to tighten loose skin is through cosmetic plastic surgery.

Bariatric patients desiring such reshaping after surgery should use a specialist with experience dealing with this type of situation. A variety of surgical procedures are often necessary and performed at different times. Depending on which area bothers you the most, the surgery can be tailored to fit your needs, starting with the area of greatest concern. Often an abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) is done first, though a circumferential lower body lift may be needed instead. Breast lifting surgery, arm lifts, face lifts and neck lifts are all additional procedures that can be done at separate times. A body lift is the combination of tummy tuck and a lower body lift (inner thigh lift, and outer thigh/buttock lift).

NB. All COSMETIC BLISS Weight Loss Patients are Entitled to a 10% Discount on future Cosmetic Surgery Procedures.  These include: Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, Breast Uplift, Breast Reduction, Arm Lift, Thigh Lift, Facelift Chin & Neck Surgery etc.

Story c/o The Daily Mail

The number of middle-aged men going under the knife in the name of beauty has risen by more than 140 per cent in just five years as they struggle to come to terms with “menopaunch”, reveals a new report.

Men aged over 50 are forking out as much as £3,700 and taking weeks off work to undergo liposuction and other procedures such as eye bag removal (blepharoplasty) in a bid to remove stubborn fat, according to a cosmetic surgery company.

Figures produced by The Harley Medical Group show that liposuction – including work done on the abdomen, flanks, chest and chin areas – accounted for 24 per cent of surgical procedures for 50-something men.

This was followed by blepharoplasty (21%), face lifts (14%), rhinoplasty (11%), tummy tucks (8%), neck lifts (7%), brow lifts (5%), chin implants (3%), otoplasty (2%), chin implants (3%) and otoplasty (2%).

Director of The Harley Medical Group, Liz Dale, said: “The idea of men letting themselves go with increased age is no longer accurate.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of 50-something male patients coming into our clinics. Liposuction is the most popular procedure, accounting for 24 per cent of procedures amongst this group.

“Amount of fat removed can range from 50mls to three litres, or the equivalent of more than six pints.”

Surgeon Patrick Whitfield added: “Males account for a quarter of blepharoplasty procedures at The Harvey Medical Group with 60 per cent of those from the over-50s age group. In many cases, saggy skin around the eye area can add a decade onto a man.

“It’s extremely rewarding seeing a rather conservative 50s-something man, who will have often had his procedure done secretly whilst “on vacation”, bound out of the clinic after his sex-week post-operative check up with a new spring in his step and a glint in his eye.”

However, she stressed that liposuction should only be done for “stubborn fat” and was “not a quick cure for weight gain”.

She added: “Before accepting a patient for treatment, our surgeons will want to be sure that the patient has a healthy lifestyle and is fit for surgery.

“Surgeons will also want to be sure that the patient has taken measures to reduce his weight through fitness and a good, healthy balanced diet.

“Obese patients would most certainly not be operated on.”

23rd July 2007
 

NHS doctors are increasingly under pressure to perform cosmetic surgery for women unhappy with their looks.

New research reveals that surgeons are being cajoled into offering patients thousands of pounds worth of treatment they do not need. It exposes the lengths to which some women go to persuade surgeons to operate on them for nothing – using ploys such as unflattering make-up and clothing.

The study, to be published in the British Journal of Plastic Surgery, finds that surgeons are turning a blind eye to health authority guidelines, justifying the use of treatments only in ” justified cases” because of pressure from patients.

The research team, led by Professor Peter Salmon of the University of Liverpool, found that some surgeons agreed to operate – despite knowing there were no medical grounds – because they could not face the time and misery involved in turning patients down.

The report describes a case in which a 37-year-old woman who demanded breast implants was referred to a psychologist and a psychiatrist, who both concluded she did not need them. Despite this, the surgeon went ahead. Another 27-year-old woman who demanded breast enhancement became so distressed when told a psychologist thought it was inappropriate that the surgeon caved in.

The Department of Health says it is up to health authorities to enforce their own guidelines to prevent overspends.

The top 10 most requested cosmetic surgical procedures on the NHS are
1: Tummy tucks
2: Mole removal
3: Breast enhancement
4: Scar removal
5: Nose job
6: Breast reduction
7: Acne scar removal
8: Correcting breast asymmetry
9: Ear pinned back
10: Removal of bags under eyes

The report states: “Surgeons described feeling pressurised by some patients’ emotional and insistent presentations, and believed some patients contrived their presentation in the attempt to elicit a surgical decision.”