Although it is highly recommended to seek professional medical advice from a qualified and trained plastic surgeon, it is quite common to ask family and friends to offer their own thoughts. An outside source may provide insight to aspects that the patient may not see, which in turn can be useful when considering the surgery and the varied methods that each one offers. Atlanta plastic surgeon Robert A. Colgrove, Jr., M.D. finds that asking for outside opinions is a good idea when there is some indecision regarding surgery.

If you would like further information regarding breast augmentation surgery, you may browse the website of Dr. Colgrove. At this time, you can schedule an initial consultation. He serves those in the surrounding areas of Roswell and Alpharetta.

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Breast Augmentation

Pregnancy, breast cancer, and weight loss can cause breast sagging, breast deflation, and other inconsistencies between the shape and size of your breasts in relation to the rest of your body. Breast lifts are often recommended for women to reverse sagging, while breast implants can help restore volume and shape. For example, Dr. Robert Wald, a board certified plastic surgeon, often includes breast augmentation as part of a suite of cosmetic procedures designed for post-pregnancy patients in Orange County.

Tummy Tuck

The abdomen is one of the areas most prone to loose skin, stretch marks, and unevenness. Again, pregnancy often has a dramatic effect on the midsection. But loose skin can also mask the aesthetic benefits of weight loss via liposuction or exercise when 50 or more pounds are shed. Because of this, tummy tucks are often performed concurrently to liposuction or after a patient’s target weight loss goal has been reached through other means.

Liposuction

As counterintuitive as it may seem, liposuction surgery is often the best next course of action after a significant amount of weight has been lost. This is because of the way our bodies respond to fat burning exercise. As we grow older, fat tends to accumulate in areas that are affected disproportionately by natural weight loss methods. You could lose inches off your midsection but still have persistent fat around the neck, thighs, buttocks and other areas. Furthermore, the last few pounds of fat—no matter where they are located—are often the most difficult to eliminate. High precision, minimally invasive laser liposuction is often used to put the “finishing touch” on a body after significant weight loss has occurred.

In summary, cosmetic surgery can be helpful—and sometimes necessary—for correcting unevenness and defining shape after losing weight. Consult with a plastic surgeon for more details.

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Although these stars are said to be a sort of example for their adoring fans, when it comes to plastic surgery, teens seem to getting smarter. Some state that they find their procedures unnecessary and make them look too plastic – more so in Montag’s case, who underwent facial surgery, breast augmentation, liposuction, and rhinoplasty. Tisdale addressed the surgery rumors by explaining that she had a deviated septum and therefore chose to correct the issue with nose surgery; this made more sense to her teen fans. Young girls are becoming more aware of plastic surgery at an early age and becoming educated on what looks natural and what looks fake – something that many stars may not be doing.

In Tucson, Jeffrey Nelson, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon who can help patients determine what procedure(s) is most appropriate to meet their needs. If you are interested in a face, breast, or body contouring procedure, you can learn more when visiting his website.

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After undergoing dozens of cosmetic procedures—including breast augmentation, a brow lift, a nose job, ear surgery, a chin reduction, liposuction, buttock augmentation, fat injections and Botox—rumors are swirling that Montag’s brief love affair with cosmetic surgery has come to an end. Now, reports say that Montag regrets the amount of work she’s had done and wishes she looked like she used to.

While some non-invasive cosmetic procedures—such as Botox and chemical peels—are temporary by nature, most plastic surgery is fundamentally irreversible. With the exception of implants, which can be removed, surgical procedures permanently alter the shape of your body. As such, “reversing” the operation is impossible. In fact, the only effective solution is quite the opposite—you would have to undergo further surgery that would attempt to approximate your former appearance. This is potentially problematic. The epic saga of the late Michael Jackson’s ever-changing nose proves a cautionary tale against swallowing the spider to catch the fly via repeated corrective cosmetic surgeries.

It may be too late for Montag, but at the very least, she’s taught an important lesson to those considering plastic surgery. In some areas where cosmetic work is seeing a surge in popularity, such as Riverside County, liposuction, facelifts and other irreversible surgical procedures feel like the norm.   Montag’s change of heart allegedly stems from marital strife—but social pressure, career moves and other external shifts can also lead to reconsideration of plastic surgery. Many Newport Beach breast augmentation patients may be able to attest to this.

While plastic surgery doesn’t typically end in regret, those who are considering having permanent changes done to their body should always make sure they are doing it for the right reasons. They should also consider the long-term impacts on their social life and professional careers.

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Dismissing all plastic surgery patients as vain is incredibly crass, particularly when considering the roots of cosmetic plastic surgery and the modern facelift. While the very first rhinoplasty surgeries can be traced back to 2000 BC, reconstructive facial procedures rose to prominence following World War I and World War II. Drs. Harold Gillies and Archibald McIndoe helped many wounded veterans correct the permanent disfigurements left over from battle. Rectifying these physical scars proved to be an instrumental part of healing the emotional and psychological scars that many soldiers bear after experiencing the violence of combat. The same reconstructive facial work that these doctors pioneered has helped plastic surgeons treat children born with facial deformities, such as cleft lips and malformed ears.

