Regardless of whether you are interested in getting plastic surgery, you have to admit that it’s fairly interesting. Here are some interesting facts on plastic surgery that you may or may not have known

1. -Plastic surgery does not mean artificial or fake. Plastic comes from the Greek word “plastikos” which means to mold or give form. The term plastic has nothing do with the use of synthetic or plastic materials.
2. -The first nose job was performed in 600 B.C in Ancient India. Physicians reshaped the nose be cutting skin from the cheek or the forehead and then sewing the skin in place. Wooden tubes were inserted into the nostril during the healing process in order to keep the airway open.
3. -In 1998, Bill Clinton signed a bill which required insurance companies to cover the cost of reconstructive breast surgery for women who had undergone a mastectomy.
4. -2/3 of plastic surgery patients are repeat patients, it is reported that about five million Americans may be addicted to plastic surgery. One of example you may have heard is Hang Mioku who was highly addicted plastic surgery. She was left disfigured after she injected her own face with cooking oil.
5. -Modern plastic surgeons are exploring the potential of cloning technology as a method of body rejuvenation. Think, The Island, which was directed by Michael Bay.
6. -Dr Gerow got the idea of breast implantation when he saw a plastic bag filled with blood used for transfusion. He saw it take the form of a breast and felt like one.
7. -Men only accounted for 9% of the total plastic surgeries in 2011, while women accounted for 91%.
8. -Over the past 15 years cosmetic procedures have increased by 197% Up from 2.1 million procedures in 1997 to 9.2 million procedures in 2011.
9. -Nearly 10 billion was spent on cosmetic procedures alone in 2011. This means a breakthrough in this industry can mean huge revenues. A new product that can replace Botox can definitely mean a revenue generator.
10. -The weirdest procedure is the voice lift. Possible side effects can include a voice that is permanently raspy or a voice that is too soft or high pitched. Some other uncommon one: pec implants (quick way to get jacked without going to the gym), dimple fabrication, calf implants, toe tuck, toe shortening, hymen reconstruction, etc
11. -In a study by UCLA: 48% of women surveyed said they were interested in cosmetic surgery while only 23% of men said they were interested.

Stretch marks, they can result from a variety of factors such as pregnancy or rapid weight loss & weight gain. The medical term for this is striae and they are actually a form of skin scarring. The skin has been stretched beyond its normal limits and the connective fibers in the skin snap. When these fibers break the skin cannot function normally and the collagen that gives the skin its elasticity cannot be produced.

Certain types of people are more prone to stretch marks than others: Most girls and women have stretch marks which tend to show up on the breasts, thighs, hips and butts. Many women get them during pregnancy. People who are obese can often have stretch marks as well. Body builders are also prone to stretch marks as well due to the rapid body changes that body building can produce. In addition to this, individuals that use steroid containing creams for more than a few weeks can also have stretch marks.

The best way to treat these stretch marks is to start taking care of them when they first appear. Research has shown that when they are still red or purple, they most readily respond to treatments. When the stretch marks approach the later stages, such as when they become white or silver (with deep indentations) they are much more challenging to treat. Many products claim to “repair” stretch marks, but only some work.

Wheat Germ Oil: A recent study found that they helped improve the appearance of stretch marks in their early phases.

Glycolic acid: Works on stretch marks by boosting collagen production. These can be administered in high doses by dermatologists. These are expensive treatment and may take a few applications before the effects are visible.

Vitamin C: 500 milligrams three times a day can increase collagen production and reduce early stage stretch marks.

Laser Treatments: These are the most popular and are being tried on stretch marks. These vascular lasers target swollen and inflamed blood vessel in order to help with skin cell production and increased collagen production. Treatments for these are often the most expensive but can provide the best results, but don’t expect perfection.

It should be noted that any creams that claim to eliminate stretch marks are mostly ineffective. The laser treatments are not recommended to individuals in their teenage years because they are still growing and more stretch marks could arise after treatments are performed. One should consult with their primary care physician before undergoing these treatments in order to understand the risks and precautions that should be taken.

