According to BAAPS president Fazel Fatah, who recently spoke out in an interview with the Independent, the plastic surgery industry has been marred by a rogue attitude:

“We have warned against the unrealistic expectations set by reality ‘makeover’ shows and against crass competition prizes promising ‘mummy makeovers’ and body overhauls. In no other area of surgery would one encounter two-for-one offers. The pendulum has swung too far.”

The association has proposed a six-point plan to counter these rogue practices:

1. Ban all advertising for cosmetic procedures. Prescription medications in the UK may not be advertised and Fatah argues that this should also apply to cosmetic medical procedures.
2. Establish an implant registry to track all types of silicone implants.
3. Reclassify dermal fillers as medicines and limit their usage. While only about a dozen fillers are approved in the United States by the FDA, British authorities have approved over 100 different types of fillers.
4. Compulsory registration of practitioners in all aspects of aesthetic medicine and lasers.
5. Mandatory annual safety audits.
6. Revalidation and mystery shopping.

These proposed measures have met with significant support, although some groups are calling for a more measured response. The Independent Healthcare Advisory Service, an industry body, says that it opposes a wholesale ban on advertising, arguing instead for responsible and ethical advertising.

Brian once weighed 420 pounds, but dropped to a slim 180 after a bariatric surgery six years ago. However, with a new body came new problems, as Brian found deep folds on his torso, legs, neck, and face. While he had always expected to undergo body contouring surgery in order to correct the excess skin on his body, Brian found himself among the small group of post-bariatric patients who require facial rejuvenation.

Body lifts and tummy tucks are often needed in the aftermath of bariatric surgery in order to address the extra skin that remains after massive weight loss. The face typically adapts better than the body, but in some cases, formerly overweight people can experience:

• heavy bags under the eyes
• slack jaws
• numerous wrinkles
• sagging cheeks
• itching and inflammation in the folds

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly 53,000 body contouring operations were performed after patient weight loss in 2010. This is more than a quarter of the 200,000 people who annually undergo bariatric surgery, according to figures released by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Brian’s battle with the aftermath of morbid obesity continues as his face and neck folds interfere with his speech and personal hygiene. According to his doctor, the downward pull of Brian’s muscles makes it difficult for him to talk without drooling. He must carry a handkerchief at all times and soaks the bedding unless he sleeps a certain way.

Brian is fighting for his insurance company to pay for facelift surgery, which Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois has declared as cosmetic. But for Brian the surgery is necessary, as the ability to speak properly is at the center of his livelihood.

Patients who choose neck liposuction as a double chin treatment should have adequate skin elasticity, however, to ensure a toned result. If you lack skin elasticity, a neck lift, combined with liposculpture may be more appropriate.

After undergoing her successful neck liposculpture treatment, Terry says she likes the look of her face. While before she complained of a “long, sort of fat part” her jawline is now more defined. A more clearly defined jaw can help a patient’s face appear thinner.

As long as patients maintain a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, the results from neck liposculpture as a double chin treatment can be long lasting.

If you would like to learn more about facial rejuvenation surgery in Munster, please email or call plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

In addition to slimming your most troublesome body parts, liposuction benefits may include ridding your blood of some harmful fat elements, namely triglycerides. While your body needs some level of triglycerides, a high level of them can lead to heart disease and other cardiovascular ailments.

This new research found that while those with normal levels of triglyceride experienced no change following liposuction, those with high levels of triglycerides saw the additional liposuction benefits. In fact, three months after their liposuction procedure, patients with the highest levels of triglycerides saw a 43% reduction in triglycerides.

To compare, patients who take cholesterol-lowering medications can expect only about half that reduction in triglycerides.

Good news—the liposuction benefits may not stop there. White blood cells, which can lead to inflammation, were seen to drop 11% after liposuction.

While this may encourage you to contact your plastic surgeon immediately for liposuction, it should be noted that further research must be completed to understand the full additional liposuction benefits that may be achieved.

More details from the research were made available this weekend in Denver for the annual meeting of the ASPS.

To learn more about liposuction benefits, both cosmetic and health-related, we encourage you to join the mailing list of Munster plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

Plastic surgeons and other surgical doctors often use sutures because of their ease of use. They are pliable and can be used to close incisions on many parts of the body. Surgical staples are also a popular wound closure device but in some cases, may result in scarring.

The new wound closure device being developed by SurgiMatix combines the ease of use of surgical staples and the strength and durability of sutures administered by a surgeon.

Pre-clinical testing of the device was completed in the spring of 2010 and the results showed many benefits over more standard methods of wound closure. It showed to heal wounds quickly and cause less scarring when compared to surgical staples.

To learn more about advances in plastic surgery, please join the mailing list of Munster plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

The study aimed to determine whether results were better if patients chose breast reduction surgery following bariatric surgery or before. To determine this, the study followed 29 women who had a body mass index that was considered obese and had lost more than 50 pounds. Some of the women underwent breast reduction before the weight-loss surgery, while the rest of the group underwent the plastic surgery after bariatric surgery.

