Indiana Plastic Surgery Blog

The author of Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery starts where you expect other writers on the subject to stop – discussing the questions people truly want to ask but seldom do; with the answers they really want to have, but can’t seem to find.

Stern did a substantial amount of work.  She conducted over 100 in-depth and intimate interviews with women.  She had some work done herself, so she’s got cred.  She tells the truth about her own experience, pushes aside some of the same old questions, (Am I a good candidate for X?  Should I tell anyone or just pretend it’s the same old me?) and moves into fresh new territory.

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Despite the obvious benefits of a dermal filler, the first question patients usually ask is “How much does it hurt?”

If it’s your first treatment, you might be surprised to learn that today, a number of injectable procedures can be done with little or no discomfort, thanks to local anesthetics that numb one or more areas of the face beforehand.

Lidocaine is the one most frequently used by plastic surgeons, and there’s no doubt it makes an injectable procedure easier for the patient.

Your dentist probably uses Lidocaine as a simple way to numb your mouth prior to performing dental work. Likewise cosmetic surgeons use it as local anesthetic for injections. Lidocaine blocks the pain signal sent by the nerve endings on the skin in response to injections of the dermal filler solution. Patients quickly feel the anesthetic taking effect, and numbness kicks in.

The benefits of Lidocaine for cosmetic injections

• Greatly reduces pain during injections into sensitive facial tissue
• Helps minimize swelling after injection, allowing better sculpting of treated areas
• Allows you to relax better during the procedure
• May eliminate the need for general anesthesia during more extensive procedures

Several of the new dermal fillers even come pre-mixed with Lidocaine, which is good news for those who want the procedures, but not the pain.

No, we can’t claim that fat of all kinds, amounts and shapes is healthy or fashionable. However, medical research suggests that fat around the hips, thighs and buttocks may work advantageously against heart and metabolic diseases.

Hip fat burns at a slower rate than tummy fat, a distinction that, for the body, means the release of fewer cytokines associated with health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Additionally, hip fat absorbs harmful fatty acids, and produces anti-inflammatory agents and adiponectin, the fat-derived hormone that assists in moderating metabolic functions and suppresses the development of diseases such as type-2 diabetes and obesity.

When you carry lots of fat around the tummy, you have a higher risk for both diabetes and heart disease. Also known as visceral fat, this dangerous fat lies closer to vital organs, whereas subcutaneous fat is situated closer to the skin and is more visually accessible. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are the culprit here, a protein that accelerates inflammation. As Dr. Rallie McAllister explains, “pear-shaped individuals tend to have more subcutaneous fat, while people who are apple-shaped tend to have more visceral fat.” In other words, it’s better to be a Jennifer Lopez than a Rosie O’Donnell.

Yet another advantage of the healthier, hip fat is that it more stubbornly resists modification compared to tummy fat, and therefore releases fewer cytokines. No longer an aesthetic enemy, hip fat indicates health, and as we all know — health is beauty.

The trick, then, is to keep the waist trim while maintaining the full shape of the thighs, buttock and hips. This might be a challenge for science, a task that has already caught the attention of researchers at Oxford University who believe that we may in the future be able to redistribute body fat to the hips in order to benefit from the purported health benefits.

Related Links

• BBC News: “Having a big bum, hips and thighs is healthy”
• Body Shape, Fat Distribution May Be  Best Predictor of Health Risks

When it comes to treatments that revitalize the skin, plastic surgeons and aestheticians offer a plethora of choices – so many that you’re probably confused about which one is the best.

Microdermabrasion and chemical peels are both excellent treatments for improving the skin texture and complexion, but how do you know which one to choose? First of all, if you see a good aesthetician, you’ll get expert advice about each treatment, so choosing will be much easier.

In cases where patients have little time for recovery or when they are anticipating an important social event, microdermabrasion is the best choice. The exfoliation depth is easily controlled with microdermabrasion, so you’re less likely to experience side effects like redness or swelling.  The typical healing time with microdermabrasion is also super short – usually 3 days at the most.

With most chemical peels, healing time takes longer than 3 days (often 1 week). However, the micro-peels available at Indiana Plastic Surgery are very light, so recovery time is fairly quick as well.

Sometimes an aesthetician will combine microdermabrasion and a peel. If done carefully, a light chemical peel such as AHA or salicylic acid can work in combination with your microdermabrasion treatment. Just make sure you choose an aesthetician or surgeon that has experience doing this.

• Read more about micro-chemical peels in Munster, Indiana
• Read more about microdermabrasion at Indiana Plastic Surgery

Q: What is the best type of liposuction?

A: While the operator is always the most important factor, several new liposuction platforms have been introduced in recent years. There is no best method because each platform has particular benefits. For example, water assisted liposuction is great for removing a large volume of fat, while ultrasonic liposuction is great for precise body contouring.

Q: Why do I keep hearing about new liposuction methods?