Likewise, modern breast augmentation procedures also hearken back to reconstructive surgeries. Breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomy surgeries often feel incomplete, even after making a full recovery from the cancer treatment. Breast implants and other cosmetic surgeries can help them feel more feminine, completing the healing process that extends beyond medical treatment.

Another example of lifechanging plastic surgery is embodied in the “Mommy Makeover.” While the emotional hardships of motherhood are relatively more mundane than those faced by soldiers and cancer survivors, the theme of sacrifice and recovery is still significant. Most women’s bodies will be irrevocably changed after childbirth. While nearly all mothers gladly undertake this burden for the sake of their children, afterwards, many women find that plastic surgery can help them restore their confidence and self esteem. Dr. Robert Wald, an Orange County tummy tuck specialist and certified plastic surgeon, often helps mothers feel more like themselves after pregnancy. Many families consider a makeover a well-deserved reward for the selfless gift of giving birth.

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder—but oftentimes, the problems that cosmetic surgery treats are rooted from deeper emotional afflictions. Correcting these imperfections can be an integral part of moving beyond frustrating, painful, and traumatic experiences.

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Aside from the luxuries of her family’s wealth, Rose also has her father’s practice and medical spa at her disposal. Along with nose surgery, she regularly undergoes Botox ® injections to maintain her youthful appearance, although she is only in her mid 20s. The idea behind the new reality series is much like a “princess rehab” to help them realize that they must change their ways or be cut off for good. By undergoing plastic surgery procedures at such a young age, they can become addicted and reach a point when they no longer look younger, but disfigured. The media’s pressure to look perfect leads young women, like Houston’s Erica Rose, to undergo breast augmentation, liposuction, and/or tummy tuck surgery. However, most of these procedures may be better suited for women who are slightly older and no longer considering having children.

If you are interested in plastic surgery, it is best to consult with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon. In Houston, David R. Luethcke, M.D., F.A.C.S. performs various face, breasts, and body enhancing procedures. Prospective patients can learn more regarding their procedure on his website.

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Lathern, a Waco Texas (approximately 160 miles north of Houston and San Antonio) resident created a benefit fundraiser, complete with flyers, live music & a silent auction to stage the hoax. The benefit drew a few hundred people, including dozens of Lathern’s family members and friends, all of whom she successfully duped into her scheme.

McLennan County Sheriffs began investigating following contact from an Austin plastic surgeon’s attorney, who suspected the money used to pay for the breast enhancement was stolen.

“Stranger things have happened with plastic surgery,” according to Houston breast augmentation specialist, Dr. Michael Eisemann. “Thankfully, fraud on this scale is relatively easy to catch.”

According to the police affidavit, Lathern cited marital problems as her motivation for the theft and she thought that telling her husband she had cancer would bring them closer together. The procedure costed approximately $6,800.00 and local authorities are seeking out residents who donated to Lathern’s fundraiser for reimbursement.

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Rebecca Acosta, 46, of Chula Vista, Calif., was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury on three counts of mail fraud. Acosta was arrested April 14 in San Diego and released Wednesday on a $150,000 bond. Three other women have been charged by criminal complaint for their involvement in the scheme, Brower said. Ana Bertha Acosta, 39, of Dulzura, Calif., was arrested Monday in San Ysidro, Calif., and Sara Casales, 47, of Las Vegas was arrested April 14 in Las Vegas. Both are charged with health care fraud and aiding and abetting. Lucia Solano, 49, of Las Vegas, also arrested April 14 in Las Vegas, is charged with making false statements to investigators.

In 2006 federal investigators initiated an investigation to determine if Las Vegas insurance providers were being targeted for fraudulent medical claims by Mexican medical providers, according to court records. The investigators found that the Hotel and Restaurant Employees International Union Welfare Fund, also known as the Culinary Fund, which offers medical insurance to at least 50,000 people in the hospitality industry in Las Vegas, had been billed about $4.9 million for “out of country” claims from about January 2002 to February 2006. Those “out of country” claims were almost entirely from Mexico, investigators discovered. Most of the claims were for “emergency procedures” in Mexico.

When investigators began interviewing a number of the patients, they were told that the insurance claims were fabricated and that they had actually had cosmetic surgery in Mexico, not emergency services. The Culinary Fund does not provide coverage for cosmetic surgeries, unless they are medically necessary, such as breast reduction and certain types of rhinoplasty.