As losing a great deal of weight through bariatric surgery can leave loose skin, 86 percent of the women who had the breast reduction first felt their breasts looked worse after bariatric surgery. In this case, half of the women said they planned to have further corrective surgery on their breasts.

While these women said they did not regret having the breast reduction performed as they did see its benefits, they said they would likely recommend plastic surgery after bariatric surgery to a friend.

Of the women who did not have breast reduction prior to bariatric surgery, 71 percent disliked the appearance of their breasts after the weight-loss surgery. Half of these women planned to have corrective surgery performed on their breasts.

To correct a sagging or drooping breast, which can be caused by dramatic weight loss, your plastic surgeon performs a reduction mammaplasty. In this procedure, your plastic surgeon will make careful incisions under the breast and along the breast crease and remove excess skin. The nipple areola will then be moved to a more youthful position. This procedure not only improves the aesthetics of the breasts, but can alleviate health issues like back and neck pain and improve the ability to exercise.

To learn more about plastic surgery after bariatric surgery, we encourage you to contact Munster plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson. Please call our office for a consultation or join our mailing list.

During an interview on KVOA, the news station’s plastic surgery contributor spoke about popular procedures that she considers inexpensive plastic surgery options when compared to the results post-surgery.

The best option for body plastic surgery, according to KVOA, is a tummy tuck. This procedure is the only way to truly remove loose skin around the abdomen. For women, the waist-to-hip ratio is an important indicator of perceived attractiveness, according to KVOA. By removing excess skin, the midsection appears more toned and slim.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular plastic surgeries performed today. Women who desire fuller breasts choose it as a long-term option. While implants are not guaranteed to last a lifetime, they can last up to a decade.

For men and women who struggle with jowls or loose skin on the neck, a facelift or neck lift provides lasting correction. Since its skin tightening effects can last so long, KVOA considers it an inexpensive plastic surgery option, as well. Skin creams can be pricey and will not attain the more youthful look that is possible with a facelift.

To learn more about relatively inexpensive plastic surgery options that can show long-term improvements in your appearance, please join the mailing list of Munster plastic surgeon Dr. Robinson.

The belly button, or navel, is created by the shedding of the umbilical cord following birth. The tube that once supplied all of our nutrients within the womb falls away as babies are forced to rely on their own mouths, stomachs, and lungs. As writer Cari Nierenberg discusses on MSNBC’s science blog The Body Odd, the belly button is one of our least understood body parts, both strange and commonplace.

Cosmetic surgery for belly buttons is rare, but it does occur. The belly button can change shape after weight gain or pregnancy, which may cause some people to be dissatisfied with its new shape or size. Others will pursue the surgery following their lifelong dislike of their “outies.” While surgery to convert an innie to an outie is an option, Dr. Curtis Cetrulo, Jr. says that he has never encountered someone who wanted that performed.

The majority of umbilicoplasties will typically occur in conjunction with another surgery, such as a tummy tuck or umbilical hernia repair. The belly button often has a unique role in tummy tuck surgery:

• The belly button must be isolated from the surrounding skin, so that it stands on a stalk of tissue.
• Excess skin is removed and a new hole is created for the belly button.
• The belly button is incorporated into the hole and retains its natural position on the abdomen.

The surgeon may perform some cosmetic adjustments to the belly button during the surgery, based on the patient’s desires.

Dr. Robinson does correct belly buttons during tummy tuck or other body contouring procedures, but does not perform this kind of procedure as a standalone surgery. Give us a call at 219-513-2100 for more information about belly buttons, body contouring, or anything you’re interested in improving.

When it comes to brow or facelifts, incisions cannot always be easily hidden in the hairline as they usually can on women, if the man is balding. Additionally, men who have facial hair or sideburns must receive special attention from their plastic surgeon to ensure the location of the facial hair remains natural, Genter said. Finally, as most men do not wear makeup, any surgical scars or post-surgery swelling may be somewhat more difficult to conceal.

Even with these added hurdles, men are increasingly turning to Dr. Genter and his contemporaries for treatments like Botox and dermal fillers, as well as procedures like eyelid surgery, to stay competitive in the job market.

Other popular procedures for men include male breast reduction, the range of facial rejuvenation procedures, as well as non-surgical options like chemical peels and skin resurfacing treatments.

The survey found that women were not just willing to trade time for beauty but also suggested they would forfeit a promotion at work, part of their salary, time with loved ones and even their health.

These findings may be unsurprising given that the survey found 46% of the women had been subject to ridicule because of their looks and 93% claimed to have negative thoughts about their appearance in the previous week.

Nearly 40% of the women said they would elect cosmetic surgery, like liposuction to remove localized fat deposits. This, despite the fact that nearly 80% of the women were either underweight or within a “normal” weight range.

These statistics only stress the importance of choosing a cosmetic treatment, like breast augmentation or body contouring, for personal reasons, not due to outside influences.