Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

Women have turned to cosmetic surgery in ever increasing numbers. Today’s society pushes them to have a perfect body and a young face. Exercise and diet are important, but most of the time they are not enough. Cosmetic surgery is, many times, necessary for a woman to maintain the look that is expected of her. Now, Senator Harry Reid’s healthcare bill has a proposed tax on elective cosmetic procedures, which has quickly been termed the ‘botax.’

The American government does not really understand who they are taxing with this tax. A promise was made to tax the rich and make them pay their share of taxes. This tax will actually harm middle-aged, mid-income women. In a blog on the NYTimes.com a physician said, “I can tell you that most of my cosmetic patients are not rich, but are working people, including teachers, and accountants.” Should these people have to pay the government to look good?

This botax has been dubbed a sexist tax. Nearly 90 percent of all cosmetic procedures are performed on women, so the tax is going to be paid mostly by women. Terry O’Neil, president of the National Organization for Women, told the Times that many middle aged women would suffer form this tax. With a lot of women loosing jobs due to the recession, many are looking to cosmetic surgery to help them to impress potential employers. She went on to say, “[the government] is going to put a tax on middle-aged women in a society that devalues them for being middle-aged.”

Women who get cosmetic surgery are not vain shallow people, contrary to what some may believe. Dr. Carlos Wolf, a Miami plastic surgeon, told the Stylelist, “Generally, I find that cosmetic surgery patients want to look their best, so they eat healthy and stay in shape.” One of the most popular procedures, boob jobs, is commonly performed on women who have recently had a child. Pregnancy tends to cause a woman’s breasts to sag, after they are no longer lactating. Society promotes the idea that a woman should have perky firm breasts, so taxing a middle aged mother when she wants to have her breasts fixed is ridiculous and sexist.

Most cosmetic procedures are performed on middle aged women who want to turn back the age that is sapping away their beauty. This may sound vain but the truth is that society does not value a middle aged woman that actually looks middle aged. Society values beauty and it is sexist to tax these women, making it harder for them to stay beautiful in a chauvinistic society.

2010 has seen a large number of people making resolutions to change the way their body looks. Diet and exercise are of course on most people’s list of resolutions, but not surprising is the number of people who want to have cosmetic surgery. Those who can afford it make a resolution to have at least one of any number of different procedures. Those who can not afford it still include it on their wish list of things they would like to do.

A recent survey showed that 54 percent of adults would undergo plastic surgery if money were not an issue. On behalf of RealSelf.com, Harris Interactive performed the survey and analyzed it to make a wish-list of cosmetic surgeries. Tom Seery, president of RealSelf.com, said, “We found it interesting that so many are open to a significant surgery procedure like tummy tuck, in contrast to minimally invasive Botox injection.”

The survey involved 2,227 adults who answered a variety of questions concerning what procedures they would have if they did not have to worry about the cost. Teeth whitening topped the list for both men and women, with a total of 52% saying that they would have it done. Most people do not realize that there is a whole field of cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening is a very popular procedure.

Tummy tucks and liposuction were the next two procedures on the list for women. Thirty-nine percent of the women surveyed said that they would have a tummy-tuck. The tummy is a very important area for a woman who wants a sexy body. Liposuction, with 34 percent of women, has a variety of applications that can help to contour and reshape the body. Women also said that hair replacement would be a desirable
procedure. Many women begin to lose their hair either because of aging, sickness, or changes in hormones due to menopause. The hair loss typically manifests itself in a thinning of the hair. Hair replacement can restore the fullness and luster that their hair once had.

The wish list for men was similar to that of women, with men’s top three dream procedures being teeth whitening, hair replacement, and liposuction. Though most women say that they do not put much emphasis on the way a man looks, men obviously want to look good too. Society has put a lot of stress on men to look good to be successful and this survey shows that men do indeed care about their appearance.

The survey showed that many people would have plastic surgery if they did not have to be concerned with cost. Big News reported that loan companies are giving money for people to use on cosmetic procedures. This could remove the concern about cost and allow many more people to have the procedures that they put on their wish list. They may finally be able to attain their dream body.

The current economic slump is causing many people to spend their money more hesitantly. Many industries are suffering from this reluctance by consumers to spend. Plastic surgery is not one of these industries. In fact, plastic surgery is an industry that is still growing, despite the recession of the economy.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reported that there were over 36,400 cosmetic surgical procedures performed in 2009. This is compared to 2008 where there were around 34,000, a little less then a seven percent increase. Patrick Malluce, a member of BAAPS, told the Guardian, “What has been surprising for me is that it is very busy during a time of supposed recession.” This was said in conjunction with the rush of appointments that were being made around Christmas of 2009. The demand for plastic surgery in December is usually about fifty percent higher than any other month and 2009 was no exception. Non-surgical procedures also rose around 30 percent compared to other months.

