Plastic Surgery Boston Blog

Non-Invasive Body Contouring Surgery on the Rise in 2012

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Briana

Body contouring Recent statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that in 2010, $10.1 billion was spent on cosmetic procedures in the U.S. alone. Eighty-eight percent of this figure went specifically towards non-invasive cosmetic procedures that did not require actual surgery.

Popular procedures such as Botox, Dysport and Restylane accounted for a large percentage of these non-invasive cosmetic procedures; however, some experts feel that newer non-invasive treatments will rule the market in 2012.

Specifically, non-invasive body contouring is likely to see a spike in the upcoming year. The demand for non-invasive body contouring procedures such as Zerona, a laser body slimming procedure, or VelaSmooth, an anti-cellulite procedure that utilizes light, sound and massage to increase elasticity of the skin, continue to see a grown in popularity.

There are numerous advantages to non-invasive cosmetic surgery and patients are taking note. In general, non-invasive cosmetic procedures provide instantaneous results and are relatively pain-free when compared to their surgical counterparts. They can be performed in as little as an hour and the recovery process is minimal.

Cost effectiveness is also a huge issue for individuals seeking out cosmetic enhancements. When it comes to non-invasive cosmetic procedures, patients often feel as though they are getting more “bang for their buck” because many treatments are in general far less expensive, and can be spread out over time to optimize results.

As the market for non-invasive cosmetic enhancement continues to grow and more procedures become available in the U.S., experts expect to see greater flexibility in the creation of patient-centered treatment plans, which will ultimately yield enhanced end results for patients.

Learn more about body contouring in Boston.

Source: Healthcare Global

Plastic Surgery Industry Sees Increase in Smaller Breast Implants

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Briana

Floridian plastic surgeons have noticed and interesting trend. More and more women are opting for small breast implants.

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Culturally this holds true as we witness seasonal shifts in everything from clothing style to nail polish color. While plastic surgery may serve as a more dramatic step towards physical beauty, the industry as a whole is not immune to societal trends and influences.

According to Dr. Stanley Gulin, a cosmetic surgeon based in Naples, FL, the plastic surgery industry is seeing a shift in breast implant sizes. Bigger isn’t necessarily better and more women are seeking smaller breast implants than in the past.

“It’s a much more reasonable thing to just downsize, so I think there is a general trend,” Gulin said.

Aside from being a hot new trend, there may be additional benefits to choosing smaller implants says Gulin. “You have less wear and tear on the tissue, the breast just keeps its shape much better, you don’t have gravity working against that large implant.”

Dr. Manny Pena, another Florida based plastic surgeon agrees, and has noticed more and more women replacing their larger breast implants with smaller ones.

“Now I’m seeing people who have had bigger implants for 10-12 years, and they come in and say ‘I want something smaller, it’s affecting my lifestyle.”

Pena says he sees more than 20 women at his practice each year seeking to downsize their implants for various reasons, ranging from simply attaining a more natural look to decreasing low back pain often associated with larger breasts.

It appears that smaller breast implants are catching on, but remember that numerous factors such as overall body size and frame, as well as lifestyle should be taken into account when choosing your ideal breast implant size.

Source: ABC News

Posted in Breast Surgery | Tagged breast augmentation, breast implants, breast surgery, small breast implants | Leave a comment

Male Tummy Tucks on the Rise in Britain

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Briana

Body contouring plastic surgery procedures aren’t only for women according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAPPS). Annual statistics released in the UK show that male abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as a “tummy tuck” saw the most significant rise in popularity, with an annual increase of 15 percent.

While male procedures accounted for only 10 percent of all cosmetic procedures performed in the UK, the significant rise in male tummy tucks does appear to speak volumes on current societal views of plastic surgery.

Rajiv Grover, a consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS president elect, said: “The continued popularity of aesthetic plastic surgery, even through financially difficult times, demonstrates that the public sees real value in the psychological and physical improvement that can be achieved.”

The rise in male tummy tucks may also be directly linked to the epidemic rise of obesity in the UK. More patients are seeking out obesity treatments such as gastric banding or gastric bypass surgery to drop the weight. While these types of procedures often leave individuals with less fat, new complications may arise from rapid weight loss.

According to current BAPPS President Fazel Fatah, “These patients are usually left with a lot of loose skin that causes physical problems and unsightly body contour which can only be addressed by surgery.”

While it’s difficult to pinpoint any specific catalyst to the rise of male plastic surgery in the UK, BAAPS surgeons find it encouraging that more patients are doing their research and seeking out qualified surgeons instead of relying non-surgical procedures that do not deliver.

Learn more about male tummy tucks in Boston.

