Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

Cosmetics surgeons and aesthetic practitioners have labelled it ‘the Angelina effect’, a sudden increase in the number of women choosing to have cosmetic treatment to enhance and plump up their lips. Angelina Jolie and her famous pout have inspired thousands of women across the world to consider adding more volume to their lips – but which treatments are best?

Cosmetics

Most of us are familiar with lip stick, lip liner and lip gloss, many of which claim to produce the perfect pout by adding shimmer and volume to the lips. However, the effects of cosmetic products bought from a local beauty shop are limited, and for those who desire long-term results and a more dramatic transformation, a more intensive treatment may be required.

Fillers

Fillers are a very popular treatment. They can be used to smooth lines and wrinkles and add volume to the skin, as well as plumping the lips. The filler is injected into problem areas of the skin and around the lips to add volume and improve the shape of the lips. The procedure is not painful because the lips will be numbed using anaesthetic. At the very beginning it may feel tingly and slightly strange, but this will wear off as the anaesthetic takes effect. After treatment it is normal for the lips to appear swollen, but inflammation will go down shortly after and the true aesthetics of the lips will be revealed.

Why would I consider treatment?

If you have particularly fine lips or you simply want to make your lips a more prominent feature, you may benefit from undergoing cosmetic treatment. Lip enhancement can have quite a dramatic effect on the overall aesthetics of the face and the procedure is likely to give you extra confidence.

Cosmetic doctors have urged patients to consider cosmetic surgery in the same light as medical treatment, warning that cosmetic surgery should never be “trivialised.”

Dr Kieren Bong, from the Essence Medical Cosmetic Clinic, warned patients never to trivialise cosmetic surgery because it carries the same risks as medical procedures and should never be taken lightly.

Cosmetic surgeons are required to outline the risks associated with cosmetic treatment to all patients and they take time to talk to patients about the treatment process, how the procedure works and what they can expect when they come around from the anaesthetics; it is important for patients to have a realistic expectation of the results so that they are not disappointed following treatment and they understand that procedures are designed to enhance what is already there, rather than completely alter somebody’s appearance.

Things to consider

A patient would never expect to go into hospital and have a surgical procedure without being aware of what the operation involves and the potential side-effects and risks and the same should be true for cosmetic surgery. Patients are urged to ensure that they visit a reputable clinic and ensure that they are 100 percent happy to go ahead with the procedure before they sign on the dotted line.

Dr Bong said that procedures are becoming simpler, safer and quicker thanks to advances in science and technology. However, as with all surgical procedures, there is still a risk and it is important for patients to do their research before they make a final decision on where to go for treatment.

Recent figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) show an increase in the popularity of cosmetic surgery; in 2011 alone, more than 43,000 procedures were carried out. Breast augmentation was the most popular treatment, with more than 10,000 women opting to have the procedure. In light of the recent PIP breast implant problems, a group of experts from the BAAPS has also called for a ban on the advertisements for cosmetic surgery in tabloid newspapers and magazines.

Denise Hendry, a former footballers wife, had no idea going in that her liposuction surgery would lead to her death. Dr. Gustaf Aniansson performed the surgery in Lancashire in 2002, and she died in 2009 while having surgery to repair the damage done.

Dr. Aniansson punctured Mrs. Hendry’s bowel nine times during the surgery, and is still practising in Sweden, where he comes from. Now another woman has complained about his techniques there.

The official cause of death for Ms. Hendry was meningitis, caused by bacteria that spread to her brain from her stomach. Coroner Jennifer Leeming stated that inflammation of the brain and blood clotting from an inserted drain contributed to death with the meningitis. The original relatively simple liposuction surgery was performed by Dr. Aniansson near Preston, Lancashire at the Broughton Park Hospital. Between 2002 and 2009, she had many surgeries to repair the damage, and it was during the last of these, at the Salford Royal Hospital, that she passed away in 2009.

Mrs. Hendry and 15 other women from Britian sued Dr. Aniansson for over £750,000, and won their cases. The National Care Standards Commission described her botched surgery as resulting from clumsiness. Her lawyer has now tried to get in touch with authorities in Dr. Aniansson’s native Sweden, but so far nothing has been done. He says that they have forwarded all information to the authorities there, including the complains from 46 different women, and the successful cases of the 16 women who sued him. Medical reports were also sent to Sweden.

