• $500 off Breast Augmentation
• $1000 off Mommy Makeover
• $500 off Natural Uplift for Face and Neck
• $150 rebate on Dysport – some restrictions apply
• Buy 2cc of Restylane and get one area of Dysport Free

These specials are good through September 30, 2010

Besides choosing either a silicone or saline implant, one of the biggest decisions is the placement of the implant itself, since this will determine the way the breast will project itself after the surgery. Placing the breast implant above the muscle or sub-glandular, produces a more rounded, fuller on top look, which even though looks less natural, many women prefer.

Sub-Glandular Breast Implant Placement

Some of the benefits of a sub-glandular implant placement are:

• Produces a round augmented look in the patient
• The implants are placed inside the breast tissue – which is an advantage to the surgeon
• Less recovery time post-operatively since only skin and breast tissue are cut and displaced and not muscle.
• The ability to place oversized implants – which some women want.

Some of the disadvantages to the sub-glandular approach to breast implant augmentation are:

• Interference with ease of mammograms.
• Visible signs of the implant itself from showing through the skin – this is common for women with thin breast skin.
• Rippling of the implant when bending over.
• Increased chance of getting a capsular contraction.
• Increased rate of implant migration and losing the inframammary fold or breast crease.
• Increase probability of ptosis or the snoopy dog syndrome. This is where the breast nipple points down ward.

Sub-Muscular Breast Implant Placement

Some of the advantages of the sub-muscular approach to breast augmentation include:

• Minimizing the loss of the inframammary fold or migration of the breast implant.
• Less likely to produce ptosis
• Produces a more natural shaped look.
• Less chance of ripping or breast implant from showing through the skin.
• Lower capsular contracture rate since the implant does not come in contact with the milk glands.
• Low interference with mammograms.
• Good internal support for the breast implant.

Disadvantages of the sub-muscular approach to breast augmentation:

• Difficulty in mastering the technique by the physician – not all surgeons use this technique.
• Discomfort with the muscle post-operatively
• Longer time for recovery.

Most skilled surgeons prefer the sub-glandular approach to breast augmentation for a multitude of reasons as described here, however, it is important to get multiple opinions and do your research to determine for yourself what is best for you before scheduling your surgery.

One major study done by Devendra Singh in 1993 and subsequent follow up studies by Ronald Henss and Sybil Streeter both support the notion that that the majority of men consistently prefer women with a waist to hip ratio of 0.7. Though cultural ideal weights in women have changed over the years the consistency of the 0.7 waist to hip ratio still remains.

Waist to Hip Ratio Selection Images

Women hoping to regain their attractiveness after child birth or who have excessive mid-waist body fat and skin can use a series of cosmetic and plastic surgical procedures like a tummy tucks abdominoplasty as well as liposuction. These procedures are not to be considered as an alternative for weight loss.

A few facts about breast augmentation.

Breast augmentation is one of the most popular elective cosmetic surgeries performed in the US today with over 350 thousand women going under the knife in 2008 to have this procedure performed. Breast augmentation, using implants, has been around for roughly over 40 years now. However, it didn’t really become popular until the 1980′s. Early use of silicone filled breast implants resulted in having them banned for use in the US in 1992. This was due to complaints of breast implant rupture, leaking and other issues. However, saline implants continued to be used through this time up until silicone implants were re-approved by the FDA in 2008. The leading manufacturers of breast implants, Allergan and Mentor both spent many years funding independent studies and redeveloping new silicone breast implant technologies. The new cohesive silicone gels will not bleed out of it’s casing even in the unlikeliness that the implant ruptures or tears.

Mentor Cohesive Silicone Gel Implant

Silicone breast implants have found a new popularity as many women are choosing to have revision surgery and replace their saline filled implants with silicone implants. Silicone breast implants offer many benefits over saline implants, which include the following:

• Mimic natural breast tissue better resulting in a more natural look.
• Weigh less than saline implants – reducing the chances of ptosis and breast droopiness.
• Silicone breast implants typically perform better than saline breast implants reducing breast wrinkling and distortion

Why Breast Augmentation?

