Plastic Surgery, A to Z

The Harley Medical Group, the largest plastic surgery group in the UK, has released an "A to Z" list of popular procedures and tips for making the most of cosmetic procedures, as reported by the UK's Daily Record.

I'm posting it here in its entirety, but I'll have to warn you in advance that you must forgive the errors. Apparently the people that invented the English language are having a bit of trouble with its sequence.

COSMETIC surgery is booming, despite the credit crunch, with procedures constantly being updated as well as new treatments added to the list.

It can be hard to keep up with advances in medicine so The Harley Medical Group have devised an A to Z of procedures to take pain out of plastic surgery.

A IS FOR AESTHERA PPX

Aesthera PPx is a highly effective and safe procedure treating a wide range of skin conditions from acne to sun spots and from facial thread veins and freckles to hair removal. This vacuum and light based treatment is compatible with all skin types and it takes a few minutes to perform. The treatment is virtually pain free and can be performed quicker than any other available treatment. Effects last for several months.

B IS FOR BREAST AUGMENTATION

Breast Augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery conducted at The Harley Medical Group, making up 32% of all procedures undertaken in 2007 across the group's 19 clinics. During the procedure an incision is made in the crease of the underside of the breast and the implant is inserted into a pocket created by the surgeon. The result is fuller and more evenly shaped breasts. The treatment takes about an hour to perform and a general anaesthetic is administered.

D IS FOR DETOX

In order to achieve the best results from a cosmetic procedure, it is advisable to prepare the body thoroughly before surgery. Exercise is recommended and nutrients with healing properties are included in the post surgery diet to aid recovery.

E IS FOR EYE BAG REMOVAL

Eye Bag Removal, or blepharoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure which reshapes the upper and lower eyelids. The upper and lower lids may be operated on together or separately. To correct lower eye bags, a fine incision is made just below the eyelash line and the excess fat and skin is removed. Upper eyelids are corrected by the removal of a strip of skin in the natural crease of the eyelid.

F IS FOR FACE LIFT

At The Harley Medical Group, 91per cent of all face lift surgery is performed on women. The patient will be given a general anesthetic. The surgeon will make asurgical cut around the hairline, past the front of the ears. Cuts may also be made under the chin if the patient wants to lift a sagging jawline. The skin is then carefully separated from the underlying facial muscles. Excess fat is removed and the muscles tightened. The skin is lifted, pulled back and excess removed. The skin is then stitched back to the line where the cut was initially made. All scars are hidden behind the patient's ears or in the hairline. Effects last between seven and 10 years.

G IS FOR GYNAECCOMASTIA

Acommon procedure in men it involves the removal of excess fat in the chest via a small incision around the lower half of the nipple area. Liposuction is then carried out to flatten the chest. Gynaeccomastia can have any one or more of the following causes such as body-building drugs, liver or kidney diseases, cancer and obesity.

H IS HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR COSMETIC SURGERY PROVIDER

When considering cosmetic surgery, you should have a list of questions when going in for an initial consultation. Don't ever be shy of asking personal questions, such as what qualifications surgeons have? How long since their training or how many procedures they've performed?

I IS FOR IMPLANTS

Implants are used for breast augmentation, chin lift and face lift cosmetic procedures. To increase the size of breasts, implants are surgically inserted behind the natural breast tissue. Silicone implants are more widely used as they give a more natural shape and feel than saline implants.

J IS FOR JAW LINE

Chin implants help achieve a stronger angular profile. A chin lift procedure involves an implant being positioned beneath the skin through an incision made from the mouth or below the chin. Administered under general anesthetic by a cosmetic surgeon, they help give better proportioned and more balanced features.

L IS FOR LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction is the removal of excess fatty tissue used to reshape the abdomen, thighs, arms, chin, buttocks and breasts. It is the second most popular procedure after Breast Augumentation and Reduction at The HarleyMedical Group making up 12 per cent of all cosmetic surgery procedures. In initial consultation, patients undertaking a Liposuction procedure will have their BMI (body mass index) assessed by a nurse. There are physiological limits as to the quantity of fat that can be removed at any one time. Overweight people do not benefit from this procedure and are not appropriate candidates.

M IS FOR MEDICAL MICRODERMABRASION

Microdermabrasion is a gentle non-surgical treatment which helps balance skin problems like acne, sun damaged skin, superficial age spots or wrinkles. This treatment refreshes the top layer of the skin by exfoliating it and improving facial tone and texture. A great party preparation as there is no recovery time.

