Cosmeticsurgeon.co.uk - UK Cosmetic Surgeons

A breast cancer report is good news for the UK and women. Over 20 years now, the death rate from breast cancer has continued to fall rapidly, with a 35% decline in deaths. With the advantage of early diagnosis, surgery, drug treatment and access to specialists has been the key to survival. The UK originally started with the highest death rate in the world in the 80′s and it has decreased dramatically. However, many women would have survived had they lived somewhere else in Europe.

The death rate in Britain has decreased to the European rate of 28.1 deaths for every 100,000 women afflicted. However, the Netherlands is already at 30.1 and France is at 25.6. A researcher by the name of Philippe Autier that is part of the International Agency for Research on Cancer feels that England will continue to decrease the death toll and could go below France’s levels.

Britain has seen a 2% decrease in the death toll and this is better than France which has a 1.4% rate. However, France has the highest rate of screening for breast cancer in the world. They spend the most on cancer drugs per person than any other country and they ensure that doctors are following guidelines and procedures when it comes to breast cancer. They have been at the very front when it comes to new drugs and treatments available for breast cancer as well. This means that France needs to look at what is happening and what is going wrong with the breast cancer death rate not dropping more significantly.

The numbers have helped to clear up why the breast cancer death rate is still so poor in the UK, while the performance has been very good. A reason may be that the deaths from breast cancer are recorded, but cancer survival cases are not. These shortcomings create an impression of a far worse situation then there really is.

Furthermore, ageism is still a problem in UK and Europe. The death rate has declined in every country with women under 50, than women over 70. The reason may be that younger women respond better to treatment, even when the cancer is more aggressive. However, women over 70 also do not receive the same treatment or concern that younger woman do.

Once upon a time it was only women who were concerned with their looks and men had the enviable position of not being pressured as much by society to look a certain way. The 1980’s new man and now the metrosexual have put an end to all that and now men as much as women are under pressure, often from huge billboards advertising underwear, to fit into a stereotypical Adonis-like figure; for many men this can lead to cripplingly low self-confidence and a desire to use surgery to change and enhance their looks.

One of the main problem areas for men has always been the man-boob; most men can’t spend three hours in the gym every day getting the perfectly sculpted body which we now see in fashion shows and between the pages of magazines; a lifestyle of drinking and unhealthy food leads to a build up of fat around the chest area and these, rather cruelly, have come to be known as man boobs.  However, there is good news, as recent reports indicate that male breast reduction surgery is now much better and much more effective than it was a few short years ago.  Different liposuction methods are now being used which have been found to be much more effective and patients are less likely to experience the scarring which they had to live with in the past.

It seems that this news comes on the back of a sea-change in the male culture of this country. We are finally starting to make the connection between our binge-drinking culture and how we look physically; one in five men in a recent survey expressed concern that the amount they drank was starting to affect their physical appearance. The insecurity is not just limited to the infamous beer belly anymore, men are now becoming aware that their chests are being scrutinised by society as well.  Men undergoing breast reduction surgery some 10 to 15 years ago may not have been happy with the outcome, but the advances which have been made in the interim mean that many men are now being given a new lease of life. Of course, surgery should only be seen as the last resort; if you or your partner fear that man boobs may be starting to appear, simply cut back on the alcohol and try binging on salads and regular exercise instead!

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.

Twins generally like to assert their independence. After spending childhood being dressed the same by parents and having to share birthdays and having to live with always having to share attention, twins generally mark themselves out from each other as they get older. This is what makes this cosmetic surgery story all the more shocking; a pair of twin sisters have spoken out about how they have jointly spent over £60,000 on cosmetic surgery. Amazingly, they both wished to defy the ageing process (as so many of us do) but they also didn’t want the plastic surgery to harm their identity- they have undergone the same procedures at the same time since they were 21 in order that they continue to look identical!

It all started when the twins, Jo and Kerry, went under the knife when they were younger to have nose jobs.  They told the Daily Mail that, because they were so used to doing everything together since they were children that checking into the same clinic for the same surgery just seemed like a natural progression and, at least to them, didn’t seem as strange as some people might first believe it to be.  One of the siblings, Kerry, said:

“It might sound barmy to some to have cosmetic surgery just because your twin is having it, but we would hate to look different, so we had to have the cosmetic surgery together.”