One of the primary reasons for the popularity of this procedure is due to women’s dissatisfaction with their breast size and shape. Social stigmas of small breasted women also may play into the perception that bigger breasts can make women happier by making them more attractive which increases their self-esteem. Women who choose to have breast augmentation need to consider many things.

How big do I want to be?

• Implant size is determined by its volume, projection, and base diameter of the implant.
• Skin laxity can determine probability for maximum augmented breast size.

What type of implant do I want?

• Silicone
• Saline

Surgery Options

What type of incision do I want performed?

• Inframammary – under fold of breast
• Transaxillary – in armpit
• Periareolar – around breast nipple
• Transumbilical – through belly button, saline implant only – not commonly performed

Implant type will often determine incision choice.

Most surgeon’s have their incision preference and are willing to discuss your options in your consultation prior to having surgery. Saline implants require a smaller incision since they are not inflated with saline until they are placed surgically inside the breast cavity.

Where will the breast implant be placed?

• Above the muscle (sub glandular)
• Below the muscle (sub muscular)

The placement can determine how the newly augmented breast will look. Breast implants placed below the muscle gives a more fuller projection on top.

There are many things to consider before undergoing breast augmentation and choosing the right surgeon is the most important part. Carefully, consider the credentials of the surgeon and seek out multiple opinions before scheduling your surgery.

Learn more about how some people are obsessed with excessive plastic surgery in this video.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a chronic mental illness where someone is fixated on a presumed flaw in their physical appearance. It is also known as dysmorphophobia. To the person with BDD, their appearance seems so bad that they become extremely distressed over their imagined ugliness and don’t want to be seen by anyone.

When a person has body dysmorphic disorder they obsessively worry over their appearance and body image, sometimes staring at themselves in the mirror hours at a time. They also seek out using cosmetic surgery, sometimes excessively, to try to fix any perceived flaws but are rarely ever satisfied with their new appearance.

There are many symptoms to BDD which include the following:

• Fixated on your physical appearance
• A belief that you have an abnormality or defect in your physical appearance.
• You believe yourself to be ugly.
• Constant self-examining in the mirror or avoiding looking in the mirror altogether
• Feeling that others negatively take specific notice to your appearance
• Constant cosmetic procedures without any satisfaction
• Constant grooming
• Insecurity and self-conscious of themselves
• Not wanting their picture taken
• Continual picking of the skin
• Continual comparing of appearance with others
• Avoiding social engagements
• Wearing too much makeup or using clothes to cover up perceived flaws

Some of the body parts that BDD sufferers obsess about include:

• Skin
• Nose
• Hair
• Skin Blemishes
• Baldness
• Breasts
• Genitalia

When a person feels embarrassed or shame about their appearance it may be a good time to seek treatment for BDD. Mental health providers and health professionals are available to help with this condition. BDD rarely gets better by itself, and as people age their perceived ugliness only gets worse. If left untreated it could lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Most experts do not fully know what causes BDD, however, biochemical, genes and environment may play a part in this illness. Researchers have identified developing trigger points which include:

• Having a relative with BDD
• Excessive teasing as a child
• Sexual and Physical Abuse
• Very low self-esteem
• Social pressures on perceived beauty

It is roughly estimated that approximately one percent of the entire population to have some form of BDD. However, as many as ten percent of those seeking cosmetic treatments may have BDD as well. BDD usually begins in abdolescence and demographically affects both women and men equally.

The complications that can arise as a result of BDD include:

• Suicidal thoughts
• Mood swings and depression
• Continual Anxiety
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Anorexia/Bulimia/Binge Eating
• Phobias around people
• Drug/Alcohol abuse
• Very Low self-esteem
• Isolation
• Poor attendance at work and school
• Few close relationships
• Unnecessary medical and cosmetic surgery procedures
• Solitude Confinement

A person who seeks out a mental health provider for help with BDD will often be asked with the following questions:

• When did you first discover your symptoms?
• How is your daily life affected by this condition?
• How much time in a day to you spend thinking about your appearance?
• What other cosmetic treatments have you had in the past to treat your condition?
• What have you done on your own to make you feel better about your appearance?
• What types of things make you feel worse about your appearance?
• Have others that know you well commented on your behavior or moods?
• Have you had anyone else in your family that has had a similar illness?
• What do you hope to gain from treatment?
• Are their any medications or non-prescription supplements that are taken for your condition?

