Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dallas | Dr. Rai

One common reason given why people should not have cosmetic surgery is that notions of beauty are the product of fashion and that fashion is changeable. They often point to Marilyn Monroe and say that she was considered beautiful in her day, but would be considered overweight by today's supermodel standards.

There are a number of things wrong with such a line of argument. The first thing is that, although she might be considered overweight by supermodel standards or those promoted by sleazy men's magazines, the majority of people still look at her as not just a beautiful woman, but an icon of beauty. I ride a bus through the commercial district of a major city, and I see her face and figure many times on that ride: in the windows of poster stores, painted in murals, even as an advertisement for beauty parlors.

The second thing wrong with such an argument is that cosmetic surgery is too big a decision to be made for anyone other than yourself. Ideally, your surgery's results will match your own aesthetic sense, and if the standards of others change, it is of no consequence.

Finally, if you are concerned about weathering the tides of fashion, there are a number of constants of beauty that endure through the ages:

· Proportion and balance: An attractive person has a body whose elements are all proportioned to one another. Bodies that are disproportionate tend to be seen as unattractive. Thus, a woman with large hips and small breasts can see a significant improvement from breast augmentation to achieve balance, and people with disproportionately large noses can see improvement with a reduction rhinoplasty.

· Narrow waists: In studying art and literature from cultures worldwide and throughout history, cultural critics and anthropologists have discovered that relatively narrow waists are a commonly praised trait of beauty. In fact, overall, the narrow waist is the most often mentioned characteristic of a beautiful body. This has been promoted for women, but it is actually equally true for men as well. Liposuction can improve the figures of both men and women.

· Beautiful skin: Whether you are looking at a painting by Rubens or a Maxim magazine cover, the main constant is beautiful, youthful skin. Even recent studies pointing to average faces as being more beautiful seem to be related to the smoothing of the skin as an artifact of digital averaging. If you are interested in looking better, the place to start is youth-enhancing skin treatments such as chemical peels.

To learn more about how you can capture the constants of beauty, contact Dr. Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, today for a consultation.

A Botox breast lift is a relatively new procedure. It works by injecting the pectoral muscles with Botox, which causes them to relax. When these muscles relax, other muscles are forced to take up the slack. In terms of the chest, this is largely the muscles in the upper back, which results in a repositioning of the shoulder girdle, projecting the breasts more up and out. Essentially, the injection forces you to walk or stand with better posture, which makes your breasts appear as though they have been lifted.

At its best, this is what might be called a "Wizard of Oz" procedure, in that it doesn't give you anything you didn't have already. No, tin man, you don't need a heart. Have a watch. If you want the kind of results you can get from a Botox breast lift, there's no need to travel to the Emerald City. Just click your heels together and stand up straight. Or buy a better bra, blouse, or swimsuit.

At its worst, this procedure is potentially harmful. Because you are treating larger muscles than in facial Botox injections, which means that the possibility of adverse effects does increase, although it is still very small, as we discussed in a previous entry. More likely, though, is that women who undergo this procedure will experience the same types of effects on their back, shoulder, and neck muscles as women with hypertrophic breasts: namely discomfort, strain, even chronic pain, the things that induce these women to seek breast reduction.

If you are interested in real improvement of the appearance of your breasts, consider an actual breast lift or breast enlargement. To schedule a consultation, please contact Dr. Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Associates in Dallas, Texas.

Injection lipolysis claims to remove stubborn fat deposits in a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that, like liposuction, can get rid of stubborn fat deposits. In this treatment, a chemical is injected into fatty deposits, causing the fat to dissolve. Although not yet FDA-approved, it continues to be practiced by many doctors, who tout its benefits.

However, there is reason to regard this treatment with skepticism as it may not be effective and may be dangerous.

No Standard Formulation

Taking a drug that has not been FDA-approved is like voluntarily taking a step back to an earlier time in medicine when you had no idea what might be in that drug you were taking. Cough syrups contained opium, pep pills cocaine, and the seller had no responsibility to make sure that the ingredients were either safe or effective.

Lipodissolve has no standard formula. Most variations of the formula include phophatidylcholine (PPC) and sodium deoxycholate (SDC). PPC is the chemical considered responsible for the destruction of fat, since it includes choline, a substance used by the body in the regulation of cell membranes. However, most doctors using lipodissolve custom-mix their own cocktails of chemicals designed to increase the effectiveness of the injection.

But does it work?

The FDA has not been determined the treatment to be effective, but its proponents claim it is very effective. A researcher with a vested interest published a study saying that as many as 99 % of candidates injected with her personal formulation had some reduction of fat. Proponents also claim it stimulates skin tautness.

Is it dangerous?