Looking good has become very important in today’s society. Christina Clogg, co-founder of the GoodSurgeonGuide, said, “We were very surprised that it [looking good] was more important to some than a more successful career or finding someone special.” People are realizing that looking good is not only something that is reflected outwardly, it is also a psychological boost. People who undergo plastic surgery take from the experience a new found joy toward life. They have a confidence that allows them to live their life to its fullest and enjoy their journey through it. It is no wonder people are still willing to spend their money on plastic surgery during a recession; they know that looking good can make them happier.

Of treatments that are available the most popular for women is breast augmentation, followed by tummy tucks and liposuction, according to a survey by Harris Interactive on behalf of RealSelf.com. The motivations for procedures fall into a wide range of categories. Some people have a procedure done to be more competitive in the workplace. Others have weight loss surgeries in order to look more healthy. Still
others have a procedure for comfort. Whatever the reason, people are still rushing to the plastic surgeons during the recession.

Even male surgical procedures have risen dramatically in 2009. According to BAAPS the number of plastic surgical procedures performed on men in 2009 is 21 percent higher than the previous year. Everyone wants to look good and the recession is not going to change that. In fact the recession may indeed be fueling the rise in cosmetic procedures as people search for ways to stay marketable during hard times.

Though the world wide recession rages on, people may not have money to pay the rent but they still have money to have an expensive breast augmentation done.

The Harley Medical Group, one of the largest suppliers of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic surgery in the UK is reporting a nine per cent rise in demand for breast implants from the pervious year. Citing media pressure and unrealistic body images, the group suggests that the surgeries stem from desperation to attain what many see as the ideal, hourglass figure.

When women come to the Harley Group’s clinics for consultation many of them come naming celebrities such as Megan Fox and Kelly Brook as people whose bodies they would like to emulate. Most patients looking for breast augmentation are asking for enlargement by two cup sizes or more.

The desire to look like a celebrity or fashion model is cause for concern for clinic workers who want to make sure that the surgery is not be fueled by an unrealistic body image. At times patients will need psychological counseling to help them realize that a change in the shape of their breasts will not constitute a change in their life as a whole.

Liz Dale, the director of the Harley Medical Group said that pre surgery counseling between the patients and their doctors is always a requirement prior to the procedure. Though she states that it is useful for a patient to approach the surgery with a preconceived idea of what they would like to look like, she cautions against celebrity comparisons and promotes the positive, healthy outcome of a surgery done under the right motives. “Most of the women we see are proud of their figures and through surgery they want to achieve- or often regain- increased feelings o confidence and femininity by correcting a part of themselves they are not 100% happy with.”

Even though many people have been hit with financial difficulties during this recession, the need to feel good about themselves is more prevalent than ever. With the potential for a bad self image stemming from lack of success financially, many women are doing what they can to make up for that in other ways by having breast augmentation and thus approaching the world from a place of newness.

Whether it is right to be spurred on to this surgery by financial distress or not, breast augmentations are on the rise and becoming a natural way to approach the difficulties facing many young women today.

Even as many are facing a tightening of their belts in tough economic times, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is reporting a 12 per cent rise in cosmetic surgery operations over last year.

Though breast augmentation remains the number one choice for those seeking cosmetic procedures, there are plenty of people so unhappy with perceived faults in their appearances that they are willing to pay out large sums and go through the painful recovery times of a plastic surgery procedure just to get the body they have always wanted.

Obscure surgeries such as toe tucks, butt lifts, and “cankle” surgeries are on the rise in Britain. As plastic surgery becomes more accepted in society, many people are taking a hard look at their appearance and deciding that cosmetic surgery may be able to correct even what some would consider minor flaws in their appearance. Office worker Lisa Dalgeith decided to get a difficult procedure known as a “toe tuck” done because she has spent her life hating what she believes to be overly long toes. “As a teenager I dreamed of wearing cute flip flops like my friends, but the sight f my big toes made me physically sick. They looked hideous.”

Dalgeith paid 3,000 pounds for a three hour procedure that involved chiseling the bones in her toes to make them shorter. Toe tucks are not the only bizarre surgery people are clamoring for, Britain Julie Seymour had a pricey operation performed to have butt implants inserted into her buttocks in order to give her backside a more rounded appearance. The 2,8000 pound procedure gave her the butt she always wanted and the confidence to get into a bikini for the first time.

