Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

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.

Each surgeon has a different story concerning what lead them to choose cosmetic surgery. Many join because of the joy that they believe people can gain through their services. Dr. Michael Obeng is the chief plastic surgeon at St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio and he told his story to WYTV 33.

Dr. Obeng grew up in Ghana and it is there, during his childhood, that he decided he would one day become a plastic surgeon. In 1985 he saw the results of a reconstructive surgery performed on his neighbor who had suffered a facial disfigurement. The surgeons were from Operation Smile, a not-for-profit, volunteer
medical services organization that provides reconstructive facial surgery to children and young adults all around the world. The results were motivational to him and he told WYTV, “She had a whole new different outlook on life. That really inspired me to be a doctor, specifically a plastic surgeon.”

Not many children in Ghana dream of becoming a plastic surgeon but that is exactly what Obeng dreamed of, and he would not allow himself to fail. He moved to the states in 1993, where he attended medical school. He took a fellowship at Harvard Medical School, while also being an assistant surgeon at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr Obeng said, “I never let anything deter me, because when you have a
dream, people say you can’t do it, but actually it motivates you and makes you work harder.”

He has performed over 400 procedures and is doing complex reconstructions, cosmetic surgery, and hand surgery. He says of his patients, “These are people that would rather be treated elsewhere. But with my skill set, we’re able to keep these sets of patients in the Youngstown area, and it has been very rewarding.” Dr. Obeng is proud to be able to provide a service that is so badly needed for many who have deformities and disfigurements.

He has also started an organization to help provide reconstructive surgeries in other countries. The organization is called Restore Worldwide and it stands for Restoring Emotional Stability Through Outstanding Reconstructive Efforts. This organization obviously stems from his experiences of the life changing effect that reconstructive surgery can have on a person. Some of his efforts have been geared toward surgeries on women who have congenital breast deformities from breast cancer.

He has a goal of traveling to a different country each year, and teaching the local surgeons how to perform these reconstructive procedures. He knows that his organization cannot help everyone in each area that he visits. He says that he wants to teach the local physicians, “So when we leave they can still continue to do some of the work that we’re not able to get to.”

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.

Plastic surgery has been practiced in Europe for many years. The first supranational society for plastic surgeons was founded in 1936 and named the Societe Eropeene de Chirurgie Structive. The activities of this association were ceased near the beginning of WWII and never resumed. It was 1989, before a new supranational society was again formed, this time known as the European Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (ESPRAS). Every two years this society meets for clinical and aesthetic presentations. The year of 2014 will see the 12th annual European Plastic Surgery Congress held in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. This will be the first time that a plastic surgery conference has been held in the UK since 1959.

The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRS) in coordination with Congrex UK and the Edinburgh Convention Bureau won the bid. The bid was won in part because of the choice of this city over others in the UK. Edinburgh is an easily accessible city due to its major transport links including the Waverley railway station and the Edinburgh Airport. The historical allure of Edinburgh was also an asset in the bid, with Holyrood Park, Edinburgh Castle, and Craigmillar Castle all attesting to its rich history. Edinburgh is home to state-of-the-art venues and the conference will be held at the modern Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Chris Khoo, a former President and European Board member, was one of the individuals who presented the bid and said, “It was important to remind voting delegates of the founding of the British Association in 1946, its longstanding connections with Europe in the training of surgeons, and its extensive experience in organising Meetings and Conferences.”

BAPRAS is working closely with Congrex UK to make this event spectacular. They have already formed a local organizing committee and have high expectations. The Account Manager from Congrex UK, Krystina Snaith is very happy with the collaboration between the two companies. She said, “The 12th ESPRAS Congress is an extremely prestigious congress to organise, and we are delighted to have been able to work
with BAPRAS and the Edinburgh city partners from the outset, through the bidding process to what we very much hope will be a hugely successful event that will attract a record attendance for ESPRAS Congress in Edinburgh in 2014.” An estimated 1,00o members of the cosmetic surgery community from around the world are expected to attend the Congress.

Many people would like to have cosmetic surgery. There is at least one feature on their bodies that they don’t like and can’t change, except through a cosmetic procedure. However, many have fears and thus, never pursue their dream of improving their appearance. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) is hoping to allay these fears and arrest hesitation from potential patients with a new cosmetic surgery magazine.

The magazine to be launched is titled ‘New You’ and it is an official consumer magazine to accurately represent the views of the AACS. The 2,500 member organization is hoping to overturn the stigma surrounding cosmetic surgery. Editor J.P. Faber says, “For every person who has undergone a cosmetic procedure, there are at least two more people who would like to. Our job is to overcome their barriers to
making that decision.” He says that the purpose of the magazine is to promote the practices of cosmetic surgery, “so that people who are thinking about it today will take action tomorrow.”