Sweden’s National Board of Health and Welfare representative Anders Sunesson says that if the information was given to them in 2002 something could have been done, but since it has been seven years the courts will probably say no. The problem is that Mrs. Hendry just died in 2009 from complications obviously arising from his botched surgery. Still, Sweden is investigating the similar claims from a Swedish woman that Dr. Aniansson performed breast and stomach surgery on. He did remove himself from the General Medical Council register of his own free will in 2003, which complicates matters a little bit. There is hope that these new claims from Sweden will take this doctor out of circulation for good.

Now that the economy is slowly recovering, the number of plastic surgery procedures is on the rise as well. In 2010, over 13 million Americans had cosmetic surgery performed on them, up 5 percent from the year before. As American Society of Plastic Surgeons President Dr. Phillip Haeck stated: ‘The economy is showing signs of improvement and, financially, things are a little better for people this year. As the aging population continues to grow, people are investing in plastic surgery procedures to help stay competitive in the workplace.’

During the height of the recession, plastic surgeons took a bigger hit than most industries. Dr. Jason Diamond explained that some surgeons’ business was down 50 percent, and they really struggled not to go out of business.

One area of plastic surgery that was never affected by the economy was injectables. Botox, used by many famous celebrities, remains a strong seller – over 11 million injections in 2010, up 12 percent from the year before. As Dr. Haeck explained: ‘Fat injections are up 14 percent…a patient’s own fat is being used in more creative ways to rejuvenate the face and body.’

Many people waited until the economy started to recover. Vicki Benko, 51, wanted to see how the layoffs were going to go at her company before getting the surgery done. She had a brow lift and had her upper and lower eyelids tightened, and is very happy with the results. ‘I look more rested, I look more energetic. It was a good investment’, she said.

There is also a rise in excess skin removal because of all the people who have lost weight in the last couple of years. Breast lifts, thigh lifts, upper arm lifts and lower body lifts are all more common now that the economy is starting to improve.

Elective cosmetic surgery is not the only kind of plastic surgery on the rise; people who have been injured are also getting reconstructive surgery more often — this sector has risen 2 percent.

As the economy improves, there is no doubt that all types of cosmetic and plastic surgery will continue to get more popular. Affordability is very important when it comes to elective surgery.

A couple’s attempts to make love ended quite shamefully mere weeks after the birth of their child due to the fact that the woman’s vagina had been changed so dramatically.  It wasn’t just their love life that she had been having trouble with. She had trouble wearing jeans and simply walking began to cause friction and pain. Soon afterward, the two went to a general practitioner who diagnosed her with a uterine prolapse. What this essentially meant was that her bowel could be felt just behind the damaged vaginal walls.The doctor offered her a hysterectomy, but this operation was refused. Because she felt so poorly about her own, body she and her husband began to drift apart.

She began researching methods of vaginal surgery when she saw an advert for a television programme about image problems. She contacted the producers right away and met a surgeon who told her that she would be able to benefit from labiaplasty and vaginoplasty. Because they could not afford to pay for the operations themselves, they took this opportunity immediately.

In a 90 minute operation in London, surgeons both reinforced the vaginal wall and placed her womb back in the correct position. She was then told to not have sex for the next six weeks. Although she felt tender, her body felt more complete than it had in a long time.She went on to say that it seems as if more women are having the operation because it is at last an issue that can be spoken about out in the open.

This type of case is quite rare because the labia usually does not cause medical problems. This typically only happens after a child is delivered and the mother needs to be sutured. There are plenty of women who want this operation that haven’t even had children. These women are simply looking for cosmetic surgery because they are not satisfied with the way that their vaginas look. Medical experts urge these women to look at this issue more realistically. The perfect-looking vaginas that they are looking at in magazines are probably aided by digital imagery. They may be searching for something that is not achievable. Experts will make the claim that there are no standards for normalcy in this situation. If surgeons do not see an immediate medical issue, they will not operate and patients are urged to see general practitioners for counselling.

