Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

Most people who have received an invite to the upcoming Royal Wedding are fretting over what they’re going to wear to the event and shopping for the perfect dress and perfect pair of shoes.

Tara Palmer-Tomkinson isn’t fretting over what dress she’s going to wear to the event however, she’s fretting over what nose she’ll be wearing to the wedding. Supposedly the UK socialite is wanting to have a new nose in place before she watches the royal nuptials.

Although this may seem like a bizarre way to prepare for such a special event, Tara is defending her desire for the new nose by saying she wants a nose with a “straighter profile”, something that apparently wasn’t achieved by her last nose job, done due to damage from her previous cocaine habit.

Amazingly, she isn’t the only one planning surgery for big events. Whether it’s the Royal Wedding or tea time with the Beckhams, cosmetic procedures, whether surgical or non-surgical, are being seen more frequently, which is oddly timed when the conditions of the current economic climate are considered. Market analysts have estimated that in Britian almost 20 million adults want to have plastic surgery and although the number of procedures went down when the economy began suffering, plastic surgeons saw an increase of over 15 percent between the years of 2008 and 2010. The most popular cosmetic procedures currently being done are non-surgical.

“While we feel young on the inside, our outside may not look like we feel,” says plastic surgeon Douglas McGeorge. He says treatments increased in popularity because people live longer. Currently the number of treatments performed stands at 1.3 million, which means the number has risen 30 per cent over the previous two years.

Plastic surgery techniques and treatments continue to become more advanced and the results are becoming more satisfactory, also allowing patients to better predict the treatment’s results. Having plastic surgery for cosmetic purposes is believed by many to just be a lifestyle choice, and the the increasing numbers are proof of that.

The 2.3 billion market apparently sees face lifts and breast augmentations as the biggest trends, as reported in recent figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. There’s also been an increase in gynaecomastia treatments, proving men are having more procedures also.

McGeorge says that more than anything, plastic surgery is more “…about the patient’s wellbeing, not just the surgery.”

Eating well improves and facilitates healing, eating poorly will delay, complicate and inhibit the healing process. This is an important when it comes to treatment. Many patients want to have cosmetic procedures and a speedy recovery as well. Using nutraceuticals are one option to increase the healing process.

Using post surgery nutraceuticals has had promising data in clinical studies. Certain nutraceuticals can assist in speeding up the recovery process, by strengthening the immune system, reducing inflammation and adding support to the dermal repair. They can help to reduce immune deficiencies and the side effects of having surgery done. There are some nutraceuticals that especially help with the healing process.

Protein need is increased when there is a wound or stress. Protein helps with the granulation tissue and also increases collagen and the strength of the collagen.

Arginine is an amino acid and is needed during periods of stress. It is also a part of collagen and it’s strength.

L-Glutamine is also an amino acid and is needed for energy and boosts immunity. It can buffer against acidosis as well.

Super Oxide Dismutase is an antioxidant enzyme and there are advantages to consuming this one over other antioxidants. It is a biological catalyst and can rapidly reduce again and again reactive oxygen.

French Maritime Pine Bark is extracted from pine bark and is proven to be an anti inflammatory agent and has propertied similar to antioxidants. It can increase intracellular production and act at a scavenger of free radicals in the body.

Gotu Kola Seed has been used to treat wounds and skin conditions. The plant can act as a collagen and glycosaminoglycan can synthesizer in the wound.

Zinc and Copper are important in enzymatic reactions, they are needed for the linking of collagen and elastin together. Zinc demand is increased during cell production and protein secretion. Zinc also inhibits bacterial growth.

Vitamin C creates collagen as well and helps with the bond between collagen fibers.

Pre and Probiotics are organisms that provide food and supplements, growth and activity in the microflora. Both of these have shown to increase nutrient absorption, inhibit pathogen growth, increase the immune system and increase regularity.

Bromelain is a protease enzyme that comes from the stem and fruit of pineapples. It is effective in treating inflammation and pain from inflammation.

Arnica is an astringent herb that is used topically after surgery. However, it can be taken orally as well to reduce inflammation.