Treatments for BDD include psychotherapy and mediations. While cosmetic surgery may be a procedural fix for a perceived flaw it rarely fixes the distress of BDD. The results may not meet the expectation of the person. After which they may begin obsessing about another aspect of their appearance and seek out additional cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic surgery, at best, only temporarily fixes the way people view themselves and is not a permanent treatment for BDD.

This law determines that an appropriate physical examination be concluded within thirty days of a scheduled procedure with a written clearance from a licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant before the cosmetic surgery is performed.

There is concern that this law will do little to improve public safety. Reputable cosmetic surgeons have always checked their patients medical history and have conducted thorough physical exams prior to doing surgery.

This law was named after Donda West, the mother of song artist Kanye West, who died a day later after receiving cosmetic surgery for multiple procedures including: tummy tuck, breast augmentation and liposuction. The autopsy report showed Donda West died form a pre-existing coronary artery disease that was exasperated as a result of post operative factors.

Tanning salons to get taxed

After reeling from the backlash of angry constituents, congress has decided to ax portions of the health care bill that would tax elective cosmetic surgical procedures. Senate Democrats pulled the proposed 5% tax from the latest draft of the bill over the weekend.

Clearly this new form of taxation is discriminatory against women in general who use elective procedures to enhance their appearances and does nothing to reduce health care costs. Typically, elective cosmetic procedures are paid out of pocket and not insurance.

In place of the botax a new tanning tax was added that would go in affect in July of 2010. Anyone receiving services from tanning salons would be left with the bill. This new tax would affect over 20,000 tanning salons across the nation and which only represents less than 1% of 871 billion cost of the health care bill over a ten year period.

These types of bills raise serious concerns that other health care related services could be taxed in the future.

Any prescription injection treatment should be administered by a qualified doctor or nurse.

Learn more about the dangers of mail order Botox and self administered treatments in this video from ABC News.

It is important that any cosmetic or plastic surgeon is certified in the field in which they are performing procedures. Equally important is that office based operatory facilities should have the highest level of certification from their state, and that the physician anesthesiologist are qualified to assure maximum patient safety during surgery. At Face and Body Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Edward Park is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Dr. Robert Sorosky is certified with the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Combined they have over 40 years of aesthetic surgical experience. To request a free consultation and learn more about Dr. Park and Dr. Sorosky contact Face and Body Cosmetic Surgery today.

The revolutionary war’s call to arms, echoed over 200 years ago, was spun by England’s attempt to exploit the colonies through unnecessary taxation. Now days, congress’s attempt to find alternative sources of revenue to pay for it’s burgeoning health care reform bill is encroaching upon the exclusive rights of the people to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

For instance, take the new legislation to tax elective cosmetic procedures. To help offset the projected $849 billion cost of health care reform, congress has included a five percent tax on all elective cosmetic procedures with the bill.

Even though it may be a small part of the legislation, and what has been named as the “Botax” is gathering a lot of attention, particularly from plastic surgeons and their patients.

A spokesperson for Allergan Inc,. the maker of Botox, said in a statement this week, “Taxing cosmetic procedures is unnecessarily punitive on people who have merely decided to enhance their appearance.”

While legislators argue that the tax could raise an estimated five billion over ten years, plastic surgeons say it would only cut into the number of procedures being done, making the tax an unreliable and risky revenue source while further increasing unemployment.

Most people also assert that the language of this bill creates confusion over when a procedure is considered cosmetic or reconstructive.

As the bill is written, it is unclear, whether it would be considered cosmetic to remove the excessive skin from post-bariatric patients.

The bill’s current language applies to surgery “not necessary to make better a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease.” In other words, elective cosmetic surgery.

The bill’s sponsor believes that individuals who undergo elective procedures such as breast augmentation will only pay the tax without complaining because “it’s something they want.”

A similar tax in New Jersey did not work out as planned as patients simply went to neighboring states for their procedures. If a nationwide tax on cosmetic surgeries becomes law, more people will end up taking inexpensive plastic surgery vacations south of the border and elsewhere.

Medical tourism has already been growing by leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, this legislation will just make it expand even further increasing the safety risks to patients and hurting the US economy in turn.