Cosmetic Surgery Center, Dallas | Dr. Rai

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2010-04-22T12:31:00.001-05:00

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Baby Boomers Anxious About Aging

2010-04-16T12:16:00.000-05:00

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) has released statistics for cosmetic surgeries done in 2009. They show that, despite the current recession, baby boomers are worried enough about the years marching on that they are having more facelifts and eyelid surgery.

The number of facelifts performed in 2009 by AACS members went up 44 percent and the number of eyelid surgeries (blepharoplasty) went up 42 percent. Most of these procedures were done for people in their 50s.

"The baby boomers are getting older but they still feel young and they want to look that way too," said Mark Berman, AACS president. "I think this might come as a surprise to the public when they see just how many baby boomers are trying to slow down the aging process."

Numbers also went up for non-invasive procedures too, as BOTOX® Cosmetic procedures increased by 157 percent and facial fillers increased by 245 percent. These non-invasive procedures were done for people in their 50s but also for many in their 40s, so it was not only anxious Boomers but also some of the GenX people aging right behind them.

The most popular plastic surgery procedure of all was liposuction, a perennial favorite for many years. The AACS always groups the top five procedures separately, and in the 2009 top five, besides facelifts, eyelid surgery, and liposuction, the other two were forehead lifts and abdominoplasty (tummy tucks).

In comparing men and women, the AACS found that about 15 million women had cosmetic surgery in 2009 as against about 2.5 million men. Breast enlargement is usually in the top five procedures but was not in 2009.

Dr. Rai at The Cosmetic Surgical Center offers all the procedures in the AACS top five, and many more besides. We offer all the non-invasive procedures as well.

If you are in Dallas, Texas, and would like to learn more about any plastic surgery procedure that interests you, please contact us to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Rai.

Issues to Consider Before Your Breast Augmentation

2010-04-14T11:46:00.000-05:00

According to the most recent statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, breast augmentation is still at the top of the list and over 300,000 were done in 2009. Many women having breast implants are baby boomers hoping to keep their young 1960s bloom.

However, you do not have to be worrying about your aging looks to benefit from breast enlargement. As long as you are over 18 (for saline implants) or 22 (for silicone gel implants), have good general health, and a reasonable desire to have larger breasts, you could be a good candidate.

Dr. Rai would be the one to determine your candidacy after he examines you and studies your health history. However, you would have a great deal of input into how your procedure was planned. There are some important breast surgery decisions to be made before any procedure is scheduled.

What size implant do you want? Bigger is not necessarily better. Implants are not sized like bras, with 34-A or 36-C and so on. They are sized by how many cubic centimeters of fluid or gel they contain. Dr. Rai would help you translate cc’s into the right size implant to augment what you already have and end up with the shape you want.
What shape implant? They come in round or teardrop shapes and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Silicone gel or saline implants? Saline is the name for salt water that has the same saltiness (salinity) that our body fluids have. Saline solution is used in many medical procedures and is a standard substance. Silicone gel is specially made for breast implants and these implants come already filled, whereas saline implants are empty when inserted. Therefore incisions must be a little longer for silicone implants.
Where to place the incisions? You have four choices of incision location, all of which will give you a discreetly hidden scar. The transaxillary location is in the armpits; the periareolar location is around the outside of the areola; the breast crease location is below the breasts; and the TUBA location is in the navel.
Where to place the implants? There are two choices here. Either they can be below the breast tissue but above the pectoral muscle; or they can be below both. Each has its advantages and disadvantages and your lifestyle would be a factor in this decision. Again, Dr. Rai will help.

There are good reasons why the best cosmetic surgeons prefer well-informed patients. The better you understand your procedure, the more likely you are to comply with your pre- and post-surgical instructions and the more gratifying your surgical outcome is likely to be. Dr. Rai is always willing to answer questions and explain how a procedure works or why one would be better for you than another.

To learn more about breast enlargement, please contact our Dallas, Texas office for a free consultation with Dr. Rai.

An FDA Campaign Against Fat-Melting Injections

2010-04-08T13:02:00.000-05:00

The FDA has begun a crack-down on a procedure offered by some plastic surgeons called Lipodissolve. It is a non-surgical alternative to liposuction. A chemical is injected to dissolve fatty tissue in relatively small areas, usually in the arms, legs or abdomen – love handles, saddle bags and muffin tops, for example. These injections are also made in facial areas to reduce fat pads beneath the eyes or chin.

They use two chemicals called PC (phosphatidylcholine) and DC (sodium dioxycholate), which are found naturally in the body. These chemicals work as part of the person’s metabolism, breaking down fat.

Lipodissolve is also called mesotherapy, lipolysis, and lipostabil. Typically, each cosmetic surgery clinic or spa has been mixing its own chemicals – compounding the injection formulation. Since each spa or clinic makes its own compound, the ingredients vary and may include multivitamins, enzymes, plant extracts, antibiotics, hormones, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

Reports of Skin Problems

The FDA has been receiving reports of these injections causing scars and hard lumps on the skin, and of skin deformities after the procedure.

Rather than being delivered by a qualified cosmetic surgeon, they are often being done by beauty care specialists who may or may not have any medical training. Neither the chemicals in the compound nor the compounds themselves have been approved by the FDA and in a letter to a MedSpa in Madison, IN, the FDA said,

“The claims made for your lipodissolve products are false and misleading in that they are not supported by substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience."

The FDA has sent warning letters to about six other spas that offer these fat-melting injections and plans to send more. They cite the spas for making unsubstantiated claims about lipodissolve therapy. Some of the claims are that these injections can increase the skin’s production of collagen and that they can improve skin tone and elasticity.

Studies Not Done

Fat-melting injections do break down fat cells, but one question is where that fat goes. No studies have been done to show where it goes, and it could potentially cause serious harm if it goes into the liver or blood vessels. There are also no studies on where the injected medication goes and how it affects the body’s organs.

Nor are there any studies on the side effects, the best combination of ingredients, or best dosages. According the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), infection, inflammation, disfigurement, and tissue death have all been reported after lipodissolve, especially when the treatment was done by a beauty specialist rather than a physician.

This is a big case of:

Caveat emptor!

Buyer beware. Dr. Rai regards new cosmetic treatments and surgical techniques as potentially beneficial, but not until they are proven so does he begin to offer them here in The Cosmetic Surgical Center. If you would like to know more about liposuction and whether it would be a good option for you, please contact our office for a free consultation with Dr. Rai.

Cosmetic Surgery for Men

2010-04-05T11:06:00.001-05:00

All the surveys done each year about who has had what cosmetic surgery procedure and how many procedures of each type were done annually all repeat one fact: that more men are having cosmetic surgery each year. At The Cosmetic Surgical Center, we offer many procedures for men – males can have facial work and body work done using the same general procedures as are done for women, but done a little differently for men.

