Cosmetic Surgery Center

Research into the way people appreciate and interpret beauty in the faces of others has shown that people do not evaluate one feature or another separately to decide whether a person looks good or not, but instead people look at the face as a whole. Therefore, in having cosmetic surgery done on your face, it is important not to approach the face as just a collection of individual parts that need to be adjusted independently. Instead, you must approach the face as a cosmetic whole, and design the treatments to create a harmonious whole.

In profile, the key lines are between the tip of the nose and the bottom of the chin (menton), the nasomental line, which should be at about a 20-30 degree angle from the vertical when the face is held level. Adjusting this angle can be done by a reduction of the nose, if the nose protrudes too far, or by an augmentation of the chin if the chin is receding. The decision may also depend on whether the lips are too close to the nasomental line (which tends to indicate chin augmentation) or too far from it (which tends to indicate rhinoplasty).

Another important aspect of the profile is the mentocervical angle, the angle made between the line from the brow (glabella) to the tip of the chin (pogonion) and the line from the bottom of the chin to the cervical point, where the chin and neck meet. This line should be as close to a right angle as possible in men, and either a right angle or very slightly acute in women. Since most deviations from the right angle are caused by a poorly defined jawbone either as a result of weight gain or face structure, this angle is normally adjusted by either facial liposculpture or facial implants along the jawbone.

The creation of an ideal profile is a complex process, and although there are classical standards it depends on both your starting point and your personal ideals of beauty, which you can discuss in detail during consultation with Dr. Rai. To set up your initial consultation, contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas today.

Active women have some special concerns when considering breast augmentation. First, size matters. Women who are active in athletic events should take that into account and not get implants that are too large for the level of movement required by your sport or activity. A larger-chested woman can find challenges in tennis, for example, as opponents will commonly return to her backhand side. Golfers need to be able to keep a long, smooth, uninterrupted swing. Swimmers find that breast implants increase their drag, and skiers can find that implants that are too wide interfere with maneuvering and should consider breast implants with a higher profile. Avid fitness enthusiasts and runners do not generally experience difficulties as long as they do not go too large and remember to wear a sports bra.

To learn more about how your lifestyle affects your breast augmentation decision, contact Dr. Rai to set up your initial consultation.

In talking about her recent breast implant surgery, former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland was straightforward and had some good advice for others considering the surgery.

In talking about her reasons for having the surgery, she denied being competitive with co-member Beyonce Knowles, saying, "It is a decision I made for myself." She said, "I was sick of not fitting into my tops. There was this one really hot . . . top--I just wanted to fill that out!"

Rowland had A-cup breasts before surgery, and B-cup breasts following the surgery, and recommends moderate, proportional improvements. "I didn't want to have double D's and be a little bitty size 2--that would look nuts!"

In the end, she also recommended that anyone considering the surgery proceed carefully: "Think about it before you just jump of and do something [you might regret.]"

If you are considering breast augmentation surgery, contact Dr. Vasdev Rai to discuss your options and learn the benefits and risks of surgery.

Whether you are trying to put off the need for a breast lift as long as possible or trying to preserve the good results of your breast augmentation operation, the best thing you can do for your breasts is to wear a good, supportive bra. According to anecdotal evidence by one of the biggest bra-fitting outfits in New York City, eighty percent of women wear the wrong size of bra. To make sure your bra will give you full support, here are some tips.

Cup Selection

The cups of your bra should completely contain your breasts, smoothly, without bulging or deforming the breast. Molded cups are best, and pay attention to the seams, in which the threads play the same role as cables on a bridge. The tie between the two cups should lie flat against the chest. If it does not, you need a larger cup size.

Underwires

Underwires add support to the breast from below, but if poorly fitted they can be painful and detrimental. If your cups are the right size, the underwire should be below the breast, resting directly against the rib cage.

Strapped In

The back strap should rest against your back at or below the shoulder blades. If your bra rides up or is too loose, the bra is too big. If the bra feels too tight, try a larger cup first, then try a larger bra. The over-the-shoulder straps bear most of the weight, so make sure you have good ones. For larger women, it is especially important to make sure your straps are wide enough to distribute the weight. Also, make sure your straps are properly adjusted. Straps that drift are too loose, but if they cut into your shoulders they are too tight.

Many women believe that they do not need to wear a bra following breast augmentation surgery. Although breast implants (especially silicone implants) are more resistant to gravity than natural breast tissue, not wearing a bra can dramatically reduce the lifetime of the procedure.

To learn more about how to maintain the health of your breasts both before and after breast surgery, contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas to set up a consultation with Dr. Vasdev Rai.

