Bad results with facial fillers

Recent studies have shown that facial fillers are being used more and more to treat conditions that the filler was not designed for. Long term medical data is not available to determine the safety and efficacy of using facial fillers in a non-conventional way.

Much of the data acquired on the initial safety study of use of facial fillers had been done, for the most part, on fair skinned patients. With new emerging markets like in South America and elsewhere, where darker skinned people are receiving these treatments, there is a possible risk of pigmentation problems with over use.

One report from a prominent plastic surgeon suggests that people are overdoing facial fillers to the point that their faces look way too big for their bodies and problems like bumps and lumpiness in the skin are becoming noticeable.

Regardless of the use of these less invasive and less expensive facial procedures, facelifts offer a better choice for patients looking to enhance their appearance. People can end up spending thousands of dollars for routine facial filler treatments over a period of time where a single surgical procedure could create a better result that is longer lasting and overall more cost effective.

Most facelifts require around ten days to two weeks before a person can comfortably be seen in public. Mini-facelifts look very good in around a week after surgery. Dr. Sorosky and Dr. Park take care to ensure that each patient is individually assessed the proper procedure when performing a facelift, taking into consideration the underlying form of a person face and repositioning muscles as well as skin.

CNN reports that obsession with plastic surgery is a result of body dysmorphic disorder.

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.

With the beginning of each new year many people make resolutions with regards to their appearance. If looking better is something you are concerned with then Botox Cosmetic might be the answer.

Botox Cosmetic is a medically diluted from botulinum toxin for the removal of facial wrinkles. This toxin originates from specific bacterium called Clostridum botulinum that is found in improperly handled meat products. However, Botox Cosmetic was originally approved by the FDA in 2002 for medical use. It is currently the most popular non-surgical procedure for the removal of facial wrinkles available today. Botox works by temporarily paralyzing nerves that control muscles – relaxing the appearance of wrinkles.

When Botox Cosmetic is administered by a licensed professional, it can have a positive effect on how you look. Botox treatments usually last around four to six months. However, there is a word of caution: Be wary of personal “Botox Parties” hosted in people’s homes. You should avoid these – don’t allow yourself to be practiced on by unlicensed individuals – there are considerable risks that can permanently harm you either through improper administration of this drug or with tainted botulinum toxin. Furthermore, with the success of Botox cosmetic comes the risk of illegal “Black Market Botox” becoming available without a prescription. Black market botulinum toxin is unsafe and potentially dangerous since the potency and authenticity is not approved by the FDA.

At Face and Body Cosmetic Surgery, our licensed aesthetician has years of experience in administering injectables of all kinds. To schedule your FREE consultation for Botox treatments, contact Face and Body Cosmetic Surgery today or call (909) 981-8985.

California’s new law preventing doctors from performing cosmetic surgery without a proper physical exam goes into effect December 31, 2009.

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

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.

For some time now, the internet has changed the way people make purchases. A person can buy just about anything online from Apples to Zinnias, and that includes cosmetic prescription pharmaceuticals like wrinkle reducing Botox and other facial fillers. According to a 20/20 ABC News report, some businesses have been peddling do it yourself injectables with video instructions on how to self-inject yourself. People looking to save some money on their Botox or Radiesse treatments are risking irreversible damage like infection, blindness or permanent disfigurement.

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.

With the recent news of the Argentine model who died while undergoing a cosmetic procedure, highlights some of the risks associated with these procedures. Though extremely rare, complications can arise. This unfortunate situation reinforces the need for patients seeking cosmetic procedures to carefully select their surgeon as well as the operatory facility where their procedure is performed. Patients who shop around and make their decision on price alone or who are persuaded by aggressive advertising campaigns regarding the latest techniques may be placing their appearance and health in jeopardy.

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.

More often these days it seems like we are constantly being reminded that our assurance of protection from product failure is about to expire. This is no different than with medical devices. Recently the major breast implant manufacturers are offering enhanced warranties for their products. This upgrade is only available this year, however, time is running out to take advantage of the offer.

If a patient schedules a breast augmentation on or before December 31st they can qualify for the enhanced breast implant warranty. This warranty provides a $3500 in financial reimbursement in the event of an implant rupture or failure. Even if your implant fails ten years down the road, the manufacturer will help pay to cover the medical costs to fix the problem.

While these reimbursements warranties have always been in affect the potential for out of pocket expense for the patient can be expensive.

Those considering breast augmentation surgery may want to schedule their surgery now rather than later next year in order take advantage of this special offer. Implant failures are very rare, however, it’s a good way to have some extra assurance about the financial risks associated when an implant failure occurs.

There is growing concern about women who decide to undergo vaginal plastic surgery. Labiaplasty or labia reduction and other female cosmetic surgical procedures including, Vaginoplasty or tightening of the vagina and Clitoral Unhooding, are becoming more popular as they become accepted socially. Each year the cases of women undergoing this type of surgery is increasing.

This surgery is controversial in nature, however, it is booming in popularity nonetheless. Many surgeons fear that some women may be unnecessarily having this operation as well as concerns about this procedure being done by unqualified surgeons.

Labia surgery, which usually involves reducing the size of the labia and vaginal tightening, are becoming as common today as other cosmetic procedures like breast augmentation and abdominioplasty’s. Unfortunately, there is no long term safety studies and many doctors are worried about this procedures popularity. According to one physician, “The designer vagina craze is a concern because it often targets a women’s insecurities of their particular genital appearance rather than any specific health related issue.” “The surgery is potentially damaging and could possibly lead to further problems as a result of the surgery and not necessarily fixing the patient’s insecurity.”

In one practice they have seen an annual increase in requests for this type of surgery by 100%. However, 80% of the cases were requested purely for cosmetic reasons and not health related or functional reasons like not being able to run or wear certain clothing. Women cite two primary reasons whey they are deciding to have this type of surgery, 1) They can’t seem to get comfortable during sex and 2) They want to decrease their discomfort with a busy lifestyle.

It’s a lucrative field for some, however, surgeon’s skilled in these procedures are worried that some are not up to the task and risk potentially irreversibly harming patients.

A published research paper in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology questions the value of cosmetic female genitalia surgery, with concerns that many women are seeking the surgery without fully understanding the risks. Many medical experts are also questioning the ethics of the surgery.

Some physician’s feel that women are being exploited and that anyone performing these types of surgeries should certainly be well trained in the surgical techniques but also be trained in the ability to dissuade a woman from having it done if it’s not necessary. “The procedure itself needs to be scrutinized and the patient selection must be thoroughly assessed. In the right patient it will have the most benefit.”