Standards of beauty for a male body of course differ to some extent from female standards of beauty, and liposuction can be tailored accordingly. In itself, liposuction is a neutral process – unwanted fat cells are broken up using various techniques, and then removed from that area, leaving the skin to shrink naturally over the new contour.

Men develop abdominal fat and extra fat on the upper back and neck just as women do, and these areas can be treated in similar ways. Men also value a muscular-looking chest. Liposuction can done in a way that works on smaller areas of fat within the chest, picking out the contours. This can be done on the abdomen also, creating that “washboard” effect.

Gynecomastia is the term for enlarged male breasts and this can be addressed by liposuction also. The unwanted tissue is not all fat, however; there is a usually an amount of actual breast tissue contributing to the enlargement. Dr. Rai can remove it using different techniques combined with liposuction.

We also offer male eyelid surgery to remove excess fat or skin that are causing drooping eyelids and an older or sleepy look. If you would like a stronger jawline, we offer chin implants to give more definition and balance to the lower face.

As always, BOTOX® Cosmetic is a good option for smoothing out frown lines or horizontal forehead lines. In the slumping economy, non-invasive procedures have become a lot more popular than major surgeries.

Regardless of how you would like to improve your male facial or body contours, we have procedures that can be customized to give you outstanding results. Ple

Cosmetic Surgery Conference Today in Phuket

2010-03-31T14:10:00.000-05:00

Phuket is a small island off the coast of Thailand, where the country extends down in a narrow isthmus to the Malay Peninsula. It is a province of Thailand and a beautiful holiday spot.

Today, about 300 cosmetic surgeons are gathered there to discuss nose surgery – rhinoplasty. They are at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon. There are physicians and other medical personnel from the US, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, and Brazil. They are discussing facial analysis, best ways to plan nose surgery, how to do modifications after a surgery, and how best to avoid complications.

This is an annual event and originally Phuket was chosen for the 2005 conference. However, that massive tsunami happened and the conference was moved to Chiang Mai. Now Phuket is in the spotlight of the cosmetic surgery world.

In recent years, Phuket has been growing as a center of medical tourism. Since prices are lower there than in western countries, people can afford to stay there for a holiday while they recover from surgery, at least for the initial recovery of a few days.

Prompapa Wongtem is the secretary of the Thai Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. She promotes medical tourism in Phuket, saying:

“Phuket is an international destination with a growing reputation for cosmetic surgery and recovery in a pleasant environment. ‘You can change your sex, have corrective surgery of all kinds and visit a dentist here with confidence.

Apparently, about 2,000 people go each year for some type of cosmetic surgery or dentistry and they boost the local economy with their spending. There are lots of activities to entertain you, beaches for surfing and swimming, fine restaurants, and hundreds of fascinating shops.

However . . .

If you have just had nose surgery, would you be happy dining out with splints in your nose and your face bandaged? If you just had liposuction, would you feel like surfing? If you just had breast enlargement, would you want to stroll along the white sand at sunset wearing your swimsuit over the special bra bandages?

There is also the question of any later complication arising. What if it turned out that one of your implants leaked and needed replacing? Or that you developed an infection on the way home or your nose started bleeding?

Follow-up care and monitoring are crucial for good surgical results. Surely you would do better to have your plastic surgery done at home, recover fully in good hands, and then have your vacation to celebrate?

To learn more about the many ways Dr. Rai can rejuvenate and enhance your appearance, please contact our Dallas, Texas office for a free consultation.

Facial Lines: Types and Treatments

2010-03-29T14:15:00.000-05:00

In our youth-obsessed culture, the word “wrinkle” is a BAD word. Nobody wants wrinkles. They must be hidden, smoothed out, eliminated with daily routines, special products, and cosmetic procedures. But everybody gets wrinkles. There is no way to stop aging, and the best thing to do is to try and age gracefully.

If it helps you to age gracefully, why not minimize the appearance of wrinkles on your face? You don’t have to deceive yourself into believing that you are actually 21. Surely a well-groomed and gracious 40 is just as appealing, if not more so.

The face develops several kinds of wrinkles and Dr. Rai at The Cosmetic Surgical Center offers non-invasive treatments to deal with all of them.

Crow’s Feet

Crow’s feet are often the first wrinkles to appear, perhaps even in a person’s twenties. They are fine radial lines that run between the eyelids and the temples and become more visible when you smile or laugh. They form more quickly if you are in the sun a lot and squinting against bright light. Good quality sunglasses and sunblock help to prevent them, or at least postpone their appearance.

Crow’s feet can be smoothed out with BOTOX® Cosmetic injected into the muscles on each side of the upper face. Alternatively, you could have a facial filler such as Restylane®. There are many facial fillers that use different methods to plump up the skin and Dr. Rai also offers Sculptra®, Radiesse®, and others. The effects of both BOTOX® Cosmetic and facial fillers last for several months to perhaps a year and these are non-invasive treatments that can be repeated for more long-term results.

Laugh Lines

Laugh lines are also called nasolabial folds. They run downwards between the nose and corners of the mouth. Like all facial wrinkles, they are partly caused by repeated facial expressions, in this case, laughing. But the pull of gravity helps too, in making the cheeks sag.

Laugh lines can be quite deep and can look more like facial folds than fine lines, but they can be smoothed out by facial fillers much as crow’s feet can. Radiesse or other facial fillers may not entirely smooth them out, but they will certainly make them more shallow, and this helps to counteract the downward contours of an aging face.

Smoker’s Lines

Smoker’s Lines are fine vertical lines that develop around the lips. They are called Smoker’s Lines because if you smoke, you are repeatedly pursing your lips, which encourages these little lines to form. However, anybody can get smoker’s lines, and most people do, especially women.

Smoker’s lines can be treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic and with lip fillers such as Captique, Hylaform, and Cosmoderm.

There are other ways of smoothing out facial wrinkles also, such as autogenous fat grafts, where your own fatty tissue is taken from another part of the body and injected into facial areas. There are also facial implants, such as chin implants and cheek implants, which give long-term results. These are cosmetic surgeries rather than non-invasive procedures.

Each face is different and Dr. Rai can examine you to determine what your best facial rejuvenation choices would be. If you would like to set up a free consultation with him, please contact our Dallas, Texas office today.

Cosmetic Surgery Prospering in China

2010-03-26T12:52:00.000-05:00

As China has become more capitalist and prosperous, there is now a second generation of wealthy families whose young members are going for cosmetic surgery. In a recent interview, a Chinese cosmetic surgeon answers some interesting questions. He is Ding Xiaobang, Director of the outpatient department of a plastic surgery hospital.

Do You See Any New Trends Emerging?

Yes, he said. Contrary to the myth that cosmetic surgery attracts older women who want to look younger and prettier, about 60 percent of his patients are young. They are good-looking members of the “rich second generation” and would turn heads on any street. But they want to look perfect.

