Hollywood Wants Real Faces

In a time when the media is openly discussing plastic surgery procedures and the fight to maintain a youthful appearance, many Hollywood casting directors are steering in the other direction. Mothers, fathers, and grandparents are no longer easily cast due to the various facial and body enhancements that the older generation is inevitably undergoing. It seems as though aging gracefully has been replaced with looking young no matter what the individual’s age may be. There are fewer and fewer “real” faces in Hollywood due to cosmetic plastic surgery and the pressure to compete with younger, incoming actors.

Although both men and women are guilty of undergoing surgical rejuvenation, there is a greater number of female patients who seek enhancement. The most commonly performed procedures include breast augmentation Botox ® injections. While some actresses have chosen to enlarge their breasts with breast implants proportionate to their body shape, others have gone larger and possibly put their chances for a role at risk. The advent of Hi Def TV and films has caused many actresses to succumb to the likes of facial injectables and laser resurfacing, which diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As a result, casting directors are passing them over due to lack of “character” and uniqueness. Plastic surgery in moderation is often best when an actor would like to continue working in Hollywood.

Those who are interested in a natural-looking enhancement in the San Francisco area may wish to consult Dr. Kimberly Henry. Attracting patient from neighboring towns, including Greenbrae, Petaluma, and Davis, Dr. Henry has the experience and skills to perform breast augmentation and Botox injections. Further information is available on her website.

Rhinoplasty On The Rise Internationally

Facial surgery is among the most popular procedures performed in the United States, especially in Beverly Hills; however, there has been a recent increase in nose surgery in Mansour, a suburb in Iraq. Dr. Abbas al-Sihn has reportedly seen his patient rate jump 50 percent in the past year, and has performed approximately 1,400 nasal procedures in recent years. Along with nose surgery, Dr. Sihn performs other facial procedures, including corrective surgery for individuals who have congenital deformities or war injuries.

Due to decreased violence in the area and low cost of the procedure, Dr. Sihn’s clinic is filled with many interested candidates every day. In addition, the summer season is likely to see an even further increase in patients as students are on vacation and will have the necessary time for recovery post-surgery. Many of the female patients who undergo rhinoplasty surgery do so in order to achieve a more attractive facial appearance, which they believe will lead to marriage at an earlier age than most. Others opt for nose surgery in order to look like the women they see in movies and magazines. Rhinoplasty has often helped women feel prettier and more confident in their facial appearance.

Many international patients will also seek doctors in outside countries. Beverly Hills rhinoplasty surgeon Dr. Jason B. Diamond is one of the most sought-after facial plastic surgeons attracting patients from all over the world. This increased interest in cosmetic surgery and medical tourism has influenced the overall demand for surgeons worldwide.

Plastic Surgery: How Young is Too Young?

Heidi Montag has been making headlines recently for her recent string of plastic surgeries. For Montag, who graced the small screen before having any work done, the cosmetic improvements seem unnecessary, especially since many cosmetic procedures are meant to reverse the signs of aging. Montag was a teenager when she first appeared on “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.” Facelifts, breast augmentation, liposuction and other common cosmetic surgery procedures have long been prevalent in Hollywood, but rarely for someone as young as Montag, who was 20 years old when she had rhinoplasty, collagen injection, and breast augmentation.

This raises a valid question among plastic surgeons, parents and teenagers: How young is too young to receive cosmetic surgery?

According to statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 209,553 procedures were performed last year on patients between ages 13 and 19, making up about two percent of all surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed in 2009. The most common surgical procedures included otoplasty (ear surgery), rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction and male breast reduction (gynecomastia). Granted, reconstructive surgeries – for example, to correct birth defects or a broken nose – account for some of these procedures. But others, such as liposuction, breast augmentation, and breast reduction were certainly elective.

There is, of course, no hard and fast rule for determining the right age to receive plastic surgery. Sometimes their insecurities will be outgrown once the teen matures physically and emotionally. Doctors, parents and teens must approach the question on a case-by-case basis. There are extenuating circumstances, such as a teenager who experiences back pain due to overly large breasts, as well as gray areas, such as the 18-year old Australian girl who received a vaginoplasty, tummy tuck, and breast augmentation two years after giving birth (such procedures are commonly referred to as part of a “Mommy Makeover”). Who plays which role in the judgment call—the doctor, the parent or a minor or adult teenager—will likely remain a topic of debate as cosmetic surgery patients trend younger and younger.

Marin Cosmetic Surgery Center Celebrates 10 Years of Service

For nearly a decade Dr. Miguel A. Delgado has been serving Bay Area plastic surgery patients, performing various facial, breast, and cosmetic body procedures. While the down economy drives doctors and medical facilities to cut costs and cut corners, his Bay Area plastic surgery practices continues the strive for excellence that was set 10 years ago.

Dr. Delgado opened his cosmetic surgery centers with the vision of having the best-equipped, best-staffed, and patient-friendly surgery centers in the Bay Area. He is able to achieve this distinction due to the fact that he personally supervises all aspects of running the surgery center. He spends a great deal of time mastering the latest in surgical procedures, many times requiring new equipment. If it is of benefit to his patients, he will carry it.

Since he began practicing plastic surgery in 1988, Dr. Delgado has perfected many surgical techniques of the face, breast, and body that are unique to his practice. His patients have attested to his expertise based on their surgical outcome. Many of his San Francisco Bay Area breast augmentation patients state how natural their breasts look with hardly any visible scarring.

As Dr. Delgado celebrates his practice’s 10-year tenure in the Bay Area, he also reflects on years of achievement and innovation. Over the years, Dr. Delgado has been featured in several documentaries worldwide, including a documentary by English pop singer Louise Redkamp, who wanted to show the journey of a woman seeking a “mommy makeover.” He is also internationally recognized as an expert in gynecomastia surgery, which lead to the launch of his gynecomastia specialty site and inclusion on the informative industry site gynecomastia.org.

