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A new study has found that as many as 20 per cent of plastic surgery patients are referred to psychologists prior to receiving the procedure.

Plastic Surgeons have concerns over the unrealistic expectations some people have for their surgery, believing that some patients see cosmetic enhancements as a way to change the things that have gone wrong in their lives. To prevent people from negative results, many doctors are requiring patients to have clearance form a psychologist before they go under the knife.

Dr. Alex Clarke, a psychologist at the Royal free Hospital in London lays out some guidelines for who should have a psychological consultation prior to surgery. He is concerned with people who have psychiatric conditions such as eating disorders and a condition called body dysmorphic disorder where the affected person is excessively concerned about a perceived defect in his or her physical features.

These conditions will cause increased risks to the surgery as the patient is not likely to see a positive outcome no matter how the surgery turns out. Clarke also believes that stricter guidelines for adolescents seeking cosmetic surgery are needed, she says, “All adolescent patients need a thorough assessment, as do those who have multiple appearance concerns or are being influenced by someone else.” Battling the unreasonable expectations of patients desiring cosmetic surgery is one of the paramount concerns of the plastic surgery industry today.

When considering who an ideal candidate for cosmetic surgery would be, Dr. Clarke stated that it should be someone who is able to describe the procedure, where the outcome is clearly objective and measureable. Clarke’s standards are good ones to emulate, plastic surgery isn’t going to fix everything that is wrong in a patient’s life, it can’t bring back an ex-boyfriend or get you a better job, it won’t make you more popular or make people treat you better. Seeing the surgery realistically is the key to gaining a positive result from the procedure, if it takes a psychologist to help a patient, then a psych consultation is well worth the time and effort.

New research which has recently been revealed to the world is forcing plastic and cosmetic surgeons to throw out their old assumptions on how the human face ages and thus what the best types of treatments to fight back can be. 

Apparently, our face are made up of different fat compartments and these different compartments individually change with age and so how we are affected by the ageing process and which parts of our bodies are affected depends on how each of these fat compartments changes over time. Wow, you really do learn something new every day!

The lead author of the study which has revealed this new information, Dr. Joel Pessa, has spoken out about the new findings, saying that: “Contrary to popular belief, the human face does not age uniformly. We thought facial fat was one confluent mass that eventually got weighed down by gravity, creating sagging skin. However, we were shocked to find not only is the face made up of individual fat compartments but these compartments gain and lose fat at different rates.” Thus, all our old assumptions about how to keep our faces looking young and gravity-defying have to be completely reconsidered.  What the study does mean, at a base level for people like you and me who might be considering facial surgery is that certain areas which cause us trouble can now be pinpointed and treated more directly.  Injectable fillers will be able to be used on specific compartments of fat on the face and thus a more natural and effective way of fighting back against the ageing process will be achieved. This will be greeted well on both sides of the Atlantic, as the non-invasive surgery business is one of the biggest sections of the cosmetic and plastic surgery industry.  “This discovery will undoubtedly play a role in how we view aging and how we approach facial reconstructive plastic surgery.” confirmed Dr. Pessa.

The study could have further reaching consequences as well, with reports saying that it could even have reconstructive benefits for cancer or trauma patients. Facial disfigurements such as cleft lips may also be able to be approached differently. It would seem this breakthrough is going to be used in many different areas of surgery and will ultimately benefit and enormous number of people. In the near future though, it will help to fight back against the ageing process.

As regular readers of this blog will know, the boundaries of cosmetic surgery are constantly being challenged and new procedures, techniques and inventions are emerging all the time and the industry is able to offer a much higher level of care and end results than it could a decade ago. 

We’ve seen new advances in laser treatments, new types of implants and even a drastic reduction in bruising and recovery times for some procedures. Well now there is another new advance to bring to your attention, this one being in the field of facelifts.

In the past, the traditional way of performing a facelift would be to “re-drape” the skin over the face in order to improve tightness, but this method is now used very rarely.  Advancements and new discoveries mean that surgeons now have a much more nuanced understanding of how the face is made up and, more importantly, how it ages and what changes the ageing process inflicts upon us.  Shorter scars and much more natural and balanced results are just a couple of the welcome side-effects of such advances. In the past, we might have joked that people who’ve had facelifts are easily identifiable but this is now not the case at all. The huge number of have-they/haven’t they stories in gossip weekly’s is testament to the fact that it is getting harder to determine who has or hasn’t had work done.