N IS FOR NOSE JOB OR RHINOPLASTY

Rhinoplasty is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure performed amongst men. Patients undergo a nose job for one or more of the following reasons: to reduce the size of the nose, to change the shape of the tip or bridge or to narrow the span of the nostrils, change the angle between the nose and the upper lip or help relieve breathing problems. At the initial consultation, the surgeon evaluates the structure of their nose and face, and discusses the options available to them. Factors that can influence the procedure include the structure of the nasal bones and cartilage, facial shape, thickness of the skin, the patient's age and expectations.

O IS FOR OTOPLASTY

Otoplasty or ear reshaping is one of the most established cosmetic procedures on the market. It involves removing skin and reshaping cartilage from behind ears. The ears are stitched into the new position with the incision marks concealed in the natural crease behind the ear. This is administered under general anaesthetic.

P IS FOR PREPARATION

Patients will undergo an intensive consultation with the counsellor before being referred to a doctor. They research and plan for cosmetic surgery two to three years before procedure.

Q IS FOR QUALIFIED NURSE COUNSELLOR

All non-surgical procedures are administered by specially qualified nurses (Botox is an exception that is administered by adoctor at all times).

R IS FOR RESHAPE AND TIGHTENING OF THE FEMALE GENITALIA

Age and childbirth can cause the labia and surrounding area to change in shape, size and tone, causing unhappiness and discomfort for women. Women who have along or unequal Labia minora length can have this adjusted through surgery. Some patients wish for a more youthful looking vagina - achieved by reshaping the inner or outer Labia. Vaginal tightening is a procedure performed to enhance sexual pleasure for the patient. Treatment is performed under general anaesthetic and recovery takes one and two weeks.

S IS FOR SCLEROTHERAPY

Sclerotherapy, also known as thread vein removal, is a treatment administered mostly to the face and legs. To remove thread veins a very fine needle injects a solution into the vein which causes it to perish and, over a course of treatments, vanish completely. A session takes around an hour to complete and a course of between one and three is recommended (dependent on the number of veins to be treated).

U IS FOR UNDERSTANDING

It is essential that every patient has a full understanding about the treatment before they undergo any surgical cosmetic procedures.

V IS FOR VISIA

Visia is a free procedure which takes photographs of the face and then microscopically examines key areas of the skin. The photographs highlight pore size, spots, lines and pigmentation. The Skin Analysis Computer gives a score for each key factor relating to the skin's condition and appearance taking into consideration the age of the patient and lifestyle. This is a non-invasive procedure and takes 10 minutes to perform. It enables the nurse to see which non-surgical treatments would be most effective.

W IS FOR WATER

It is essential to keep the body rehydrated before, throughout and after surgery. As part of a pre and post surgery diet and exercise plan patients should have a glass of room temperature water flavoured with half alemon at the start of the day to cleanse the liver and flush kidneys of toxins followed by two litres of water sipped throughout the day.

X IS FOR X-RAYS

An X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation and was first generated in 1891 by Fernando Sanford a professor of physics at Stanford University. An X-ray is required before cosmetic procedures like rhinoplasty and chin lifts to give the surgeon a map of bone structure.

Y IS FOR YOUTHFUL

Maintaining youthful looking skin is one of the main reasons why patients undergo cosmetic treatments. The age for treatment is becoming less and less, reducing from the average age of 45. According to Botox specialist Dr Julian Northcoat, at The Harley Medical Group, many women seek Botox treatments for preventative measures. As a Botox treatment doesn't permit deep frowns from being formed, lines across the forehead and between eyes are prevented.

Z is for Zits

Non-surgical solutions, Aesthera PPx and Medical Mirco dermabrasion, can help to treat acne to leave skin look radiant and clear.

C IS FOR CONSULTATION

Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, patients should make sure they receive a consultation. The nurse counsellor will explain each stage of the procedure from the consultation with the surgeon through to the post-operative, follow-up and recovery period. The nurse will answer any questions and concerns that a patient may have and ensure their decision has been properly considered.

K IS FOR KERATIN

Keratin is the dominant protein in the skin, hair and nails and this contributes to the rigidity of the skin. The level of keratin in the skin decreases with age which is the cause of wrinkles. There are a number of procedures available that can help.