Cosmetic surgery is a huge decision. Jeyaram Srinivasan, a top consultant plastic, reconstructive and hand surgeon from the Beardwood Hospital in Blackburn said that this type of surgery is a ‘life changing decision not to be taken lightly’. While he says that complications are rare, things can still go wrong, and surgery may not always turn out as expected.

Even though complications are rare, just two years ago Denise Hendry, wife of famous footballer Colin Hendry, died due to complications related to liposuction. Her surgery, performed by Dr. Gustav Aniansson at Broughton Park Hospital, resulted in 9 punctures to her bowel. The surgery took place in 2002, and she died in 2009 after undergoing many surgeries to try to repair the mistakes.

Because surgery results in complications or unexpected results, it is best to do a lot of research, and to think about your surgery in detail before undergoing any procedures. He said: ‘Women and men should not let their eagerness for change overpower their ability to make a responsible choice about their surgeon, hospital and desired procedure’

The main reason for his concern is that cosmetic surgeries are on the rise. BMI Healthcare facility in Preston New Road has seen an over 100 percent increase in those asking about procedures this year. There has been an over 200 percent increase in inquiries about gynaecomastia, or man-boob surgeries. Also, there has been an almost 200 percent increase in inquiries related to breast augmentation.

With all of these increases, it is possible that many people are rushing into having cosmetic surgery. There are many considerations before electing to go under the knife. Credentials should be checked; the consultant surgeon should be on the General Medical Council specialist register and a member in good standing of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. They should also be experienced in whatever procedure chosen.

Dr. Srinivasan also advises that you talk to your friends and family, as well as your general practitioner for advice. Your GP probably has experience with others who have had similar procedures as yourself. Cosmetic surgery can be a good decision, but do not rush in to anything before having all the necessary facts.

Self-esteem and self-confidence are not ageist. They do not discriminate and the old and young alike are subject to low levels of self-worth. Sometimes they are the result of physical aesthetic imperfections, and correcting these imperfections surgically used to be a luxury reserved only for adults who could afford the costly procedures. However, there is a recent trend in teenagers and young adults seeking medical interventions for their unhappiness.

In the United States, plastic surgery procedures on young people between thirteen and nineteen years old has been qualified as “mainstream” and the spokesperson for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Frederick Lukash, estimates that almost three hundred thousands teenagers went under the knife in 2008. Those numbers have only increased in the following years.  Essentially, teenagers are hoping that the procedures will “cure” whatever issues they are suffering from but they should be warned that it is unlikely. This idea typically plagues the psyches of young women in the midst of development. They are excessively exposed to unrealistic depictions of perfection and define their worth in terms in physical ideals. Moreover, in the never-ending quest for societal approval, these imperfections are magnified, appearing both intolerable yet easily resolved with a breast enhancement or a rhinoplasty.

Plastic surgery for teens is not always wrong. Dr. Lukash has seen many cases where a teenaged patient’s quality of life has improved exponentially because of a procedure. But he warns that surgery on a teenaged patient should be the exception, not the rule. He wrote “The Safe and Sane Guide to Teenage Plastic Surgery” to aid parents and potential patients about the risks and concerns of surgery. If a teenager is seriously considering plastic surgery, they should first talk to a therapist. Low self-esteem levels could be the result of underlying issues and the opinion of a therapist could be beneficial before putting oneself through a painful and expensive procedure with an undesirable result.

Furthermore, if a teenaged patient decides to go ahead with the procedure, it is of the utmost importance that they seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon. Doctors should not be concerned with the money that the patient represents, but with genuinely improving their quality of life. A consultation is a two-way interview and the surgeon should not be afraid to turn a patient away if their expectations are not manageable. There are always risks with any surgery and it is irresponsible to take on such a risk without proper research and the guidance of qualified and trusted medical professionals.

British citizens travel abroad in hoards of thousands every year for medical treatment. They are prone to cosmetic surgery and dental work.

Having said that, the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons discovered that in 2009 there was a significant increase in the number of patients who have experienced complications after travelling overseas for cosmetic surgery.

When you think about the nature of cosmetic surgery, it’s not very hard to see why this happens. Cosmetic surgery involves complications and risks that may include bleeding, infection, thrombosis and vein clotting. Reputable surgeons are more likely to let patients know about these potential risks ahead of time and give them the opportunity to change their minds. Some of the longer operations such as the “tummy tuck” that require a general anaesthetic typically have higher rates of complication because patients lack mobility after the surgery.