Fellow Britain Anne Grey had a liposuction procedure done on her “cankles” to bring out the shape of her ankles and improve her body image. The procedure sucked fat out of the area where her ankles meet her calves and created a more defined ankle structure.

Though these surgeries may seem bizarre and unnecessary, to the patients the procedures were just what they were looking for to get over years of insecurities related to a certain body art. As societal perceptions become more accepting of cosmetic surgery expect to see a lot more of your friends and neighbors making subtle changes to their appearances in order to gain the confidence and satisfaction that has alluded them for years.

Well, this recession seems to have been dragging on for quite some time now doesn’t it? It’s been about 18 months and still there is no let up in the gloom; no recovery in the housing market, no increase in interest rates and one of the only good things is the massive reduction sales we are seeing- if only we had the disposable income to go and spend in them! However, there is one good piece of news for all those in the Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery industry; the industry seems to be highly resilient despite the continued economic recession. 

A poll commissioned by Oxygen media has shown that, despite fears about job security and financial stability plaguing their generation, 63% of 18 to 34 year old thought positively about cosmetic surgery whilst the figure rose to 73% for those people aged 35-49.  One of the lighter points of the survey was that 22% of women said they would rather have breast augmentation surgery than receive a diamond bracelet; one feels many male partners would also prefer spending money on a boob job than a decorative piece of jewellery as well. 

Dr. Gilbert Lee, a U.S based plastic surgeon has spoken out about the buoyant industry, saying that: “Interest in plastic surgery remains very strong, despite the economy.” You can read other blogs on this page which might give an indication as to why this is.  Almost 25% of women who took part in the survey said that, if they suddenly gained a windfall of $10,000, they would prefer to spend the money on cosmetic surgery rather than invest it; such an attitude may not be prudent but it certainly spells good times ahead for the plastic and cosmetic surgery industry.

This recession-beating skill is not just limited to the U.S, the British cosmetic surgery industry seems like it is going to be able to weather the storm as well.  During 2008, when the economic storm first broke to mass media and market panic, there was a 5% increase in the number of surgeries performed on women within the U.K. This figure shows that here in Britain we really have a cosmetic surgery industry which is going to remain pert and resilient throughout the economic downturn. This can only be good news as, when the recovery comes, the cosmetic surgery industry will be in an unrivalled position.

Plastic Surgery has rose in popularity exponentially over past decade; it’s now easier and cheaper than ever to go under the knife. However, this rise in popularity has led to many dangerous practises as well; so-called Botox parties and other new fads such as “lunchtime lifts” are leading people into getting surgery which may well not be safe. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has spoken out about the troubling trend as they fear that people will not only get poorer results than they had hoped for but will also risk damaging their health as well. The rise in ‘in-office’ and at-home procedures is partly fuelled by people’s desire for cheaper treatments but, the old adage is certainly true, you do get what you pay for.

Dr. J Peter Rubin has spoken out, saying that: “In the wrong clinical setting, the results may not come close to the promises made in the advertising. What is really indispensible for the best results, however, is not a specific procedure but the judgment of a board certified plastic surgeon who can match the right patient with the best procedure for them.”

Indeed it is certainly true that a procedure is only as good as the person who performs it and, whilst the best surgeons may cost a little extra money, you can’t really put a price on your health or on the perfect appearance which you are striving towards. So far, these branded treatments, such as Lifestyle Lift and Smart Lipo are a phenomenon which has stayed on the other side of the Atlantic but, as the cosmetic industry continues to rapidly expand here in the U.K, how long is it before we too will see this dangerous trend spreading through our offices and other places of work?

It is easy to see why treatments such as these are popular, we all have less time than we used to and are scared to take time out from our jobs in case there isn’t a position open for us when we come back. So, we find surgeries that fit around our schedules and seem like they will take the least amount of time to perform and recover from. This could end up being a literal false economy however if we have to pay a more qualified surgeon to correct mistakes or if we find we have wasted our hard-earned money.

New reports from the U.S have suggested that the craze for getting plastic surgery has now stretched to all the different levels of the age strata. On this blog we have previously informed you of young graduates having surgery in order to force their way into a shrinking jobs market and also of older professionals seeking surgery in order to keep them competitive and looking younger. Well now it’s the middle-aged workers who are getting in on the act. The Miami Herald carried the story a little while ago and now we’re going to bring it to you.

As the recession continues to bite and there seems to a never-ending cycle of news reports about people being laid off and large-scale job losses at multi-national companies who had previously seemed invincible, people want to take whatever steps they can to ensure they keep their jobs. However, in difficult times such as these, you wouldn’t think that people had the cash available to spend on plastic surgery and yet this latest news seems to suggest that people are seeing plastic surgery as an investment; professionals are clearly hoping that they can secure pay-rises or simply secure their jobs by investing in the way they look.