Robotic Plastic Surgeries

Almost everyone thinks robots are pretty cool right? Think about the new Ironman Three movie, pretty cool. What about iRobot and all those other ones? Also cool? How about a robot that performs your plastic surgery? Robotics is a very modern technology and almost everything is automated with the help of robots. Over the past ten years they have been used in the urology and gynecology departments to aid in procedures. However, robotic equipment could actually benefit the plastic surgery industry greatly. Think about all the ads you see for children with cleft lips. Those surgeries could be performed remotely by world class surgeons’ right from their very home. This would help alleviate the health care disparities that are rampant across the world. In fact, at UCLA they are currently developing a tactile response mechanism for surgeons at their Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT) research laboratories. This tactile response would allow surgeons to better gauge the pressure with which they applying to the patient.

Dr. Jesse Selber, an assistant professor of plastic surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been using the da Vinci surgical system technology in order to perform breast cancer reconstruction surgeries. He has been developing these techniques since 2008. During typical breast reconstruction surgery a large incision is made in the patients back to harvest latissmus dorsi muscle. This muscle is used to reconstruct the new breast muscle. With the robot, Dr. Selber does not have to cut into the patient’s back, which speeds recovery time. The robot instead is able to use optical and precision guiding techniques in order to reach the muscles without the back incision.

In addition to this application, the robot can be used to perform microsurgery in which very small blood vessels are connected together. Without this robot the normal human being would not be able to perform this. It’s the advanced technology and 3D precision optics which allows this surgery to be performed. Other general surgeries will also benefit similarly. The robot will make smaller incisions than the average surgeon and have higher mobility that the surgeon. This leads to less scaring and increased recovery time, which is the ultimate goal of advancing the field of medicine. In the next 20-30 years it could be very possible to have fully remote and automated surgeries where surgeons perform work from their home offices.

Learn More About Plastic Surgery Options with Dr. Moliver

Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery on the Rise

Minimally invasive plastic surgeries are probably one of the better options if you can opt for it. Why is that? First of all, minimally invasive plastic surgeries mean fewer incisions. This translates into less scaring and quicker recovery times. According to statistics recently released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, minimally invasive procedures were up 6% in 2012. However, overall plastic surgery procedures performed were due to economy. Some of the top five procedures that were up on the rise were:

1. Botulinum toxin type A – up 8%

• This is the general botox injection that has been popular in media.

2. Soft tissue fillers – up 5%

• Soft tissue fillers are an easy way to quickly help reduce wrinkels and fill lines in order to enhance facial contours.

3. Chemical peel – up 2%

•   Chemical solutions are applied to the skin and allowed to soak in. Over the next 1 to 14 days the skin peels off. This procedure destroys parts of the skin in a controlled way to regrow new and rejuvenated skin.

4. Laser hair removal – up 4%

• Laser hair selective targets dark coarse hairs and leaves the surrounding skin undamaged. Around ninety percent of patients have permanent hair loss after an average of three to five sessions.

5. Microdermabrasion – up 8%

• Uses micro particles in order to slough off the top layer (epidermis) and stimulate new skin growth.

Some other additional attractions of minimally invasive plastic surgery are that they tend to cost less than the traditional surgeries. The average surgery can cost upwards of several thousand dollars while the average minimally invasive surgery usually costs several hundred. These can generally decide what procedure a patient is going to get. For example if it costs several thousand for a face lift versus a couple of hundred for a botox injections, and results will be fairly similar, what do you think the patient will choose? The procedure is usually much quicker than an average surgery and the recovery time is much quicker. However, it is important for patients to realize that minimally invasive surgeries for the most part are temporary and over time they may need repeat procedures. Many times patients only see the upfront cost of surgery and not the long term costs associated with it. Doctors will recommend that patients should prioritize which is more important to them in terms of price and quality.