According to proponents, the side effects are very minor, consisting of only pain and swelling at the injection site, no worse than Botox or soft tissue fillers. The only complications are hyperpigmentation and persistent pain beyond 2 weeks following the injection. Proponents claim these side effects are experienced in less than 1/20th of 1 percent of patients.

But there is reason to doubt that the treatment has any degree of specificity for fat. According to tissue culture studies, lipodissolve formulas cause general cell death, including fat, muscle, and other tissues, meaning the formula is potentially dangerous. Essentially, the formula could just as easily dissolve muscle or nerves as fat. Essentially, you are injecting a toxin into your body to kill cells.

Dr. Rai does not practice lipodissolve because of its unproven results and possible dangers. As with many treatments that promise great results with no sacrifice, it is best to consider the claims and evidence carefully before you put yourself at risk.

To learn more about proven treatments that can help you get rid of unwanted fat deposits, contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, today for a consultation.

According to a survey of doctors performed by the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, there is remarkable growth in one sector of the economy you would not expect: the unemployed. With the sluggish economy experiencing low job growth rates, competition for positions is fierce, leading job-seekers to try and find every possible advantage. Among these advantages is looking younger.

Employers are often more likely to hire younger-looking or more attractive applicants, sometimes without knowing why. Younger-looking applicants seem to be more energetic, giving the impression that they will work harder if given the job. In addition, an applicant who looks well-used and near retirement does not seem like a good investment for an employer who considers the possibility of having to look for a replacement and to pay retirement benefits five or ten years sooner.

If you are trying to find a job, cost-effective solutions like Botox and facial fillers are a good option, depending on what specific signs of aging you are trying to combat. Remember resurfacing treatments like chemical peels are good for combating age spots and numerous fine wrinkles. One of the most effective procedures for making you seem younger is blepharoplasty, a relatively minor surgery with a short recovery period. Financing is also available for those who qualify.

To have a consultation on cosmetic surgery procedures that can shave five or ten years off your appearance, please contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, today.

Cosmetic surgery can give people shy about their appearance the opportunity to feel better about themselves and the way they look. Just how much better they feel is shown by what has been billed as the first ever plastic surgery fashion show in the United States. The show, which took place in Long Island yesterday, allowed a dozen women and one man to proudly show off show off the results of their surgeries while wearing some of the hottest fashions of the day.

The women and man received cosmetic surgery procedures including liposuction, tummy tucks, breast lifts, face lifts, and others. As a result of their insecurity, many of them had not told some of their family and friends about the procedures, making the show a sort of "coming-out" party as well. This step is a very important one, since cosmetic surgery is not merely surgery for the body, but surgery for the self, and until you are able to enjoy your new body, the results are not complete.

There are many people who disparage cosmetic surgery, but the volunteers at this show wanted to prove that cosmetic surgery really can improve the lives of those suffering with personal appearance issues.

To learn more about how cosmetic surgery can change your life, contact Dr. Rai at the Cosmetic Surgical Center to set up a consultation.

Last week, I wrote about the role of idealized breasts in fantasy texts, and along these lines, we might consider the exhibit currently going on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, entitled, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy. According to the curator, Andrew Bolton, "at the heart superheroes are issues related to the body, identity, and transformation, and these are all issues that are so critical to fashion." The exhibit explores the different ways that superheroes serve as metaphors for fashion and its ability to transform the body. The curator further says, "I think a lot of the connections we are making in the exhibit are not as immediate, they are more conceptually driven, but nevertheless there is still a strong synergy between the concept of the superhero and the concept of fashion," but if the concept of the superhero and fashion have "a strong synergy," the synergistic tie between the superhero and cosmetic surgery must be far stronger.

Transformation of the body is a key metaphorical trope in the superhero genre. Superman's episodic transformation from mild-mannered Clark Kent into the superheroic figure of Superman that is highlighted in the series, and is characterized by a fashion change from a uniform of concealment to one of revelation. Superman's form-fitting costume displays his embodiment of the ideal of masculine form, from the orthogonal chin to the huge pectorals to the toned abdomen to the muscular calves. Similarly, Wonder Woman transforms from the modest Diana Prince, in her WAC uniform, to the Wonder Woman costume, with its push-up bustier, that significantly augments the appearance of her breasts.

These are all DC Comics characters, whose changes are largely costume changes. On the other hand, Marvel superheroes, largely undergo a bodily transformation, such as the Hulk or the X-Men, whose mutant powers evidence themselves during puberty, the same time women develop the curvy figure with breasts, waist, hips, and buttocks.

Cosmetic surgery cannot give you super-powers, but it can create an alter-ego, one whose improved appearance can make you feel like a man of steel or a wonder woman.

To learn more about transforming your body, contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, today for a free initial consultation.