Dr. Fredric Brandt, who works in New York, has spoken out about the news, saying that:

“They consider it an investment, they feel the money they’re spending on this will help them get a job and that it will pay for itself and then some.”

Whilst non-invasive procedures have always been popular with professionals as they have very quick recovery times, this report also highlights that it is larger procedures which are also being undertaken. Face-lifts and even breast augmentations are being performed on the 40+ generation in an attempt to push their way to the front of a jobs market. However, with procedures such as these, recovery times are much longer and thus, if you were to have one, then you would have to have some time off work and this might not help secure a job in a struggling place of employment. Essentially, whilst cosmetic surgery could help you, it could also hinder you if you have to remove yourself from your job in order to recover. It is likely, as the recession continues to bite, that more people will turn to cosmetic surgery, both to help their employability and to help themselves.

Despite the deepening recession, messages coming at us from all sides to tighten the purse-strings and bank statements getting us more and more depressed it seems that the latest figures out have confirmed that cosmetic surgery is actually defying the recession. 

Demand for surgeries rose, with both invasive and non-invasive treatments seeing increases in the number of people undertaking them.

The Cosmetic Surgery Market Report 2009 has shown that, whilst figures have been healthy (and properly sculpted of course) across the board, there were individual treatments which seem to be doing particularly well.  Hair-loss treatments, such as the ever-popular hair transplant and weight management surgeries are the ones which have been singled out as doing well in these difficult economic times. Interestingly one of the biggest increases which the report draws attention to is the huge rise in the number of people seeking advice about, and indeed undergoing, non-invasive cosmetic procedures.

Brand new advancements in technology, coupled with drastically reduced waiting times means that non-invasive beauty treatments are now much more appealing to a much broader range of people. These are hard economic times and thus people can’t really be taking ages of work, nor indeed do they want a treatment which has the potential to go seriously wrong.  The fact that people can go “under the knife” in their dinner break is certainly an incentive for today’s hard working population.  The statistics also reveal that more and more young men are choosing to go under the knife and change their appearance. Plastic and Cosmetic surgery, it would seem, is no longer the domain of women.

Different industry reports have attempted to get to the bottom of why it is that more and more men are going under the knife; the conclusions are that it’s not just the celebrity culture which is shaming men into making a change. More hectic work lives and a poor diet coupled with little or no exercise are leading more and more men to gain a figure which they are not happy with.  There was a 44% increase last year in men seeking breast reduction surgery. It would seem that surgery for men is not the only answer, the males in our population need to completely overhaul their entire lifestyle. Even if they achieve this though, surgery may still be needed to do extra sculpting and toning. Recession? What recession?

Many industry analysts have been surprised that, despite the credit-crunch, the numbers of people having Botox treatments actually rose in 2008. The surgery has increased in popularity recently as more and more people want a younger look which can be achieved through a minimally invasive procedure. Now people work such long hours and struggle to find free time, Botox provides an excellent opportunity as it has relatively quick recovery times.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the organisation who have made the claim about the rise in people taking up Botox after it had carried out research. There was a 5% increase across the board in people having non-invasive treatments and the most popular of these non-surgical options was found to be Botox. Perhaps the recent plethora of celebrities undergoing the treatment is what has spurred so many of us to start our own fight against the detrimental effects of the ageing process. 

According to John Canady, the President of the ASPS, there is a double-fold reason for this increase in the numbers of people seeking Botox. The main reason behind the boom is the number of people who are becoming regulars to the treatment. Pleased with the effects of the first bout of injections, they are returning again and again to have the treatment and this is helping to bolster the Botox figures. The second wave of patients who are helping to strengthen the numbers of those seeking Botox are people who are undecided about surgery. People who wish to start combating the signs of ageing but don’t yet feel ready for more invasive procedures. These surgery-lite patients are discovering Botox provides excellent results without the prolonged recovery times needed after more strenuous facelifts.

It’s not just Botox which is being helped by the numbers of patients shying away from surgeries in favour of less invasive alternatives.  More than 1 million people chose to have chemical peels to rejuvenate their skin in 2008, whilst the numbers of people having hyaluronic acid fillers rose to a staggering 1.1 million.  If you’re lucky enough not have started ageing yet then Botox could still be of use to you.  The injections can be used to tackle excess sweating; the perfect solution to an embarrassing problem especially as we approach the summer months and you won’t want to be hiding behind layers. Get Botox to help banish your insecurities!