According to a study done by the global market research firm Synovate, 77 percent of the Americans surveyed, said that beauty is something that is not about physical attributes. However, nearly half said that they would change the way they look if they could. 26 percent of the Americans said that they would consider plastic surgery, if money were not an issue. Synovate also reported that 41 percent of all the people surveyed pay attention to beauty tips in magazines.

Jeff Knezovich, executive vice president of the AACS, says, “Our goal is to educate the public about their choices in cosmetic procedures. Whether our readers want to reduce wrinkles to look younger, or change something more fundamental with a facelift or liposuction, we want them to be fully informed about the costs, the results and the safety issues.”

The magazine’s first run is to have 250,000 copies. They will be delivered to waiting rooms in plastic surgery clinics, hotels, and spas. Also book stores and newsstands will carry the publication. Faber explained that they were not planning on making it a mass audience magazine because of the downturn that has been witnessed with other publications of this type. They have geared the distribution toward a specific demographic instead. He said, “Our readers are actively spending on their appearance, specifically to reverse the signs of aging. This is a great audience for any provider of cosmetic products or procedures.”

Faber is encouraging AACS members to submit ideas for the magazine to him. He would like these members specifically to send in before and after pictures, and other real stories that will depict the true benefits and effectiveness of AACS doctors.

Cosmetic surgery has indeed come a long way from its days of being a thing only spoke of in whispers and performed under clandestine conditions. Today most people are not afraid to talk about their procedures and some are even willing to broadcast them. A new show in Ireland is doing just that.

The Cosmetic Surgery Show: What A Load of Botox, airing on TV3, is taking a thorough look at plastic surgery. Caroline Morahan, star of Off the Rails, and Dr. 90210′s Dr. Robert Rey will present the six part series. TV3 says, “This amazing multi-item magazine show will take an in depth look at cosmetic surgery in Ireland as we follow a different Irish person each week going through a different procedure whose result
will be revealed in studio.” This show will give people a really good look at what each procedure entails. Plastic surgery procedures such as tummy tucks, liposuction, breast augmentation, and face lifts will be shown.

The program is also featuring some non-surgical procedures. As stated by TV3, “the programme will feature non-invasive treatments, such as dermal fillers, being carried out live in studio. The series will get to the heart of many of the issues surrounding cosmetics in Ireland, featuring a studio discussion about an issue each week, as well as poling the public.” There are many issues and confusions shrouding cosmetic procedures and it is hoped that this series will be able to pull that shroud aside and get to the truth of the issues.

The series is not to be solely based on Ireland cosmetic surgery. It is also going to look at things around the word. As reported by TV3, “the show will take a look at many of the ground breaking procedures being practiced in other parts of the world such as the United States, which range from extraordinary to completely shocking, and as we ask whether these techniques used could be replicated in Ireland.”

This series should be able to open the eyes of many people, to the benefits of cosmetic surgeries. It will also give people a better understanding of what procedures are available and what these procedures could mean for them. The series will broadcast for six weeks beginning on Wednesday 13th January at 9pm on Irish TV3. Its result should be a new understanding of plastic surgery for many in society.

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.”

Improvements in cosmetic surgery are constantly being implemented. Procedures are revised and then revised again, to ensure that they are the best that they can be. Advances in technology also contribute to the improvements in plastic surgery. One of these improvements is the Vaser liposuction technique which is quickly becoming very popular.

It is said that Vaser Liposuction is the next generation in body contouring and has been named the ‘magic wand’ liposuction. It utilizes an ultrasonic wave, in a new and revolutionary way, to create a much less invasive procedure. Ultrasonic waves, better known as ultrasounds, have been used in the medical field for many years. They help a mother to get the first look at her baby and have been employed in teeth cleaning. Now a technique has been created which allows these waves to liquefy unwanted fat cells. An ultrasound wand is passed over the area where the fat is to be removed. Ultrasonic energy emanates from the wand and is able to liquefy the fat cells without harming any of the surround tissue. Thus, nerves, blood vessels, and connecting tissue are safe form the energy. Once the fat is liquefied, it is sucked out of the area through a small incision. The procedure is quick and a local anesthetic, ensures that it is painless.

Carla McKay wrote an article, for the Daily Mail, describing her experience with the Vaser Liposuction procedure. While doing a headstand in her yoga class she was disconcerted by her stomach as it reached for her chin. She described it as ‘a sagging lump of excess blubber’ and she was disgusted by it. When she looked around at the other people in her group she was unable to find a stomach that was any where near, as flabby and gross as hers. She quickly decided that, as a 58th birthday present, she would have liposuction.