One of the main advances is that a procedure known as lipostructure has now become an integral part of the facelift procedure. Replacing the old “re-drape” notion, lipostructure involves removing fat from an area of a patient’s body and then using said fat to replace tissue which has lost its plumpness.  Areas where this can be useful can be sagging cheeks or tired-looking eyes and the overall effect is to create a much younger-looking, much more alert face.  The ability to provide youthful results without the re-draping technique means that facelifts are now looking a lot more natural. It is hoped that such an advance will tempt even more people to the ever-popular procedure. Some people still opt for non-permanent procedures, such as Botox or laser treatments as they are scared of the aesthetic results of a facelift. Advances such as this, and the ones which will no doubt come in the future, should go some way to allaying these fears.

One of the main downsides to having cosmetic surgery is the bruising which one has to endure afterwards. Here we are with the perfect stomach, or nose, or hairline and all we want to do is get out there and show ourselves off to people.

However, we can’t until the bruising has gone down.  Well, this may well be a thing of the past as surgeons have announced that they may have found a way to reduce bruising and swelling after operations have been performed! 

The new invention behind all this excitement is the Candela Vbeam laser which can apparently be used to treat facial bruising after rhinoplasty, eye lifts or even complete face lifts.  A study was carried out and the results have just been published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery journal. These results show that, on average, there was a 63% improvement in the amount of bruising which patients had to endure between 48 and 72 hours after surgery. Dr. Edwin Williams, from the Williams Centre for Plastic Surgery has added further weight to the claims by saying:

“After just one treatment with the Vbeam, our patients experienced dramatic clearance of the injured blood vessels”.

The use of laser treatment within the cosmetic industry is not, in itself, a new development. Laser treatments have long been used to get rid of the blemishes of acne, or unwanted redness of cheeks or even scars and now another advancement has meant that we, one more, have another use for lasers. Face lifts and rhinoplasty are amongst the most popular procedures performed in the U.K and, if those undergoing them can have quicker recovery times and get back out into the world faster, then this can surely only be a good thing.  Indeed the introduction of the ‘Pulsed-Dye Laser for Treating ecchymoses after Facial Cosmetic Procedures’” (or so the article was entitled) should be greeted as a revolution in the cosmetic and plastic surgery industries.

One of the things which often puts people off complicated surgeries and makes them opt for less invasive treatments , is the severe bruising which the former treatments can often induce. Such a life-changing event as a facelift is often traumatic enough, without having to contend with unsightly bruising as well. This latest innovation will hopefully change all that. With precision may well come perfection and, after that, increased confidence.

Previously considered an age where people should start winding down and looking forward to retirement, 50 is now being considered the start of a brand new life by a new generation of people who feel 50 should be fabulous!

Increasing numbers of both men and women have been going under the knife in recent years in order to rejuvenate their bodies but new research has suggested that it’s not just the young and the vain who are image conscious; older generations are getting in on the act as well.

Alina Deeble from Euromedica has spoken out about this latest trend in cosmetic surgery, saying that: “Older women have many reasons for wanting to look younger and are prepared to spend cash they have been putting aside to get the face and the body they want.” The money aspect here is an important point; even if we are happy with our bodies now and don’t think there’s anything we would change, this might well change as we get older.

Putting aside money now can ensure that you are able to afford to make the changes you want to make. In the last year alone, the number of treatments performed on people aged 45 to 65 doubled; this is certainly good news for the cosmetic industry.

One reason behind this startling rise in the number of older women going under the knife could well be the pressure put on them from the celebrity culture which all age-groups are now immersed in.  Examples from Madonna to Helen Mirren could be cited as women who look fabulous as they age and thus send out the message that getting older can mean getting more glamorous. If young people are under pressure to sculpt their bodies according the latest teen-star in Vogue, older women are under pressure to grow old with glamour and, for many, this means going under the surgeon’s knife.

Ultimately, retirement should be about relaxing and enjoying your new found freedom. However, if you haven’t got the confidence to go out and do what you want then this might not be possible. Plastic surgery and cosmetic treatments offer the chance to regain some of the confidence you might have had in your 20’s and thus be able to live each day to the most.  Start setting aside now for the surgeries you might want when you’re older and ensure you enjoy every moment!

In this ever changing, ever demanding, ever shocking world, it would seem that the one constant is time. More precisely, the terrible damage which time seems insistent on inflicting upon our bodies. 

However, despite this, it may well not be all doom and gloom, a new study from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has given hope to millions of time-ravaged people.  It is normally our genetic-makeup which determines how we age and makes some people feel epoch’s effects faster than others, however the ASPS has now suggested that environmental factors could also be behind people’s aging.

“In this study, we looked at identical twins because they are genetically programmed to age exactly the same, and in doing so we essentially discovered that, when it comes to your face, it is possible to cheat your biological clock.” commented researcher Dr. Bahaman Guyuron, before going onto say:”… we have discovered a number of new factors that contribute to ageing and second, our findings put science behind the idea that volume replacement rejuvenates the face.”  What this essentially means, in laymens terms, is that more scientific reasoning can now be propped-up behind cosmetic surgery and that this, in turn, should encourage more people to undergo treatments.  There are many different treatments which can help an aged-face and it is hoped that this new research will show people that they don’t simply have to give in to their genetics; there is a plumping and tightening helping hand available.