T IS FOR TUMMY TUCK

A popular procedure for patients who have lost a lot of weight, or after pregnancy, and find abdominal muscles are weak and the area is loose. Muscles can be tightened and excess skin removed, leaving a firm flatter abdomen. Excess skin and fatty tissue are removed through an incision across the abdomen, usually from hip to hip (along the bikini line).

For more information visit www.harleymedical.co.uk

Measuring Up: The Truth About Penile Augmentation

Millions of men around the globe confront concerns about penis size.

The average size of a man's erect penis is anywhere from 5.5 to 6 inches in length. Some men, however, suffer from an unfortunate condition described by the medical term "micopenis", (shouldn't it at least be a really long word?) a condition in which a man's penis is less than 3 inches when erect. Micropenis is typically caused by hormone abnormalities, such as genetic disorders or simple hormone deficiencies (either in sex or growth hormones).

Length

The demand for a longer and wider penis has led surgeons to devise operations to enhance both. Penis lengthening is, by far, the most popular of the two procedures and is accomplished by detaching the fundiform ligament and the suspensory ligament from the pubic bone. As one-third to one-half of the penis is held internally by these ligaments, when they are detached, the penis does lengthen about 20 to 30 millimeters (0.78 to 1.18 inches) on average. Scarring, however, could cause the penis to shorten to a length even shorter than before the surgery, which has led surgeons to the use of penile traction devices (mentioned below) to maintain the results. According to Nim Christopher, a urologist at St. Peter's Andrology Center in London, among men who have had the surgery, "the dissatisfaction rate was in excess of 70 percent."

Girth

Adding girth to the penis is also possible. Typically, girth enhancement involves injection of silicone, PMMA, or AlloDerm (cadaver flesh) into the penis. Although girth enhancement procedures are far more effective than lengthening procedures, they also come at higher risks, including: loss of sensation, scarring and inability to perform penetrative intercourse.

In 2006, the journal of European Urology reported a new, more effective technique in penile girth augmentation using biodegradable scaffolding. Once the scaffolding dissolves, their is no foreign material around the penis. 81% percent of men undergoing the scaffolding technique claimed they were either satisfied with the procedure scoring it "excellent" or "very good".

Pills, Pumps and Patches

There are lots of possible "solutions" on the market available to men wanting penis enlargement. Some of these include pills, typically composed of herbal compounds - a method of enhancement that a majority of doctors scoff at as not only being ineffective, but potentially dangerous. A study performed by the University of Maryland found an unusual amount of contamination in popular penis enhancement pills, ranging from molds, spores, E Coli, pesticides, lead and fecal matter. Patches, devices which attempt to deliver the same herbal materials into the bloodstream, are subject to the same contaminations and may be an even greater waste of money due to the fact that there is no conclusive evidence that any of the substances in question can be absorbed this way.

Another method which is far more effective, but perhaps even more dangerous, is the use of a "penis pump". A penis pump device creates a vacuum seal around the penis and draws excess blood into the tissues causing a rise in blood pressure to the area. This causes the penis to become engorged and stiffen. The device can be paired with a "cock ring" which also increases blood pressure in the area and helps to maintain erection. Use of these devices can cause substantial and painful injuries, like burst blood vessels, blisters, damage to pubic ligaments and there have been reports of the device pulling in testicles and causing pain and tissue damage. Add that to the fact that any gain in girth or length is temporary (usually lasting only a few minutes after the pump is removed), penis pumping is typically not recommended by urologists.

Penile Traction Devices

The body is remarkably elastic and certain tribes of humans have been modifying their bodies using outside pressures for centuries. Tribes in Africa have been attaching weights to the penis and/or testicles to cause growth and ear stretching has seen a recent rediscovery in modern cultures. Making use of the bodies ability to stretch and heal, some manufacturers claim that a device called a penis traction device or "penis stretcher" can give a man a longer, wider penis with extended use.

Despite their comparison to ancient traction methods of bodily tissue growth, penis stretchers are relatively new to the world of penile enhancement science - they may also be the most promising, non-surgical method. Originally designed to treat Peyronies disease (a severe curvature of the penis), penis stretchers claim to cause micro-cellular fractures (tiny rips in cell tissues) which cause the tissue to divide, grow and expand. Most manufacturers claim that with steady use (anywhere from 6 to 8 hours per day for a period of three months to a year) the stretcher can add one to three inches to the penis permanently.