They “use surgery like morning makeup,” he said. “Sometimes they even invite me to cafes or restaurants to discuss their surgery plans. Their makeup artists and private photographers are also there to let me know which part of the face is not yet perfect.”

Do Many of Your Clients Behave Mysteriously or Secretly?

Yes, said Ding. Actors and actresses who do not want to be recognized want to keep a low profile. They come to his clinic at dusk because not many people are around then. One in particular always sent her driver into the clinic to make sure nobody was there before she entered.

But it is not only celebrities who act strangely. He described a patient who arrived with her huofo, her “living Buddha”. She was planning to marry a billionaire in southern China whose family believed that a wife’s facial appearance could affect her husband’s fortune. “Peach blossom cheeks” in a wife were thought to be promising for a husband’s career so she wanted her cheeks improved. Her living Buddha’s job was to make sure no other parts of her face were changed, as that might break some taboos.

Becoming a Plastic Surgeon

Ding does not have the Chinese equivalent of board certification in plastic surgery. He learned on the job from his mentor, Zhang, who was very experienced in all types of surgery. In particular he recalled a nine-year-old girl whose heart was malformed. It was positioned above the ribs, beating just beneath the skin and Zhang positioned it more normally with bone protection. He was 81 at that time. Ding realized how dramatically plastic surgery could change a person’s life and decided to make it his career.

His first surgery was eyelid surgery for a young girl who was miserable at school because classmates mocked her. Her eyelid muscles were too weak to fully open her eyes. Ding was so nervous that his hands were trembling, but he successfully took a strip of muscle fiber from her forehead and used it for her upper eyelids. Her happiness after recovery confirmed him in his career choice.

Plastic surgery can indeed change your life. Would you like to know more about how Ultrasonic Liposuction can restore you youthful shape? Or how gynecomastia can streamline a male chest?

If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Rai, please call or email our office in Dallas, Texas, and we will be happy to set that up for you.

Look Natural After Your Cosmetic Surgery

2010-03-23T15:04:00.000-05:00

In Irish news this week, poll results report that 55 percent of the women polled would like to alter the shape or size of their breasts. The survey was a small one, done to celebrate a new chat show in Irish Information TV called MyFaceMyBody. It also reported that 42 percent of women polled would like to have liposuction to remove abdominal fat.

Poll participants included men also, of whom 40 percent said they were not bothered by the idea of breast implants and 23 percent said they preferred breasts that were augmented with implants to smaller natural breasts. That leaves 77 percent of men who would prefer natural breasts and 60 percent who are indeed bothered by the idea of breast implants.

About a third of the women thought that their partner would be glad to pay for a breast enlargement procedure for them, but two thirds were anxious that if they were to go ahead with such a procedure, the results would look fake.

In the early days of cosmetic surgery, when it was done privately for celebrities only, it was overdone in some cases, and it seems the public has not forgotten those images of windblown faces and out-of-proportion breasts. The idea of having cosmetic surgery appeals only if a prospective patient can be confident of looking natural afterwards.

Contribute to Your Own Surgical Outcome

Your plastic surgery outcome is largely in your own hands. There are two important steps that you can and should take to optimize your surgery results and they are:

Choose an experienced and fully-qualified plastic surgeon
Follow his or her pre- and post-op directions to the letter

We see stories repeatedly in the media of people who had cosmetic surgery done by non-board-certified doctors, by doctors ill-trained in other countries, and by cosmetic surgeons who run a factory instead of a quality medical facility. It is not surprising that surgical results have been unsatisfactory, even harmful, or that the doctors have been prosecuted.

Choose Your Plastic Surgeon Carefully

Dr. Rai has extensive qualifications and you can see the details of this on his Training and Credentials page. Not only is the initial training important, but so is the Continuing Education. That keeps a surgeon up to date with new ideas and technology, which increases your safety and satisfaction.

Look also to see what professional organizations your plastic surgeon belongs to. Those memberships keep him or her in touch with peers, which in turn can reassure you that the surgeon is competent and qualified. Many surgeons also have local affiliations that you can check into. Dr. Rai has contributed a great deal of leadership to the Medical City Dallas Hospital, serving as Chief of Section for Plastic Surgery and sitting on several committees.

When you choose a top-of-the-line surgeon, your post-surgery results will look natural and attractive. Your surgeon will have planned the procedure in partnership with you, informing you at each step what is done and why, and your satisfaction will be the greater for having a good working relationship with your plastic surgeon.

If you would like to meet with Dr. Rai and get some questions answered, please contact our Dallas, Texas office today and we will schedule a free consultation for you.

Cosmetic Surgery in Iraq

2010-03-19T22:35:00.002-05:00

As the U.S. presence in Iraq seems to be successfully creating peace and social order, Iraqi doctors are trickling back to their country and resuming their medical practices. Many of them are doing double duty, doing reconstructive surgery in government hospitals for war-wounded people and cosmetic surgery in private hospitals for those who are sufficiently healthy and affluent.

Interest in cosmetic surgery apparently cuts across all religious groups. Some people have consulted Iraq’s most respected Shiite religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Evidently, his website gives some answers and guidance:

Hair implants are approved, since wigs can fall off when the person is praying
Liposuction is approved
Breast implants and breast reduction are approved as long as the woman has it done by a female cosmetic surgeon

But according to news reports, few people raise any religious questions or worry about the gender of their surgeon.

Since the ouster of Saddam Hussein and the end of economic sanctions, Iraqis have enjoyed more contact with the outside world. Many women bring photos of pop stars to show their surgeon how they would like to look. The most popular are apparently Nancy Ajram and Elissa, two Lebanese stars.

In an interview to a reporter, one woman who gave as her reason for wanting cosmetic surgery the fact that her mother-in-law-to-be disliked her nose.

"I am getting older and time is running out,” she said. “One should take care of oneself to look more beautiful." She is thirty years old.

Remaining Obstacles Being Overcome

There are still just about six cosmetic surgeons in practice throughout Iraq. Many doctors are still afraid of being kidnapped, as many doctors were kidnapped by insurgents a few years ago and many others went into exile voluntarily. They are gradually returning to Iraq but do not necessarily advertise their clinic address or work hours.

Also, Iraq does not have all the supplies needed for cosmetic surgery procedures. A woman who wants breast enlargement must import the implants herself and bring them to the surgeon. Patients must also buy their own BOTOX® Cosmetic, though this is easier, as it is sold in Iraqi pharmacies.

"Day after day, the number of clients is increasing," said Falah Abdul Hussein al-Shimmari, an Iraqi doctor who runs a Baghdad outpatient clinic. "Iraqis were deprived before of such cosmetic services because they were unable to travel. But after the war, there has been some openness to the outside world. People are becoming interested in having such plastic surgeries."