Travelling overseas for treatment might be less expensive than undergoing surgery in the UK, but standards vary abroad. You might find an excellent surgeon for cheap but you might also find shady or poor quality doctors who charge outlandish prices. It may also be more difficult to research a surgeon’s record. The hospital might not even be up to your standards. Aftercare can also be a lengthy process and in many cases, complications won’t arise until patients have already returned home.

As of right now there are approximately 100,000 cosmetic operations conducted annually in the UK but the National Confidential Equiry into Patient Outcome and Death discovered that in 2010, many locations that were carrying out cosmetic surgery failed to both assess and care for their patients in a proper manner. It was found that more than half of the operating locations were equipped poorly. One fifth lacked any emergency readmission policy and monitoring throughout the procedure was insufficient.

Eight general practitioners in both the Western Cape and Gauteng are currently being monitored by the Association of Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons of Southern Africa. The reason being that they have failed to properly care for patients who experienced complications due to their malpractice. These patients have suffered from complications such as septic infections, bodily denting from liposuction and even different sized breasts and hips. The issue here lies in the fact that the Health Professions Council of South Africa is doing little to protect the public from these poorly qualified doctors who are offering cheap surgery.

One committee member of the Plastic Surgeon’s Association has stated that there are around seven general practitioners who are being carefully watched. Each practitioner is estimated to have an average of three or four complaints against them. There may be even more.

If you go to a qualified surgeon, the average price for a tummy tuck is somewhere around R32000. Breast implants or reductions cost about R28000 and 30 minutes of a liposuction is R14000. Doctors who lack the proper qualification for plastic surgery will often attract customers by undercutting the price to R7000 for half an our of liposuction.

There are many potential patients who will look around for the cheapest price before deciding on a doctor because they have to pay out of pocket for the operations. They will often not report complications and unless these problems are reported, then there is not much that can be done about them.

A general practitioner from Kempton Park was found guilty of unprofessional conduct in May for conducting a breast reduction and not recognizing the ensuing complications.

The acting CEO and registrar for the HPCSA has stated that if a practitioner is found guilty, the organisation will ensure that he or she will be given the appropriate penalty.

The aforementioned practitioner was suspended for one year from the register on the condition that he would cease to perform cosmetic surgery for at least three years.

Patients should be advised to verify that their practitioner has the proper qualifications and experience before having cosmetic surgery.

Appearance does matter as the people create their first impression about us by noticing our looks. Due to this all of us are much concerned about our appearances. We normally and rightly believe that if we will look good we get more attention. That enhance our confidence and we try hard to maintain or improve our appearance.

It is common that with the growing age, some age spots appears at our body. They can emerge on face, neck, hands or any where else at ones body. There are four common ways or anti aging guidelines to encounter this problem. The best thing is to consult with your family physician or any professional skin specialist that which treatment will be best suited for you.

Liquid Nitrogen – Liquid nitrogen is a trouble-free and successful treatment to get rid of age spots and moles. The dermatologist prefers this method because of the very high success ratio. The liquid nitrogen is sprayed on the spot with sheer force which causes the treated area to peel off and after some time the new skin replaces the old and affected skin.

Chemical Peel – In chemical peel a light acid is utilized to get fresher and healthier cells by removing the upper layer of the dead skin cells. This treatment helps in better skin texture, reducing lines around eyes and mouth and also in other skin discoloration issues.

Fractional Resurfacing – Here the laser light has been utilized to destroy the upper skin layer. Fraxel and Pearl Laser which are the common devices used in this way of treatment also stimulates the fresh cells growth. After some time when the affected areas healed up, the patient will get much better, much tightened and much desired skin.

Lightening Products – Number of products are easily available for skin tone treatments and also for the lightening of the skin. There are both synthetic beauty products and natural ways to make use of. Elure from Syneron is a useful product in this regard. The natural ways includes the use of Aloe Vera, Lavender, Fennel and Marigold for excellent tone treatments.

An ideal tip for staying away from the age spots is the extensive and regular use of a good sun block against the injurious UV rays. Interaction with your family physician or skin specialist and act according to his advice will be really helpful in getting better results for your appearance.