Learn More About Non-Surgical Skin Treatments

About Cellulite

Maybe you have heard of cellulite. In technical terms, it is the herniation of subcutaneous fat within fibrous connective tissue that manifest topographically as skin dimpling and nodularity.  In more layman’s terms it’s a lumpy substance that is commonly found on the thighs, stomach and butt. It is basically fat that pushes against the connective tissue beneath a person’s skin. This causes the lumpy appearance that is commonly seen.

Several things influence whether a person has cellulite and how much they have. These things include: your genes, sex, age, amount of fat, body type, and the thickness of your skin. It should be noted that even though cellulite is possible in both sexes, it is more prevalent in females than in males. This is because females are more likely to have particular types of fat and connective tissue that are related to cellulite. There a couple of grades which cellulite can be classified at:

1. Grade 1: no clinical symptoms, but a microscope examination can detect these changes.
2. Grade 2: skin shows degraded elasticity and anatomical changes are noted under microscopic examination.
3. Grade 3: cellulite has visible roughness of the skin.

It has been reported that eating healthy, low fat food such as fruits, vegetables, and fiber can help one to avoid cellulite. Also maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and avoiding stress can help manage cellulite.

However if these management techniques do not fit your lifestyle, there is a new treatment called cellulaze that can supposedly “banish cellulite”. It has been reported to cost around 6k-7k and is a permanent solution. Cellulaze requires only one doctor’s visit and is based off of a laser technology. The laser technology is reported to attack all the problems associated with cellulite: the bulging fat, thin skin, and the connective tissue.

However, the clinical studies of Cynosure, the maker of Cellulaze, only has clinical data for about three months. This means that the claims of doctors reporting that this is a permanent solution is unwarranted and should not be trusted until further studies are performed. However, the FDA does not regulate doctor claims, so as a patient you should always research the claims that a doctor makes before continuing with a newly developed procedure.

The cost of the procedure can also vary, and since it is a newly developed technology some doctors maybe much more experienced than others.  Patients should seek doctors who have performed the procedures successfully on more patients rather than ones who have only performed a few procedures.

Learn More About Skin Care with Dr. Moliver

Male Plastic Surgery

When we think of plastic surgery, we mostly think of women having plastic surgery done to their faces, but this is no longer true anymore. Male plastic surgery in Houston is done as well. One example is a Manhattan banker in his 30s. He facial features make him look young and vibrant even while working 13 hour work days. His secret? He got neck liposuction in order to yield a more dramatic jaw-line. Now some numbers regarding plastic surgeries and their expected lifespans: Face-Lifts: 10 to 15 years, Eye-Lifts: 15 to 20 years, Liposuction: 10 to 20 years for abs and thighs, 10 to 15 years for the next, Breast Reduction: Permanent, Chin Implant: Permanent, Rhinoplasty: Permanent.

With this Manhattan banker, it was just a matter of fashion and what looks good right now. Hollywood prefers men with square and defined jawlines. However it was only a fear years ago that we preferred individuals with dainty chins (Leonardo DiCaprio, Zac Efron, Tobey Macguire, etc.).

The new realm of plastic surgery is also very exciting and rapidly expanding due to advances in modern medicine and technology. Some male facial surgeries can be done in little as 30 minutes. Instruments have gotten much smaller and that means incisions are smaller which means faster recovery times. This is known as minimally invasive surgery, which is a huge active research area.

Microliposuction can clean up the jawline in about half an hour under mild sedation. No sutures required and only minor bruising. Ultherapy is a nonsurgical face-lift procedure which uses ultrasound technology to heat the skin, causing collagen to contract and stimulating the production of newer tighter tissue. Another technology we mentioned before was cool sculpting. Cool sculpting “freezes fat”. This basically means that it targets fat cells only, no anesthetic or incisions are needed.

The only downside of these easy surgery is that well, it’s easy to get hooked on them. People can get addicted for other reasons as well, but we have all seen horrors when people absolutely spend ridiculous amounts of money on plastic surgery and then resemble an alien. It is quite possible since some men get one surgery and then are not satisfied. So they go in for another one and then another one. In business your appearance impacts your performance in the work place so some younger professionals see this as a way to move ahead in the playing field.

