Archive for November, 2008
A Glance at Breast Augmentation History: Part 2
On November 25, 2008 this space discussed the early history of breast augmentation and ended where doctors were experimenting in the 1950s with ivory balls, wool, and ox cartilage. Part 2 will bring things up to date. Silicone Gel In 1961, two Houston surgeons developed the first silicone gel implants, marketed by Dow Corning. They […]
A Glance at Breast Augmentation History: Part 1
The desire for larger breasts may appear currently to be a product of Hollywood mania, but the first attempts at breast augmentation were in the 1890s in Austria. Paraffin injections were performed and continued until about 1920. But infections became too frequent, along with the formation of hard lumps. Fat Transplants So in the 1920s […]
Improving the Nose and Ears
Has there ever been a time or a culture where women did not want to look their best? If so, historians, anthropologists and archaelogists have not yet found it. There have always been beauty aids in use, whether paint for the eyes, shells for the hair or hoops and beads for the ears. But all […]
Portrait of a Chinese Cosmetic Surgeon
The cosmetic surgery wave seems to have flooded most of the world, including China with its 1.3 billion people. Competition for jobs is motivating more Chinese people to have cosmetic procedures done, most often eye and nose surgeries. About one million such people have procedures done each year and the cosmetic surgery industry is estimated […]
A Cosmetic Cautionary Tale
A news report this week concerns a Korean woman aged 48 who for twenty years has been having cosmetic surgery procedures. She moved to Japan so she could have more but eventually surgeons drew the line and would not give her more. At that point she returned to Korea where her family didn’t recognize her, […]
A Stem Cell Facelift?
As the field of cosmetic surgery has grown in popularity, it has correspondingly expanded in numbers of options. For rejuvenating the face there is an array of facelift types. There are also many injectable fillers which give quick but temporary rejuvenation and must be repeated periodically for long-lasting results. Then there is BOTOX, a very […]
Protecting Skin From the Winter Onslaught
Wind and cold are harsh for the skin and we’re facing several months of it coming up. If you already have some skin dryness, or even if you don’t, it will help keep your skin in better shape if you take some winter precautions. The following tips are basic and easy to implement, and will […]
How Do Cheek Implants Work?
In many people’s mind, good cheek bones are “to die for”. They are a staple of contemporary beauty standards and although beauty ideals change over the years, good cheekbones are also a useful friend in fighting off the appearance of aging. Strong cheekbones help to maintain the “Y” shape, or triangular shape, that is thought […]