Valentine’s Day is the day where people are reminded that it is important to show others how much they are loved. It has been promoted as primarily a holiday for couples and their are many gifts that couples exchange on this wonderful day. Some people stick with traditional gifts such as flowers, chocolate, and jewelry. But some are unique and they opt for things like cosmetic treatment packages. So, it is really possible to buy a sweetheart a set of dimples to enhance their smile.

Giving cosmetic treatment packages is actually becoming popular, with more and more people giving these gifts each year. The improvement in societies attitude toward cosmetic procedures is directly responsible for this. Society no longer looks down on a person for getting a procedure done to look better. The word vain is no longer associated with cosmetic procedures because most people really would like to look prettier then they are. Instead of feeling guilty about plastic surgery people are excited about it. Gitika Chopa, 28, a Delhi-based banker, was practically glowing when she found out about the gift her boyfriend planned to give her for Valentine’s Day. She told the India Gazette, “My boyfriend is gifting me a package that includes Botox and other therapies to help me get rid of wrinkles and other marks on my face. This is the most exciting gift that I have ever got because it will give me a new lease on life.”

The rush that surgeons are seeing near Valentines Day is not surprising to Manoj Kumar J. Manwani, cosmetic surgeon at Criticare Hospital in Mumbai. He told the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) over the phone, “This is a common thing. Every year we see an increase in the number of people going in for cosmetic procedures around Valentine’s Day because everyone wants to look good….We see more than 20 percent increase in women going in for cosmetic procedures around Valentine’s Day.”

Dr. Manwani also said, “Most common procedures are nose jobs and chin augmentation but one treatment that is really getting prominence nowadays is dimple creation. Not only girls, even boys are increasingly going in for dimple creation.” Dimples are created by making a shallow cavity inside the mouth. This cavity will cause the cheek to sink in at that point creating a dimple. The procedure takes only 30 minutes and requires a local anesthetic. For most people regular activities can be resumed immediately after the procedure.

Dimples enhance a person’s smile making them look cuter and younger. People who have always admired dimples on others can now admire them on themselves. 

The United States is trying hard to find money to fund their huge overhaul of health care which will cost an estimated $871 billion. Senator Harry Reid’s proposed bill included seventeen tax increases and new taxes. One tax that was included on the proposal raised a cry of outrage: the ‘Botax’. This tax was outlined as a 5 percent excise tax on elective cosmetic surgeries. The outcry was enough to squash the proposed tax.

The proposed tax was expected to raise at least $6 billion over the next ten years. However, cosmetic surgery providers did not want their patients to have to pay that money. An aggressive lobbying campaign was organized by 22 surgical societies including the American Medical Association and Botox maker, Allergen Inc. The campaign fought fiercely to derail this idea by focusing on the fact that the tax was unfairly geared toward women.

Nearly 90 percent of all cosmetic procedures are performed on women, 91 percent of which are between the ages of 19 and 64. Some have called the tax sexist. Terry O’neil, president of the National Organization for Women, told the Times that, during this time of recession, many middle aged women are using cosmetic surgery to help them to stay competitive in the shrinking job market. She also said, “[the government] is going to put a tax on middle-aged women in a society that devalues them for being middle-aged.”

Dr. Renato Saltz, president of the ASAPS, said, “This tax is effectively a “soccer Mom” tax that will adversely impact mainstream American wives and mothers, who are the majority of plastic surgery patients. As doctors, we understand and appreciate the need for health care reform, but taxing physicians and cosmetic surgery procedures to pay for the reform is not realistic or beneficial.” These comments and others made by the campaign seem to have struck the right chord. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid heard the chord and removed the tax from the bill.

Thus, many people have exhaled a sigh of relief, knowing that the proposed tax is no longer an issue. However, Dr. Saltz warns, “I’m glad the cosmetic surgery tax-at least for now- is out, but we are not ready to celebrate just yet.” This proposed tax was a wake-up call to the cosmetic surgery industry. Protecting their patients from unfair treatment is one of the responsibilities that doctors hold on their shoulders. Cosmetic surgeons hope to be able to protect their patients from the possibility that this unfair tax will be proposed again.

The Botax was replaced on the bill by a tax on services provided by tanning salons. The tanning industry is of course outraged by this as well. The proposed tax is a 10 percent sales tax.

