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New US Study Shows breast lift and lift/augmentation have high satisfaction levels

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) will present findings at the Plastic Surgery 2008 conference later in the month showing that the main four breast-related procedures have high satisfaction levels in women.

Breast augmentation, lift, reduction and the surgery combining lift and augmentation all have positive results that improve the quality of life in patients, according to the study, which will be presented at the conference in Chicago (31st October to 5th November 2008).

This is the first research to include the surgeries for breast uplift and the combination lift/augmentation procedures, with previous studies focusing on augmentation and reduction. The results have shown that lift and lift/augmentation have such high levels of success that they in fact rival breast reduction and augmentation.

Eric Swanson, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study author pointed out that the new data fills in the gap that previous studies have left behind, “Many studies have shown breast augmentation and reduction are highly gratifying procedures for women, but until now we’ve had limited information on patient satisfaction for breast lift or combination lift/ augmentation”. He points out the satisfaction is high when the ‘vertical’ technique is used in the lift/augmentation procedure.

The study looked at 325 patients. They were interviewed concerning their breast procedures over five years. 99% of the patients would have the procedure again with 91% reporting that they have an improved sense of self-esteem. The overall patient satisfaction came to 96%. The mentioned ‘vertical technique’ was used on all patients.

As well as overall patient satisfaction, the study also explored the preferred breast shape for women, finding that most women liked the fuller contour at the top of the breast – “Naturally, breasts are fuller towards the bottom, but our study found patients want more fullness on top” added Dr Swanson.

He also pointed out that “Prior to breast surgery, women often ask about discomfort level, recovery time, and when they’ll be able to return to normal activities. With this study, we now have the answers, provided by patients themselves.”

Breast uplift involves reshaping the breasts so that they return to a more natural, gratifying shape. It is often used in conjunction with breast enlargement but it can also be perfumed on its own. Patients often undergo the treatment following the adverse effects of aging or childbirth/breast feeding.

Growing number of men considering it as a viable option.

BBC News reports that a growing number of men in the United Kingdom are undergoing cosmetic surgery such as tummy tuck’s and liposuction

The news follows figures released by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) this year. It showed that in 2007, the number men who decided to undergo tummy tucks (also known as abdominoplasty) rose by 61%, with Liposuction rising by 18%. However despite these figures the numbers of men choosing the treatments is still relatively small, with the total number of men having a tummy tuck in 2007 being 90 and 582 having liposuction. Currently, the most popular form of cosmetic surgery for men is rhinoplasty (nose jobs).

The BBC talked to Dr Jag Chana, a consultant plastic surgeon at a Hospital in Hertfordshire. He pointed out that liposuction and tummy tucks are not weight loss options and many of the patients he sees in his clinic are unsuitable for the operations.

The procedures are designed for people who have already lost weight and may have excess skin left behind as a consequence. So those who have approached him with a beer belly have been turned away, told to first try and lose the weight via diet and exercise.
“Tummy tucks and liposuction are invasive procedures. Possible risks are scarring, loss of sensation and infection to the area, but these are rare.
“Patients can normally return to work after two weeks but exercise and lifting must be avoided for at least six weeks as an abdominal corset needs to be worn to support the area.”
As time goes on, experts have said that more men will continue to decide on cosmetic surgery as more men care about their appearance.
At Dr Chana’s clinic in particular has seen a 40% increase in the numbers of men having surgeries there last year. The number has since been rising and Dr Chan himself agrees that this will continue.
Liposuction involves removing fatty deposits that can appear in the chest, chin, sides, stomach, thighs and back. It is difficult to remove fat from these areas via exercise, which is why surgery could be an option. Rhinoplasty (or a nose job), reshapes the nose to give it symmetry by removing cartilage.

Leading plastic surgery body BAAP condemned the media portrayal of teens undergoing cosmetic surgery.

They refer to the tendency for the media to take matters out of context and to sensationalise stories, including the portrayal of bullied teens deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery.

Douglas McGeorge is the President of BAAPS and a consultant plastic surgeon. He refers to a case where a teenager had rhinoplasty and the media coverage was disproportionate to the case

“These cases are extremely rare, and most BAAPS surgeons have seen no rise whatsoever in this type of patient over the last five years,” he said.

“Bullying is obviously a factor in quality of life but it is clearly not the only one, nor is it the only reason we would ever proceed with invasive surgery.”

He refers to reports that claimed that teenagers were being given treatment to improve their social life, which he claims are not true

“It is a great shame that isolated cases such as these, which have had huge benefit to the patient, are being portrayed as if any young person trying to ‘fit in’ at school is a candidate for this type of treatment,” he added. “We absolutely agree with the charities that state it’s the bullies that have the problem. Unfortunately sometimes the victim, such as this carefully selected and properly counselled patient, feels only a drastic course of action would do.”

