Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

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.

Pregnancy and the years when your child is young are amongst the most magical times in any person’s life and yet there will always come a time when you want to get back into shape and get your figure back.

Before, this was done with routine exercise and yet this never seemed to quite do the trick. There was always a little something left over which could not be toned away, which exercise could not get rid of for us.  The recent surge in “yummy mummys” and celebrities who seem to snap back into shape straight away after giving birth have also helped move us towards a place where surgery seems to be the only viable way of getting our pre-pregnancy abs back.

When we are pregnant, or even if we aren’t and are just a little overweight, our skin stretches and, when the weight drops back off us, we lose all the elasticity in our skin.  This can lead to sagging and an unflattering look which no amount of exercise will shift. The only real option is a surgical one; have the skin from a previous life and a previous you removed and start a whole new life with a fabulous brand new you.  One plastic surgeon from America, Dr. Jeremy Schreiber has spoken out about the trend, saying that:

“When all is said and done, the results are fantastic. You can expect a smooth contour to your abdomen as well as getting back the flat belly that you had before.”

Once the surgery has been performed then you can indeed begin, once you’ve recovered, on an exercise and diet regime to tone yourself but, if you don’t have the surgery first, you may well be wasting your time trying to work on untoneable areas.  It is often rumoured in the press that some women undergo caesareans and then tummy-tucks straight after; this, however, is certainly not advised. Another viable, and safe, option for some patients is to have a tummy-lipo; that is a tummy tuck and a liposuction procedure at the same time. This is great for getting contouring and sculpting back into the body and could really help any woman get confidence back after giving birth.  It’s not selfish to want your old body back; the happier you are the better equipped you will be to make your children happy!

The China Daily has printed a story which proves that attempting to beat the ageing process by going under the knife is not just a western phenomenon; it is something which is now happening all over the world. 

We’re so used to seeing stories about our home grown British celebs and Los Angeles socialites going under the knife that, often, we don’t realise that the plastic surgery business has grown exponentially in all parts of the globe.  A 50-year old dance teacher from the Chongqing municipality, made regular visits to her surgeon and ended up, quite amazingly, having more than 40 procedures in just four years in an attempt to become happier with how she looked.

The woman is now said to look like a thirty-year old after starting her treatments in 2005 and, perhaps unsurprisingly, she says she is still not happy and has no intention of stopping now. This story, whilst amusing, does highlight one of the dangers of plastic surgery; it can, on very rare occasions, become addictive and leave patients having treatments which they don’t really need or, in extreme cases, even want.  Once in this cycle of getting surgeries and changing one’s appearance, it is often hard to break out of it and this is the problem which the subject of this article seemingly has.  The woman, Li Jia, has spoken out, incredibly poetically, about why she decided to undergo cosmetic treatment:

“I am a dance teacher and I hate when people tell me that I look like a flower from behind and nothing from the front.”

Well she is certainly blooming now, having reconstructed and enhanced almost every part of her body to the tune of around $72,000. No exact details could be found about exactly what procedures had been undergone nor which ones had been planned for future treatments.

For many people, one or two surgeries are all they need to feel happy with themselves. A face-lift to help them look younger, a hair transplant to cover up rapidly receding hair; it is very rare that such a plethora of treatments be undergone by one person. Li Jia’s husband has joked that she should take up residence in the hospital but, as recovery times continue to decrease for most surgeries, she could find herself coming out of hospital faster than she did in the past.

Boob jobs have long been in vogue for women; every year breast augmentation or breast reduction surgeries are constantly the top of the lists of the most sought after surgeries. If you thought the breast-surgery business couldn’t get any more world-beating the think again; it’s got its eyes on a new target market- men!

As the media obsessions with “moobs” grows, so too has the number of males who are wanting to shape their chests and look fab rather than flab in time for summer. The stigma which may have once surrounded men going under the knife has now vastly receded and this can only be good news for the cosmetic surgery industry. The breast reduction surgery which many men are now seeking involves using liposuction to remove excess tissue or fat which could cause the chest to appear swollen.  Dr. John Connors, a plastic surgeon, has spoken out about the trend, commenting that: “For decades, men have been suffering the embarrassment and low-self esteem that accompanies enlarged male breasts. So it’s no surprise then that men are openly embracing [the] procedure … It’s time men start to experience some of the uplifting results of cosmetic surgery that women have taken advantage of for years.”

These uplifting results are now able to change the lives of men who have always wanted to cover themselves up rather than show themselves off. Man boobs, as they are commonly known, are not causes by overweight-lifestyles alone; many people develop them during puberty and oftentimes side-effects of medication can also lead to unwanted weight gain in the chest area.  Often, for those who suffer from this problem, no amount of exercise nor healthy eating can shift the stubborn pockets of fat and thus surgery becomes the only option.  It isn’t just here in Britain that they surgery is becoming popular; male breast reductions were the fourth most popular surgery performed in the United States last year.

