A New Generation of Cosmetic Surgery

Juvederm™ Voluma XC™ is the newest product in the line of dermal fillers specifically designed to restore volume in areas of volume loss.

“I’m very excited to be able to offer a new product that will make our patients feel and look younger… a dermal filler like Voluma is what our patients have been waiting for.”  — Daniel Ritacca, MD, President of Ritacca Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa

Ritacca Cosmetic Surgery Center in Illinois was chosen as one of the few practices to train for the use of this revolutionary new product.

What can Juvederm™ Voluma XC™ do for you?

Read the entire story -- A New Generation of Cosmetic Surgery

Definitive Guide to Nose Surgery

The nose is a prominent feature of the face, giving it balance and symmetry. It is one of the first features noticed by people you meet for the first time, making it a key player in self-confidence. 

For those, women and men, who are not essentially satisfied with their nose's natural appearance, nose surgery or rhinoplasty may be the answer. 

However nose surgery comes in various shapes and sizes. With modern plastic surgery practices, nose surgery has become exceedingly refined through innovation and advanced cosmetic technology. 

There are a variety of rhinoplasty procedures commonly-performed for cosmetic and functional purposes. 

Nose surgery allows patients who are dissatisfied with the size, shape, or other aspects of their noses to achieve their desired changes that can range from the subtle to the dramatic. 

While nose surgery is designed to alter the shape of the nose and beautify the facial features; it can also be performed to correct for birth and bre

athing defects.

There is more to nose surgery that meets the eye. Discover the many faces of nose surgery. 

Read more here: The Many Faces of Nose Surgery

Hair Loss and Heart Health

In one peculiar study, some researchers have suggested that there's a link between male hair loss and heart health. 

The study conducted by Japanese researchers, involving almost 40,000 men, showed that those whose hairlines were only receding were 22 per cent more at risk of heart disease – a level the researchers said was not statistically significant.

Excessive baldness on the crown increased the risk by 48 percent, moderate baldness by 36 percent and mild baldness by 18 percent. In contrast, a receding hairline made very little difference to risk.

Overall, men with both frontal and crown-top baldness were 69 percent more likely to develop coronary artery condition than those with a full head of hair, compared with a 52 percent greater risk from a bald spot and 22 percent for receding hairline alone.

Although hair transplant surgery does reduce risk of heart disease; it is an effective method to restore hair and improve quality of life. 

Read more on the effects of hair loss on heart health: Heart Attack From Hair Loss

Laser Lipolysis: Better Results, Less Risk

Getting rid of excess fat in the abdomen area through liposuction or tummy tuck surgery has always been popular method among many people.

However body-sculpting plastic surgery procedures sometimes leave patients at surgical risks and extra sagging skin.

As science and plastic surgery technology progress, patients are presented with less-invasive treatment choices which can produce better results and less risk. Laser lipolysis is a minimally invasive treatment which involves laser to melt fat.  

Laser lipolysis reduces the risks of a surgical procedure (tummy tuck) and when employed in conjunction with standard liposuction, the fat-melting action of laser lipolysis will produce new collagen which helps revitalize skin tone and texture.

Moreover, the laser prompts the collagen to contract which tightens the skin, eliminating the possibility of skin sagging—a common complaint after traditional liposuction procedure. 

The laser lipolysis allows removal of more fat than its standard counterpart.   

"Combining traditional liposuction with laser lipolysis has now been shown to produce well-sculpted bodies with tight skin. 

We are able to give people things such as a tighter abdomen without the need for surgery," said Abbas Chamsuddin, M.D., lead author of the study and an interventional radiologist at the Center for Laser and Interventional Surgery in Atlanta, Ga.

Read more here: Laser Liposuction Eliminates Need for Tummy Tuck

Understanding Plastic Surgery Benefits and Risks

Plastic surgery is a cosmetic procedure aimed at altering appearance of one’s physical attributes. 

While it was once restricted to the wealthy and well-to-do patients, plastic surgery today is more popular than ever, attracting the young and restless, as well as the least affluent segment of the society. 

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, 91 percent of plastic surgery patients, most of them are women, are electing to make quick alternations to their appearance more than ever. 

Some plastic surgery procedures may tamper with the body’s fat balance, creating new problems areas. One recent study found that liposuction can slim done one problem area while bulging another.

However, there are many benefits to plastic surgery, too. Plastic surgery can be a safe, rewarding and pleasing procedure if you are well- prepared and are carefully accessed by a qualified doctor.

