Restylane was first approved by the FDA in 2003 for treating mild to moderate creases around the mouth and lip enhancement. Non-approved, or off label uses include smoothing under-eye hollows, adding volume to cheeks, chin and jawline, softening the appearance of acne scars, defining the cupid’s bow (upper lip curve), and plumping eyebrows.

Similarly to Juvederm and Perlane, Restylane is a hyaluronic acid-based filler. This acid is found in the connective tissues of our bodies. Its production decreases as people age and causes the appearance of facial wrinkles and creases. Restylane injects hyaluronic acid in target area where it increases the volume and draws water to the area. It is non-allergenic and does not require allergy tests.

Restylane is a clear liquid gel that is injected in conjunction with local anesthetic. Restylane with lidocaine can be now found on the market, which conveniently combines 2-in-1 and saves the patient the extra shot. The procedure is carried out in a surgeon’s office and takes about 30 minutes depending on the number of areas that are treated. The results are visible only after a week and the patient can resume their normal lifestyle right after the procedure. There may be mild swelling for couple of days afterwards, but it is common and is nothing to worry about. Doctors usually advise patients to stay out of the sun to avoid swelling and redness.

Restylane injections are considered safe, but in very rare occasions, some of the following complications may occur: nausea, headache, reness, pain and itching, flu-like symptoms, small bumps beneath the skin and temporary muscle weakness. To avoid any of the side effects from occurring, your doctor will ask you to avoid smoking, alcohol consumption and taking some medications prior to the treatment.

Fazel Fatah, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), says that the British government should control cosmetic surgery advertising and ban all special offers and inducements.

To counter the effect of irresponsible marketing BAAPS launched a poster with a giant scalpel 2 years ago. “Companies see cosmetic surgery as a market to be exploited and gimmicks like ‘recommend a friend’ are stooping to the tactics of double-glazing salesmen. They’re recruiting patients as agents to sell the treatments for a commission to friends who might never before have considered surgery”, says Fatah.

Loyalty cards, gift vouchers, and interest-free loans are a few of the tactics used to generate new clients for whom financing their surgery is the only barrier. These campaigns appeal to individuals with low-self esteem who take a loan and only replace one emotional problem with another.

“If you’ve been thinking about cosmetic surgery, make it your new year’s resolution at BMI Healthcare,” says the blurb of the UK’s number one private hospital group. It offers a BMI credit which allows people to borrow up to £20,000. The interest rate is 9.9% which is cheaper than most credit cards, and that encourages people to easily spend more money than they can afford to.

Transform is another company which offers promotions. “If 2011 is the year you plan to really change how you feel about yourself, we’re here to help you do just that. What’s more, if you book your procedure before the end of February 2011 you’ll receive a £150 voucher to spend against your next summer holiday,” says their website.

“Cosmetic surgery can work wonders on the right patient at the right time, but loans and credit cards can never be justified as an inducement,” Fatah believes.

The neck is one of the areas in the human body that first show the signs of age. Hereditary fat deposits, sun exposure, genes, and gravitation have an enormous effect in the way our necks look, and may lead to the formation of “turkey wattle”.

Platysmaplasty is a neck contouring and rejuvenation cosmetic procedure that aims to restore its youthful appearance. It removes excess saggy skin on the neck and tightens the platysma muscle that is the main reason for the sagging effect.

If what worries you is a double chin, you may not need a neck lift but a simple chin liposuction that will solve the problem. Another alternative is mesotherapy. Also referred to as injection lipolysis, it is believed to melt away small amounts of fat that are beneath the skin by using a series of medicated injections.

If you only need to get rid of excess skin in your neck area, the surgeon will make two incisions under or behind your ears, separate the skin from the underlying tissues and muscles and re-drape it. He will then cut off the excess skin and suture the incisions.

If you are require a full platysmaplasty an additional incision under the chin will be made. The surgeon may remove part of the platysma muscle depending on your case evaluation. He will then re-arrange and tighten the remaining muscle, re-drape the excess skin and remove it. After suturing the incisions he will place a pressure dressing around your head. Following his instructions word by word will ensure your fast and complication-free recovery.

The cost for this type of cosmetic surgery includes the doctor’s fee, facility fees and anesthesia fees. The total cost may come up anywhere between $5,000 to $10,000. Aftercare medications are not included.

Latisse has become popular through advertisements for longer eyelashes some time ago. Brooke Shields is one of the celebrities who loves using this product and has helped increase its popularity.

Latisse is a bimatoprost ophthalmic solution manufactured by Allergan and approved for the inability to naturally grow eyelashes – a condition known as eyelash hypotrichosis. It contains the same active ingredient found in Lumigan, a medicament used for treating glaucoma. In fact, growing long and luscious eyelashes after taking the medication was discovered accidentally when glaucoma patients were noticed to develop longer and fuller lashes. The active ingredient was later used in the Latisse formula and approved for eyelash growing treatments. It is not known how Latisse works, but it is considered that Latisse extends your eyelashes’ growth cycle and instead of falling out they blend in with new-grown eyelashes which creates the density.