Despite the recession, the numbers of people seeking Cosmetic Surgery is still rising year on year. The increase of men going under the knife can only help to ‘boost’ (if you will excuse the pun) these numbers even further.  Now that men have succumb to the craze for breast-augmentation how long will it be before they are having collagen lip enhancements and other treatments previously thought of to be a women’s domain? Only time will tell.

It is harder to think of a bigger life-change than undergoing a major cosmetic surgery procedure. The stress of payment, the physical and mental strain of the actual change and, oftentimes, the fear of the surgery itself all add up to a very nervous and stressful time for even the most surgically-experienced patients. 

It has now been said that one of the ways to reduce levels of anxiety is to talk through any prospective surgery with a qualified, experienced and personable plastic surgeon. It has been shown that doing so can significantly reduce levels of stress leading up to making the decision on having a cosmetic treatment.

In these times of recession and necessary financial restraint, we have already told you stories about professionals undergoing Botox and face-lifts in an attempt to get a foothold in an ever more competitive jobs market. However, the flip-side to this coin is, according to research, that many of these professionals then feel guilty for spending the money on themselves, and on something which could be considered vain, in these thrifty times.  This feeling of guilt can often outweigh the anticipation of the confidence-boost which the surgery will inevitably bring.

Dr. Paul Parker, a cosmetic surgeon based in New Jersey, has spoken out about this trend which is not only prevalent in the United States; it can also be seen in the U.K as well.  “Elective cosmetic surgery can be nerve-wracking or even frightening for some patients. First, there is a financial cost associated with it and secondly, there is a ”fear of the unknown” regarding how they will look or feel following surgery.”

These are only natural feelings and ones which everyone will feel, even surgery-hardened celebrities, before going under the knife. Of course, with celebrities these fears might not necessarily manifest themselves physically due to an over-Botoxing of expression lines in their faces.  In order to combat these feelings of anxiety and worry, it is important that you choose a cosmetic surgery company and indeed a clinic in which you feel welcome, looked-after and, above all, comfortable.  Don’t feel that, by simply talking to a surgeon, you are committing yourself to having the procedure done. The best surgeons will be able to talk candidly about the pros and cons of any operation and won’t pressure your decision in any way.  Surgery is scary, but living your life with very low-confidence could be an even scarier prospect.

Due to the busy pace at which we are now forced to live our lives, many of us take alternative medicines, such as herbal supplements, to help boost our bodies or maybe just to get us through the day. However, a new study has warned that the taking of alternative medicines could seriously hinder the recovery-time of patients who have undergone cosmetic or plastic surgery. 

The latest issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (Don’t pretend you don’t have a subscription!)  has published the research findings of Dr. David Rowe and his team. These findings suggest that herbal supplements available over the counter can have harmful effects if patients continue to take them directly before and after undergoing surgical procedures.  If you’re wondering whether what you’re taking is safe, then the study has listed such remedies as ginkgo biloba, ginseng and Echinacea as the types of tablets you should stop taking. If you are in any doubt as to whether you are taking something safe or not then consult your GP or your surgeon at your initial consultation.  Alternative medicines may make us feel rather much better about ourselves but, if they risk hindering recovery times, then they are certainly not a viable nor wise solution in the long run.  Indeed, it may seem like surgeons are being over protective, but as Rowe points out: In considering the dizzying array of supplements available, the main concerns of the plastic surgeon are interaction with other medications, cardiovascular effects, alteration of coagulation [bleeding] and sedative effects,”

It is not just alternative medicines which patients should be aware of and try to avoid; aspirin or ibuprofen are also banned for patients going under the knife.  Despite these warnings, more than 40% of patients do use herbal medication in the two weeks prior to them going under the knife. The message coming out of the industry now is that this is simply not a safe nor healthy thing to do.  Even if you are only undergoing a light, non-invasive procedure, you should not think yourself exempt from these rules. If there were complications in your surgery and surgeons needed to put you under General Anaesthetic, then this could become dangerous if you had been taking advised-against medication. In short, if you are concerned or confused, talk to your surgeon or to your GP they will be able to tell you whether you are allowed to keep taking the medication in question.

We all have our own reasons for going under the knife; maybe we want to lose some unsightly weight, correct a deformity we’ve had since birth or perhaps we simply want to get back some of the confidence we had when we were younger.

Well, now there’s another, ever more popular, reason why people are going under the knife: divorce.  It seems many people who go through a separation from a partner are now turning towards cosmetic surgery to start the new chapter in their life!

