Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

Reconstruction is an option for women following a Masectomy

Research from the University of Michigan Medical Centre shows that only a small percentage of American women choose reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy. It suggests that not enough women are being educated on the options surrounding the breast removal procedure which can be carried out on women with breast cancer.

In this country, patients can learn about the health benefits and problems that could be a consequence. Charities such as the Macmillan Cancer Support offer patients advice in the area.
In the modern day surgical techniques have improved a lot over the years and as a result, surgeons at the University of Michigan have found the results of the study surprising.

Speaking on an online form hosted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Anne Alderman said that women are not being educated about these options.

In the UK, women can consult their surgeon before a masectomy concerning reconstructive surgery, which involves a number of different forms. Firstly implants used in breast enlargement surgeries. Secondly ‘tissue flap construction’ in which skin and fat from the lower abdomen is grafted onto the breast area via a tunnel through the body to the chest, and thirdly free flap reconstruction involving the same thing but by separating the original tissue through microsurgery. The use of these three techniques depend on various factors.

Breast related surgeries are actually on the increase in the United Kingdom with Breast enlargements rising to nearly 6,500 in the last year. In the US, breast lifts and breast lift/enlargement combination surgeries also rose.

If true, the findings that women might not be getting reconstructive surgeries could be due to a number of factors. The study did not show how medical considerations affected the results, as some women might not have been correct candidates for the operation.

The options will depend on the amount of the breast removed in a masectomy, the healthiness of the tissue involved and whether radiotherapy has been used in the treatment. Of course the choice of the women could also be playing a role.

Whatever the case, surgeons urge patients in the UK to consult doctors or surgeons before making decisions in this area.

Sources: USA Today and News Leader Missouri

Fat Expansion could be the cause of baggy lower eyelids

Researchers at UCLA in America have discovered that fat expansion that takes place in the eye socket is what causes sagging eyelids as we get older. It comes after many years of speculation over what causes this side effect of the aging process.

Researchers say that removing fat from the eye should be a component of treatment for patients who want to return their eyes to a more youthful look. This would involve changes to the traditional way the surgery is carried out.

Dr Sean Darcy is a research associate in the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine: “A common treatment performed in the past and present is surgical excision of fat to treat a ‘herniation of fat’ — meaning that the amount of fat in the eye socket does not change but the cover that holds the fat in place, the orbital septum, is weakened or broken and fat slips out. This orbital septum weakening or herniation-of-fat theory is what most plastic surgeons have been taught.” The study by his team has shown that there is an increase in fat with age and it is likely that this is what causes the baggy eyelids associated with this, rather than a weakening in the ligament.

This study is the first study to look at this. It was published in the September issue of Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
To carry out the research Darcy looked at the MRIs of forty people between the ages of twelve and eighty. They found that as age increased, the size of the lower eyelid tissue also increases, which is attributed to a fat increase in the area.

The study’s co-author Dr. Timothy Miller added “Our findings may change the way some plastic surgeons treat baggy eyes. The study showed that a component of a patient’s blepharoplasty procedure should almost routinely involve fat excision rather than [the methods used currently].”

Blepharoplasty involves making an incision in the lower eyelids and correcting the tissue so that it removes crow’s feet and the effect of the eyes looking ‘hooded’ or tired. To quote Cosmetic Surgeon’s description of the treatment: “Blepharoplasty is designed to remove the excess fat, skin and atrophied muscle from the upper and lower eyelids.”

Patients who might want to undergo the treatment may have excess skin around the eyes and want it to be removed so that their eyes appear younger.

They Are Not A Permanent Replacement Of Surgical Procedures, Doctors Warn.

Injectable fillers are creeping into the American market, with doctors offering the method to patients, which are usually used to smooth out wrinkles and iron out imperfections of the skin.

However, the treatment is not a replacement for more traditional methods of rhinoplasty, instead they should be considered as a temporary test so that the patient can decide if a nose job is right for them.

The Washington Post quotes Lost Angeles Plastic Surgeon Dr. Alexander Rivkin: “I say it is like taking a nose out for a test drive”.