Doing a comprehensive research to find the best, accredited plastic surgeon before going under the knife will save you from possible surgery risks. 

Read more here: Taking Cosmetic Surgery Seriously

Breast Augmentation Incisions: What You Need to Know

Deciding to have breast augmentation (breast implants) can be exciting, but there are a lot of factors that need careful consideration first.

First, you must find a certified plastic surgeon that you trust. Once you've scored a consultation, be prepared to discuss every aspect of your surgery; candidates, risks, recovery, cost and of course, the procedure itself.

You should research before your consultation to get an idea of your options. There are many sizes and types of breast implants to choose from. Another important aspect of the surgery is choosing the incision, which can greatly impact your results.

Although these decisions will be made alongside your plastic surgeon, it's good to have a little know-how on the techniques beforehand.

Here are the four most common breast augmentation incisions:

1. Periareolar Incision
2. Inframammary Incision
3. Transaxillary Incision
4. TUBA Incision

To learn more, read the full article: What Do Breast Implant Scars Look Like?

Luxury Plastic Surgery in United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Where in the world can patients find the highest quality plastic surgery with service fit for a King (or Queen)?

The United Arab Emirates, of course.

The UAE is a premiere medical tourism destination for plastic surgery. Patients travel here for expert doctors, cutting edge medical facilities, and incomparable amenities.

Having plastic surgery in the United States or Europe doesn't even compare to the lavish recovery centers and advanced techniques found in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The only downside to this destination is cost. If you're looking for affordable plastic surgery, you won't find it in the UAE. Only the very finest plastic surgery clinics operate in the UAE, making it one of the most luxurious medical tourism destinations on the planet.

To learn more, read the full article: Plastic Surgery in UAE - A Cut Above the Rest

Yes, You Can be Too Young for Plastic Surgery

7-year-old Poppy with her mother Sarah Burge, aka "The Human Barbie"

The holiday season should have been a joyful time filled with toys, good food, and quality time spent with family.

While it's possible that 7-year-old Poppy Burge had all of these things this year, there's something very disturbing about what she requested: plastic surgery.

This year, her mother (the self-proclaimed "Human Barbie"), Sarah Burge, put a voucher for liposuction in her stocking.

While this may sound bad, last year Poppy's mum gave her a voucher for breast implants...as a birthday gift!

Sadly, Poppy couldn't have been happier about her future plastic surgeries.

She told Closer Magazine, “I wanted a new computer, a holiday, and a voucher for surgery. When I got it all, it was a dream come true. All my friends were jealous. I can’t wait to be like Mummy with big boobs. They’re pretty.”

And while there are a million things wrong with this story, Ms. Burge is scarily unapologetic about her questionable parenting choices.

She said, "“Some people think it's controversial and I get angry when strangers say I'm a bad mother because I don't think there's any harm in giving her this gift. Poppy is a normal kid who is good at sports and loves playing outside. Girls don’t want Snow White and Cinderella anymore. They want to be WAGs [ a term for wives and girlfriends of famous footballers] and famous like Cheryl Cole and Lady Gaga. I’m just supporting her and making her dreams come true.”

The Burge family is just one example of just how distorted our society's perception of beauty is. What happened to encouraging little girls to become doctors, astronauts and world leaders?

It's true that looks can only get a person so far; more importantly, being funny and smart (on top of caring for your appearance) will earn a girl a whole lot more respect in the long run.

To learn more, read the full article: Plastic Surgery...for a 7-Year-Old?

Is Plastic Surgery at the Top of Your Holiday Wish List?

Image Courtesy of: ©2009 David C. Pearson, M.D.

Christmastime is quickly approaching, which means last minute shopping and gift wrapping are in full force.

But this year, some of the most asked-for gifts of the season can't be wrapped or put into a shiny box.

For many people, plastic surgery is what they want for Christmas, and plastic surgeons are busier than ever because of it.

So how much will dermal fillers or a mommy makeover for your loved one set you back?

Newport Beach-based plastic surgeon Dr. Tenley Lawton explained to ABC News, “For a simple injectable, it could be as low as a few hundred dollars. If were talking about a full mommy makeover, which could include a tummy tuck and a breast lift or a breast augmentation, it could be anywhere between $7,000 and $15,000.”

That's quite expensive when compared to, say, a Snuggie, but these gifts are sure to be a hit among the ones who requested them.

Cynthia Hovely received Botox and Juvederm injections from her boyfriend this year, and said, when compared to last year's gift, it's a major upgrade.

She told ABC, “Last year he gave me a bottle of perfume. This is a hundred times better. I think it’s romantic.”

