Driven largely by the poor economy and personal financial worries associated with the recession, non-surgical treatments like Botox edged out breast augmentation, lipo suction and tummy tucks to become the most popular physician-administered cosmetic procedure last year. Women and men who were forced to keep a tight reign on their budgets chose to delay more extensive plastic surgery procedures last year and instead opted for Botox injections to maintain their youthful appearance.
Patients that opt for Botox treatments enjoy both low cost and fast recovery. The popular injections decrease the muscle movement that causes wrinkles, giving the skin a more youthful look. Most procedures take only 30 minutes and allow the patient to return to work confident in her appearance the next day. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), demand for Botox injections have risen from 65,157 in 1997 to more than 2.4 million in 2008, an increase of 239%. The popularity of Botox cosmetic surgery has grown, particularly as a way to help aging Americans appear more youthful and energetic in order to compete against younger employees in the workplace. But Botox also appeals to today’s more active senior population, many of whom are dating and are more conscious of their personal appearance than previous generations.
Women and men seeking Botox treatments should make certain to schedule their treatment with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. Although Botox has the cachet of being harmless, inexpertly applied Botox treatments can cause permanent facial nerve damage or result in unattractive over-plumping of lips or facial areas. A skilled board-certified cosmetic surgeon has the education, knowledge and practical experience to successfully administer Botox treatments and enhance your personal appearance.
When choosing a cosmetic surgeon, it is critical to choose a surgeon with impeccable medical credentials, plastic surgery experience and board certification. However, there are a number of other important factors that will greatly affect the quality of your cosmetic surgery experience and your satisfaction with that experience.
When selecting a cosmetic surgery center, weigh first the medical qualifications and experience of the plastic surgeon who will perform the procedure, but also carefully consider the following questions that indicate the surgeon’s commitment to his patients:
- Does your cosmetic surgeon ask about your goals and expectations? Does he understand what you wish to achieve through cosmetic surgery?
- Does your plastic surgeon take time to thoroughly and clearly answer all of your questions? Does he listen to your comments and address your concerns?
- Does your board-certified cosmetic surgeon design a uniquely individual treatment program that addresses your specific plastic surgery goals?
- Does your plastic surgeon offer alternative treatments if appropriate? Are these alternatives in keeping with your goals or does he put pressure on you to consider unnecessary procedures?
- Does your board-certified cosmetic surgeon welcome questions about procedures, qualifications and experience, cost and payment policies?
- Does your plastic surgeon outline the potential risks and outcomes of the procedures you have selected?
- Does your cosmetic surgeon provide you with information for your review and consideration before you make a decision?
- Can your plastic surgeon arrange for you to talk to other patients who have undergone the same procedure?
- Does your cosmetic surgeon pressure you to make a decision or does he leave the final decision to you?
Once you are informed and empowered with information, you will feel confident that you have chosen the right cosmetic surgeon.
Naturally, proper training and credentials are essential. These qualifications indicate that the cosmetic surgeon you select has the proper training and that he adheres to the highest standards of medical practice. Cleveland consumers should look for a cosmetic surgeon with specialized training similar to that of renowned board certified Avon Lake plastic surgeon Dr. Vicente Poblete.
In addition to completion of a five-year general surgery training program at St. Vincent's Hospital & Medical Center in New York, Dr. Poblete has completed advanced training specifically in plastic surgery including hand surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, surgical facial aesthetics and the latest body contouring procedures. A member of plastic surgery's most prestigious professional organizations, Dr. Poblete is active in the Lorain County medical community where he has served as a member of the Lorain County Medical Society Board of Directors and Community Health Partner's Board of Trustees, among other honors.
But exceptional medical credentials do not guarantee that you will have a satisfying or satisfactory cosmetic surgery experience. Beyond education and training, there are many intangible elements that affect the quality of a patient's plastic surgery experience. It is attention to the goals, needs and solicitous physical and emotional care of each individual patient that guarantees a successful and rejuvenating cosmetic surgery experience. As Dr. Poblete says to prospective patients on the Accentuate Within website:
"My staff and I have placed value on patient education and comfort, patient safety and patient satisfaction, as well as providing you with the highest medical care possible. We pride ourselves in the way we relate with and care for our patients and for their personal experience with our practice – it defines who we are."
When you visit your general practitioner, a medical specialist or a plastic surgeon, you might not immediately look at the framed diplomas and certificates on your doctor's wall, but you'd be mighty uncomfortable if they weren't there. In the medical field, a college diploma is just the first step toward becoming a knowledgeable, practicing physician. Years of practical residency experience and specialized training follow the awarding of a college degree. Certification by professional medical boards indicates that the plastic surgeon has accomplished an even more advanced level of training in cosmetic surgery techniques and procedures and has proved his mastery of advanced knowledge in the specific field of plastic surgery.