Not to be confused, Latisse and Lumigan are very different from one another. While Lumigan is an eye drop, Latisse is applied along the lash line with a sterile applicator every day. It is a prescription-only medication and can be obtained through your surgeon.

Official reports of the results indicate that Latisse lengthens eyelashes by 25%, increases their darkness by 18%, and their fullness by whopping 106%. These results start being visible after 8 weeks and show completely in 16 weeks. However, the results only last for as long as Latisse is applied on regular basis. A one-month supply costs about $150.

Latisse is not for everyone and a consultation with a professional is required. In some cases it may lead to itchiness and irritation of the eyes, darkening of the skin on the eyelids, and brown pigmentation of the irises. Pregnant women, people who take antibiotics and heart medications, and people with severe allergies are not suitable candidates for Latisse.

Juvederm is hyaluronic acid-based filler, which was approved by the FDA in 2006. Since then it has gained popularity on the market for wrinkle fillers and is often preferred instead of other similar treatments. The manufacturer Allergan claims that Juvederm eradicates nasolabial lines (smile wrinkles), vertical lip lines (often caused by smoking), and marionette lines (the vertical wrinkles at the corners of the mouth).

Hyaluronic acid is found in the connective tissues of the body. Age and exposure to the sun are the major reasons that reduce its natural supply in our body and the appearance of wrinkles. Juvederm fillers inject hyaluronic acid in the dermis and significantly improve the signs of aging. Doctors use topical or injectable local anesthetics during the procedure, which lasts altogether for 15 minutes. The results are immediate and no recovery time is required. In some cases a second injection is required for achieving the desired results. Physicians typically offer a discount for the second syringe.

Juvederm is the brand, which is widely known by the public. The standard injection is called Juvederm Ultra and the advanced treatment used for treating deeper facial creases is called Juvederm Ultra Plus. There are some other hyaluronic acid-based wrinkle fillers on the market, such as Perlane, Restylane and Prevelle Silk.

Botox or Juvederm?

Botox paralyzes the muscles that cause wrinkles while Juvederm fills the creases with hyaluronic acid naturally found in the body. Moreover, results with Juvederm last up to 1 year compared to 6 months with Botox. In comparison to other hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers, Juvederm has a smoother non-grainy consistency. Side effects are very rare and may include redness and tenderness of the injected area, bruising, pain, itching, small bumps beneath the skin, or discoloration.

The subperiosteral technique for browlift, or forehead lift, usually involves the endoscopic method which only places a few small incisions just behind the hairline. The medical term periosteum is used to describe the layer on the surface of the bone, thus subperiosteral browlift includes moving up the entire thickness of the skin and muscle layers. That will result in rising of the hairline, and if the hairline is already quite high, this technique may not be suitable.

The subcutaneous technique places the incision in the hairline, all the way across from one side to the other. With this approach the hairline can be lowered in the same time if necessary. Some surgeons prefer this method for forehead lift for several reasons. The incision allows the doctor to remove the muscles which cause the heavy creases at the top of the nose and between the eyebrows. The results are permanent. The wrinkles across the forehead are also removed since the muscles that pulled down the brow are relaxed. The scar is invisible since it is hidden in the hairline and hair grows over it.

One of the most important determinants for a surgeon’s choice between these two techniques is your brow height. This should be considered in order to avoid a startled appearance. The subperiosteral approach is considered to cause less damage to the nerves that may cause loss of sensation on the top of your head. However, your surgeon must have access to very expensive endoscopic equipment for this type of browlift. If this is not the case, then you should consider consulting a member of the ASAPS.

In any case, your surgeon should not leave the decision for you to make since he is the expert and should be able to discuss the alternatives according to your individual characteristics and give his professional advice.

While the popularity of plastic surgery is steadily growing and many people now approve of it, there is one area in plastic surgery which is still considered a taboo by many, that is, labiaplasty.

Labiaplasty is a cosmetic surgery designed to reduce the size of the labia. Recently ABC’s ‘The Doctors’ told the story of 23-year old Shannon who had abnormally large labia that caused pain and emotional distress. “I feel like I’m deformed down there,” said the nursing student who did not provide her last name.

Vaginal Rejuvenation surgeries refer to labiaplasty, labia augmentation and vaginal tightening. Doctors affirm that the popularity of these procedures is growing thanks to the availability of extensive information on the Internet and the media. TV shows in USA and Great Britain talk about the possibility to alter one’s labia in order to enhance sexual experiences and eliminate embarrassment.