To learn more, read the full article: All I Want for Christmas is...Plastic Surgery?

Quit Smoking, Or Face Some Serious Post-Surgery Risks

It's common knowledge that smoking kills, but did you know that it can also make your nipples fall off?

Yes, you read correctly. Smoking can cause you to lose your nipples and other precious body parts due to plastic surgery complications.

Although most good plastic surgeons properly inform patients about quitting smoking before surgery, many have a hard time doing so, and then surgeons have to face a scary situation in the operating room.

Dr. Anthony Youn recalls his experience in a recent CNN story. In the article, he recalled one breast lift patient, whose nipples actually started to turn purple during her operation.

Dr. Youn wrote, “Purple is the precursor to black. Black is the precursor to falling off. To save the patient – and her nipples – we turned to the only treatment available. We went medieval. We used leeches.”

Luckily he saved the patient, but that hasn't deterred other patients from lighting up before surgery. 

Today Dr. Youn takes a different approach to warning patients, i.e. scare tactics. He wrote, “I’ve changed my policy. In addition to the Surgeon General’s Warning that appears on cigarette packages, I now offer the Plastic Surgeon’s Warning to all my patients who smoke: If you are having a breast lift or reduction and you smoke, your nipples could turn black and fall off. If you are having a tummy tuck and you smoke, you may get an infection resulting in a big gross open wound that will take three months to heal. If you are having a facelift and you smoke, the skin of your cheek could turn black and slough off, leaving exposed fat. Imagine yourself looking like “Two-Face” from “Batman: The Dark Knight.” And do you really want me to reach for the jar of leeches?”

To learn more about plastic surgery risks and smoking, read the full article: Smokers Beware of Bizarre Plastic Surgery Risks

Plastic Surgery in Malaysia: Much More than a Great Deal

Malaysia has been a popular place for vacationers for many years now. Some tourists come for business, some for leisure, and some come for medical care, which is an industry known as medical tourism.

Medical tourism in Malaysia is a billion dollar business, with their superior medical facilities and health care standards attracting thousands of patients each year.

One of the most popular medical specialties within the booming industry is plastic surgery in Malaysia.

Plastic surgeons in Malaysia are highly skilled, and well known around the world as some of the best in the business. Their expertise combined with warm Malaysian hospitality is the perfect marriage that has created such a huge success for plastic surgery in Malaysia.

The benefits go beyond great service, as plastic surgery in Malaysia costs at least 50 percent less than Europe and the United States...

To learn more, read the full article: Plastic Surgery in Malaysia - An All-Inclusive Medical Vacation

Plastic Surgery in Thailand and So Much More

For many years, Thailand has been known around the world as a top destination for low-price plastic surgery.

Plastic surgeons in Thailand are some of the most educated, innovative cosmetic experts in the world, performing a wide variety of advanced procedures to perfect the face, breasts and body.

Along with facelift surgery, eyelid surgery and body contouring procedures, plastic surgeons in Thailand are also pioneers in sexual reassignment surgery (SRS), which has helped thousands of transgender patients make the physical transformation into their true gender.

While Thailand has gained much notoriety for plastic surgery, did you know it's also world famous for other areas of health care? More than a million patients travel to Thailand for life-saving cardiology, weight loss, orthopedic, cancer, and organ transplant procedures...

To learn more, read the full article: Health Tourism Goes Far Beyond Plastic Surgery in Thailand

Tickle Lipo and PowerX: Meet Two New Amazing Liposuction Tools

Each year, liposuction is one of the most performed plastic surgery procedures.

This surgery allows patients to sculpt and smooth their physique way beyond what working out can accomplish.

There are two new liposuction products on the market that have made the procedure better than ever; for both patients and plastic surgeons.

Tickle Lipo was introduced in 2010, and uses low-frequency vibrations to provide amazing results and minimized recovery time.

PowerX just came out on the market this month, and this new lipo tool is silent. It uses a rotating cannula for very precise sculpting and contouring for all areas of the body. This procedure is also shorter than normal, which means it will cost less for the patient.

Both of these new procedures also allow patients the option to choose an oral sedative, which greatly reduces recovery time, pain and swelling.

To learn more, read the full article: New Liposuction Techniques Benefit Patients and Plastic Surgeons

Plastic Surgery in Mexico: Well Worth the Trip

Mexico is known for it's gorgeous beaches and delicious cuisine, but it's also an up-and-coming health care destination that's been grabbing a lot of attention as of late.