In 2008, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned consumers about the importance of verifying physician credentials and the potential danger of undergoing plastic surgery performed by unlicensed individuals. The warning came in the wake of the near death of three North Carolina women by an individual advertising cosmetic surgery procedures. All three of the women developed potentially fatal kidney failure following soft-tissue filler injections by this charlatan doctor. Fortunately, all of the women recovered. Authorities discovered that the individual was not a licensed cosmetic surgeon and he was arrested. Investigation found the individual's medical training to be limited to radiology; in effect, he was an x-ray technician. The CDC recommended that consumers ask for proof of an individual's statement of training, noting that a plastic surgeon's board certification is the most convincing evidence of his training.
Medical specialties like plastic and cosmetic surgery are certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties which sets education, training, experience and testing requirements for each unique medical specialty. Successful completion of all requirements results in board certification.
Who doesn't want to look good and feel confident? Whether they want to look good in the bedroom, show off a better six-pack at the gym or take charge in the boardroom, more men are embracing cosmetic surgery. Some men come to plastic surgeons seeking a ripped gut or handsome nose like actor Hugh Jackman's, People magazine's 2008 Sexiest Man Alive! In fact, plastic surgeons say tough but romantic Aussie actor Jackman continues to beat out former favorite Brad Pitt as the Hollywood celeb most men want to look like.
But looking like a Hollywood star isn't the reason most men visit a plastic surgeon. Men's bodies age and sag over time just like women's bodies do. Yet in the workplace, a youthful appearance is necessary to stay competitive in today's tough business environment. A youthful appearance makes a man appear more energetic, more vigorous, more competent, more capable of leading a company through tough times. Businessmen are turning to plastic surgery to maintain their competitive edge against up-and-coming junior execs and present the take-charge appearance that inspires confidence both in the board room and with customers and investors. More men are using cosmetic surgery to smooth away facial wrinkles and reshape their bodies to achieve a more youthful, more virile appearance.
Nose reshaping for a more attractive appearance, Botox injections to reduce age-revealing wrinkles, and body contouring are equally popular with men. Men have several options in liposuction techniques to eliminate excess fat and tummy tucks to remove drooping skin after weight loss can give men the confidence-building ripped appearance they need to succeed in the boardroom – and the bedroom.
While Cleveland cosmetic and plastic surgery centers are most noted for the facial and body contouring services they provide, not all patients are seeking surgery. Many cosmetic surgery patients prefer to try, at least as a first option, a non-surgical solution to a skin appearance problem. A physician-prescribed skin health program can often solve or minimize your skin issues without cosmetic surgery or injections.
The key is to find an experienced skin health consultant with both the experience and knowledge to perform an expert analysis of your skin and prepare a detailed personal skin health program. To ensure dependable, high quality results, you should seek out a skin health consultant associated with a board certified cosmetic surgeon. A board-certified cosmetic and plastic surgeon knows skin from the inside out and is best qualified to design a personal skin health program that will achieve your goals.
The most effective physician-prescribed skin health programs include the Obagi® Nu Derm System, Kinerase® Pro+Therapy, VIVITÉ®, Colorescience® and Latisse™ Eyelash Enhancement for beautiful lashes. Each program offers unique advantages for different skin issues. Some programs are more effective with certain skin types or types of skin problems. Some skin health programs are designed to treat the entire facial area; others, like Latisse™ Eyelash Enhancement, concentrate on only one feature.
As skin ages and is exposed to the elements of weather, pollution and time, changes can occur. You may notice differences in elasticity, pore size or coloration. Small lesions and odd bumps can develop. Discolored spots may mar your skin. Many of these issues are normal though not particularly attractive occurrences that simply occur as we move through the years. A physician-prescribed skin health program can often minimize or remove these unattractive facial blemishes, rejuvenating your skin and your natural beauty.
How we look affects the way we feel about ourselves and how other people perceive us. Savvy business people know that packaging themselves effectively is just as important to their success as packaging their product. Recognizing that as they age they need more than diet and exercise to stay in shape and look good, many professionals are adding cosmetic surgery to their normal personal grooming routines.
A growing number of men and women are making regular quarterly or semi-annual appointments with board-certified plastic surgeons to provide the little nips, tucks, injections and rejuvenating skin treatments that will keep them looking attractive and youthfully energetic. They've come to consider regular visits to their cosmetic surgeon a key addition to their personal grooming routine. Just as important as their gym membership and nutrition consultations, for competitive professionals, cosmetic surgery has become a key component to keeping their competitive edge in the workplace.
Maintaining a pleasing appearance boosts self-confidence which signals confidence to clients, making professionals more effective on the job -- and after hours. With singles waiting longer to marry, the U.S. divorce rate climbing and people living and working longer, many professional women and men today are doing the dating scene. There's nothing like knowing you look fabulous to boost your confidence when you're trying to make a favorable impression on someone.
