A study recently released by the American Society for Plastic Surgery found that over the past decade there has been a staggering growth in plastic surgery operations amongst teenagers, in particular amongst girls aged 16-17.

The most popular surgeries for teenagers include breast augmentation, rhinoplasty (nose jobs) and tummy tucks. The majority of teenagers who elect for plastic surgery are female although in recent years the number of males seeking to enhance their features by going under the knife has increased exponentially.

According to the study the vast majority of teens who get plastic surgery site self-esteem issues as the major motivation for their decision. However sometimes there is a medical reason for the surgery. Gynecomasitia or male breast reduction is one surgery where the procedure is almost always performed to correct an abnormality as opposed to pure cosmetic reasons as is usually the case in female breast augmentation or rhinoplasty. Disturbingly, bullying and peer pressure has also increased as the reason that many teenagers are desperate to have plastic surgery.

In most countries the law states that parental consent is a requirement for anyone under the age of 18 from having plastic surgery. This used to be enough to prevent most teenagers from even considering plastic surgery as an option but nowadays many parents are allowing or even endorsing these types of medical procedures for their children.

One of the most ground breaking new techniques has been termed the mini-facelift, short-scar facelift or simply S-lift. The mini-facelift works by reforming the skin and soft tissue on the face which have been damaged by the march of time.

Mini-facelifts are popular because they significantly decrease the amount of scarring near the ear and along the hairline which are associated with the more traditional facelifts. The scarring which occurs is relatively small and is located behind the earlobe, within the ear itself or along the temporal hairline.

Short-scar facelifts are generally a procedure more suitable for younger patients in their thirties or forties. Combined with other surgical procedures such as liposuction around the neck the improved aesthetic effect can be dramatic. Older patients who are looking for more drastic anti-aging surgery should probably elect for the traditional facelift.

The recovery time for a mini facelift is relatively short, patients will generally begin feeling better after a day or two and full recovery usually happens within a week or so after the surgery is complete. Common side effects of the short scar facelift are swelling and bruising which may last from up to two to three weeks.

• Sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride crystals.
• Organic grains made from trees, sunflower, maize, cane sugar and other.
• Aluminium oxide crystals.
• Bristle tips.
• Diamond tips.

In the past people used rocks, stones and shells to exfoliate the skin. The first microdermabrasion unit was devised in 1985 by Italian specialists, and used aluminium oxide crystals. By 1992 ten different microdermabrasion units were offered on the market. In 1996 the FDA approved the first microdermabrasion machine and in 1999 the diamond tip was introduced. It was not until 2005 when the most innovative medium – the bristle tip – was introduced and used in microdermabrasion techniques.

The removal of the outermost layer of dead skin of the epidermis can be now performed in home settings as well. Individual assessment determines how many procedures will be required. Typically results are achieved within 5 to 12 sessions with a two to three week interval between each. Sometimes skin specialists combine microdermabrasion with light chemical peel to achieve more dramatic results. Many of the microdermabrasion machines now feature a suction device that improves the efficacy of the abrasion tool.

The procedure is suitable for all skin types and tones. It has virtually no side effects and the recovery time required is one to two days. Patients who have naturally good skin tone will require fewer procedures and achieve best results. Maintenance treatments are also required to make the results last longer.

A wide variety of cosmetic products are also offered on the market. They contain different abrasive granules, made from the pits of fruits for example, and help maintain the results.

Although very often the reasons for developing gynecomastia are not known, doctors point out several factors that contribute to the enlargement of male breast tissue. These include impaired liver function, medication that contains estrogen, overuse of alcohol and marijuana, anabolic steroids, cancer, etc.

The problem can be treated via liposuction and/or surgical removal of excess glandular tissue. The procedure is carried out either under local or general anesthesia depending on each individual case. It usually takes no longer than 2 hours and since it is performed on an out-patient basis, it saves from facility costs.

Good candidates for breast reduction are men of all age who are emotionally stable and in good overall health. It is desirable that the patient has firm, elastic skin in the breast area so that it shrinks back to size after the operation without drooping and creating another reason to go under the knife.