Are you interested in having a cosmetic surgery procedure? In this subdued economy, non-invasive procedures like facial fillers are still very popular and even more major procedures are still popular, such as breast augmentation, which never seems to go out of style.

To learn more about Dr. Rai and the services we offer, please contact our Dallas, Texas office for a free consultation.

A New Alternative to Liposuction

2010-03-16T15:27:00.001-05:00

When we gain weight, our fat cells are increasing in size to hold the extra fat. For the most part, we do not grow any new fat cells once we are adult. A new cosmetic surgery treatment is based on this fact. If there is increased fat cell size in the subcutaneous fat layer (just beneath the skin), it can be reduced with a laser.

This is therefore a non-invasive treatment with no pain, no incisions, and no recovery time required. It is called Zerona® and is offered by Erchonia Medical, Inc., a Texas-based company that makes lasers and other medical devices.

Zerona® is a body contouring procedure done in a series of treatments. The special low-level laser breaks up the subcutaneous fat cells (emulsifies them by breaking the cell walls). Rather than being suctioned out as is done in liposuction procedures, the emulsified fat moves into the little spaces between cells, joining the interstitial fluid that is already there. It then flows into the lymph system and is excreted by the body.

Zerona® Treatments

Each treatment lasts for 40 minutes. For best results, you would have three a week for two weeks. The laser is directed to whatever area you would like slimmer and more attractively contoured, such as the waist, hips, or thighs. Each treatment consists of 20 minutes of laser work on the front and 20 minutes on the back.

By the end of two weeks, your subcutaneous fat cells have shrunk down closer to their original size and you have lost at least three or four inches of circumference. Zerona® has been FDA-approved for reducing fat cells after being tested on the lower body only. But physicians are still testing Zerona® for its effectiveness on cellulite, and on upper body areas such as the upper arms and upper back.

At The Cosmetic Surgical Center, Dr. Rai offers both Tumescent Liposuction and Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (UAL), tailoring each procedure to the individual’s desires and needs. UAL is excellent for more detailed contouring results. It uses ultrasound to emulsify fat cells and then removes them by suction. It needs only very small incisions, since the ultrasound cannula and the vacuum tube are very narrow.

In fact, Dr. Rai has a whole separate website on Liposuction where you can read more detail about the ways it can be done.

If you would like to talk with Dr. Rai about the best way to improve your body contours, please contact our Dallas, Texas office today for a free consultation.

2009 Plastic Surgery Statistics

2010-03-11T12:05:00.000-06:00

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has released its 2009 statistics which give the numbers of how many times each procedure was performed, whether it was for a male or a female, percentages for each ethnic group, type of medical facility used, and what the total 2009 numbers are for each procedure. They do this every year and have been since 1997.

Since 1997, the total number of cosmetic surgery procedures has increased 147 percent. In 2009 it dropped, but only by two percent compared to 2008.

Most Popular 2009 Plastic Surgery Procedures

Breast augmentation – with 311,957 procedures done, compared to 355,671 procedures in 2008;
Liposuction -- with 283,735 procedures, compared to 341,144 in 2008;
Eyelid surgery -- with 149,943 procedures, down from the 195,104 procedures done in 2008;
Abdominoplasty – with 127,923 procedures, and in 2008 there were 152,434 with abdominoplasty being the fifth most popular procedure;
Facelifts – with 94,247 procedures, and in 2008, facelifts were not in the top five procedures. Rhinoplasty is the procedure that has dropped from the 2009 top five to make way for facelifts.

Most Popular 2009 Non-Invasive Procedures

As always, BOTOX® Cosmetic is the favorite non-invasive procedure, with 2,557,068 procedures done in 2009. This is more than the 2,464,123 done in 2008;
Facial fillers based on hyaluronic acid, such as Restylane -- 1,313,038 procedures compared to 1,262,848 in 2008, when it was third most popular;
Laser hair removal, which was not in the top five for 2008;
Microdermabrasion, which also was not in the top five for 2008;
Chemical peels, at 529,285 procedures, down from 591,808 in 2008 when it was in fourth position.

It is interesting to see how the annual numbers for major surgeries have declined while those for non-invasive procedures have increased. This may be because of the recession squeezing people’s budgets.

If you would like to learn more about any cosmetic procedure offered by Dr. Rai, please contact our Dallas, Texas office today for a free consultation with him.

Cosmetic Surgery to Help the Job Search

2010-03-09T12:12:00.000-06:00

There are those who think we live in a makeover culture these days. We no longer just get our nails “done” and our hair “done” – we get our face done, our breasts done, our lips done, and anything else that we think needs to be “done”. We get smile makeovers and race to try each new skin product.

One of the latest offerings is nicknamed Botox in a Bottle. It is a cream that freezes muscles temporarily, smoothing out wrinkles for the day. The real name is Glamoxy Snake Serum, based on its ingredient Syn-Ake that mimics the effects of the South-East Asian Temple Viper, whose bite causes paralysis. It is offered by the British company Rodial, Ltd. In the U.K., women are submitting massive numbers of advance orders for Glamoxy Snake Serum.

Look Better to Get a Job

In the present financial crisis it puzzles many that people are still willing to spend money on cosmetic procedures and products. However, part of the motivation in many countries is competition for jobs. As more and more companies retrench and lay off workers, more and more applicants show up for each remaining job opening.

The Los Angeles Times passes on a report of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery that more people are asking for cosmetic surgery to help them get ahead in the work world;
Canada’s Globe and Mail reports that more men are having BOTOX® Cosmetic and various laser treatments to look younger and fresher in their competitive work areas;
The U.K. Daily Mail reports that men now make up one in every five cosmetic surgery patients (used to be one in ten), and that many of them are big city bankers;
The Australian Sydney Morning Herald opines that cosmetic surgery will soon be as standard as teeth whitening and dyeing your hair;
In China, women are having eyelid surgery and leg-lengthening surgery to be more competitive in job interviews.

From teens to grandmothers, everyone feels their appearance needs improving and they are willing to act on that feeling. If you have some of that feeling yourself, it is wise to stop for a moment and look at it before rushing to act. Do you wish you looked like someone else? That is not a good reason to have plastic surgery because you are certain to be disappointed.

The only person you can convincingly look like is You. If you feel you need to look younger in order to land a job, that is very understandable, as ageism is certainly rampant. At The Cosmetic Surgical Center, we offer many ways to rejuvenate the face and body. Some are more invasive, such as breast implants, and others are non-invasive and simpler, such as facial fillers.

If you are in the Dallas and Fort Worth area of Texas, the first step is to contact our office for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Rai. You can ask your questions and learn a lot about your best options, so that when you do decide to have cosmetic surgery done, your expectations will be realistic and you will be happy with your outcome.

How About a Dimple-Plasty?