Learn More About Facial Plastic Surgery Procedures with Dr. Moliver

Stem Cell Facelifts – Effective or Not?

Stem cell face lifts are something that are heavily debated. We hear a lot about stem cells on the news, but what are stem cells? Stem cells are biological cells that are undifferentiated. Meaning that they are not specialized cells yet and can change into any type we want them to become such as: blood cells, heart cells, or in our case: skin cells.

In a conventional face lift, it requires surgical cutting, lifting, and sewing of sagging skin. However in the stem cell facelift procedure this is not the case. The procedure is nonsurgical and patients receive injections of fat that “plump up” the skin and restore youthfulness.

The procedure starts by harvesting fat from places that tend to have a bit extra such as the stomach or thighs. Then from there they can be injected into places that may not have enough, such as the hollow of the eyes or the cheeks.  However, this is just a simplification of the actual process that occurs. There is a mechanical process in which collagen and stem cells are separated out when the initial fat withdrawal occurs. From there the stem cells are concentrated, and then re-injected into the patient. This increase in stem cell concentration will give patients some of the youthful appearance they are seeking. If fat was just injected into patient’s faces then the result would not be the same.

However the science seems iffy at best as you can tell. So where is the debate coming from? Most of these claims are anecdotal and there is no hard data which supports this. There are thousands of articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals. However, very few of them actually present real clinical data on aesthetic use.  There exists no experiment where a patient has ½ their face treated with stem cell injections and the other ½ regular fat injections. This way a doctor can qualitatively observe which side of the face has better results.

It is also important to note that each doctor has their own “procedure” for stem cell face lifts and there may be no standardization across the board regarding stem cell concentrations, injection amounts, etc. It may be a marketing gimmick so caveat emptor. In order to make sure that the procedure is correct for you really make sure you do your research and know the exact processes, how it differs from the other doctors, and find studies which back up claims made.

Learn More About Facelift Surgery with Dr. Moliver

Improve Your Legs

Summer is coming and with that it means more exposed legs. How can you keep your legs looking good for the upcoming bikini season? We’ll take a look at a few methods which can help improve their appearance.

There are a couple exercises we can do in the gym to specifically target and tone those leg muscles. By targeting your upper quadriceps, you will look more proportioned and feminine. Exercises which target these include: squats, lunges, wall sits, etc.

It is important to target the upper outer thigh region since most women tend to store fat in this area. It has unfortunately been termed the “saddlebag area”. If a woman is already “thin” from exercise and diet and still has issues regarding this “saddlebag area”, elective procedures can be taken.

Microliposuction can be a popular choice which results in fairly permanent results. It can cost about $3,500 to $10,000 for the procedure; with recovery periods up to 12 weeks. Some people prefer cryolipolysis, otherwise known as CoolSculpting. There have been billboards all up over Los Angeles County promoting this miracle procedure. However, it is simply a noninvasive fat-freezing procedure.

According to ZERONA’s website, the producer of the CoolSculpting Laser, the system works by painlessly creating a small pore in the wall of the fat cell. While the pore is open all the fat is emptied out of the cell and the body safely eliminates the fat through the lymphatic system.

 “Our first two patients to complete their treatment series have lost 4.5’ to 5.5’ in their waists, hips, and thighs”

- Ferdinand F. Becker, M.D., F.A.C.S., Advanced Facial Cosmetic & Laser Surgery Center on ZERONA

In addition to exercise and surgical procedures, Reserveage Organic has an OTC product which claims to promote circulation and maintain smooth skin tone. The capsules contain diosmin, which is a derivative of citrus rinds.

There are also a variety of OTC “leg makeup” products which can help improve the appearance of your legs. St. Tropez has a product called Perfect Legs which sells at Sephora. Spraying a dark steam along the inner thigh will give for a leaner and lengthened illusion. To cover up imperfections, there is the Dior Airflash Foundation. This will mist light coats of foundation onto your legs. This product can also cover up sun damage as well which can prove to be very helpful.