The Lansing State Journal is the publication which has carried the story, saying that both men and women are finding that Cosmetic Surgery offers them the complete break from their old life which many of them needed.  “Plastic surgery can improve how a person looks and feels about themselves. I have seen patients at all times of their lives – not just (after) divorce – who become more confident and feel better”, commented leading plastic surgeon Dr. Jean Loftus. After a messy divorce, what better way to restore confidence than to make yourself look uber-fabulous and leave your ex cursing the day he ever let you go? It’s the surgical equivalent to putting your best dress on and having a night out on the town! 

However, impulse plastic surgery is not the wisest move one can make and industry experts are warning that, despite this trend, surgery is something which should be thought about for a long time, in consultation with both GP’s and trained cosmetic surgeons.  Despite this rise in post-divorce surgeries, they are nowhere near topping the league of the main reasons people decide to go under the knife. Long term insecurities or the negative effects of child-birth are still the main factors in people opting for certain procedures and these are probably the most admirable and wisest catalysts to opting for Cosmetic Surgery.

Divorce, and other trauma within our lives, can often leave us feeling that we need a fresh start that we need to turn a page and open a new and more exciting chapter in our lives. This is certainly healthy, but impulse decisions about surgery are not. Even if you feel it’s the only way to move on, take some time to think, to reflect and to decide if it’s truly what you want to do. If you decide it is, then a world of possibilities and change awaits you!

Priscilla Presley

The former wife of the late, great Elvis Presley, Priscilla made waves as the star of the Naked Gun films, but could now star once again as her character in Tales from the Crypt without going to hair and makeup after a botched injection from a shady doctor. 

Was it worth it?
From far away she doesn’t look too bad, but who knows what effect those chemicals are going to have in the long run.
Not Worth It.

Melanie Griffith

She’s only in her fifties and yet the amount of work, from facelift to lip augmentation, that’s been done on her face leaves her looking like a sixty-something soccer mom trying to pass for forty. Antonio must be so consumed with the appearance of his own face that he faintly recognizes he’s now married to Meg Ryan.

Was it worth it?
Her skin looks like it has practically been acid burned.
Not Worth It.

Cher

Cher’s career has lasted over 40 years, but her face is continually becoming reborn. I don’t know if it’s possible but, amid the obvious cheek implants, the facelift, and the collagen injections, it seems like the most noticeable change has been the elongation of her face.

Was it worth it?
With all that work done, her face is going to last a hell of a lot longer than her career, but that doesn’t mean we want it to.
Maybe or Maybe Not

Joan Rivers

Joan Rivers has become the golden standard for plastic surgery. We don’t laugh at her comedy, we don’t pay attention to her shows, we only watch to catch a glimpse of when her multiple facelifts, nose jobs, and other reconstructions will begin to move her face on their own.

Was it worth it?
Joan’s fully fake face is the only reason we know who she is.
Worth It.

Michael Jackson

There really aren’t any words. A skin bleaching disease couldn’t possibly turn a cute round-faced African American boy into Skeletor. There’s gotta be something in that blanket of his kids.

Was it worth it?
His initial musical talent and his subsequent bizarre behaviors were entertainment enough… we really didn’t need to bear witness to any public displays of self mutilation.
Not Worth It.

Jocelyn Wildenstein

The wealthy British heiress is often referred to as Cat Woman or The Bride of Wildenstein (Bride of Frankenstein) for reportedly undergoing nearly $4 million in plastic surgeries – facelifts, eye reconstruction, and injections all over her face – to become more feline.

Was it worth it?
She’s managed to change the world with her millions and simultaneously set herself up as a true soul mate.
Worth It. (lol)

Some UK based surgeons have teamed up to perform a full face transplantation next year for the first time in history.

Recently the media highlighted a case where Dr Maria Siemionow, a surgeon from Ohio, successfully tranplanted 80 per cent of a dead woman‘s facial tissue to a patient who had suffered severe deformation. However, a London based expert from the Royal Free Hospital has announced plans to take cosmetic surgery achievements even further.

Dr Peter Butler recognised the importance of the recent operation and confirmed that the possibility of a full transplantation is just a few steps away.

“We hope to make an announcement about a full-face operation in the next 12 months,” he confirmed.

“This latest operation shows how facial transplantation can help a particular group of the most severely facially injured people.”

He explained that this kind of transplantation would last around ten hours or more and would be likely to cause serious threats to the patient‘s health. However, it is expected that there will be many individuals who would agree to take the risks for a chance to have a new face.
 
As to the ethical concerns in relation to such procedures, Dr Eric Kodish who works at the Cleveland hospital where the revolutionary operation was performed, claims that the moral side is “beyond reproach”.

They go to med school, junior doctor and then years and years of surgical training (okay so a few on the list skipped this bit) and finally they reach the pinnacle of their career, they become a fully fledged cosmetic or plastic surgeon.  And then they lose the plot start wearing their underpants on their head and stick two pencils up their nose while thinking of creative things to do with the fat they sucked out of their last patient. We could have added so many more..but we don’t want to put you off too much.