2010-03-05T12:04:00.000-06:00

Everyone loves a dimpled smile. For some mysterious reason, it looks cute and appealing and a dimple is regarded as a kind of beauty spot. Actually, a dimple is an inborn muscle defect, a small area where the cheek muscles did not fully develop and therefore create that little depression in the cheek contour when you smile.

In various countries, cosmetic surgeons have started to offer a dimple procedure to enhance a person’s smile. Men seem to be just as interested as women, and India seems to be something of a leader in this procedure.

How Are Dimples Created?

The procedure is short, taking 30 to 60 minutes and is done with local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The plastic surgeon makes a small incision on the inside of the cheek and using a biopsy device, removes some of the fat in the proposed dimple location. More tissue is removed for a larger dimple and less for a smaller one. He then attaches part of the muscle to the skin. The incision is closed with absorbable stitches. Not every surgeon offers dimples on both cheeks, as it is difficult to make them symmetrical.

Recovery is short. There is a little swelling for a few days and you are prescribed an antibiotic to guard against infection. You would use a betadine mouth rinse also and would want to be on a liquid diet to avoid having to chew for a day or two.

At first, the dimple is there even if you are scowling, but as the cheek heals, it becomes visible only when you smile. The muscle is now pulling the skin inwards because of the closer muscle/skin attachment created by your dimple-plasty. Because the incision was inside the mouth, there is no visible scar.

You can return to your normal activities the same day if you wish and the results are permanent. Some cosmetic surgeons are also offering chin dimples.

Other Ways to Enhance Your Face

At The Cosmetic Surgical Center, Dr. Rai considers your safety a top priority and does not necessarily rush to offer the latest plastic surgery procedure just because it is new. Once a procedure is proven to be safe and effective he will offer it.

There are many ways to enhance your facial appearance. On our site, you can read about facial fillers as a way to enhance the cheeks and lip areas, cheek implants and chin implants as ways to change your facial contours, and lip enlargement or reduction to change your smile.

To learn more, please contact us today for a free consultation with Dr. Rai.

What is Your Basic Body Shape?

2010-03-01T16:06:00.000-06:00

Through our genetics, we all have a basic body shape. As the years go by and we develop our lifestyle, we may change our appearance by adding bulk but we always keep the basic shape. It will re-emerge when we lose weight.

There are thought by some to be six types of female body shape. Since fashions come and go, each type is in fashion sooner or later and then drops out of fashion. If your body type is currently out of fashion, you may be feeling unattractive and may even be trying to change your basic shape with diet, exercise, and/or cosmetic surgery.

Six Female Body Types

The “A” Frame or Pear Shape -- this type has extra weight in the lower body and a small waist, bust, and shoulders.
The “V” Frame or Cone Shape – this type is the opposite of the A Frame – it has thin legs and narrow hips with a large bust and wide shoulders.
The “H” Frame -- this type looks square-shaped with a large waist and shoulders
The “Ruler” Frame – This is a type is thin with equal-sized shoulders, waist, and hips and does not gain weight easily
The “8” Frame or Hourglass – this type has equal-sized bust and hips with a significantly smaller waist, and weight gain or loss is evenly distributed over the body
The “Oval” Frame or Apple – this shape has thin legs, a short height, and a large bust, with extra weight going to the waistline

The Hourglass type is the perennial female ideal, but regardless of which body type you have, you can look attractive if you feel that you are attractive and if you dress and move well. Exercise programs can be devised for each type, focusing weight training on the thinner areas to build up muscle for a better balance. Lessons in dance or martial arts can increase your balance, grace, posture, and general muscle tone.

Cosmetic Surgery Can Help

If extra weight is obscuring your natural body type, liposuction and/or a tummy tuck can help a great deal. Sometimes we have unwanted fat in smaller, specific areas and there are procedures to help with that too, such as an arm lift or neck liposuction. Of course, there is always the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure of all among women – breast implants – to balance weight on the lower body.

Keep in mind that one’s bones contribute a great deal to your natural body shape, and no cosmetic surgery can change that (except for rhinoplasty, which can change nasal shape). Well, actually, in China, there is a procedure to lengthen the legs. The leg bones are cut and steel extensions inserted which can add about four inches to a woman’s height. But according to news reports, the leg bones are then susceptible to breaking for the rest of your life. Perhaps it is well that this procedure is not legal in the U.S.

When choosing to have plastic surgery for a more attractive or balanced body shape, it is important to be realistic about the results and to have a goal of being more YOU rather than more like someone else.

Please contact our Dallas and Fort Worth office today if you would like to schedule a free consultation with plastic surgeon Dr. Rai.

Acknowledging Your Cosmetic Surgery

2010-02-25T11:58:00.002-06:00

British writer Virginia Ironside has a column out today called “Why I’m not so Fonda this bare-faced hypocrite”. She takes issue with Jane Fonda for advertising anti-aging face cream (on a six-figure contract) and speaking out against people having cosmetic surgery, yet having procedures done to banish her own facial wrinkles.

Apparently Fonda has had a necklift to smooth out the wrinkles around the chin and throat areas; and also had blepharoplasty to remove bags from beneath her eyes. Ironside quotes Fonda as saying on her blog:

“I just had some work done on my chin and neck and had the bags taken away from under my eyes, so I decided it would be a good idea to get a new haircut so people will think it's my new hair.”

Ironside is concerned about the women who bought the anti-aging cream Fonda advertised, expecting their faces to be as smooth as Fonda’s. Ironside herself has had a facelift and is proud of the results. She freely gives out the name of her cosmetic surgeon, but dislikes the statement that she “admits” to having a facelift.

“I don't even like the word 'admitting' because it sounds as if I've committed a crime,” she says. “The whole procedure cheered me up no end. And although I'm quite open about it, very few people ask if I've had a facelift because I was one of the lucky ones who had an excellent surgeon … What on earth is wrong with having cosmetic surgery? It shows you care about your looks, which means you care about other people.”

Fonda disapproved of cosmetic surgery for many years but about four years ago she changed her mind. She had breast implants, but then had them removed. Now she is 72, more concerned about her aging appearance, and more willing to acknowledge having cosmetic surgery.

Ironside scolds celebrities who have cosmetic work done but don’t acknowledge it, because “it makes other older women feel upset that their bingo-wings, faces like contour maps and turkey necks, are somehow their own fault.”

Since everyone ages and the face shows it, it is clearly not anybody’s fault. Our culture is obsessed with youth and has forgotten that age brings valuable experience and often a more tolerant and wider perspective on life.

Ironside is right about the importance of choosing an excellent surgeon. That is the first thing you can do to ensure a good surgical outcome. The second thing to do is follow your surgeon’s pre- and post-op instructions exactly. If you would like to talk with Dr. Rai and learn more about the plastic surgery procedures we offer in Dallas Texas at The Cosmetic Surgical Center, please contact us today.