People undergo plastic surgery for a wide range of reasons. Some have a procedure to ake themselves look younger and be more marketable in the job market. Others have surgery to be more attractive in the eyes of the opposite sex, and some just want to possess that perfect beauty that they have always wanted. Many brides-to-be decide that getting plastic surgery, before their wedding, is necessary to give them the wedding that they always dreamed of.

New research performed by The Good Surgeon Guide showed that 58 percent of women engaged to be married, are considering having a cosmetic treatment before the wedding. The study asked 512 brides-to be a series of questions concerning their intentions concerning cosmetic surgery before their wedding day. The results were intriguing. Botox, teeth whitening, and liposuction were the three most appealing treatments according to this group of women. Botox, the wrinkle relaxing injection, is a very popular procedure. It is non-surgical, which appeals to many people and is a quick temporary treatment. Teeth whitening is of course high on many people’s list. A bright flashing smile is important, especially when a person’s picture is being taken. Liposuction is much more invasive, but the patients who have undergone
this procedure are amazed at the results.

Breast augmentation ranked in the fourth position with only 47 percent of the women, that would have surgery, considering this procedure. Breast augmentation is the most popular plastic surgery in the cosmetic surgery field. In fact during 2009 the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons performed 8,565 breast augmentations. This is over 23 percent of all procedures performed for both men and women. The Harley Medical Group has also reported that they have performed an increasing number of breast augmentations and expect 2010 to have record numbers.

The most common reason for these brides-to-be to consider cosmetic procedures was because of the wedding pictures. Every bride wants her wedding to be perfect, and wants to be able to look back at the wedding pictures with fondness. Every thing has to be just right and that includes how she looks. Christiana Clogg, co-founder of the Good Surgeon Guide, said, “A wedding is the single most important day in plenty of men and women lives and a large number want everything to be perfect, including their appearance. I can understand the appeal of a flawless image for weddings; there’s absolutely nothing wrong with people getting some work done before they get married, providing they do their homework.”

The survey also included 509 engaged men, of which around 33 percent said they were considering a cosmetic procedure. Their choices ranged from veneers to chest reduction and most men said that they considered a procedure in order to please their partner.

Many people have cosmetic procedures because they believe that it will make them happier. Some would say that this is ridiculous and that cosmetic surgery is not ‘medicine’. They would claim that plastic surgery is merely a vanity tool and a luxury. The US. Government is even now considering taxing what they call ‘elective cosmetic surgeries and procedures’. Dr. Eva Ritvo, would strongly argue that cosmetic surgery is actually an anti-depressant.

Dr. Ritvo, a board certified psychiatrist, co-authored a book with Dr. Debra Luffman, a board certified dermatologist. The title of the book is ‘The Beauty Prescription’ and it describes this idea that looking good can indeed be an anti-depressant. It explains a concept called the ‘feedback loop in the environment’, also called the Beauty-Brain Loop. It shows a cycle that includes inner beauty (mental state), health, outer beauty, and environment. This loop creates a scenario where, every choice a person makes affects all aspects of beauty from a person’s skin to their emotions and relationships. In a nutshell this means that if you like the way you look outwardly it will be easier for you to like the way you look on the inside.

In more detail the authors write, “in our modern world, research shows that beautiful people earn more money, get a better break in the legal system, get more help from strangers, advance further in their careers and are generally happier.” Getting better rewards from life causes prettier people’s brains to be fueled with positive feelings and self esteem.

In the book Dr. Ritvo describes an experience that she had, after having Botox injections around her eyes. She came out of a sad movie and could not cry. She writes, “..when I couldn’t cry, I quickly stopped feeling sad….Sadness was nowhere to be found. It was as if the emotion came up, couldn’t be expressed, and so, went away.” In this instance the Botox injections actually allowed her to be happy during an experience that would have otherwise made her sad.

These ideas follow other research that suggest that Botox can indeed make people happy. This earlier research was conducted in 2006 and the results found that people who had Botox injected into their glabellar frown lines were less depressed than they had been before. Dr. Ritvo would very much like to see these ideas studied out more. She understands that knowing the emotional benefits of cosmetic surgery will help to paint the practice into a new light. She knows that looking good is beneficial to a person’s emotional state and she now wants others to accept this fact as well.