Although this method is controversial, it is also the most recommended by many urologist as being the safest non-surgical method with the most scientific possibility of actually being effective. Traction growth has been applied and successfully utilized for many medical procedures like bone lengthening and tissue grow for skin grafting . Many doctors do warn consumers, however, that they should not become over-zealous in their stretching, less they cause irreversible damage.

You Won't Believe It's Not A Virgin!

(Pictured: A traditional Turkish Muslim swimsuit (no, I'm not joking)! )

Muslims, Coptic Christians, Hindus and Orthodox Jews all, typically, require women to be virgins before marriage. Recently, a French court annulled the marriage of a Muslim couple because the groom discovered on their wedding night that the bride was not a virgin. He halted their still ongoing reception party by outing her to all of their guests on the dance floor.

Of course, the only way that the would-be husband can verify his wife's claim of virginity is an unbroken hymen - a membrane which surrounds the vaginal opening. It's worth mentioning that the hymen is not only broken through vaginal penetration, but can also be ruptured in the course of daily activity. That, however, is largely unimportant to a soon-to-be groom in many of the world's oldest faiths, as the hymen is the only way he has of verifying that his wife is, indeed, untouched by another man.

For a little over two-and-a-half decades, it's been possible to pull the wool over a groom's eyes and restore a woman's hymen. Yes, plastic surgeons can give back a woman's technical virginity by cutting away the ruptured edges, narrowing the opening to the vagina and then suturing the pieces of the membrain back together with dissolving stitches.

The procedure, called hymenoplasty, was originally developed and perfected by Dr. Robert Stubbs twenty-five years ago in Toronto when he consulted with a couple with a unique request. The Iraqi couple was parting ways since the man was moving to the US to pursue a medical degree. The woman wished to remain in Canada and also demanded that her ex pay for the restoration of her virginity so that she would have a better chance of finding a new husband, even if fraudulently.

"It's basically to deceive a husband that a woman is virginal," says Dr. Sammy Sliwin.

"I am the mechanism through which this woman can perpetrate a fraud on her husband. Do I really care about it? No. Some of them made a silly mistake when they were younger and they didn't realize how important it was going to be to their fiancé."

Of course, many women in the New World find the mere fact that there would be any perceived need for this procedure appalling. Still, although an uncommon request, its demand is growing (especially in Canada, where the procedure originated). Many divorce decrees and prenuptial agreements are beginning to include the clause that, should the couple ever part ways, the ex-husband must pay for the procedure to restore that which he took.

The procedure is performed under local anesthetic about four to five weeks before the woman plans to have intercourse for the "first" time. There will be blood (although Daniel Day-Lewis may or may not be there... sorry, couldn't resist) - that's the point, after all - and some small amount of pain. The total cost of the operation is typically between $2,500 and $4,000 dollars.

Smartlipo MPX™ Can Help You Bring 'Sexy Back' In Record Time With Less Pain And Swelling Than Traditional Lipo

Not long ago, SFP brought our readers information on VASER high-definition liposuction and how it changes what's possible with lipo - before, patients would be thinner with conventional liposuction, but they still wouldn't have immediate access to the six-pack abs and other ripped muscles that they desired.

Other limitations of traditional liposuction include its inability to tighten the skin from the places where it removes fat and pain, swelling and bruising - if you've ever seen a traditional tumescent liposuction procedure, you'd know the the surgeon must pound the cannula (the fat suction device) repeatedly underneath the skin. It's no wonder that most liposuction patients wake up from the surgery feeling like they've been hit my a truck!

Now, however, there is a new procedure in liposuction that offers patients a rapid recovery time, minimal pain and swelling, tighter skin as the fat is sucked away and doesn't even require stitches. The procedure is called Smartlipo MPX™. Smartlipo MPX™ utilizes two different laser wavelengths. The 1064 wavelength melts fat and provides heat which tightens skin. The 1320 wavelength heats water in the tissues while melting some fat. The procedure is extremely safe, as the lasers turn off within two-tenths of a second after the surgeon stops all motion on the handpiece.

The surgery requires only two millimeter incisions to insert the laser and suction device into the areas to be treated, so they require no stitches. The procedure only requires local anesthesia and the patient is awake during the operation. Due to the minimal swelling and bruising, the patient can recover rapidly - patients often need only a few hours to feel fine and a day or two to fully recover.