Forehead Lifts For Men

2010-02-22T14:37:00.001-06:00

A forehead lift (brow lift) is a procedure to raise eyebrows that have started drooping over the eyes, and to smooth forehead creases and frown lines. These corrections give the face a more alert and youthful look.

Many times, a forehead lift is done along with eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Eyelid surgery removes puffiness and wrinkles from the eyelids so the eyes match the rejuvenated forehead. Increasingly, men are coming for these two procedures, as cosmetic surgery continues to become better-known to the public and more acceptable.

Typically, male eyebrows are set lower on the forehead than those of women. So as age causes them to droop, or as a frowning habit draws them lower and closer together, the change more often affects the man’s eyesight. A brow lift can restore the full visual field by shifting the eyebrows higher and out of the way.

Endoscopic vs. Traditional Forehead Lift

Male pattern baldness is a factor in male cosmetic surgery. Traditionally, a forehead lift requires an incision to be made behind the hairline, in a long curve above the forehead and down to the temples. From there, Dr. Rai lifts the eyebrows and removes excess skin to smooth out wrinkles. That has the effect of raising the hairline and does not work so well for males whose hairline is receding, as the scar is too visible.

Therefore Dr. Rai uses the endoscopic technique for men. An endoscope is a narrow surgical tube with a light at its tip and a second channel for surgical instruments. It is connected to a computer. Dr. Rai can see on the monitor what work he is doing beneath the skin. Because the tube is narrow, only two or three small incisions are needed instead of a long one.

An endoscopic browlift cannot remove as much unwanted skin as can a traditional browlift. It is best for younger men with less wrinkling. It is a less invasive procedure with a shorter recovery time. The small incisions leave small scars that are virtually invisible.

If you would like to know more about male plastic surgery and which procedures might best benefit you, please call or email our office for a free consultation with Dr. Rai. We serve the residents of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas and we hope to meet with you soon.

When Cosmetic Surgery Changes Your Size ...

2010-02-18T15:32:00.001-06:00

In the Palm Springs, California area, there is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization called Desert Best Friend’s Closet. It has no physical facilities and only three team members but during their first year, the 2008-2009 fiscal year, they provided the right clothing for 296 adults and 487 children, at no cost to those recipients.

They rely on donations of clothing, help, and money. They do not serve their community directly, but donate the clothing they collect to local charities or government agencies. They began by finding fashionable prom gowns for high school girls who could not afford to buy their own.

“Every girl deserves to experience prom before she graduates high school,” says Connie Golds, the president and co-founder of Desert Best Friend's Closet. “It's a rite of passage.”

Once they were on a roll with prom dresses, they spotted another need: work attire for job interviews. This assisted new high school graduates and also older women returning to the workforce.

Then they realized that the students at an elementary school in the area were in need of school uniforms. “Gently-used” uniforms were donated by students at another school so over 200 children were now well-attired for school. Part of that project was finding and providing play clothing for more than 200 children at a local rescue mission.

Cosmetic Surgery Patients Step Up

Part of their expanding project was “Bras for a Cause”, where cosmetic surgery patients donated their pre-surgery bras and camisoles because their cosmetic procedures were going to require different sized clothing.

When you have breast implants or breast reduction, part of the preparation is determining what your new breast size will be and purchasing new bras.
If you have liposuction, the treatment area will be much reduced in size and your old shirts and jackets may no longer be wearable if you have liposuction on the upper back; nor will your slacks or jeans be wearable if you have it on the hips or buttocks.
After you have had a tummy tuck, you will not need your old skirts or dresses, but will have the pleasure of restocking your wardrobe with new ones.

Cosmetic surgery practices in the Desert area encouraged their patients to donate their pre-surgery clothing to Desert Best Friend’s Closet.

Future plans of this nonprofit group are to find a physical site where they can store donated items and run their organization; and to buy a truck for transporting large amounts of clothing.

It is not just your new shapely contours that can boost your self confidence after plastic surgery. Your fresh new wardrobe is part of that change. Perhaps you could further expand your good feelings by starting a similar nonprofit group in your own area, or by or donating to one if it exists.

If you would like to know more about any cosmetic surgery procedures offered at The Cosmetic Surgical Institute in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, please contact us today for a free consultation with Dr. Rai.

Your Weight and Your BMI

2010-02-16T14:13:00.000-06:00

Obesity has been increasing in Western countries for many years and is getting plenty of press coverage. Some cosmetic surgeons are offering gastric bypass surgery for those who cannot lose excess weight through diet and exercise. It is a way to reduce stomach size so that you feel full quickly and cannot eat more. We do not currently offer that but would not rule it out for the future.

If you want to assess your own weight, one way to do it is by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI (also called Body Mass Indicator) was developed by a Belgian statistician named Adolphe Quelet who lived from 1796 to 1874. It is now an internationally recognized way of measuring obesity.

It is not hard to get your own BMI with a calculator:

Multiply your weight in pounds by 703
Divide the resulting number by your height in inches squared

Here is an Example

Mary weighs 180 pounds and is 5 feet four inches tall (64 inches)

180 multiplied by 703 equals 126,540
64 squared equals 4096 – that is, 64 x 64
126,540 divided by 4096 equals 30.9 (rounded up one decimal point)

Mary’s BMI is 30.89. What does that mean? Here is the meaning of the BMI categories:

Below 18.5 Underweight
18.5 through 24.9 Healthy weight
25 through 29.9 Overweight
30 through 39.9 Obese
Over 40 Morbidly obese

So Mary is obese but not morbidly obese. Since she is at the lower end of the obese range, she could gain 30 more pounds and still be considered obese but not morbidly obese.

Considering Your BMI

Your BMI alone is useful but needs to be supplemented with other information. Do you have large or heavy bones? Developed muscles? (Muscle weighs more than fat.) Are you male or female? If you are at the low end of the healthy weight range and gain 30 pounds, you could still be in the healthy range, at the top end. Mary’s healthy range is about 110 pounds to 140 pounds.

If you gain 30 pounds, you should probably consider why. Was it just over-eating and/or lack of activity, or is something else happening? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more BMI information and an automatic BMI calculator.

At The Cosmetic Surgical Center, we offer Ultrasonic Liposuction and tummy tucks for shedding unwanted fat. If you would like to know more about these procedures and whether they might be good options for you, please contact our plastic surgery office for a free consultation with Dr. Rai. We serve the areas of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas.

An Iris Implant to Change Eye Color?

2010-02-11T18:08:00.000-06:00

Recently, a Syrian woman had an iris implant done to change her eye color from brown to green. Her plastic surgeon replaced her natural iris with one that had green synthetic fibers. She was evidently very satisfied with her outcome.

However, the Syrian health minister, one Rida Said, stated that this was a risky procedure and that the surgeon could no longer practice medicine. His license was pulled. Mr. Said said that it did not matter that iris implants were done in the Western world – it was too risky for the patient’s eyesight.