Society is slowly changing their attitudes toward cosmetic surgery. The continuous increase in the numbers of procedures performed each year is a testament to this fact. However, not everyone is comfortable admitting to having undergone a cosmetic procedure. United States politicians are rumored to have undergone plastic surgery, but they are not telling.

Dr. Ayman Hakki, of the Luxxery Cosmetic Medical Boutique in Waldorf, Maryland, is an accomplished cosmetic surgeon who has a keen eye for individuals who have undergone plastic surgery. He has performed procedures on Miss America and Washington Redskins Hall of Famers. He has been touted as a celebrity cosmetic surgeon and his opinions are respected throughout the US. He has compiled a list concerning which politicians he believes have undergone plastic surgery.

The Plastic Surgery Channel reported some of these results and many high profile politicians have made the list. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has denied having any plastic surgery when question about it, however Dr. Hakki sees strong signs that indicate that Mrs. Clinton had Botox injections in her forehead. Another high profile female politician is Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who he claims has had a face and neck lift.

Dr. Hakki is sure that political plastic surgery is not monopolized by women. He claimed that Vice president Joe Bidden and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger have both under gone procedures. He believes that Bidden had hair transplants and Botox, and Schwarzenegger had a partial face lift. Dr. Hakki admits that he has not performed any procedures on these individuals , but he is confident in his ability
to spot the signs.

Even with the change of attitude in society, concerning cosmetic procedures, many politicians are not willing to admit to them. They fear that people will consider them vain and some will have procedures done in small stages over a long period of time, to avoid arousing suspicion. On the website A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Cap Lesesne said, “Politicians want to come away looking younger, better, healthier, but with something that does not say they have had plastic surgery.”

Some Chinese officials who have also undergone plastic surgery are reluctant to admit to it. Whereas Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh all admit to using Botoz, the injectable wrinkle relaxer.

The number of plastic surgery procedures performed in 2009 hit record numbers. In fact the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reported nearly a seven percent increase in surgical procedures over 2008. Besides the overall numbers of procedures performed there has also been an increasing number of cosmetic surgeries performed on men. Mr. Rajiv Grover, BAAPS Secretary, said, “This year we have recorded a dramatic rise in the number of male surgical procedures, probably due to heightened media attention, which has allowed men to realise the positive outcomes that can be achieved.” The BAAPS actually reported a 23% increase in procedures performed on men in 2009.

The Harley Medical Group also reported an impressive increase in procedures performed on men in 2009, seeing a 5 percent increase over 2008. Men actually accounted for 18 percent of all procedures performed by The Harley Medical Group. Most of the increase can be attributed to men opting for non surgical procedures such as ‘Boytox’ (male Botox and Sweatox).

Men’s busy lifestyles are indeed causing their skin to be at risk for premature wrinkles. Dr. Nick Milojevic is a Botox doctor, voted as the best for Botox in the Daily Express. Concerning men receiving Boytox he revealed, “Young men in the City have been spending a lot of time frowning over the last year and we’re seeing the fallout .. Men coming into the clinics are telling us that they want to stay looking wrinkle-free despite their demanding lifestyles.”

A report by the Dailey Mail reported that much of the increase in cosmetic procedures performed on men is attributed to City bankers spending their bonuses on Boytox. The City clinic saw huge growth once the banker bonuses returned to the agenda with a ’24 percent month by month sales increase in September alone’. Other non-surgical procedures that grew in 2009 were dermal fillers with a 26 percent increase and chemical peels with a 306 percent increase.

Jeremy Baker, Consumer Analyst at ESCP Europe Business School said, “There’s a huge emphasis on grooming in popular culture and the job market is tough – people need to be younger, fitter, and better and this is reflected in the maintenance of personal appearance. Men have now caught up with the times and don’t want to be left behind so I’m sure we’ll see big increases in this sector in particular.” Men have surely
become comfortable with beautifying themselves with cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic procedures have long been known to have benefits beside looking good. Reconstructive surgery can correct deformities and other medical conditions. Latisse eyelash treatments are actually derived from a glaucoma medication. Trails have actually been successfully performed, to do total face lifts for accident victims. What may be surprising is that, Botox injections have also been found to have health benefits besides wrinkle relaxing.