Rather, it would probably be more accurate to say ‘hands’ as there are many different treatments which prospective patients can choose between. There is, of course, Botox, but there are also some newer products on the market such as Juvederm which can be very successful at reducing the appearance of even fairly deep-set wrinkles.  However, these treatments are only temporary and, if we really want to fight back against ageing, then a facelift offers a much more permanent solution. Indeed many retired people are now taking up this option in order to fight back against the genetic ravishes of time!  Volume replacement can certainly make a difference but it isn’t a guaranteed nor a lasting solution. Of course, we should also celebrate old age and the beauty and wisdom that comes with it but we do also need to be able to have the confidence to enjoy our final years!

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.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon’s, also known by the wonderful acronym BAAPS, has been rewarded for highlighting irresponsible advertising within the plastic surgery industry. 

The Association Initiative of the Year award was given to the organisation at the prestigious Aesthetic Medical Awards (Second only to the Oscar’s don’t you know).  BAAPS president, Nigel Mercer, has expressed his delight at winning the award, being quoted as commenting:  “”We are delighted to receive this award from Aesthetic Medicine. At the BAAPS we have always worked hard to educate the public on the issues surrounding aesthetic procedures and it was a privilege to receive recognition from our peers.”

The campaign by the organisation has focussed on the standard and style of some advertising within the plastic surgery industry and this is testament to the fact that the scrutiny has paid off.  It is hoped that such campaigns, and indeed such award events as this, will help root out the last remaining bad elements of the vast and expansive industry and help build a cosmetic surgery community in which the best practises and customer care were always observed to the upmost degree.  It was felt that, in the past, the industry had been jeopardised by irresponsible advertising that was misleading customers in many elements of the cosmetic surgery enterprise. It is surely only fair that customers are told the risks, the costs and the possible side effects of any procedure they may to undertake; this information should also be told in a clear, easy to understand and precise manner. Such ideals are the driving force behind the BAAPS campaign and the reason they have been honoured in this manner. It is hoped that many more organisations will now follow their ethical lead and find new and innovative ways of cleaning up the industry.

Perhaps the key to BAAPS success (seriously, that acronym is great!) is that most of their members, and indeed their previously mentioned President, are all practising plastic surgeons themselves. This gives them a unique insight to the industry and means that they literally know the problems of the industry inside-out.  Hopefully, more plastic surgeons will follow their lead and, as we move into a new decade, we will finally be able to eradicate the final few shadows in the industry and let the beacon of aesthetic surgery shine out and change people’s lives up and down the country.

In times gone by flamboyant, gushing gowns could hide any excess weight that might be stubbornly clinging to the bride-to-be wearer but changes in fashion mean that there are now not so many ruffles and plumages to hide behind.

This could be one of the reasons behind the rise in brides going under the knife before they walk down the aisle.  One company said it had already received a staggering 400 enquiries about plastic surgery for weddings since the beginning of the year! Interestingly, it’s not just lipo that these fabulous brides are wanting; they want breast enlargements as well so they can fill the tighter, less forgiving gowns which are now on the market.

The owner of the Mirror, Mirror bridal boutiques in London, Maria Yainnikaris, has commented how she has noticed a trend in women saying: “I need to wait for my fitting”. These same women then return with “very high and firm breasts”.  The catwalk has been seen as partly to blame, wedding couture is now big business and the current trend for slimmer, ‘body-con’ dresses is what the public is spending its money on.  Traditional wedding dresses were designed to be an un-sexual as possible, sexuality and the idea of the virginal bride were seen as clashing ideas.  Now however, the mounds of fabric and frills have gone the way of the virginal bride and now it’s all about the sexy, slim bride.  The manager of The Wedding Dress Shop, in Wimbledon, commented on the trend saying that: “…the trend is now influenced by delicate, fluid styles with lots of lace, thin spaghetti straps and no structure at all. There is one dress in particular that is impossible to wear without a perfect pair of breasts or a breast augmentation or lift. The dress has back cross-over straps so a bra is completely out of the question.”

However, surgeons cannot work miracles. Indeed, one leading practitioner has commented on this issue. He said that he had seen a rush of women who begin to panic as their big day approaches and thus come to demand unrealistic and unhealthy turnaround times. These women are being turned away and told that their expectations are simply too unrealistic. Looking fabulous on your big day is important, but so is feeling fabulous and you don’t want to have to run straight from the hospital bed to walk down the aisle!

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!