According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, over 11.5 million surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed during the year 2006 in the United States alone.

Here are the top five of each type of method, surgical and non-surgical.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures

1. Liposuction – 403,684
2. Breast augmentation – 383,886
3. Eyelid surgery – 209,999
4. Abdominoplasty – 172,457
5. Breast Reduction – 145,822

Cosmetic Non-Surgical Procedures

1. Botox – 3.1 million
2. Hyaluronic Acid – such as Hylaform, Restylane – 1.5 million
3. Laser hair removal – 1.4 million
4. Microdermabrasion – 993,071
5. Laser Skin Resurfacing – 556,172

I will be on the lookout for the statistics for 2007 when they are published next year. I wonder if the numbers will rise.

What do you think?

Post from: Aging Fabulous

With the recent plastic surgery sudden increase in the United States, prospective patients looking to enhance their appearance are going to great lengths to get the surgery,and many look for bargain prices.

Today, cosmetic surgery is a booming business in places like Mexico, Latin America, and Europe where their low prices are the main draw. Dr. Salzhauer is aware of the dangers of foreign cosmetic surgery versus the safer and regulated surgical environment commonly found in the United States.

He told me how each year, thousands of prospective patients bargain hunt for plastic surgeons in foreign destinations – price being the main attraction. But we all wonder what risks the patients really taking to save a little extra cash when going under the knife?

The Dr. explains, “a bargain at the outset could result in more money spent on revision surgery or fatally worse, death or disfigurement at the hands of an incompetent surgeon or in a compromised surgical setting. Despite the warnings, people continue to sign up for bargain plastic surgery vacations.”

He continues, “patients may take unnecessary risks, when choosing to go outside of the U.S. for cosmetic surgery, by unknowingly selecting unqualified physicians and having procedures performed in non-accredited surgical facilities. It’s unfortunate that there are some surgeons who are in this profession for the business and not for the patient’s well-being. I have seen and re-operated on almost all cases of botched up plastic surgeries,” said Dr. Salzhauer. He went on to say, “From implants that look as if they were crudely fashioned to those that have become infected or dislocated and have to be removed, to botched facelift, eyelid and nasal surgery, and even liposuction with results ranging from poor to non-existent including incisions placed in bizarre places. Patients put their trust in our hands and it’s our responsibility to always provide the best and safest care possible.”

I had a few questions for Dr. Salzhauer:
What separates the standards in the United States from those of the other countries? According to Salzhauer, “in the U.S., there is a plastic surgery standard that is higher than anywhere else in the world. This includes a high level of sterility, the quality of the technological or surgical equipment, and most important of all, a surgeon’s training. Foreign countries often have neither the money nor the resources to have a generalized standard of care. Contrast this with the U.S. where we have no shortage of patient advocates and medical and state boards which ensure doctors are adhering to specific guidelines.”

Does this mean that plastic surgery in foreign countries is uniformly dangerous? “Certainly not,” says Dr. Salzhauer. “In most countries, one can find qualified plastic surgeon and expect successful results. However, these are not usually the places that offer bargains.”

What accounts for the discrepancy in foreign versus domestic cosmetic surgery? “Hospitals in America go to great lengths to make sure the doctors who are granted affiliation or surgical privileges are trained and board certified in the sub-specialty in which they are practicing. In addition, doctors in large American cities must remain incredibly competitive as far as their knowledge and skill. It would therefore be much less likely for a patient in the U.S. to have problematic results. Post operative care is also a crucial element of plastic surgery. This is another major red flag associated with foreign plastic surgeries. Even if a patient has excellent results at the time of their surgery, if certain are not properly identified, they can lead to an unsatisfactory final result.” Dr. Salzhauer stresses, “The most important aspect of surgery is not only the surgery itself, but the frequency and thoroughness of follow up visits and post-operative care.” He adds that “patients need to be advised when they can resume activities such as work and exercise, therefore, it is essential that a patient’s doctor is accessible, which is a challenge for surgeons in other countries.

As Dr. Salzhauer explains “an additional danger patients run into when having surgery performed in a foreign facility is that often, facilities abroad designed for elective surgery are run more like clinics rather than actual hospitals. Usually the surgery is performed in conjunction with another doctor who may or may not be certified in the same specialty. There may not even be qualification boards in that country.” As Dr. Salzhauer points out, “when a patient sees a doctor in private practice, as here in America, that surgeon — plastic or otherwise — obviously has a more principle responsibility for the well being of the patient. In a clinic, there is often no single doctor who is responsible to handle problems that arise.”

What recourse does a patient have as a result of botched surgeries in a foreign country? “Little if any,” reports Dr. Salzhauer. “There may be no venue for legal recourse for a patient encountering a problem as a result of sub-standard care in a foreign country. Geographic distance would render legal action both costly and inconvenient. The patient originally seeking a bargain will wind up spending even more money, not to mention the time and effort involved.”

Great advice!

To learn more information on Dr. Salzhauer or his practice, please visit Bal Harbour Surgery

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Christopher Saunders’ self-published new book, “A Woman’s Guide to the Real-Reality of Cosmetic Surgery,” sheds light on the fallacies and unrealistic expectations of cosmetic surgery fueled by the media. From the consultation, to the operating table and everything in between, Dr. Saunders filters out the hype sold by many doctors and institutions.

“For a very long time, cosmetic surgery was viewed as taboo by our culture. Now, men and women are getting liposuctions, laser surgeries and body lifts on national television,” said Dr. Saunders. “The two most prevalent misconceptions are unrealistic expectations that a procedure can achieve and unrealistic expectations about post-surgery recovery. We live in a culture of “the now” and all too often, people are looking for the magic pill, especially when it comes to their physical appearance. My new book outlines the “Real-Reality” of cosmetic surgery; and empowers those who are considering cosmetic surgery with the proper knowledge and education to understand almost everything related to cosmetic surgery.”

Many doctors have also jumped on the cosmetic surgery franchise bandwagon. It is a little known fact that hundreds of plastic surgery procedures are conducted each day in the United States by doctors who do not have backgrounds in plastic surgery. Even more disconcerting is that board certification to perform plastic surgery can essentially be bought instead of earned. Surgeons can enroll in a weekend course and be ordained “certified.”

“It’s hard to believe, but courses like Liposuction 101 do exist,” said Dr. Saunders. “After a weekend course, doctors claim being trained, a specialist or certified; the reality can be scary. Before you decide to go under knife, you need to know whose hands you’re putting your life in.”

Dr. Christopher Saunders weeds through the misinformation and focuses on education and easy concepts: the “Real-Reality” of cosmetic surgery. His book is “A Woman’s Guide to the Real-Reality of Cosmetic Surgery”.

If you are even remotely considering any type of cosmetic surgery, READ THIS BOOK!

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Unfortunately, many doctors don’t have a clue about what causes back pain, so they order tests, which lead to unnecessary surgery for many people. But back pain usually doesn’t signal a serious illness or condition, and in most cases, the pain will eventually go away with minimal treatment. Next time you feel the twinge of backache, here’s what you need to know and do.”

Definitely worth reading and for me… it’s the mattress. I tried using two of those spongie mattress pads last night thinking that an extra one would ensure a great night’s sleep… and my back ached all night. I need one… but definitely not two!

Oh My Aching Back

Post from: Aging Fabulous

Photo Credit

Post from: Aging Fabulous