As a result he argues that the procedure is good for someone with a minor issue with their nose like asymmetry or a flat bridge, as the filler is injected over the ‘bump’, effectively hiding it. They do not actually remove the imperfection or reduce the size of the nose; instead it gives the illusion of such.
The new methods are receiving some criticisms though, with the injectables being largely in their early stages. America’s FDA met recently to look over complaints that the fillers are causing some problems. The method of injecting them into the nose has not been approved by the FDA yet so they were asked to look at what long term affects it might have.

Meanwhile in the United Kingdom, it seems these injectable fillers are being used by women to change the appearance of their legs and create a more defined shape to them. The use of Macrolane injections are being used to define the contours of the calves and buttocks.

It is yet unclear whether these methods will affect their surgical counterparts. Rhinoplasty traditionally involves surgically separating the skin of the nose from the bone and cartilage underneath. These are then sculpted into the shape that has been agreed on before the skin is replaced. Most of the actual surgery is done underneath the skin and therefore scarring is quite minimal.

Sources: Washington Post and Private Healthcare UK

Why are shops now having to stock bigger bras sizes.

The Telegraph is reporting that the average bra size has increased in size in recent years, with the average bra sold now being an entire size larger than those five years in the past.

As a result, shops such as Debenhams are being forced to stock larger size bras to cope with the rise – some as large as a G cup.

The new statistics come from sales figures provided by Debenhams and do not take into account reasons for the rise, though some suspect that new ways of measuring customers’ figures could account for it.

Another factor is the increase in the number of women deciding to undergo cosmetic surgery. In recent years, the procedure has been gaining widespread acceptance.

Earlier this month it was reported that the number of breast enlargement surgeries has increased to around 6,500 in the last year. These findings were presented at the annual conference of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).
Delegates at that conference looked at the results of a wide UK study that looked at over 26,000 patients, which showed an increase of 275% since 2002, a rise of 4,136 operations per year.

The Telegraph refers to Sharon Webb, a specialist lingerie buyer for Debenhams, who said that Britiain is “now entering the age of the fuller bust”. This is due to a number of factors.

“Some of the increase has undoubtedly been due to poor bust measuring techniques in the past – our results show that many women are often between one and two cup sizes larger than they realize.” She refers to how women now have their bust size measured more regularly than in the past, with further checks as they get older. Changes could take place in size due to pregnancy, age and weight gain, as well as weight loss and of course surgery.

“There is no doubt that the popularity of surgical breast enhancements is also having a major impact on the average bust size. It is sometimes possible to tell who has had a helping hand from surgery, because the relationship between the women’s back measurement and cup size is altered dramatically.”

She said that she recommends all women be re-measured every six months.

Sources: The Telegraph and BAAPS figures from The Independent

Why are a Large Number of Women Dissatisfied With Their Breasts?

According to a recent survey by Cosmopolitan Magazine, 95% of women are dissatisfied with their breast size. But how much of this is due to the image of women most people see in magazines and posters with airbrushed features that could never be attained naturally?

In a Press Release from website 24/7, Patricia Woloch thinks this is the case. She also believes that many women need to look beyond size in looking for improved breasts.

“Women think breast enhancement is the same as breast enlargement, but if you are considering breast enhancement surgery, it’s important not to get too caught up in mere size. There are many factors in considering what makes breasts attractive, and bigger is not always better.”

Breast enhancement surgery is a procedure that can change the appearance of the breasts beyond mere size – they can also reshape and uplift them and do not have to be in conjunction with breast augmentation surgery.

The press release goes on to refer to preferences men have with large breasts. It points out that though a lot of men do prefer larger breasts, the majority do not want breasts to be above a C cup. It shows that past a certain point, larger breast are actually considered less attractive, with women with these breasts thinking of breast reduction surgery instead.

“These women not only feel uncomfortable with unwanted attention from some men, but also often suffer from self-esteem problems as they feel they have a “babushka” type body. For these women, breast reduction, not enlargement, is the real breast enhancement.”