"Ideal candidates for the SmartLipo MPX™ are men and women from every walk of life who want the convenience of fat removal in a physician's office. If the patient arrives at 8 a.m., he or she can usually undergo the procedure and leave at noon feeling fine," says Dr. Millard of Millard Plastic Surgery Center of Lone Tree, CO - the only center in Colorado to currently offer Smartlipo MPX™.

Typical costs for smart lipo are in the $5000 to $6,000 dollar range. The large majority of patients polled online (77%) say the surgery is well worth the cost.

You just may want to make and appointment with Dr. Millard if you want to bring your sexy back!

Your Abs In Hi-Def: VASAR Liposuction For A Ripped Abdomen

5 Things You Can Do To Avoid Plastic Surgery Blunders

10 Questions To Ask Before You Opt For Plastic Surgery

Sculpting A New You - The Race Is On To Develop Minimally Invasive Cosmetic Procedures With Big Results

The call for cosmetic procedures that offer rapid results from minimally invasive procedures is strong and it appears that medical science is able to offer more procedures that don't require you going under the knife.

Sculptra

Sculptra is an injectable material used as a dermal filler, wrinkle reducer and collagen stimulator. It's FDA approved to treat lipotrophy, a condition in which fat is lost in localized areas by those advanced in age or suffering from illness - HIV positive patients may develop it from antiretroviral drug treatment, diabetics from injection of insulin and multiple sclerosis patients from injections of glatiramer. The substance is also used in treating the apperance of aging hands.

Sculptra costs about $200 per syringe and most patients will need anywhere between three and six syringes, depending upon how much the patient has aged or their personal level of lipotrophy. Treatment is once a month, every four weeks for a series of three to five times. Sculptra is one of the longest lasting dermal fillers with results lasting anywhere from two to three years. The risks of Sculptra treatment includes development of tiny bumps around the mouth or eyes, swelling, bruising, tenderness and or pain.

Titan Laser Treatments

Another minimally invasive procedure that can leave you looking younger is treatment with a Titan laser. As the phonetics of its name implies, the Titan laser treatment tightens skin. It heats up collagen in the skin, tricking the body into believing it's injured and it responds by producing more collagen and replacing dead and ailing tissues. The Titan laser can even be used to tighten abdominal skin as an alternative to a tummy tuck for new mothers. At lease three treatments are required to see results and each treatment can cost between $600 and $1,200 dollars.

As the cosmetic surgery boom continues around the world, the need for less invasive and yet, effective plastic surgery options will continue to grow.

Your Abs In High-Def: New Liposuction Technique Promises What Conventional Lipo Cannot

We all want that beach-ready body and for many of us, that means we need to pick-up a "six-pack". While some of us are gulping down our sodas from those six-packs, what we really wanted were those killer washboard abs sported by cover models from all the popular fitness mags. Getting that uber-sculpted look, however, requires a total body fat percentage of anywhere from 3 to 5 percent. That might not seem like too much of a challenge until you consider that a healthy adult has a body fat percentage averaging around the lower to middle 20 percent mark. To put it simply, even if you're healthy, your six-pack may be a keg.

Typically, conventional liposuction was limited in just how sculpted it can make you. This limit is imposed by a thin layer of subcutaneous fat full of blood vessels and connective tissue called the "sacred centimeter." Although conventional tumescent liposuction surgeons try to stay clear of this area, accidents do happen and this can cause painful and/or disfiguring complications.

During some experimentation on cadavers with a VASER (Vibration Amplification of Sound Energy) machine, Dr. Alfedo Hoyos (a Colombian plastic surgeon) discovered that the device was delicate enough to work in the sacred centimeter without damaging any delicate tissues. In essence, a skilled VASER surgeon can shrink-wrap the skin around the muscle. The best part may be that VASER-assisted liposuction is generally safer than conventional liposuction which can accidentally pulverize blood vessels and nerves.

As with any cosmetic procedure, high-definition liposuction is not without risks and only an experienced and careful surgeon should perform VASER liposuction. "If the surgeon takes shortcuts to save time," says Dr. Mark Richards (a Maryland-based plastic surgeon), "the results can be disastrous." It is, of course, imperative that a potential patient investigate their surgeon thoroughly before undergoing the procedure.

VASER lipo typically costs between $16,000 and $20,000 and can take anywhere between three weeks to three months to fully recover. There can be a serious amount of swelling and the recovery can be rather painful. Most patients report, however, that the procedure was well worth the discomfort and many have found a new appreciation for diet and exercise to compliment their newly ripped abdomen.

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