Dr. Craig Morton and Dr. Tyson Green, of the Center for Orthopaedics in Lake Charles, Louisiana, are actually using Botox injections to help people to walk without pain. Dr. Morton told First Coast News, “If there’s damage to the brain or spinal cord, such as what you’d see in a spinal cord injury, head injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy – it can result in an abnormal posturing of the muscles of the hands and feet.” The muscle spasticities can cause the feet to stay contacted in certain positions. These positions can make it difficult or even impossible for the patient to walk comfortable. Dr. Green has shown that these instances are correctable with Botox injections. He said, “That’s when the botox will come into play to relax the contracture, so that we can either brace the foot or provide casting to provide stability and flexibility within the foot.”

Nursing Times reported that a trial was performed on 34 people with weak bladders to determine if Botox could treat them. Dr. Arun Sahai, from the Department of Urology at Guy’s Hospital and King’s College London School of Medicine, reported that Botox-A bladder injections did indeed help patients with weak bladders where other treatments had failed. Botox injections improved their overactive bladder symptoms
and improved the quality of their lives substantially.

More than 10,000 babies are born each year in the United States with cerebral palsy. Children with cerebral palsy often suffer from debilitating spastic muscle contractures. The Neurology journal has declared that Botulinum toxin -A (Botox) is an effective treatment of this. Botox injections can treat muscle tightness,
weakness, and abnormal reflexes in these children.

Botox is a popular non-surgical solution for both men and women to relax wrinkles. The injections help to loosen up the contracted muscle and thus smooth out the wrinkles. But this simple aesthetic compound has so much more potential. It is a vital tool in the treatment of many medical conditions and future research into Botox could prove it to have many more benefits.

Though plastic surgery has grown in popularity, to encompass the common man and woman, the rich and famous are continuing to benefit from these procedures. People in the entertainment industry, especially, find that they can be more successful if they look their best. Many times looking their best means having some plastic surgery. The 2010 Grammy Awards showcased a wide range of celebrity cosmetic surgery results.

Many of the music business’s biggest stars attended the Grammy award ceremony and used their beauty to mesmorize the crowds. According to the plastic surgery website ,Make Me Heal, quite a few of the stars in attendance owed their dazzling affectations to plastic surgery. Among these were, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige and Fergie.

The Best Female Pop Vocal Performer, Beyonce has been rumored to have had a few cosmetic procedures to maintain that impressive look. Breast augmentation and possibly liposuction are on this list of surgeries. Plastic surgeon Dr. Anthony Youn has said of Beyonce, “It does appear that her nose has been thinned to look more elegant. It matches her face well, is not overdone, and overall looks great. She has extraordinary grace in front of the camera.” Many young girls and women idolize the poise that Beyonce has and will turn to cosmetic surgery to try to match it.

Mary J. Blige stood out dramatically in her pink (fuchsia) dress at the Grammy awards. The 39 year old hip hop queen’s dress had a cutout which displayed her prominent breast implants. Her implants were not nearly as obvious, before she had lost a substantial amount of weight, now the tightness of her skin displays the shape of the implants very distinctly. The criticism that she once received because of her implants has diminished due to societies continually growing acceptance of cosmetic surgical procedures.

Lady Gaga, at 23 years old, won the award for best dance recording, for her song Poker Face. A fitting song to showcase her nose job and possible breast implants. Dr. Paul S. Nassil, a member of the California Society of Facial Plastic Surgery and rhinoplasty specialist, said, “Lady GaGa definitely had a rhinoplasty. It looks a little pinched, but not bad.”

Of all the celebrities gathered at the Grammy awards Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie, is rumored to have had the most cosmetic procedures. Sources say that throughout her life she may have had, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, endoscopic brow lift, Botox injections, chin implants and cheek implants. Dr. Michael Salzhauer, a Miami plastic surgeon says , “Fergie look’s amazing at the 2010 Grammy’s. Compared to a year ago, her face seems softer and more rejuvenated. I suspect that she had some great skin care such as chemical peels and a touch of botox to give her face that flawless glow.”