Earlier this month the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) announced that patient satisfaction for breast related procedures were at a high. Speaking at the Plastic Surgery 2008 conference in Chicago they pointed out that breast lift and the combination surgery of lift and augmentation have higher levels of success than previously thought and in fact rival the popularity of breast reduction and augmentation procedures. Previous studies have tended to focus mainly on the latter two procedures.

In their study that found that 99% of the 325 patients they talked to have an improved self esteem following breast surgery.

Sources: 24/7 Press Release and Medical News Today

Leading Surgeon Says we Should be Keeping Fit Rather than Going Under the Knife.

The New York Times has reported that a top US surgeon, Dr Gerald Pitman has given a lecture in Manhattan recently recommending patients to get plenty of exercise instead of resorting to cosmetic surgery.

Dr Pitman is an Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon based in New York who surprised his Manhattan audience by seemingly discouraging them from undergoing cosmetic surgery. Instead he asked them what kind of lifestyle changes they could make to avoid it. According to the New York Times, it is a question he often asks his patients before they choose the surgical procedures.

According to Pitman, liposuction and tummy tucks are not alternatives to dieting and exercising, which is a misconception a lot of people hold.

As well as liposuction and tummy tucks, he also referred to other cosmetic procedures that could be replaced by opting for lifestyle changes instead, such as avoiding the sun to keep skin healthy and getting plenty of sleep to stop getting baggy eyes. He also pointed out that the exercise attributed to weight loss will also provide a healthier heart and treat osteoporosis.

Liposuction is often used to remove fat that cannot be removed be exercise though the popular belief is that people can use it to get rid of all of their fat, which is not necessarily true. Pitman even points out that overweight people should not undergo surgery as there are more risks of complications under such conditions. Liposuction gets rid of the fatty deposits in areas like the chin, the chest, the stomach, the back or your sides and thighs, usually when dieting and exercise has already been tried out. It is used as a procedure for ‘spot fat reduction’ according to its section on this site.

Tummy Tucks (abdominoplasty) involve removing excess cat and skin from the waist to try to achieve a flatter stomach. It is recommended for those already in good physical health to provide an improved body contour by tightening the abdominal muscles. The effects are dependent on following a balanced diet and exercising regularly even afterwards.

With both procedures, prospective patients are told to be realistic in their expectations.

Source: New York Times.

Whilst some are feeling the crunch, others are finding business booming.

They say that cosmetic surgery is continuing to see a rise in popularity in some areas, in others it is feeling the affects of the credit crunch, according to various reports.

The Independent reported last week that a cosmetics manufacturer based in South Wales was cutting many jobs because of a dent in sales, which came amidst a number of other job cuts they had made in the months previously.

In the States, cosmetic and plastic surgeons reported that they were also feeling the effects of the credit crunch, with significantly less cosmetic procedures being carried out then usual. The American Society Of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) said that 60% of 385 surgeons that they asked had said that there had been fewer surgeries carried out in the first six months of the year in comparison to the equivalent period in 2007. In particular, breast augmentation surgeries were down along with nose jobs (rhinoplasty) and liposuction.

The Independent refers to the President of the plastic surgery society, Dr Richard A D’Amico, who told The New York Times “We won’t see the bottom until the first quarter of 2009. It’s not a pretty picture.”

If we were to take into account this opinion, then the downward spiral would seem to be getting worse.
However, reports this week have been showing that the cosmetic surgery industry in the United Kingdom is in fact booming, despite the economic climate. The Gay Times points towards a surge in men undergoing cosmetic surgery, in particular liposuction, nose jobs and breast reductions. The Gay Times carried out a survey of 1,000 men and found that 22% of gay men had undergone plastic surgery with a further 69% saying that they would like to in the future.

The Independent On Sunday refers to the popularity of cosmetic surgery amongst gay men and how some have explained this as the gay community having a bigger emphasis on physical appearance than other men. Also, homosexual men could earn more, “Gay men have a higher disposable income and, as a result, the pink pound is doing well,” said Patrick Preston, of Millivres, the company behind The Gay Times.

Sources: The Independent, The Independent On Sunday, Marie Curie