Last week we looked at the statistics on plastic surgery procedures, which showed that liposuction procedures jumped by more than 50 % from 2006, an astounding increase, comparable to the meteoric rise of noncosmetic procedures, taking over the spot of top cosmetic surgery procedure from breast augmentation, despite the significant increase in that procedure (21 %) as well. What is responsible for this dramatic increase? Most likely, there are several good reasons, including:

• An "obesity epidemic" in America. Liposuction is not recommended for obese patients, but the obesity epidemic is not just an increase in obesity, but a significant weight increase pretty much across the board, meaning that there are many people slightly overweight who may have some stubborn fat deposits they want to get rid of.
• Media promoting the "epidemic." Big media outlets, ever on the search for ways to avoid reporting real news, leaned heavily on the obesity epidemic in 2007. The increasing weight of Americans was tied in with segments on diet and exercise, making people more self-conscious about their weight. For people unable to get the figure they wanted despite diet, exercise and weight loss, liposuction became an important tool for body contouring of love handles, bingo wings, and muffin tops.
• The upsurge in male cosmetic surgery. Although breast augmentation is a procedure for women only, liposuction profited from the increase in men seeking cosmetic surgery. This trend is expected to continue, as liposuction is ideal for treating the "beer gut" men have such difficulty getting rid of.
• Liposuction is a safe, effective, and long-lasting procedure. The distribution of fat cells in the body is set around puberty, so when you remove them from one area or another, you may permanently alter the distribution of fat in the body. This does not, of course, mean that people cannot get fat following liposuction, but it does mean that following liposuction you will see long-lasting results that can be permanent so long as you maintain your weight.

Of all the reasons, the last is probably the most significant. When people see the results others have with liposuction, including how long they last, it works as the best possible advertisement for the procedure.

To learn more about what liposuction can do for you, please contact Dr. Rai at the Plastic Surgical Associates in Dallas, Texas to set up an initial consultation.

When most people hear "Brazilian," they think about removing fur, and at first blush nothing seems less appealing to women than furry breasts, but the newest breast implant approved for use in Australia is known as the furry Brazilian. The breast implants, which have been in use in Brazil since the 1960s and in Europe for many years, are coated with a layer of polyurethane foam. Apparently, the foam significantly reduces the risk of capsular contracture, suffered by as many as 25 % of breast implant recipients according to one Mentor study, without increasing the risk of other complications.

Capsular contracture occurs when the pocket of scar tissue surrounding the breast implant, also known as the capsule, shrinks, squeezing the implant, making it hard and painful. However, according to doctors involved in the trial, the foam realigns the collagen fibers in the scar tissue, forming them into a circular pattern, rather than an end-to-end alignment. When the fibers are end-to-end, they can more easily slide over one another, the first step in contracture.

It is unknown when or if these new implants will be approved for use in the United States.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has released its statistics for cosmetic surgery procedures performed in 2007. As many experts have predicted, the cosmetic surgery market remains strong despite economic hard times. According to the ASPS, the number of procedures practiced on women in 2007 increased by one percent over those done in 2006, while men's cosmetic surgery saw a much larger increase, 17 %. Commentators believe that cosmetic surgery is losing its stigma for men, accounting for the significant increase, although men still comprise less than ten percent of the total patients.

The top five surgical procedures were:

• Liposuction (456,828) (Up 51%)
• Breast augmentation (399,440) (Up 21 %)
• Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) (240,763) (Up 3 %)
• Abdominoplasty (185,335) (Up 27 %)
• Breast Reduction (153,087) (Up 47 %)

While the top five nonsurgical procedures were:

• Botox injections (2,775,176) (Down 32 %)
• Hyaluronic acid fillers (1,448,716) (Up 86 %)
• Laser hair removal (1,412,657) (Up 63 %)
• Microdermabrasion (829,658) (Up 2%)
• Intense Pulsed Light treatment (647,707) (2006 figures not available)

These figures represent a major shakeup in the cosmetic surgery market. The surge in liposuction and breast reduction (partly due, probably, to media attention on the "obesity epidemic" in this country) represents a major change in the landscape of cosmetic surgery. Even more striking is the dramatic fall in Botox treatments last year, and the corresponding surge in hyaluronic acid fillers, which we will no doubt see accompanied by a similar surge in other fillers when the ASPS releases its detailed figures.

Although some may point to health scares about Botox as a possible cause, the alarmist hue and cry surrounding the treatment came too late in the year to dramatically affect its use. Botox has, since its introduction, seen unprecedented popularity among women and men seeking to look younger, and its shift relative other treatments is not because these other treatments work better, but is due to a better understanding of how the treatments can complement one another to give a better result when used in conjunction, and we will probably see the numbers stabilize in the near future.

To learn more about these treatment options, please contact Dr. Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas today to set up your initial consultation.

Yesterday, Allergan, Inc, the maker of Botox, reported that it received a subpoena from the US Department of Justice regarding its promotion of Botox for use in treating headaches. Coming a short time after allegations that Botox (and a similar competing product) caused the death of 16 people, this newest development may unnerve some users of the drug.

But there is no reason to be concerned, because:

• That this subpoena is about the advertising of Botox and has nothing to do with the alleged deaths
• The deaths associated with Botox are only alleged to have been caused by the toxin: A connection has not been conclusively established.
• Only one of the deaths might actually have been connected with a cosmetic use of Botox.
• Since its introduction as a cosmetic procedure, over 16 MILLION Botox treatments have been conducted, meaning that your chances of dying from Botox injections are less than 1 in 1 million, making it over one thousand times less likely than the lifetime risk of dying by complications of other medical and surgical care.

Considering all these facts, Botox is and remains one of the safest cosmetic procedures available. With its proven track record and minimal side effects, there is no reason to avoid Botox injections.

To learn more about Botox's effects and its risks, contact Dr. Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center to set up your free initial consultation.