Many cosmetic treatments offered by Cleveland plastic surgery centers are fast, painless and less expensive than surgery. You don't have to spend a lot of money or take time away from work to improve your appearance. Specialized rejuvenating skin care treatments and wrinkle-reducers like Botox and fillers improve skin condition and minimize age-defining wrinkles and facial lines. You return to work the next day looking refreshed and vivacious.
Brides and bridesmaids aren't the only ones who shine in the spotlight at weddings. The mothers of the bride and groom also fall under the scrutiny of wedding guests, photographers and videographers. Anyone who has watched TLC's popular cable show Say Yes to the Dress knows that her child's wedding day is a huge event in a mother's life. Mothers of the happy couple put hours of time and effort into finding the ideal dress and perfecting their own wedding look. Now, from the environs of Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive comes the newest trend in plastic surgery – cosmetic surgery makeovers for mothers of the bride and groom. Dubbed "Mother-in-Law Makeovers," these cosmetic surgery enhancements are designed to help wedding moms look their best on their children's big day.
Mother-in-Law Makeovers ensure that moms feel comfortable with their appearance and look fabulous in wedding photos and videos. Like Mommy Makeovers that help new moms regain their pre-pregnancy shape, Mother-in-Law Makeovers are individually tailored to meet the specific goals of each individual woman. In consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon, mothers of the bride and groom select the cosmetic surgery procedures that will make them feel confident, beautiful and picture perfect on the day of the wedding. Body shaping liposuction and tummy tucks are common procedures chosen by moms who want to look slim and elegant in their dresses. Some moms choose to refresh their face with injectable cosmetic enhancement such as Botox and skin fillers.
When considering a Mother-in-Law Makeover, talk to your board-certified plastic surgeon well in advance about when to schedule cosmetic surgery procedures. Plastic surgery should be completed well in advance of the wedding date to avoid any chance of lingering bruising or swelling on the wedding day. Six weeks before the wedding generally allows ample healing time following cosmetic surgery.
An estimated 40% to 60% of American men suffer from "Man boobs". A far more common condition than most men imagine, gynecomastia is an abundance of fat, breast tissue and/or skin in the male breast area. "Man boobs" aren't just the scourge of the severely obese.
Many men of normal stature and fitness suffer from gynecomastia.
The condition can simply be a matter of unlucky genes or excess male breast tissue resulting from either significant weight gain or dramatic weight loss. Having protruding male breasts can make it embarrassing for men to go shirtless at the beach or swimming pool. Many men with gynecomastia are so uncomfortable with their appearance that they avoid wearing t-shirts or fitted shirts that might reveal their condition.
Male breast reduction plastic surgery can remove excess fat, tissue and skin from the male breast area to create a normal, more youthful, more virile appearance. A skilled, board-certified Cleveland plastic surgeon can reshape the male breast area to create a more attractive, more sculpted physique. Vaser LipoSelection is particularly effective in removing excess fat and breast tissue in men. The male breast is more compact and fibrous than a woman's breast. Vaser LipoSelection allows the plastic surgeon to more precisely target fat and tissue removal areas and remove fat and tissue excess completely with considerably less trauma to the patient than other cosmetic surgery techniques.
Recovery time, of course, depends on the individual but is generally brief. After breast reduction plastic surgery, the patient wears a compression garment during the immediate post-operative period to aid in the recovery process, but it can soon be discarded and you can show off your new physique with pride.
You have only to watch other women walking at the mall or down the street to realize that not all tummies are the same. Fat, thin, paunchy, saggy – as the years go by, particularly if you’ve been blessed with a child or two, the once taught skin that defined your smooth, youthful stomach morphs into something from a grade B horror film. Plastic surgeons are the special effects artists of the real world and tummy tucks are the tool they use to airbrush away the vagaries of time.
Just as there are different types of tummies and tummy problems, there are different types of cosmetic surgery techniques used to contour them.
- Tummy Tuck. Child bearing and weight changes can cause stomach muscles to lose their elasticity causing the abdomen to develop a protruding roundness that won’t flatten even with careful diet and exercise. Age can also cause unattractive protruding or sagging tummies. A full tummy tuck tightens abdominal muscles and removes excess skin from both the upper and lower abdomen including unsightly stretch marks.
- Mini Tummy Tuck. Mini tucks can be performed when outpouching is limited to the lower abdomen (below your belly button). A mini tummy tuck lightens muscles in the lower abdomen and removed excess skin.
- Liposuction Tummy Tuck. Particularly effective after pregnancy, a liposuction tummy tuck reshapes disproportionate curves, reducing unwanted fat deposits and lax skin in the belly area and along hips and waistline. A liposuction tummy tuck combines reshaping liposuction with a mini tummy tuck to remove sagging skin.
An experienced board-certified plastic surgeon can discuss your cosmetic surgery goals and recommend the type of tummy tuck that’s right for you.