Indeed everybody ages differently; even twins would not be guaranteed to keep their identical looks as they aged. This is because the ageing process can be drastically affected by lifestyle choices, such as smoking or heavy drinking, as well as genetics. By turning to cosmetic surgery as they age (both twins are now 34) the twins can ensure that they both keep their identity without losing their youthful looks.  The £60,000 the twins have so-far spent is only likely to increase as they continue to with their equal obsession in cosmetic surgery. So far they’ve had breast enlargements, Botox and eyelifts and keep their identical look flowing with matching hair extensions and clothes. It’s a look which is certainly going to get positive male attention from them and it highlights the huge advances in cosmetic surgery over the last few years. If two women can undergo the same procedure to look the same then it really shows the consistency doctors can now achieve.

We have already reported that more and more men were going under the knife. The rise in metrosexuality and an increased pressure on men to attain physical perfection has meant that more and more males have been opting for surgery to give them the perfect abs, or pecs, or hairline. However, news has reached us that male plastic surgery has now begun to take over the realm of the face-lift. For so long, this procedure has been in the ownership of Hollywood women who want to keep getting the starring roles by turning back the clock on tired faces but now, according to one surgeon, men are getting in on the act as well.

Dr. Marco Faria Correa spoke out to the Jakarta Post, saying that:

“With changing standards of aesthetic surgery for men and more liberal attitudes, we see an increase in the number of men opting for cosmetic surgery.”

Men are already taking more care of their skin, having more expensive haircuts and, largely thanks to a new culture of male celebrity, are taking much more care over how they style themselves and what they wear; plastic surgery and facelifts seem to just be the next logical step on from this.   However, it isn’t simply vanity which is pushing men into more and more complicated, harsh and expensive procedures.

Men have always been competitive in the world of business and now this competitive streak has boiled over in the realm of cosmetic surgery.  Surgery is a way for men to carry on looking young and energetic and this can only be a good thing in the tiring and stressful world of business. Women have long known that, sadly, appearances count for a lot in this cynical world and it seems that now, for better or for worse, men are now catching on to this idea as well.  Whilst men are beginning to make their mark on the world of surgery, it is still women who dominate, with breast augmentation procedures constantly being the top of the surgery charts on both side of the Atlantic, liposuction is also a phenomenally popular surgery. However, as men continue to want to stay ahead and continue to chase ideals which they see on the billboards and in the magazines all around them, there is no doubt that they may well soon match women in terms of the number of them going under the knife.

New reports from the U.S have suggested that the craze for getting plastic surgery has now stretched to all the different levels of the age strata. On this blog we have previously informed you of young graduates having surgery in order to force their way into a shrinking jobs market and also of older professionals seeking surgery in order to keep them competitive and looking younger. Well now it’s the middle-aged workers who are getting in on the act. The Miami Herald carried the story a little while ago and now we’re going to bring it to you.

As the recession continues to bite and there seems to a never-ending cycle of news reports about people being laid off and large-scale job losses at multi-national companies who had previously seemed invincible, people want to take whatever steps they can to ensure they keep their jobs. However, in difficult times such as these, you wouldn’t think that people had the cash available to spend on plastic surgery and yet this latest news seems to suggest that people are seeing plastic surgery as an investment; professionals are clearly hoping that they can secure pay-rises or simply secure their jobs by investing in the way they look.

Dr. Fredric Brandt, who works in New York, has spoken out about the news, saying that:

“They consider it an investment, they feel the money they’re spending on this will help them get a job and that it will pay for itself and then some.”

Whilst non-invasive procedures have always been popular with professionals as they have very quick recovery times, this report also highlights that it is larger procedures which are also being undertaken. Face-lifts and even breast augmentations are being performed on the 40+ generation in an attempt to push their way to the front of a jobs market. However, with procedures such as these, recovery times are much longer and thus, if you were to have one, then you would have to have some time off work and this might not help secure a job in a struggling place of employment. Essentially, whilst cosmetic surgery could help you, it could also hinder you if you have to remove yourself from your job in order to recover. It is likely, as the recession continues to bite, that more people will turn to cosmetic surgery, both to help their employability and to help themselves.

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!

For many of us plastic surgery is a one-step solution to remedying a problem which has troubled us for a long time. Be it re-enhancing our faces or covering up a receding hair line, once we’ve had the procedure and are happy with the results we tend to be much happier and thus walk away from the world of cosmetic surgery with a confidence boost and a much better life. However, for some people, cosmetic surgery simply becomes life, nothing is ever good enough. Nothing is every sculpted, or young or big enough. Getting addicted to plastic and cosmetic surgery can be dangerous and yet some people are still going back time and time again to enhance what doesn’t really need enhancing in the first place.

Sheyla Hershey, who already has the dubious accolade of having the world’s largest breast implants, is, if recent reports are to be believed, considering enhancing her bust even more.  Her cup size currently stands at a mind-blowing 38KKK and, if more surgery is on the menu, it seems the world records are going to have to be ripped up and re-written for this ravishing woman who doesn’t seem to be able to say when enough is enough.