A survey carried out by the association showed that over fifty per cent of surgeons had held less than five consultations with teenagers since 2007, with only two cases actually continuing through to surgery. It aims to put to rest the myths related to cosmetic surgery which is now beginning to gain wider acceptance in the UK.

As well as the mentioned reports from the media, there was also a report this year that claimed that flat-chested girls were offered breast enlargements surgeries simply because their breasts were not developing as quickly as their friends’. McGeorge claims this is unfounded, “One of the few times someone of this age group would undergo surgery is if they had a significant asymmetry – in this very specific case, a girl who had one breast that did not develop at all.”
Source: BAAPS Press Release

Grwoing number of women are owning up to being unhappy with how their genitalia looks.

BBC’s Newsbeat is reporting that a rising number of women are undergoing vaginal surgery in order to improve the appearance of their genitalia.

Treatments such as labial reduction are increasingly popular in the UK and in America. Women often undergo the treatment in an attempt to get what they might perceive as the ‘perfect’ vagina.

Labial reduction is often performed on women who have irregular or slightly longer labia than usual. Not only can this be uncomfortable, particularly during sexual intercourse, but it can often prove to be embarrassing for women as well. The procedure itself reduces the size of the labia and the effects are often permanent.

According to Dr Helen Colen, interviewed by Newsbeat and is a plastic surgeon in Manhattan, there has always been demand for vaginal reconstruction, but women have not always felt comfortable asking for it
“Today people examine everything and every part of their body. Today the vagina is not such a taboo as it was years ago.”

In the last five years, the number of labial reductions carried out by the NHS rose from 400 in 2000 / 2001, to 800 in 2004 / 2005. It can cost anywhere from £1,000 to £5,000 depending on the specifics of the treatment involved.

Women who have long or unequal lengths of the labia mirrors can have them reconstructed aesthetically. It is not uncommon for a woman to be dissatisfied with the appearance of their genitalia, be it from elongated inner lips or unequal symmetry.

Surgery can restore the ‘normal’ look of the vagina. Once performed, the surgery is often undetectable in most cases, especially once they have healed. Patients have often been very satisfied with the results.

You can read more about labial reduction here at Cosmetic Surgeon. Only after an in depth discussion with your surgeon will you be able to decide if the treatment is right for you. Together with a specialist in the area you can discuss and debate the risks and possible outcomes of the procedure. 1000s of women can benefit from the treatment every year.

Clampdown on ‘misleading sales techniques’ by many Cosmetic Surgery clinics

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has said they have become increasingly concerned with some of the techniques used in advertising for cosmetic surgery, BBC News reports.

They refer to models who have ‘anatomically impossible’ breasts and the offer of ‘lunchtime facelifts’ from some clinics, which all go on to create unrealistic expectations of patients who might want to undergo treatment. As a result, advertising regulators such as the ASA will welcome any move to show good practice.

At an annual conference, the delegates for BAAPS saw adverts that offered ‘lunchtime facelifts’ and cash incentives for people to undergo surgery, with one such offer including £250 discount to have the surgery more quickly.

BAAPS is not a regulatory body so cannot take action to stop clinics using such schemes in their advertising. However it has launched its own campaign, which will promote choice about what surgery they might have and where. These services are used by Cosmetic Surgeon, which promotes good decision making with informed advice from highly qualified surgeons.

BAAPS president Douglas McGeorge said “Surgery is a serious undertaking which requires realistic expectations and should only proceed after proper consultation with a reputable and properly qualified clinician in an appropriate clinical setting.”

As a result, a lot of clinics do support the initiative which would see marketing materials safeguarding patients from unrealistic and unattainable expectations. They have signed up to the Independent Healthcare Authority’s code of practice, a voluntary scheme to make cosmetic surgery more trustworthy.

The former president of the organisation, Adam Searle says that cosmetic surgery should not be used to make money; instead it should be used as a tool to improve patients’ lives, “It is the patient who should benefit not the surgeon”.

Cosmetic Surgeon prides itself by offering patients consultation that will make any decision making process easier. Making up one’s mind about cosmetic surgery can be a stressful experience and it is important to make sure the right decision is made.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) supports any moves that will see good advertising practices being implemented, pointing out that although they are not ‘inundated’ with complaints about the issue, there are indeed more and more adverts ‘of that nature’

Breast implant operation rise to over 6,000 a year according to BAAPS.

The annual conference of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) has produced more results with news that the number of breast enlargement surgeries has increased to nearly 6,500 in the last year.

The Independent reports that delegates at the conference observed the results of the large UK study. It showed that breast augmentations carried out by members of BAAP had increased by 275% since 2002. This is a rise from 2,361 to 6,497 in 2007.

The study also looked at 26,852 operations and found that the rate of infection has dropped from 2.5% in 2005 (from a study for Lancet that year) to 0.53% this year. As a result, the rise in surgeries has come as the number of complications has dropped.