Source: The Telegraph

Posted in Body Surgery | Tagged male abdominoplasty, male tummy tucks, male tummy tucks boston | Leave a comment

New Eyelid Surgery Technique Reduces Complication Risk

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Briana

First impressions can be misleading for individuals with puffy or drooping eyelids.
Excess skin around the eyelids can make the eyes look tired or angry. Significant sagging around the eyelids can also interfere with vision. Just ask Donna McLean, who recently underwent eyelid surgery, also referred to as blepharoplasty, to combat the uncomfortable effects of her hooded eyelids.

‘The skin under my brow-bone drooped so much you couldn’t see the crease on my eyelid,’ she says. ‘My lids felt heavy, which was tiring, and I could actually feel the skin of my upper eyelid lying against my lashes. It gave me headaches. It also looked as if I was permanently scowling, and I hated that my children always thought I looked cross.’

According to Dr. Kremer, McLean’s plastic surgeon, this problem is surprisingly common. “Almost everyone will develop hooded eyes to a certain degree, and of the women with early hooding, about 70 percent with go on to experience some level of vision disturbance.”

While there are several surgical techniques that can be utilized to remove excess skin around the eyelids, Dr. Kremer choose to perform a new procedure, often referred to as the Turn Back Time or TBT lift. The TBT lift is a minimally invasive procedure that takes around 45 minutes to perform under local anesthetic.

According to Dr. Kremer, the TBT lift does not cut as deeply into the membrane beneath the brow-bone as traditional eyelid surgery which ultimately preserves fat and strengthens the membrane over time. The procedure begins through the removal of excess skin from both eyelids to reveal the orbital muscle. “I don’t cut this, but carefully part the fibers until I can see the white membrane,” says Dr. Kremer.

“Starting near the nose, I use a running stitch along the membrane, then pull it tight. This instantly makes the membrane more dense and pulls back the fat. I then pull the cut edges of the eyelid together, and close the wound with very fine stitches.”
Bruising and swelling from the TBT lift are minimal and patients can expect to return to work within four to five days. Immediate results are noticeable; however, it does take four to six weeks before the final results are visible.

According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, this surgery may not be ideal for all patients, but in McLean’s case, the procedure was a success. “I still look like me, only better. The difference in my vision is vast. I look much less unhappy, angry and tired, and younger too. But it’s subtle and natural.”

Learn more about eyelid surgery in Boston.

Source: Daily Mail

Posted in Facial Surgery | Tagged blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery, eyelid surgery boston, tbt lift | Leave a comment

New Facial Rejuvenation Techniques

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Briana

The earliest signs of aging most often appear in the facial region. The plastic surgery industry is continually expanding its selection of youth-enhancing procedures to include a wide variety of options for consumers eager for facial rejuvenation.

“Twenty years ago, there was only one remedy for facial aging, [facelifts],” said Dr. Stephan Baker, a Coral Gables plastic surgeon and spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “Today we have a whole spectrum of how we can approach aging.”

While injectable dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane, or muscle relaxers such as Dysport and Botox have become irrefutably popular, cutting edge procedures such as injecting fat or stem cells, and ultrasound technology are making waves as effective facial rejuvenation tools.

According to Miami plastic surgeon, Dr. Constantino Mendieta, fat grafting can be a natural way to add volume to an aging face.

The process first involves removing a small amount of fat from a patient’s inner knees or lower stomach. The fat is then combined with a small amount of blood from the patient which aids in the long-term survival of the fat. The fat can then be injected into several facial areas include the lips, nasolabial folds (skin folds that run from the corners of the mouth to each side of the nose), the hollows of the eyes or the jaw line.

Another Miami plastic surgeon, Dr. Leonard Tachmes, is utilizing a similar technique to inject a patient’s own stem cells into his or her face. Full results can take up to a month, but Tachmes claims that the stem cells “stimulate increased blood supply to the area, and stimulate collagen formation to make the face look fuller and healthier.” It is important to note that stem cells are not yet a scientifically proven method of facial rejuvenation.

Another new youth-enhancing method to recently hit the Miami market is Ulthera, an FDA approved device that utilizes ultrasound waves to tighten the jowls of the face. Heat produced by the ultrasound waves cause collagen in the face to shrink, ultimately causing the skin to tighten. Results can take up to three months.

“Collagen is like a spring — like a helix, and whenever you heat it, it shortens the length of the collagen which causes tightening of the skin,” says Dr. Leslie Baumann, chief executive of the Baumann Cosmetic and Research Institute of Miami Beach.

Whether you’re electing to undergo well-known facial rejuvenation procedures such as Botox or Restylane injections, or you’re choosing a newer procedure, make sure to do your research first. A savvy consumer should always seek out a board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience in the target area.

Find more information on facial rejuvenation in Boston.

Source: Miami Herald