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PLASTIC SURGERY
SECRETS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Norman
Waterhouse (www.norman-waterhouse.com <http://www.norman-waterhouse.com/>
), a leading London-based consultant plastic
surgeon and former President of the British Association of Plastic
Surgeons (BAAPS), today addressed some of
the most popular plastic surgery misconceptions.
According to Norman Waterhouse; "With the growing popularity of
cosmetic treatments, people sometimes
forget that plastic surgery is actually "surgery"
and unfortunately there are certain risks and truths that some
practitioners wonıt tell you. The following
addresses some of the more common
issues I encounter daily in my practice."
* Scarless surgery does
not exist: Modern plastic surgery means that we are able
to place scars in very discrete skin folds and minimise them following
the use of endoscopic techniques.
However all surgery involves scars and the
scars themselves are permanent.
* Liposuction cannot get rid of cellulite: Indeed it is possible that
although making you slimmer, pre-existing
cellulite may look worse after liposuction.
For the right person,
liposuction can give sensational results
in terms of improving body
contour and removing areas of problem fat.
However excessive liposuction or
"liposculpture" to
inappropriate areas may often produce
lumpy, uneven results.
* Surgery always involves down-time: Many patients think they can have a
face-lift and go out to dinner the next day.
All procedures require some recovery
time, some just a few days off work, others, such as breast augmentation,
require 1-2 weeks. There is a lot of marketing for "minimal"
or "lunch-time" surgery but
very often the effects are gone by tea-time! The
more minimal the procedure, the more minimal the results, so factor in
your recuperation time.
* You get what you pay for: Thereıs no such thing as a "cheap deal",
when it comes to plastic surgery.
Practitioners who charge a lot less for the same procedure
are usually less qualified or experienced than one who will charge
more. Beware of financial inducements, such
as loans or two-for-one offers. Frequently
cheap deals will involve
surgery in an inappropriate or poorly equipped
hospital and the savings may
reflect poor aftercare.
* Beware of docs who advertise: Generally, good plastic surgeons donıt
need to advertise. Beware the glossy
advertorials in magazines or national newspapers
and be especially wary of the overseas practitioner offering to
come and distribute their expertise
throughout the
UK
. One has to wonder why such a
successful high profile doctor is not busy enough in their own country?
It is always worth researching these individuals to establish
their background
experience and qualifications.
(17/3/05)
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PLASTIC
SURGERY: ITıS NOT TEENS, ITıS THEIR GRANDPARENTS!
British
Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons Reveal Age Trends
The
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic
Surgeons
(www.baaps.org.uk <http://www.baaps.org.uk/> ), the not-for-profit
organisation
established for the advancement of education and practice of
Aesthetic
Plastic Surgery for public benefit, today reveals that, despite
recent
media reports that large numbers of teenagers are seeking plastic
surgery,
it is actually older patients requesting cosmetic procedures.
Recent statistics indicate a rise in the overall number of cosmetic
surgeries;
however, the percentage of teenagers (those 18 and younger)
having
cosmetic surgery reportedly remains low. In a qualitative survey,
members
of the BAAPS were asked about age trends they noticed in their
private
practices. Most reported that there has been no discernible jump in
requests
from teenagers but have, in fact, seen more of an increase in older
people
seeking cosmetic treatments.
According to Douglas McGeorge, consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS
President-Elect;
"Patients are presenting over a greater age range but weıre
seeing
more from older age ranges than younger. My oldest face lift is 81
and
oldest set of eyes 82. Although some teenagers do enquire about cosmetic
surgery
I can't say that the numbers are large or noticeably increasing."
London-based
Adriaan Grobbelaar, consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS member
reported
only two enquiries from teenagers in the past six months, one for a
breast
enlargement and one for rhinoplasty. Neither followed up for an
appointment.
According to Douglas McGeorge; "Lots of kids may talk about it but
talking
about
cosmetic surgery is a long way from actually going and having it done
yourself."
BAAPS surgeons across the country report seeing few teenage cases.
Bristol-based
BAAPS member Lisa Sacks reported giving an 18-year-old sports
personality
the breast reduction she needed to practice her sport. She also
saw
a 16-year-old who felt she was so fat she couldnıt leave her house -
Sacks
referred her to a psychologist instead.
According to Lisa Sacks; "I think we all need to be responsible.
Just
because
teenagers think they want to have plastic surgery, even if they
consult
us, having saved up for the consultation fee themselves, doesn't
mean
we have to operate on them. We are in a very strong position to advise
them
against having surgery too early that they may regret."
When
evaluating teenagers that are considering plastic surgery, BAAPS
surgeons
assess physical maturity, as continued growth could negate the
effects
of the procedure in later years. Emotional maturity and expectations
must
also be explored, as the young person should appreciate the benefits
and
limitations of the proposed surgery, and have realistic expectations.
According to Adam Searle, consultant plastic surgeon and President of
the
BAAPS;
"There are obvious situations in which plastic surgery may assist a
teenager
with obvious deformity, for example marked asymmetry of their
breast
or correction of a substantial nasal deformity. However, the complex
mix
of adolescence, self esteem, peer pressure and surgical treatments
carries
potential for problems."
The
BAAPS advises any teenager contemplating plastic surgery to discuss any
concerns
with either their general practitioner, pediatric physician or a
reputable
plastic surgeon. It is useful for teenagers to be accompanied to
such
a consultation by a responsible adult.
According to Adam Searle; "With the media pressures on teenagers to
look
good
there may be an increase in requests for plastic surgery in the
future."
AGE
TRENDS: What Are Patients Asking For?
According to Martin Kelly, consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS
member;
"Older
patients usually ask to 'turn back the clock' - younger patients want
to
change their shape. But a number of senior patients have recently become
more
daring, and I believe largely because of the influence of happy younger
patients
they know, seeking to change their shape as well, having their nose
done
or breasts augmented."
Surgeons report that whilst some teenagers may be preoccupied with
unsightly
moles,
breast reduction or rhinoplasty, those in the middle bracket - 25 to
45-
generally ask for body/trunk surgery (liposuction, abdominoplasty), and
older
patients want facial rejuvenation. Neither is this trend restricted to
women:
London
surgeon Adrian Richards recently performed a
facelift on a
77-year-old
man.
According to Douglas McGeorge; "We live in a well-off society where
people
now
retire to start a new life. Social stigmas about cosmetic surgery are
less
common and as they feel young people want to look younger."
(25/3/05)
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