However, the surgery might not yet happen, as surgeons in America have said that they are unwilling to perform the surgery as there are too many risks involved in increasing the cup size even further. This has pushed Miss Hershey to consider surgery tourism as, according to some reports, plastic surgeons in Brazil may well be more open to performing the procedure. As well as being entertaining, this story also highlights the dangers of cosmetic surgery tourism. If even in America, a land where anything and everything can be enhanced or smoothed over, doctors aren’t wanting to perform the surgery then this is probably a pretty good indication that it is unsafe. Surgeries may well be cheaper abroad but the level of care you receive may well not be as high as it would be if you stayed at home.

It isn’t just her breasts which have been surgically enhanced; Miss Hershey has had a whopping 18 plastic surgeries which range widely from rhinoplasty to buttock enhancement. She is also not alone in seeking bigger breasts; breast augmentation procedures are constantly the most popular on both sides of the Atlantic. But this story does the beg the question: How big is too big?

Avid readers of this blog, and I know there are lots of you, will no doubt remember a story we reported a little while ago about a new breakthrough which could drastically reduce the amount of post-op bruising which plastic and cosmetic surgery patients have to endure.  Well more news has reached us which we feel we have to share with you or, really, we just wouldn’t be doing our jobs right would we? 

Well the Vbeam laser has now undergone a second medical test and, excitingly, it has been declared that it could help to reduce bruising by an average of 63%. This news will be widely welcomed by the cosmetic surgery industry as it will mean that, if faced with shorter recovery times, more and more people may decide to go under the knife.

The new study, wonderfully titled ‘A Simple Solution to a Common Problem’, has concluded that if the treatment is done for 24 hours after a surgical procedure, then the prior-mentioned reduction of 62% is achievable.  Dr. Edwin F Williams, one of the leaders of the study, has spoken out saying that:
“[With] just one treatment with the VBeam, our patients experience dramatic clearance of the injured blood vessels. We are excited to finally be able to offer our patients a safe and easy treatment of bruising that works.” This is a huge breakthrough as, after a surgery, many of us want to get straight out there and start showing off our new look or, more importantly in this current climate, need to get back to work in order to ensure that our employment is safe and secure. Lots of bruising, whilst not being aesthetically pleasing, can also be incredibly painful and debilitating and thus it will be hoped that this Vbeam will hopefully be rolled out soon and become available to the wider public.

The company behind the innovation, the Candela Corporation, was founded in Boston (the American one) in the 1970’s and is a manufacturer of a lot of technology used by surgeons and physicians.  This latest innovation will no-doubt bring them in lots of money but, more important than this, it will also help out patients and this is clearly the most important thing for the cosmetic surgery industry. If more people can have quicker recovery times then more people may well decide to go under the knife and thus the cosmetic surgery industry will keep on growing.

Stereotypically, it was always women who went under the knife and had surgeries to improve their looks. However, over the last 20 years, beginning that now legendary Levi’s laundrette advert, the rise of male image-consciousness and themetrosexual has led to a surge in men wanting to go under the knife. 

Whilst “moobs” have long been the scourge of the male population, there are now new complaints which are also creeping up the surgery-popularity list. Male jowels are one of the most common problems amongst men and, perhaps spurred on by modern advertisements and popular culture, male love handles are also one of the embarrassments which men are going under the knife to try and get rid of. 

According to the latest news though, it’s not simply bad diets which are forcing more men to go under the knife, its increased stress-levels and longer working days which mean they have less time to take care of themselves than they perhaps previously used to.  The four main career areas which see most men going under the knife are the banking and city professions, the civil service, the political arena and the professional services such as legal and accountancy jobs. These are all demanding, stressful jobs to be doing and thus perhaps that is the reason why more of them turn to surgery than do their male counterparts who are in other professions. Of course, there is also the point to be made that, in all those professions, youthful vigour and good looks are a key part of rising to the top and thus this is undoubtedly another reason behind so many of the men undergoing surgery. 

Mr. Fratti, a surgeon with the Harvey Medical Group who carried out the new research, has said that: The bad diets, punishing hours and stress that often go hand in hand with these types of professions make men prime candidates for premature aging.  We’re not surprised to a trend emerge for professions most likely to opt for surgery as the side-effects of a punishing job can cause the loss of skin elasticity and encourage build up of stubborn fat in key areas.”

Clearly some of these men should switch to a much more relaxing occupation such as copy-writing!  It’s not just sculpting bodies which men seem to be obsessed with, so called boytox, Botox for men, has increased as well. Surgery is no longer just a woman’s place!