“There has been a major increase in woman seeking information and surgery on labia, mons and vagina,” Shannon’s surgeon says. “Some have referred to this as a ‘Designer Vagina’ in the media. The reason for this increased demand is the availability of information on the internet and the media.”

Experts advise that patients research thoroughly all sources for information about the procedure itself, any alternatives if available, possible risks and complications. Of foremost importance is finding a board-certified surgeon who specializes in cosmetic gynecology and has experience in performing the kind of cosmetic procedure you would like to have.

“Cosmetic gynecology is fairly new field and many patients aren’t knowledgeable about it,” says a Florida cosmetic-gyn doctor. “If you’re considering a procedure, be sure to do your research. Have the doctor detail precisely what he or she is planning to do. Learn what type of training your doctor has received and know the number of these procedures he or she has performed.”

In the USA only 21 states require full accreditation of facilities where doctors perform surgery. These premises are required to adhere to standards for cleanliness and safety, have life saving equipment and drugs and be subject to inspection.

The practice for doctors to ‘drift’ from their area of expertise to more profitable areas is growing. In Arizona, for example, cosmetic surgery, erectile dysfunction and pain management are listed as the most common areas that attract non-specialists. This growing trend is quite worrying and some of the states are already taking measures for introducing some licensing requirements for offices where doctors perform surgery.

Three of Dr. Peter Normann’s, former emergency room doctor who performed cosmetic surgery, patients died and he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In North Carolina Dr. Paul Drago’s licence was suspended after female patients of his complained that they have received ‘substandard’ surgery. In Denver, Daniel Brookoff who was an oncologist started practicing pain management. Brookoff was taken to court after 3 of his patients suffered brain injuries and 2 others died. In April last year Brookoff committed suicide.

As cosmetic surgery is so popular and sought, the number of doctors who ‘switch’ to more profitable areas with high demand is growing. They are not licensed to perform cosmetic surgery and the facilities where they practice are not accredited. Often the premises are poorly kept, staff is unqualified and in case of an emergency adequate care cannot be provided.

In Florida a special bill will now requite spas that provide liposuction and beauty procedures to comply with existing laws that govern other surgery centers.

If you find a cheaper medical provider for the treatment you would like to have, make sure you do some background research for your own good.

Views towards cosmetic surgery have significantly improved in all corners of the world in the last decade. Surgical intervention to improve one’s physique is now accepted by more than half of the population of the U.S. Cosmetic surgery is no longer seen as a taboo but a means of improving one’s quality of life and confidence. Healthy self-image is known to be a major factor that affects one’s life, career, and interpersonal relations.

Cosmetic surgery in Perth also enjoys greater popularity within the last few years since the prices for cosmetic procedures became more affordable. In general, people’s attitude towards cosmetic surgery has improved significantly and patients who undergo cosmetic operations are less worried and anxious about other people’s reactions and judgment.

Breast augmentation is one of the most sought-after procedures in Perth. Not long ago Australia introduced major improvements in breast enlargement procedures which contributed to the rise of number of patients who opt for breast implants. Earlier surgeons used the common breast implants that tend to harden after some time and cause discomfort in the chest area, and sometimes pain. Now a different type of implants is used. Since South American foam-covered implants have been introduced in Australia the problem of solidifying of the breast implants has been eliminated and more natural look of the breasts has been achieved.

Perth offers high standard, clean medical facilities and latest equipment for cosmetic surgery. Australia is known for providing outstanding customer service. In fact, foreign patients more often choose to travel for medical tourism and combine a breast augmentation procedure with a holiday in Perth.

Before you leave, make sure you do some research and you choose a surgeon who is board-certified and experienced.

You have finally had that long awaited breast enlargement procedure that gave you your dream breasts. You are very happy with the results and would like to maintain them for as long as you can.

What should you know after a breast augmentation?

The type and the quality of your bra are of foremost importance after you have had breast implants. There are a number of reasons for this.

Recovery
Wearing the right type of bra affects your recovery. Sports bras are recommended in the first few weeks or months after the surgery. Your surgeon will advise you on what to look for in a bra. If post-surgery you wear a bra which is not suitable, that may compromise the recovery process.

Comfort
Your new breasts will be larger and heavier and will require some additional support. If you have not worn a bra on a regular basis before the surgery, you will have to change that habit for your own comfort.

Rapid descent
Rapid descent is used to describe when the breast below the nipple line is larger than the breast above the nipple line. Rapid descent is undesired since it makes the breasts appear droopy and aged. A good bra would provide the appropriate support to avoid the occurrence of rapid descent.

When choosing your bra you may ask your surgeon for advice. He will be able to tell you what to avoid. If you are not sure you can take the newly purchased bras to your doctor’s office and see if he would approve them before you wear them. You should avoid push-up bras which may cause re-positioning of the breast implants and breast deformities. The cup of the bra should be solid and able to support the weight of your breasts.