Rebecca Acosta, the prinicple suspect, and her cohorts allegedly devised a scheme to defraud the Culinary Fund of money through submitting false health care claims. Acosta and the others met with prospective patients at a Summerlin residence and elsewhere for consulting on cosmetic surgeries, court documents say.

Acosta told the patients that she would bill the Culinary Fund for the cosmetic surgery, such as breast augmentations or “tummy tucks,” even though such procedures were not covered through the insurance program. She told patients that she would make it appear as if the patient suffered an unexpected injury in Mexico and had received emergency medical care, and then allegedly made arrangements for the prospective patients to receive a cosmetic procedure at a Tijuana, Mexico, clinic. She followed by charging the patients a fee in addition to any reimbursement they would receive from the Culinary Fund. Acosta instructed each patient not to disclose the true nature of the treatment they received in Mexico.

Once the patients received treatments in Tijuana, Acosta and the others submitted false and fraudulent claims to the Culinary Fund, requesting reimbursement for emergency medical services, even though they knew that the patients had actually received breast implants and body contouring surgery, court documents state.

Between September and October 2005, Acosta allegedly submitted three fraudulent claims for reimbursement for emergency procedures performed on three patients and the Culinary Fund paid more than $42,000 on the claims. If convicted, Acosta faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count; Ana Bertha Acosta and Sara Casales face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine each; and Lucia Solano faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case is being investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Crane Pomerantz.

“This indictment sends a stern message to those medical providers that defrauding union health and welfare benefit plans by filing fraudulent claims will not be tolerated by my agency,” said Daniel R. Petrole, deputy inspector general for the U.S. Department of Labor. “We are firmly committed to working with other law enforcement agencies to investigate this type of crime.”

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Paramount among these was the emergence of breast augmentation as the number one cosmetic surgery procedure, knocking off liposuction which has traditionally held the spot. Though cosmetic surgery overall declined in 2008 (which also happens to be a first), the surge in cosmetic implant use was mirrored by an increase of approximately 39% in breast reconstruction. This comes on the heels of FDA clearance for silicone gel breast implants 2 years ago, suggesting that the controversies that have plagued this breast implants type in the past have since faded.

A longer view reveals a more telling trend, however. While cosmetic surgery was down by a few percentage points, non-surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures-Botox or dermal filler injections, lasers and the like-were up. One widely held interpretation of this is that people are shifting into “maintenance mode” by opting for more affordable procedures with minimal or no downtime until the economy improves and they can justify their facelift. Botox might be the new lipstick, a modern version of the historical increase in lipstick sales with every major economic downturn in the past.

Forecasting Plastic Surgery Trends

But broader analysis reveals that non-surgical cosmetic procedures have been increasing a lot more than surgery for several years. Although 1.7 million surgical procedures were done in the U.S. last year, non-surgical procedures checked in at more than 10 million. This is due, in part, to continually improving products and technologies, and with this has come greater social acceptance. Many of them are even household words now. Plastic surgeons have adapted by expanding their repertoires to include minimally invasive technologies and beauty services at their practices.

The big question on everyone’s mind is what all this means for the economy and where we are headed. One could easily subscribe to the theory that plastic surgery bookings anticipate an upturn, and if the first quarter of the year is an indication, then the economy is headed in the right direction. Some are freshening up their appearance as they change careers, others taking advantage of time off in between jobs. Either way, it is a vote of confidence; whether it is right for you, as always, is a personal choice.

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Yvonne Jean Pampellonne, 30, surrendered to local authorities on Tuesday (March 4th) afternoon in Huntington Beach, California, where she was wanted on charges of commercial burglary, identity theft and grand theft. Pampellonne arranged her surrender through her attorney and has been released on $20,000 bail pending an arraignment on the charges on May 27.

Police say that in September of 2008 Pampellonne used the personal information of another woman to establish a fraudulent line of credit at the Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery in Huntington Beach. By the time it was discovered, doctors performed $12,000 in liposuction and breast augmentation surgery at the center, say police.

The Orange County Register newspaper reported that Pampellonne was caught by police detectives using breast implant tracking numbers. Medical staff at the center became suspicious after Pampellonne returned for follow-up appointments and, after police identified her through the tracking numbers on her old implants, picked her out of a photo line-up.

Pampellonne’s arrest marks the second similar plastic surgery-related case this year in Orange County, which recently has been portrayed as an oceanfront playground for the wealthy on such TV shows as “The Real Housewives of Orange County” and “The O.C.” In January and February, a still-unidentified woman who gave the names “Miriam Gombar” or “Miriam Flemings” had thousands of dollars worth of Botox injections and facial fillers at a pair of Newport Beach plastic surgery clinics and left without paying.

According to the Register newspaper, a worker at one of the two plastic surgery clinics described the mystery woman as having a dark complexion and shoulder length hair, adding that she was in her late 40s to early 50s, adding that she was “not very attractive”, despite the work she had.

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