He has assembled a team of eye surgeons to decide whether this woman’s eyes were damaged. If they find damage, the surgeon and the facility he used for the plastic surgery will be punished.

However, to this date, there have been no conclusions drawn as to the woman’s eyesight because she has refused to allow the government surgeons to examine her.

More About Iris Implants

Iris implants are indeed done in the Western world. According to the Cornea Research Foundation of America, iris implants can be very effective for several groups of people:

Those born with iris defects or a missing iris
Those who have suffered an eye injury
Albino people who have no color in their eyes

Without the iris to control the size of the pupil, the person is easily blinded by bright light. Artificial irises are made of PMMA, the same plastic used for the implantable lenses that treat cataracts. It is an ophthalmic-grade silicone. They come in blue, green, and brown colors. Artificial irises can replace a defective natural iris or they can be placed in front of the natural iris to supplement function or complete the colored area.

Each iris is custom-made for the individual. They are very thin and have two flaps that hold them in place. The FDA is currently testing one called the Ophtec Artificial Iris made by a company called Ophtec, Inc.

When a surgical procedure is successful for health reasons, why should it not be done for cosmetic reasons? Certainly, eyesight is not harmed – it is improved -- by other eye surgeries, such as implantable contact lenses, LASIK, or corneal transplants.

At The Cosmetic Surgical Center, we offer eye surgery on the eyelids, called blepharoplasty. It removes unneeded and unwanted fat and skin from the eyelids, giving them a younger and more alert appearance. It is an effective way to rejuvenate the entire face. It has no effect on your eyesight.

If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Rai and learn more about our cosmetic surgery offerings, please contact our office today. We serve the Dallas and Fort Worth areas in Texas.

Cosmetic Surgery to Whiten the Eyes?

2010-02-08T12:10:00.001-06:00

A Los Angeles physician is offering a new procedure to whiten the whites of the eyes. It is called I-BRITE and is being offered by one Brian Boxer Wachler, M.D. who is an ophthalmologist rather than a cosmetic surgeon.

If you spend long hours reading every day, or working on the computer, or if you have spent years in the sun without wearing any sunglasses, you may be noticing that your eyes are not as white as they used to be. People may be asking you if you feel tired.

The white part of the eyes is called the sclera and it can become yellowed or red over time. There are tiny blood vessels in the sclera that nourish the eyes and remove waste products.

How I-BRITE Works

The I-BRITE procedure removes the conjunctiva in the area including the blood vessels and any yellow or brownish pigmentation. It is really the procedure called conjunctivoplasty, which is not new, but is used for cosmetic reasons in I-BRITE. The conjunctiva is the membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera. You have probably heard of conjunctivitis, the name for an infected conjunctiva. That is treated with antibiotic eyedrops.

Sometimes little growths appear on the sclera and a conjunctivoplasty is done to remove them. That is medically necessary but in the case of I-BRITE, healthy tissue is being removed. The blood vessels need to be there to provide nutrients and oxygen necessary for eye health.

I-BRITE Risks

By removing the conjunctiva, you risk having little scars that could interfere with vision and you risk eye dryness because the conjunctiva helps to keep the eyes moist. You also risk an eye infection which could create scars.

“I think it's a market overkill," says ophthalmologist Dr. Allen Berg, who also practices in Los Angeles. "It would be, I guess, taking a sledgehammer to a flea."

I-BRITE takes about 30 minutes and is done with local anesthetic. You can return to normal activities the following day. The cost is between $3,000 and $5,000 per eye.

At The Cosmetic Surgical Center, we offer blepharoplasty, which is cosmetic surgery on the eyelids, but we do not offer any surgery on the eyes themselves. Blepharoplasty is an effective way to look less tired, as it removes droopiness and gives the eyes a more alert, youthful look.

If you would rather have a non-surgical procedure for the eyes, BOTOX® Cosmetic can smooth the skin around the forehead and eye area, removing frown lines and horizontal lines. This has a lifting effect for the eyes and gives your face a calmer and happier look.

Dr. Rai offers a great many cosmetic procedures and if you would like to learn more about any that you might be considering, please contact our Dallas, Texas office today. We will be happy to schedule a free consultation for you.

The New You Magazine Launching This Year

2010-02-05T12:48:00.000-06:00

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) is planning to launch a new magazine, called the New You Magazine, at the end of this year. It will be the official magazine of the AACS and will be on sale to the public. Its mission is to promote cosmetic surgery by disseminating correct information about it.

"We are going to educate the public about cosmetic surgery so that they will feel informed and comfortable enough to make a decision,” states the magazine editor, J.P. Faber. “Our goal is to remove the most common fears surrounding cosmetic surgery – as well as making it more attractive.”

Most people have a lot of questions about cosmetic procedures and some have reservations. The global market research company Synovate, Inc. did some research on what factors prevent people from going ahead with cosmetic surgery they are interested in. They came up with four main factors:

The cost
Fear of looking unnatural afterwards
Fear of pain
Fear of surgical complications

All four of these factors probably contribute to the popularity of non-invasive cosmetic surgery procedures such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and facial fillers. They cost less, give almost no pain or discomfort, have very few complications, and give excellent results.

A qualified and experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Rai offers a wide array of procedures, both invasive and non-invasive, to suit all budgets and schedules. Patient education is always a high priority so that you will understand what is being done, why, and how to optimize your outcome.

When you have major surgery such as a tummy tuck or breast implants, it is crucial to follow your surgeon’s instructions both before and after your procedure. That is for your safety and you will be far less likely to have any surgical complications if you are faithful in following those instructions.

The New You Magazine will try to promote patient education and allay fears with accurate information.

“For every person who has undergone a cosmetic procedure, there are at least two more people who would like to,” says Faber. “Our job is to overcome their barriers to making that decision.”

The New You Magazine has a website, although it is not yet complete.

If you have been thinking about a plastic surgery procedure and would like to know more about it, please call or email us today for a free consultation with Dr. Rai. We serve Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas and we hope to meet with you soon.

Haiti Plastic Surgeon Helping in Relief Efforts

2010-02-01T12:27:00.000-06:00

One Margaret Degand, M.D. has been a plastic surgeon in Petionville, Haiti for years, offering such cosmetic procedures as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and liposuction to the Haitian upper class. The earthquake collapsed two big buildings near her clinic while she was working and people ran to her door with head injuries, broken limbs, and other urgent needs.

She got to work immediately.

"They were really badly wounded because they were big buildings with lots of cement. Really, I have never seen so many traumatized patients," she said. "They had scalp wounds. They were bleeding. One patient had four or five lesions."