A: Plastic and cosmetic surgeons are trying to set themselves apart with more effective liposuction methods. You might hear about “reduced downtime” or “reduced trauma to surrounding tissues” in the marketing for these procedures; just know that any proven liposuction technique will utilize the same basic tools as the standard tumescent liposuction technique.

Q: Can I get liposuction anywhere on my body? What is the most common area to treat?

A: Many people aren’t aware that liposuction can be done on so many areas of the body. While the abdomen and thighs are probably most common, you can also get liposuction below your chin or even on the ankles.

Q: What type of doctor is most qualified to perform liposuction?

A: See a board-certified plastic surgeon for your liposuction.

Q: Is liposuction “minimally-invasive” like some of the advertising says?

A: The techniques have improved over time, making recovery quicker and incisions smaller, but liposuction is still cosmetic surgery. It’s not like getting a quick Botox injection.

Click here to read more about Liposuction in Munster, Indiana.

Before pulling the trigger and paying for a procedure, we recommend doing some research to get the hard facts about surgery risks, benefits, costs and so on.

Doing so will help you in two ways:

• You will know which procedures are proven to work and which are overrated.
• You will be able to compare the risks and benefits with your individual values and goals, to see if plastic surgery is truly a good fit for you.

Where should I look?

Too often, people are looking in the wrong places for legitimate answers to their plastic surgery questions. You want objective and scientific information; here are a few tips on where you might find it.

Be Academic for a day: Do you have access to a public library? How about the library at your college or university? Don’t let the old-fashioned sound of it bother you; academic resources and peer-reviewed medical journals are far superior to what you’ll find cruising the web. The downside: many of the articles and books are written for doctors or medical students – sometimes difficult and boring to read.

Reputable websites: It’s a jungle out there I know, but there are a few websites that publish loads of useful and honest information about plastic and cosmetic surgery. RealSelf.com is a good start, where you can see consumer reviews and get answers from plastic surgeons all over the country. Yourplasticsurgeryguide.com is another popular resource. The downside: you might find a great deal of conflicting information, making your decision even more difficult.

Ask a plastic surgeon: You may want to visit a few before making a choice, but board-certified plastic surgeons will generally have your best interests in mind. They want to get you the best results possible and avoid complications. If you’re not a good candidate for the procedure, a good surgeon will tell you honestly.

The poll we posted 2 weeks ago received over 40 responses.  The largest group – almost half the participants – agreed that a tax on cosmetic surgery would discriminate against women.

In the “other” category, we got the following 3 responses:

• A fair tax to pay for an elective “luxury” procedure.
• Will negatively impact the industry.
• Largely a tax on the middle class.  Nixes Obama’s pledge not to raise our taxes.

The discrimination arguments tend to be the most significant and interesting side of this debate, in my opinion. Terry O’Neill, President of NOW, the National Organization for Women, recently voiced strong opposition to it as a “tax on middle-aged women,” an argument that has some “third wave” feminists scratching their heads.

A British cosmetic clinic is showing off the cosmetic surgery results of their employees in a 2010 calendar.  They’re calling the calendar “tongue-in-cheek, but tasteful,  featuring “girls from across our company of all ages and they all look amazing.” [The Sun]

Can breast implants or lasik eye surgery be considered a marital asset?  According to the Associated Press, attorneys in North Dakota thought the issue was worth debating.  The judge’s ruling? “nonsense”  [Star Tribune]

Marketing for breast augmentation with fat-grafting is being “ramped up” says the New York Times.  Experienced plastic surgeons weigh in to warn potential patients about the unpredictable nature of this procedure.  “Suddenly everyone is claiming to have 10 years experience,” says expert Dr. Sydney Coleman. [NY Times]

Giving cosmetic surgery for Christmas?  Don’t surprise your significant other with a plastic surgery gift certificate unless you’ve discussed the idea in the past.  Do it right and you’ve got an extraordinary gift!  [RealSelf]

Large organizations of plastic surgeons and various journalists have shared their views on the proposed 5 percent tax on elective procedures, but patients would be paying for it; so why haven’t they weighed in?

Participate in this online poll so we can gauge the opinions of non-surgeons and non-journalists, because that’s who really matters when it comes to this tax becoming law.

Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons sent out a special bulletin today, urging other members to voice opposition to the 5 percent cosmetic procedures tax that was added to the healthcare reform bill Wednesday.

Due to the often-unclear distinction between cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, and the fact that nearly 90 percent of cosmetic procedures are done on women, The ASPS has labeled the tax plan “discriminatory, arbitrary, and a potential auditing nightmare.”

According to the New York Times, “the tax would be paid by patients, but collected by doctors and clinics and forwarded to the government.”  Those patients – who are often middle class working females – would generate (a projected) $5 billion towards the $849 billion healthcare reform bill over the next ten years.

ASPS members are being asked to contact their representatives in congress or login at capitolconnect.com to take action.