Consultant plastic surgeon and the secretary for BAAPS, Rajiv Grover collected the information and came up with the results, which also showed that as little as 1.2% of operations has resulted in bleeding (haematoma).
He provides a number of reasons for the increase in operations, such as improvements to surgeries themselves, including shorter hospital stays and reduction in scarring. It is also a result of modern media.

“People used to think that breast augmentation was open only to celebrities and film stars whereas they are now aware that the procedure is open to all members of the public, should it be right for them.” He adds that magazines which run articles about celebrities undergoing treatment have lead to the increase, raising “awareness of the procedure.”

The study comes as other procedures in the UK are also on the rise, including the number of labial reductions and the number of men undergoing treatment. The idea of going under the knife is becoming less and less of a taboo.

Grover added, “This survey of over 26,000 patients undergoing breast augmentation is the largest of its kind in Europe and demonstrates that reduced complication rates can be achieved by the application of careful surgical technique and a safe hospital environment.”

He urges patients to make sure that they have chosen the right surgeon for the job, rather than settling for an operation where “one size fits all”.

The conference also urged advertising for cosmetic surgery to be more responsible rather than creating false expectations.

Rising obesity levels in the United Kingdom convincing people to seek cosmetic surgery

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that there is a correlation between rising obesity levels and the number of men and women undergoing cosmetic surgery.

They refer to a recent study that shows that an increasing number of men are turning to breast reduction surgery to remove the excess skin left over from obesity and speedy weight loss.

Comparing the study to their own report that three-quarters of Britons are overweight, the Telegraph reports that men are finding it more reasonable to undergo treatment.

Male breast reduction surgery involves the use of liposuction to remove excess fatty tissue that forms in the breast through a condition known as Gynaecomastia, which affects almost half of men in different forms. However, the surgery is also becoming increasingly common for men who have recently lost weight.

The Telegraph’s report of obesity warned of the health problems related with the condition, including diabetes and heart disease. Figures from BAAPS (the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons) show that the rise in men undergoing surgery to flatten their stomachs is as high as 61% last year.

In the past doctors had been reluctant to refer men to cosmetic surgeons, but this trend is changing as the taboos surrounding the treatments are becoming less apparent. This comes in light of recent reports that more and more procedures are becoming increasingly popular, including liposuction, tummy tucks and rhinoplasty in men and labial reduction surgery in women. Studies have also recently shown that an increasing number of women are deciding to pursue breast uplift surgery, a process that involves reshaping the breast to reverse the effects of aging.

Amongst the treatments becoming popular, tummy tucks involve the removal of excess skin whilst the abdominal muscle are tightened (hence its name abdominoplasty). To do this, surgeons make an incision below the belly button from hip to hip.

Liposuction is usually only recommended after a patient has attempted to lose weight via exercising and dieting. Certain areas of the body can be left unaffected by such actions, with fatty deposits remaining on parts such as the chin, stomach, chest, back, sides and thighs.

Source: The Telegraph 13th Oct

Hidden fat compartments and artificial implants are key to youthful look.

Recent research has been made public by plastic surgeons at UT Southwestern Medical Centre in America. It shows that the effective way of combating the hollowed look of the face as it ages lies in newly identified fat compartments in facial cheeks.

Using special dyes to map out the cheek-fat compartments, they found that there are various compartments hidden under the skin. These compartments could be restored using fat, tissue or artificial cheek implants. The overall effect is a more youthful appearance minus the hollow look of the face.
Dr Joel Pessa, assistant professor of plastic surgery points out that the restoration of these fat compartments can improve the volume loss under the eyes and can rid the lines from around the nose and give more curve to the upper lip.

“This research breaks new ground by identifying the boundaries of specific fat compartments that are key to facial rejuvenation involving the cheeks” he added. He is the co-author the study who also points out that cheeks are vital in terms of what we perceive as beautiful, “from chubby-cheeked infants to Hollywood stars like Angelina Jolie.”

Using fourteen cadavers, the research team injected dye and latex to find where the boundaries of the deep medial fat compartments are in relation to the equivalent muscles. Losing volume in these areas is what results in the hollow look often associated with aging, by filling these compartments with tissue or implants, the youthful appearance can be restored. If done properly, little filler will then be needed.
Dr. Rod Rohrich, the chairman of plastic surgery at UT Southwestern and also the lead author of the study points out that this discovery changes how we look at aging in the face, “The process to correct facial aging is now dramatically changed as well. No longer do we remove fat without pre-op analysis or merely lift the cheek; we must now lift and fill the face to restore a natural youthful, un-operated appearance.”

At Cosmetic Surgeon, patients can receive cheek implants as a way of restoring facial balance and structure. It can restore cheek deficiency caused by congenital deficiency and age-related facial trauma. These things have been known to create the look of tiredness in the face, with an expression of being drawn and gaunt.

The new research is an ongoing project being carried out by UT Southwestern plastic surgeons to better map fat compartments in the face and body.
Source: ScienceDaily