Franz Gsell

He was one of Germany’s most celebrated plastic surgeons and worth a reported $10 million. After his expensive first marriage failed he decided to find himself a plain, chubby girl from a rural Bavarian town who he could turn into his own Barbie trophy wife (with a big dollop Eurotrash styling thrown in). When he “created” Tatjana he liked to think he was creating “the perfect woman”. After Franz had performed more than 20 operation to create his dream wife it all started to go wrong for him. First she left him for another wealthy old dodger called Helmut Becker known as the “Car King of Düsseldorf” and they set up a love nest in Marbella, Spain. The next part is a little grey but involved Franz being robbed and attacked with an axe by a gang. He was so badly beaten he died two weeks later in hospital. Ironically this propelled Tatjana in the spot light and she immediately found celebrity fame in Germany’s gutter press and her plastic looks can be seen adorning many magazines. The final twist in the tale is Tatjana’s arrest in connection with her husband’s death and her conviction for her part in the plot (they managed to pin insurance fraud on her). And with Franz millions in the bank I don’t think we will be seeing a wrinkle appear on her pulled back face anytime soon. Oh and the latest is she hooked up with Prince Ferfried von Hohenzollern but left him after he became bankrupt.

Where is he now? Dead

David Herbert “the flying doctor”

A plastic surgeon in the UK he got his name “the flying doctor” because of the speed at which he used to perform his cosmetic surgery procedures. It is said he would do a facelift in just forty minutes instead of the normal two to four hours.  He had 70 serious complaints pending against him from former patients who he left close to death with infections and gaping holes in their flesh. Many of his colleagues had described him as “verging on the psychopathic” and “psychotic”. The list of complaints against him is long and gruesome but before he could face disciplinary action he withdrew from medical practice.

Where is he now? Retired

Daniel Serrano

Priscilla Presley and number of Hollywood high society are just a few of the many thousands of former patients disfigured by Daniel who claimed to have found a new anti ageing solution (the solution turned out to be an industrial type of low quality silicone that is used in automotive industry) Argentinean born Daniel Serrano was unlicensed to provide any kind of treatment and had little medical training was dubbed “Dr. Daniel”  and “Dr. Jiffy Lube” charged thousands of dollars for his treatment. The injections caused lumps in his victims  lip that made it hard for them to eat and drink as well as speak. He is currently serving time in a Federal Prison.

Where is he now? Out of prison trying to avoid deportation

Jan Adams

Adams is a high profile plastic surgeon who had it all.  A list of celebrity clients as well as being a TV regular with his own shows he hit the dizzy height when he appeared on Oprah. But it all started to go horribly wrong for Jan. He was the plastic surgeon who performed surgery on Donda West (the mother of rapper Kanye West) when she died after he did her lipo. He stormed off Larry King Live ripping off taking off his microphone and ear piece saying he wasn’t going to defend himself. He returned to Larry King last year claiming his business been destroyed by the publicity surrounding the case (hey Jan that’s what happened when a celebrity dies under your care) Oh and he seems to have a serious drink problem after being arrested three times for DUI and for driving without a license. In January 2009 he was sentenced to one year in jail in California.

Where is he now? Prison

Kaweewat Hengsawat

Kaweewat was the owner of Bio Clinic in Pattaya, Thailand and had a unique way of dealing with patients unhappy with their nips and tucks. He has them shot in the head! After former patient Mrs Apassanan began a lawsuit and PR campaign against him accusing him of disfiguring her after he injected liquid silicone solution into her face (I wonder if he buys it from the same mechanic as Dr. Jiffy Lube above). It is said he paid to have her killed. And for good measure he had the witness in the case killed as well…or so he is accused. It is also rumored he also botched an operation to enlarge the penis of a member of government.

Where is he now? Unknown

Alan Bittner

He gives a new meaning to the phrase ”Living off the fat of the land”. In Alan’s case the fat was from over seven thousand liposuction patients he treated at his Rodeo Drive clinic and he converted the fat of his patients into a Biofuel to power his fleet of vehicles including his Ford Explorer and his girlfriends’ Lincoln Navigator. He has patients forming a queue to take him to court after it also emerged he let his unlicensed girlfriend and an assistant perform the liposuction surgery on his patients as well and she took out too much fat (maybe they were planning a long road trip and need the extra fuel) He moved to South America after the lawsuit started to stack up.

Where is he now? Bogota, Colombia

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Michel Maure

He is known as “Doctor Death” and went on the run from his dirty and run down clinic  in Marseille France following botched cosmetic surgery operations that resulted in the mutilation and death or near death of at least 90 women. He failed to administer enough anesthetic which results in him putting his patients through severe agony. How fitting that Docteur Maure is pronounced like Docteur mort which when translated from French to English means Doctor death.

Where is he now? Sentenced to three years prison