The British news magazine Mirror ran a very simple, but effective piece entitled "Plastic Surgery: The Arguments for and against." Unlike many pseudo-news articles that attempt to impose the magazine's rational processes upon readers, the feature takes a simple, objective approach. The feature includes a brief narrative from each of two women, both in their fifties, one who has never had any plastic surgery, and can't see why anyone would, the other who has had eight separate cosmetic surgery procedures performed and is very happy with the results.

The arguments are quite detailed and personal, but some brief excerpts might give a good understanding. The woman who has never had plastic surgery made her main point: "I'm happy, healthy and, in my 50s, more comfortable in my skin than ever. Why would I want to risk that to make my face smoother but blanker and my body a bit perkier?" She expresses a common attitude about facelifts making the face more bland, something that does not happen when working with a skilled cosmetic surgeon. She notes "I've never dieted and I have remained fairly constant at around 9 stones [126 pounds] which is fine for my 5ft 7 in frame." She confesses a love for exercise, a contempt for fancy beauty products, and a conviction that "old tricks" are the most effective way to look your best.

On the other hand, the woman who has undergone numerous cosmetic surgeries, described herself in her 20s, saying that when she was a model and Playboy bunny "I didn't worry about losing my looks. I never thought about my skin sagging or my breasts heading south--I just never imagined it would happen." Then she got married and got a steady job she had to give up when she got pregnant. As a stay-at-home mother, she found her figure and her face became less pleasing than they had been. After talking with a friend who had had cosmetic surgery, she had a facelift and a neck lift, whose results she felt were life-changing. She followed it up with a breast lift to correct sagging and asymmetry in her breasts. She has had a tummy tuck and liposuction as well. She says, "I am really happy with the way I look now and have no regrets at all about having so much cosmetic surgery. It has changed my life for the better and enabled me to carry on enjoying my looks, instead of just feeling frumpy and middle-aged. Thanks to the surgery I still have an exuberance and zest for life that comes from looking and feeling great."

The article is a simple but effective way of establishing that cosmetic surgery is not for everyone, but it is for some.

If you would like to find out whether it is for you, please contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, for a consultation.

The recent furor over the accidental breast reduction given to female characters in the online game universe of Age of Conan calls our attention to the importance that amply-endowed women play in fantasy texts of all types.

Complaints have long been lodged against a number of art forms that target adolescent or pre-adolescent boys. In the 30s, there were pulp stories that lured in readers with a mixture of high-concept, weird, and erotic imagery. Comic books largely replaced the pulps during and following the 1950s SF boom by their reliance on visual enticement. Despite the fact that "Females shall be drawn realistically without exaggeration of any physical qualities" according to the 1954 Code of the Comics Magazine Association of America, the majority of heroines tend markedly toward the sonsie. This tradition was carried over into cartoons in the movies and on television, sometimes with explicit attention, as in Tex Avery cartoons, but other times merely incidentally, as in the case of Natasha from the Bullwinkle cartoons, or any number of action heroines. Curvaceous, idealized feminine bodies became an accepted part of the background.

And now video games have been pursuing the same angle ever since they became graphically capable of producing distinguishable cleavage in pixels. Princess Peach from Super Mario Brothers and Zelda are fairly modest, but it didn't take long for them to be replaced by Samus, Chun-Li, and Lara Croft. The big difference, however, is that video games are interactive, and feminist critiques of the games as giving adolescent men power over their fantasy women quickly appeared.

It is important to ask the question whether these texts contribute to the unrealistic expectations men maintain about the way women look, as well as the prevalence of body dismorphic disorder among women. However, there is also another possibility to consider here.

The assumption about video games (and, indeed, about comic books, fantasy, and science fiction) is that the audience is predominantly male, but this has long ceased to be true. Nowadays, women comprise a large segment of the gaming population, especially in some of the massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming environments.

To say that women have a uniform response to the buxom women portrayed in the games would be facile. The response is probably very mixed, and not being a MMO gamer myself, I have to go back to my old paper & pencil role-playing experience for a paradigm. In those days, one of the people in my gaming group was a young woman, a Jehovah's Witness who played secretly for fear of her parents, who was not especially interested in killing monsters and gaining levels. Instead, her primary interest was in describing her character, and in giving her all the things that she herself was denied: jewelry, makeup, perfume, and, above all, freedom.

For some women, it is probably equally important that in the Age of Conan, they can put on a bosomy persona in a kind of virtual breast augmentation that allows them to be someone they cannot be in real life. Most of them are probably not the same women who seek breast augmentation in real life, preferring instead the ability to play the character, then put it away.

If, however, you are interested in a genuine breast augmentation, please contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center in Dallas, Texas, for a consultation.