The procedure may be combined with lipoplasty where a suction device will be inserted through small incisions to suction out the excess fat. The results are permanent as long as the patient maintains healthy lifestyle and does not gain large amounts of body mass.

The occurrence of some complications is possible. Patients may experience numbness or loss of sensation in the breast area which is temporary and will completely subside within several months to a year. Rare complications include infection, scarring, excess bleeding, skin damage and pigmentation. Asymmetrical results can be corrected with a revision surgery.

Dental implants are usually constructed out of titanium, a high grade metal which can be placed within the human body without any negative side effects. The metal fixing is used to attach dental implants firmly into the gum and stitches are used to hold the tooth until it sets.

Dental implants are a fantastic option for people who have lost one or more teeth due to a gum or mouth disease or from a sports or other injury. If done correctly they look completely natural. In fact most people who have them installed eventually forget there is any difference between them and their regular teeth!

Having dental implants installed is a relatively simple operation which is usually carried out under only a local anaesthetic. Installing dental images is comparatively non-painful to other cosmetic surgery procedures although there is usually some discomfort in the days following the operation. The stitches can be painful but will naturally heal and fall out in a few days.

The implants have to join with the bone which usually takes at least three months for the lower jaw and six months for the upper jaw. The two most common types of dental implants are the edonsteal (“in the bone” using screws and cylinders) and subperiosteal (“on the bone”) which are generally used by patients who have minimal bone height and are unable to wear dentures.

Dental implants are becoming more and more popular form of plastic surgery and one which should be considered by anyone who has lost teeth and wants to regain their smile.

Canadian women who have traveled abroad for medical tourism are highly advised to get their implants checked. All implants that are manufactured by Poly Implant Prosthese (PIP) and ROFIL Medro inserted after 2001 are to be checked as soon as possible.

As reported, the faulty breast implants were filled with industrial-grade silicone, instead of the medical-grade silicone used for breast implants. The scandal broke after French surgeons observed that PIP implants ruptured 5 to 10 % more often than other brands. Added to that there were 8 cases of cancer reported in women who had the PIP implants.

There is no clear evidence that ruptured implants are related to breast cancer but they cause pain, swelling and lumps in the breast and armpits. Women with PIP implants are advised to not “tolerate them any longer than necessary”, said Fazal Fatah, president of The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAAPS).

The PIP implants were never approved in Canada and there is no solid reason for Canadian patients to worry unless they traveled abroad to get their breast implants fitted. These patients need to find out what brand their implants are, advises Dr. Richard Warren, a Vancouver plastic surgeon and professor of surgery at the University of B.C. “Most clinics in the world will give you a little identification card. If it was a PIP implant, I would see a plastic surgeon in Canada to check it,” he added.

It is estimated that between 300,000 and 400,000 women in 65 countries have been given the PIP implants. In the UK 40,000 women who have received the faulty implants protested in front of popular cosmetic surgery practices and demanded that their implants are replaced for free.

Gift Idea N.1: Intense Pulse Light Treatment (IPL)

By using high intensity pulse light, IPL removes age spots, fine lines and mild wrinkles, and spider veins. Best of everything – it requires no downtime!
Cost: $300 – $600 per treatment

Gift Idea N.2: Chemical Peel

Chemical peels are performed in series to maximize the effects and restore the healthy glow to any mum’s face. They are suitable for all ages and require minimum downtime. A chemical peel targets fine lines around the mouth and the eyes, and rejuvenates the skin’s texture and color. Chemical peels vary according to their strength.
Cost: $100 – $900 according to the strength of the treatment.

Gift Idea N.3 – Injectables

Soft tissue fillers, such as Restylane and Perlane, as well as neurotoxin injectables like Botox and Dysport are treatments for more pronounced signs of aging. They target a wide range of areas on the face and require minimum downtime.
Cost: $400 – $4000 according to the type of injectable and the problem treated.