Whether you’re looking for a permanent treatment or a temporary cost effective treatment to improve the appearance of your legs, there are a variety of solutions out on the market today. However, one should remember to moisturize. This will improve your skin appearance no matter what.

Skin Health & Vitamins

We all know that supplements and vitamins are good for you, but which ones actually help promote healthy skin? We’ll take a look at a few which are scientifically proven to do just that and help encourage clear skin.

Vitamin A is essential in helping repair and maintaining healthy skin. Vitamin A can be found in cereal, eggs, liver, milk, and many other natural foods. It can also be found in the form of a dietary supplement. It is important to note that the right amount of vitamin A can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; as well as combat acne and dry skin. The average adult female requires about 700 micrograms while the average adult male requires about 900 micrograms. Children require somewhere between 300 to 600 micrograms depending on their weight and age.

Recent research has shown that Vitamin B is also important for skin cells. The research, which was performed in Japan, found that hairless mice with a topical application of Vitamin B exhibited decreased sun-induced skin damage and decreased wrinkles. Vitamin B deficiencies can also lead to dry and itchy skin. This important vitamin can be found in foods such as chicken, eggs, and some fortified grain products.

We already know the benefits of vitamin C for the immune system and when we are sick, but it is also very essential for healthy skin. Vitamin C is found in a variety of foods: citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, and many more. However as with vitamin A, vitamin C can also be taken as a supplement. It can help reduce the effects of sun damage and boost collagen production, which restores some of the skin’s strength.

Vitamin E is found in many anti-aging skin care products, but is it a miracle vitamin? It helps fight the effects of sun damage like the other vitamins, but can also keep the skin smooth and help prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It is important to note that vitamin E can be taken as a supplement as well.

Other supplements such as antioxidants may help your skin as well. Examples of these include: rosemary, tomato paste, grape seed extract, pomegranate, soy, etc. It is important to note that a combination of many antioxidants and vitamins will be important to your skin health. Just taking one vitamin and one antioxidant will not produce significant results. It is also important to consult your dermatologist for advice concerning which vitamins may be the perfect fit for you.

Learn More About Skin Care with Dr. Moliver in Houston

The Hand Lift

How can you really tell how old someone is? You can look at someone’s complexion and may not be entirely sure of their age. However their hands almost always tell the truth. Take a look at some of the most popular pop artist or actors. They older ones generally look great, but when you look at their hands, it’s not as attractive. As you get older, your hands lose volume, fat and elasticity. The fatty layer disappears and the skin becomes translucent and shriveled. This tends to show all the underlying structures such as bones, tendons, and veins. What’s the solution to this? Wear gloves all the time? That may not be the case many patients are now opting for a procedures called a hand lift.

What is the Hand Lift Procedure?

The hand lift procedure is a 5-10 minute procedure which costs around $1200. It injects synthetic fillers underneath the first layer of skin to “plump” it up. Basically it acts like the fat that has been lost during the aging process. These effects will last about a year before you will have to return and have the treatment performed again. However, it is also possible to relocate human fat from other parts of the body to the hands. Since the human fat less expensive and much more long lasting some doctors prefer this method. The fat is taken from a patient’s thighs or derriere and re-injected into the tops of their hands or even fingers. There is also much less chance of an allergic reaction or rejection from the body since it is from the donor. Many plastic surgeons are predicting that the treatment of hands will be the latest hot trend. Since the face has been so well treated and researched, the next stage is the hand and the neck.

Another treatment for the hands and skin that has become popular recently is Fraxel Laser Treatment, which is a non-surgical treatment procedure. The laser can remove diffuse wrinkling or dislocation. This can be used to treat common skin blemishes such as: sun spots, brown spots, and fine lines. The light energy stimulates collagen, and resurfaces the top skin laser. Most treatments usually last between 15-45 minutes and patients can begin seeing results within 1-5 Fraxel treatments.

However the first thing in this is prevention. One should be aware of all the constant exposure that the hand gets to environmental factors. It is recommended for patients to wear sunscreen on their hands at all times to prevent premature aging.

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