His strive for excellence and dedication to his patients and his practice have set him apart from other San Francisco area cosmetic surgeons and have made this milestone something to celebrate.

Summer Season Means High Demand for Plastic Surgery Procedures

Southern California weather is heating up and summer is quickly approaching, which means that women are becoming more aware of their body shape and size. Oftentimes, these individuals adopt a regular exercise routine and healthy diet in order to shed excess pounds and achieve a more slender contour. However, there comes a time when the regular means of weight loss no longer produces the results one desires and alternatives must be considered, such as cosmetic plastic surgery.

Within close distance to Orange County, Alexander Carli, M.D., F.A.C.S. specializes in several breast and body procedures, including breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tuck surgery. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), these surgeries make up a portion of the top five cosmetic surgical procedures in 2009, with women making up 90 percent of the total number of patients. As the summer heat drive women towards the beach, many are rushing to a plastic surgeon. However, these are elective, invasive procedures that should not be taken lightly. For this reason, Dr. Carli encourages patients to carefully research the procedure and doctor who will be performing the surgery.

In Orange County, Liposuction surgery is designed to remove stubborn pockets of fat from various locations on the body, including the neck, arms, abdomen, hips, lower back, and thighs. A long tube called a cannula is inserted near the target area through small incisions, and is used to break up the fat cells to allow for removal. Based on the patient’s anatomy and desired results, the most appropriate liposuction will be chosen. In addition, women who have loose, sagging skin in the stomach and stretched abdominal muscles may wish to combine tummy tuck surgery with their liposuction procedure. A tummy tuck removes excess skin and tightens the abdominal muscles in order to produce a flatter midsection. Although summer is quickly arriving, patients must understand that these procedures require approximately three to four weeks of recovery before engaging in regular activities.

Additionally, women who have small breasts or loss of volume due to breastfeeding often inquire about breast enhancement surgery. With the use of saline or silicone gel breast implants, Dr. Carli can provide patients with larger, shapelier breasts. Those who have sagging may wish to combine breast lift surgery in order to elevate the breasts to a more youthful position on the chest wall. These procedures also require a lengthy recovery time of approximately four weeks, at which point more vigorous activities may be resumed.

Proper technique and care throughout the procedure is of utter importance, which is why careful research should be done prior to scheduling surgery. To learn more regarding these breast and body enhancing procedures, prospective patients near Orange County may contact Dr. Carli.

Breast Implants Help a Rare Heart Condition

What would you do -- total panic notwithstanding -- if doctors were to find your heart beating under your kidney?

In a case so rare it has no medical name -- but is being described only as “a floating heart,” -- a Florida woman’s heart was found to be shifting around in her body. Doctors found it stuck in her rib cage under her kidney.

According to news reports, the 35-year-old woman’s right lung had been removed long ago, leaving space for her heart in which to wander around.

Having never seen the condition before, physicians were at a loss to come up with a treatment. One doctor said the patient was the only person in the world with the disorder.

The treatment? Breast implants!


Robert Rey, M.D. of Dr. 90210 fame shows a breast
implant
(Photo, courtesy of Dr. Rey.)

It required a four and one-half hour operation, but breast implants -- used in the standard breast augmentation procedure -- filled the space where the lung used to be and holds the heart in the correct position.

“Clever idea, actually,” says Robert Kotler, M.D., a board certified Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon. “The chest surgeons used the breast implants as a large-space ‘filler’.”

Editor’s note: Dr. Kotler is one half of the Tuck ‘n’ Stitch bloggers.

Top 10 Cosmetic Surgery Lawsuits

Taking Botox to court is something akin to suing Santa Claus. Almost everybody likes Botox as much as Santa, so how would you get a jury to vote against either one? Only time will tell….about Botox, that is.

Three months before Christmas, Santa is certainly on safe ground.

So nobody is suing Santa. Yet, anyhow. But in January, all bets are off!

Given the number of lawyers looking for something to do, the Momma-put-a-lump-of-coal-in-my-Xmas-stocking class action lawsuit is just around the corner.


(Pamela Moore photo)

Patrick Hudson, M.D., a plastic surgeon in New Mexico, located some insider statistics that show which plastic surgery procedures are most likely to lead to the court house.

Here are the top ten litigated procedures, along with the percentages of actions the procedure draws. More.

1. Nose surgery……………………..22 %
2. Breast reduction………………….17 %
3. Eyelid surgery……………………16%
4. Breast enlargement……………….13%
5. Face lift…………………………… 9%
6. Various………………………… 7%
7. Breast reconstruction…………..… 6%
8. Tummy tuck……………………… 5%
9. Liposuction……………………….. 3%
10. Facial resurfacing………………. …2%

Nose surgery heads the list because it’s the most difficult plastic surgery procedure to learn and perform. More.

Breast reduction involves removing a lot of tissue; however, eyelid surgery is a surprise because it is supposed to be one of the easier procedures to perform. Breast enlargement made its way onto the list because it’s very popular, with 329,000 patients undergoing the procedure in 2007, the most recent year for which statistics exist. A tummy tuck involves a long incision across the abdomen so insurance companies should be thankful the percentage is relatively low. Ditto breast reconstruction.

Hint: If, for some reason, you aren’t satisfied with the outcome of your plastic surgery, two eminent Beverly Hills cosmetic plastic surgeons, Drs. Robert Kotler and Stuart Linder, tell the top five constructive things to do if your procedure does not go well.

Read their blog, Top 5 Remedies for Unsatisfying Plastic Surgery.