During the first 24 hours, she worked non-stop, with other Haitian doctors who came by to help. “… we were one anesthesiologist, one orthopedist, me and one nurse to do the whole job," she said. She estimated that they treated about 120 people that day and about 1,500 since then. About 350 of the patients needed serious surgery. They were running out of supplies, but Degand’s daughter arrived from France with more.

Haitians Helping Themselves

During the three days that Haiti waited for international help, Haitians helped themselves. In a suburb of Petionville, a sports bar was converted to a help center, feeding people every day.

"We don't believe in sitting around and waiting for outside help. We can help ourselves," said Clifford Rouzeau, 43, one of three owners.

They used all their supplies and were unable to pay their employees, who nevertheless, dontated their time to prepare food and clean up. They plan to keep offering free meals as long as they can get enough food items to do it. They have been making spaghetti, rice and beans, and cornmeal. "It's a lot of work. Our kitchen is not designed for this," Rouzeau said.

Medical Workers Improvising

Haitian medical students in Cuba returned to help, and without any electricity, they used the light of their cell phones at night to see. They had volunteers cleaning wounds and emptying bedpans. Diapers were donated and delivered by someone unknown.

When the hospital ran out of alcohol for sterilization during surgeries, someone sent a supply of vodka. (Vodka is 98 percent pure food-grade alcohol, a type of alcohol that can be bought in U.S. liquor stores as grain alcohol. It is just as effective as the traditional isopropyl alcohol.)

"For sure, Haitians have been helping Haitians. Some patients have gone in and out of the operating theater eight times," said Dr. Degand. Many injuries have been complex and repeated surgeries have been necessary to save limbs. She has had her recovering patients sleeping on mattresses in a tent pitched in the middle of the street.

Humanity is resourceful when it has to be. Americans responded on 9/11 with similar courage and creativeness, running back into the collapsed buildings repeatedly to search for survivors. Some rescuers have sustained permanent lung damage because of breathing so much smoke that contained carcinogens like asbestos, benzene and dioxins.

If you would like to know more about cosmetic procedures that Dr. Rai offers at The Cosmetic Surgical Center, please contact us today for a free consultation.

Cosmetic Surgery Mainstream Worldwide

2010-01-29T12:05:00.000-06:00

Recent news reports are saying that the public is giving cosmetic surgery a green light these days. The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) did a survey of people’s attitudes to it and released the results yesterday.

They found that 71 percent of survey participants think that society has become less judgmental about it than it was five years ago. Of those, 62 percent even said that they felt easier about having cosmetic surgery because of this change in social attitudes.

"This is a confirmation of what many of us have felt for a long time – that cosmetic surgery has become mainstream," stated Dr. Mark Berman, President-Elect of AACS. "A variety of factors have contributed to the normalization of our industry, but the bottom line is that people are not afraid to talk openly about cosmetic surgery anymore."

Not surprisingly, the survey found that breast augmentation is the most accepted procedure, with facelifts and tummy tucks next. As for non-invasive procedures, laser hair removal is the best-accepted procedure, with BOTOX® Cosmetic coming in second.

South Africa

In South Africa, the recession has affected many people, but healthcare financing companies are doing well. One company, First Health Finance, has received over 5,000 applications for cosmetic surgery during the past 18 months, and again, tummy tucks and facelifts are among them.

It is clear to the company personnel that some of those applications come from people who are in financial trouble, but they still want a loan for plastic surgery procedures. Most applicants are female, aged in their thirties, and white.

"Since the recession, there has been no downturn in patient numbers,” says one of South Africa’s prominent plastic surgeons, Dr. Saul Braun. “In fact, there has been steady growth since October 2008 -- the recession has had no influence whatsoever." Most of his patients are well-to-do and have not felt the recession’s bite. But he also noted a “remarkable growth in plastic surgery among the black middle class.”

In England

Actress Helen Mirren, aged 64, who played Her Majesty in the movie The Queen, gives cosmetic surgery her blessing. On a TV show this week, she said she does not plan to have any cosmetic procedures herself; but she says, “Go ahead ... if it makes you feel good."

In answer to the question of why women are going for cosmetic surgery in such a big way, she said:

"I don't think there's outside pressure; I think it's the pressure you put on yourself when you look at yourself in the mirror in the morning. You go, 'I don't want to look at that face anymore,' and I understand that, absolutely. I think people should be allowed to do whatever they want to make themselves feel happy."

Have you have been wondering about cosmetic surgery for yourself? Perhaps you have read a few pages on this site or others and have questions. If you would like to meet Dr. Rai and learn more about how cosmetic surgery procedures could enhance your appearance, please contact our Dallas, Texas office today.

Cryolipolysis™: A Future Alternative to Liposuction?

2010-01-26T12:05:00.000-06:00

A company called Zeltiq™ Aesthetics was founded in 2005 to develop non-invasive ways of removing fat from the body. Zeltiq is based on California. They have patented a method called Cryolipolysis™ that uses controlled cooling to cause the death of targeted fat cells. They are marketing it as a non-invasive alternative to Liposuction, requiring no incisions, stitches, or anesthetic.

According to a news report from yesterday, Cryolipolysis was conceived when someone noticed that children who suck on popsicles a lot develop cheek dimples. It was thought that fatty tissue was lost from the cheeks because of the cold popsicles being in contact with the cheeks so much. Zeltiq’s own press release credits two Massachusetts dermatologists and a Harvard-based research team.

How Cryolipolysis Works

A suction cup is used to take hold of an area of fat. It somehow cools that area down enough to kill the fat cells but does not harm the skin cells because they are more capable of surviving cold temperatures than are fat cells.

The suction cup is left in place for an hour. During this time, you can read, watch a movie, use a computer, or probably sleep, as you choose. The results are not immediately visible but after about two months you can notice the slimmer contour. From one treatment session, about one centimeter’s thickness of fatty tissue can be eliminated.

Not Yet FDA-Approved

At this point, Cryolipolysis is FDA-approved for certain dermatological treatments that require skin cooling, but is not approved for lipolysis. A handful of plastic surgery practices are offering Cryolipolysis however, which suggests that the FDA may be starting to test it for possible approval.

Since the FDA testing phases can last for several years and cost a great deal to the manufacturer, it may be a while before cosmetic surgeons nationwide are offering this procedure.

However, as usually seems to be the case, European countries are already offering it. In September 2009, Zeltiq™ Aesthetics announced that it had received the European CE Mark approval for Cryolipolysis. It was first performed in Hong Kong, where many people go from the Chinese mainland for their cosmetic surgery procedures.

At the Cosmetic Surgical Center, we offer several forms of liposuction, including the minimally-invasive Ultrasonic Liposuction. It can be done on small areas such as the neck and you can see the results in our Before and After Gallery.

If you would like to know more about the ways liposuction can be done, and whether one of them would be best for you, please contact our plastic surgery office today. We serve the Dallas and Fort Worth areas in Texas and will be glad to schedule a free consultation for you with Dr. Rai.