After exhaustive research she decided that the new Vaser liposuction, performed by Dr. Mike Comins, was worth a try. After being thoroughly numbed around the abdomen the doctor rubbed the Vaser wand over her. The wand was not painful, however she said, “it felt like a scraping sensation inside, as if he were weeding my stomach with a trowel.” It took around one and a half hours for the entire procedure and recovery time was not very long at all. She was thrilled with the results. She had lost three inches on her waist and was able to fit into jeans that she had not worn in a long time.

Vaser Liposuction is a wonderful new way to have fat removed, without having to undergo a very invasive surgery. Big incisions are not necessary with this innovative approach and the results have been described as ‘a dream come true’.

Cosmetic surgery has grown quickly in popularity. With society’s increasing acceptance, of people who have undergone plastic surgery, the number of procedures performed continues to multiply. Women can get breast augmentations, liposuction, and face-lifts. But what has been surprising, is the increasing number of procedures that men are undergoing. In fact according to The Hospital Group, one of UK’s leading providers of cosmetic surgery and obesity surgery, the number of tummy tuck procedures performed on men has increased by 60 percent in the last five years.

Many men, who have lost a substantial amount of weight, find that if they want to look good they will need to have a procedure done to remove the excess skin. A spokesperson for The Hospital Group, said: “Men often opt to have a tummy tuck if they have had substantial weight-loss and are left with sagging skin around the abdomen. We have seen an increase in men having obesity surgery which could have had a knock-on effect.” Tummy tucks, also know as abdominoplasty, can improve the look of the stomach drastically. The procedure is performed by tightening the abdominal muscles and removing excess skin. The remaining skin is then pulled tight and secured. This will create a tighter and firmer abdomen.

As reported in Surgery Lowdown-Cosmetic Surgery Advice, John Wright form Lincolnshire had a tummy tuck operation and breast reduction after loosing 22 stone. He said, :After the immense effort and hard work of losing so much weight it was utterly soul destroying to see vast folds of skin hanging from my body…….. I used almost ,10,000 of my savings but I think it was worth every penny.” Many testimonials from men who have had a tummy tuck are the same as Mr. Wright’s. The result of a tummy tuck make many men feel like they are a whole new person.

There has been a substantial increase in plastic surgeries performed on men in the last few years. According to Mr. Rajiv Grover, Secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, “This year [2009] we have recorded a dramatic rise in a number of male surgical procedures, probably due to heightened media attention, which has allowed men to realise the positive outcomes that can be achieved.” Men have begun to put a greater emphasis on their own appearances and thus the increase in cosmetic procedures performed on men is merely a logical extension of this.

The cosmetic surgery field has continuously grown to encompass more and more different procedures. Not only are there more procedures, but there are also better techniques and tools. Technological advances from many fields have helped cosmetic surgery to become safe and efficient. More advances are made every day to improve plastic surgery. One of these improvements is a procedure called, cell enriched breast enhancement.

Cell enriched breast enhancement, dubbed ‘Stem Cell Boob Job’, involves taking fat cells from other parts of the body and putting them in the breasts to increase bust size. It is a chemical free treatment, and there are claims that it is permanent. This could be the next generation of breast implants, however a cosmetic expert advises against rushing into the procedure. Dr. Ravi Jain, medical director at Riverbanks Clinic, says, “Almost all the best cosmetic treatments currently available are actually 3rd or 4th generation versions of earlier treatments which have been refined and improved over time and as more data became available. Stem cell-based beauty treatments are certainly going to be big in the future but the treatment is still in its infancy, and in my opinion, has at least another 12-18 months of modification ahead of it.’

The new stem cell procedures are being offered in some clinics in the UK. Cell enriched breast enhancements and cell enriched Botox can be found being offered by certain surgeons but not Dr. Jain. He will most likely be offering some selected trails in 2010, however these trials will be done in order to gain better data about the long term success of the treatment. He said, “If the trial prove successful, this approach could be used to treat a range of conditions more effectively including sun damage, scars, skin tone, and lines and wrinkles. This is definitely going to be the future of cosmetic treatments, but still has some way to go.”

His statements show that he is very excited about the procedure, but being a doctor since 1995 he has gained some wisdom, when it comes to new treatments. He does not want to see a flood of people rush into something that is not yet perfected and then be disappointed with the results. Most procedures require some fine tuning before they become efficient. His advice is, merely, that people wait a little while before
having this new procedure performed on them.