Plastic surgery in Mexico is one of the top reasons patients cross the border.

Besides it's close proximity to the United States, plastic surgery in Mexico does have its benefits; patients just have to do their research beforehand to ensure a good experience.

Plastic surgery in Mexico is much more affordable than other locations. When compared to the United States, a $15,000 tummy tuck only costs $4,000 in Mexico.

If low prices aren't enough reason to make the trip abroad, Mexico's health care system standards are among the highest in the world, complete with JCI accredited hospitals and board-certified plastic surgeons.

To learn more, read the full article: Plastic Surgery in Mexico - An Option Worth Considering

Cosmetic Surgery Couples Receive Real Relationship Benefits

The popularity of cosmetic procedures is growing, especially due to the aging baby boomer population.

People want to look young and feel good, it's as simple as that.

A new trend shows that it's not just women who long for a little nip and tuck; men are also more open to plastic surgery these days, with 1.1 million American men undergoing cosmetic procedures last year.

This new acceptance has sparked a trend of couples undergoing cosmetic procedures together. Many patients have found it to be a bonding experience, bringing couples closer together.

“I think it’s a great experience to grow younger together. We feel a little bit more refreshed, a little bit more energy, and it’s just another part of our life together that we’re sharing,” Mr. Ira Almeas, who underwent cosmetic skin care procedures Botox, dermal fillers and laser therapy with his wife, told Today.

Instead of growing old, more couples are turning back the clock by going under the knife together.

Would you consider plastic surgery with your partner to rejuvenate your relationship?

To learn more, read the full article: Could Couples Benefit from Cosmetic Surgery?

Plastic Surgery in Philippines: Much More than a Good Deal

The Philippines is no doubt a beautiful place (just look at that photograph!).

But there is much more than what meets the eye when it comes to this Asian island nation.

In the past few years, the Philippines has earned a reputation as a true leader in the booming medical tourism industry in Asia.

What sets the Philippines apart from neighboring countries is its high health care standards, and very low prices.

Philippines Department of Tourism official, Marie Recarro told the Toronto Sun, “We can compete with the rest of Asia because we have an edge in providing high quality medical and dental services, but at a much lower cost.”

Besides the obvious, plastic surgeons in the Philippines are fluent in English, since it is an official national language after all. This aspect in itself attracts thousands of patients looking for safe, comfortable, affordable, quality plastic surgery.

Apparently, they've found it in the Philippines, as the country is expecting major industry growth in the near future; an estimated 1 million medical tourists will travel to the Philippines in 2015.

To learn more, read the full article: Plastic Surgery in Philippines - Affordable Beauty in Paradise

Plastic Surgery Costs to Increase in the UK

The British government is looking to cash in on the booming cosmetic surgery industry by adding a 20% VAT tax onto 'elective procedures'.

Problem is, plastic surgeons disagree, saying who is going to determine the difference between a procedure that is cosmetic or medically necessary?

Former BAAPS president and consultant plastic surgeon Dr. Douglas McGeorge said, “Should prominent ear correction be taxed; an operation performed on young children to prevent them from being bullied and developing psychological problems? What level of asymmetry or abnormality is required to justify breast surgery? When do large breasts create enough of a physical problem to allow treatment?”

Members of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons are encouraging further discussion on this proposed tax, hoping to keep patients safe, and to find common ground with the government.

To learn more, read the full article: Cosmetic Surgery Cost in the UK to Rise 20 Percent

Herbert Chavez Transforms Into Superman With Plastic Surgery

It's a bird! It's a plane!

Nope. It's Herbert Chavez, a 35-year-old man from the Philippines.

Although he may look like the iconic Superman, physical similarities are the only thing these two men have in common.

People around the world have loved and admired the Man of Steel for decades, but Chavez has taken his obsession to another level.

He said, "“I decided to look like Superman, because since I was a kid, I want to be like him, and I know that having a look like Superman will make me happy and contented as long as I don’t hurt anyone.”

Chavez is thought to have a condition called Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a mental health condition that causes people to be so unsatisfied with their appearance that they go to great lengths to change it including plastic surgery.

He has been undergoing plastic surgery procedures in the Philippines for 15 years to look like his idol. Procedures include, nose-slimming Rhinoplasty, lip augmentation, thigh implants, and chin augmentation, to imitate Superman’s famous cleft chin.

He's also thought to have undergone eyelid surgery, skin-lightening treatments, cheek implants, and jaw enlargement as well.

To learn more, read the full article: Superman Obsession Inspires Plastic Surgery Transformation