Gift Idea N.4 – Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser treatments rejuvenate mums’ faces from the inside out and give fantastic results. Problems treated with lasers are large pores, wrinkles, dark spots, skin pigmentation, and sun damage. The greatest advantage is that they stimulate collagen production given that collagen levels drop as we age and cause the appearance of wrinkles.
Cost: $400 – $1000 per session depending on the type of laser

Cosmetic surgeons reveal that celebrities book in their appointments months in advance. After all, hwat makes the headlines is not just who won an award, but what they wore and what ‘work’ they’ve had done. Their timely planning gives fruitful results, and they look their best when the time comes.

If you would like to look like a celebrity and maintain your youthful appearance, it is wise for you to plan your rejuvenation months before your red-carpet moment, whether a birthday party, graduation, wedding, or new job. Some more invasive makeovers require 4-6 months for the bruising and swelling to subside and for the full results to be revealed.

Botox and Dysport

Number one most sought after procedure is Botox. Dyspot is another alternative for quick and easy boost of your face. These neurotoxins are widely preferred because of the almost immediate effects and no downtime. For best results you should have your injection 2 days before your big event.

Alluring Eyelashes

Latisse is available for those who cannot grow lashes. It is available only with a prescription and takes up to 18 months for the full results to appear. It doesn’t require any recovery tim – all that is needed is patience.

Radiant Skin

One’s age is revealed by the state of their skin. This is why it is so important to go all the way in maintaining your skin healthy and glowing. Apart from moisturizers with high sun block factor and drinking lots of water, chemical peels are a fantastic way of improving your skin’s appearance.

Sexy Lips

Juvederm and Restylane are the best choices for plumping up your lips. On top of that, they will erase the lines around your lips and give you a youthful face.

In the past a standard Caucasian nose was considered to be the ideal and surgeons gave that type of nose to every patient regardless of their background. In our days, though, instead of westernizing their facial features, people from ethnic minorities are no longer concerned with hiding their origin and seek ways to enhance their features. This has lead to plastic surgeons to employ a more personalized approach to rhinoplasty, which is in line with the patients ethnic background.

Suitable candidates are pre-screened and approved only if they have a nose that is typical for their ethnic group. Ethnic rhinoplasty aims to provide subtle enhancement to ethnic features, such as flat bridge, retracted columella (the vertical line between the nostrils), large nostrils, downward pointed tip, wide base of the nose, a dorsal hump on the ridge of the nose, very prominent nose, etc. Ethnic nose jobs alters one’s nose to give it an enhanced appearance, yet typical for their ethnicity. In addition to that, a good surgeon also keeps in mind your face’s overall symmetry and gives you a nose, which is in balance with the rest of your facial features.

When you pick a good nose surgeon, during your initial appointment you need to discuss with him your desires and expectations. It is a good idea to bring some pictures with you. He will then evaluate your case and inform you on what alterations are possible. If you have some other nasal problems like whistling nose, difficulty breathing, and etc., your surgeon may be able to remove them too during your rhinoplasty.

Concerned about her own health after having had the PIP implants, Mary Karla visited a doctor to get her implants checked. She was not prepared for the devastating news: “They told me the implants are already ruptured and the prosthesis has already leaked into my right breast and it’s starting in the left one too.”

Karla wants to remove the faulty implants as soon as possible but her family is struggling to help her pay $4,600 for replacement breasts. The Venezuelan government offers free surgery to remove PIP implants but reconstruction or replacement is not offered. Mary Karla is concerned that if she takes up the offer, her breasts will look worse than the way they looked before the augmentation.

Suhail Cantalamessa, a 29-year-old electrical engineer from Caracas, cannot afford paying for replacement implants and is facing the same dilemma. Luckily, her implants are still intact, but knowing that they can rupture any time causes a great deal of distress.

“I like to go jogging, but I feel I can’t exercise because I’m afraid they’ll break,” she says and compares the implants to a ticking bomb in her chest.

Both women have joined a Facebook page “Afectadas por Protesis Mamarias PIP Venezuela” (Women affected by PIP Breast Implants Venezuela), one of many that address the issue.

Lawyer Dr Gilberto Andrea, who specializes in medical malpractice suits said in front of the press: “They’re Venezuelan companies which made money from this product and they should now make that money available to the victims to get surgery to make repairs.”