Recently, there have been more reports of reality star (and mother of eight) Kate Gosselin undergoing several cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. She has publicly stated that she had a tummy tuck, but still holds to her story of not having work done on her face and breasts. The latest claims say that she underwent Botox ® injections and breast enhancement surgery. The main effect of Botox injections is temporary paralysis of the underlying facial muscle, which would explain the frozen look on Gosselin’s face. Yet, during her appearance on ABC’s “The View,” she shoots down the rumors.

In a world where it has become common for those in the limelight to undergo some, or many, rejuvenating procedures, there are few left who do not discuss their nips and tucks. Gosselin has been photographed with an extremely smooth facial contour, which is why there are so many accusations of facial enhancing treatments. In addition, photos of the mom of eight in a bikini have also caused speculation on whether she has had breast surgery – Gosselin has denied these rumors as well. Whether she verifies or continues to refute claims of plastic surgery, the reality star continues to draw attention to the matter by being so vocal about it.

If you are interested in cosmetic plastic surgery and live in the Miami area, you may wish to contact Ary Krau, M.D., F.A.C.S. An experienced and qualified plastic surgeon, Dr. Krau can help you achieve a more youthful facial appearance and/or return to your  pre-pregnancy shape with the help of specific body contouring procedures.

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Patients who undergo any type of surgical procedure are strongly urged to research their surgeon, the procedure itself, and the surgical center and staff. The better informed an individual is prior to surgery, the greater chance of reducing risks and/or complications. These factors hold true especially for those who opt for a cosmetic plastic surgery. Individuals who choose to enhance their face, breasts, and/or body are strongly encouraged to be educated in all aspects of their procedure.

Recently, a lawsuit was filed against a Lifestyle Lift’s Boston area office claiming that a patient died shortly after the physicians began a cosmetic procedure. Furthermore, there are claims that there was no anesthesiologist present and that the patient was not hooked up to any continuous-monitoring equipment. The women suffered a seizure, her blood pressure and oxygen levels fell, and was later declared brain dead. This unfortunate event shows the importance of visiting a qualified plastic surgeon who has the experience and training to properly perform the surgery at hand. Those who decide to visit a clinic simply based on cost must still consider their own health before committing to surgery; unknown allergies or negative reactions must be monitored by a trained professional.

When asked for his opinion on the matter, Plano face lift surgeon Robert D. Wilcox, M.D. notes that there are numerous red flags in these “assembly line” type procedures that should not have been ignored. He notes that these facilities market a quick and cost effective procedure, not the qualifications or reputation of a particular doctor. Dr. Wilcox urges patients to seek a surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), as well as a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). In addition, a qualified anesthetist or anesthesiologist should be present throughout the entire procedure in order to monitor the patient and help prevent complications.

Dr. Wilcox tells his own patients that elective surgery is still a major procedure and corners should not be cut. Patients should want to have everything possible done for them when undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery. Finding a surgeon who has practiced for many years and holds a positive reputation is the key to achieving a high quality surgical experience.

Those who wish to learn more regarding face lift surgery in Dallas, TX and the importance of research prior to undergoing a cosmetic procedure may contact Dr. Wilcox at (972) 620-1700.

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A fair amount of people commonly associate the word “fake” with breast implants, but breast cancer? A Texas woman, Trista Joy Lathern, age 24, is being charged with embezzling individual donors and businesses for thousands of dollars in an attempt to get free breast augmentation surgery, following cancer that authorities now claim she never had.

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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With all the news circulating about new and ever-growing health concerns, such as the latest epidemic, Swine Flu, making sure that patients maintain their health after surgery is more important than ever. But the question that most plastic surgery patients are asking is, “Can it happen to me?”

The simple truth about any medical procedure is this: No one is 100% immune from post-surgical infection. Regardless of what kind of surgery a patient undergoes, it all carries some risk of viral infection. And with the increasing popularity of things like makeshift black market plastic surgery, the risk grows as health regulation becomes harder to come by.

We here at CosmeticSurgery-Information.com would like to take this opportunity to offer some advice and tips to keep yourself protected while undergoing medical treatment.

Make Sure Your Surgeon or Health Provider is Currently Board-Certified

While the risk of getting ill following surgery can happen to anyone, even in the best of circumstances, doctors and medical professionals have strict guidelines to follow regarding sanitation and cleanliness in order to stay in good standings with the governing medical boards. Double-checking a doctor’s credentials takes very little time and can potentially save money, time and undue stress. Board certification is a crucial aspect of maintaining patient safety!

Review Your Surgeon or Health Provider’s Clinic and Practice History

Occasionally, even the best surgeons and facilities can still be a contributing source of post-operative patient illness. However, this isn’t necessarily the fault of the surgeon or their staff. In addition to doctor reviews from medical boards, take the time to find an independent review body that can indicate occurrences of viral or infectious diseases happening in hospitals and private clinics. There’s no such thing as being too prepared or too informed.

Avoid Sub-Standard, Un-Licensed and Black Market Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Facilities At All Costs!

With the economy in the condition it’s in, it’s very easy for those of us who are desperate for change and refinement to look to some “off the table” options in order to make quick and inexpensive improvements on one’s appearance. We’ve detailed stories of motel “plumping parties” where patients engage in unlicensed injectable procedures – oftentimes involving injections of dangerous chemicals with potentially unsafe medical tools, in lieu of board-approved procedures such as Botox or collagen. Risking your life and health are not worth saving a few dollars just to look better.

Follow Your Doctor’s Recovery Instructions

We’ve also recently shared news about the health risks associated with taking herbal supplements and vitamins before and after surgery and the risks associated with this practice. If you feel you’re at risk for contracting a post-surgical virus, speak with your doctor and share your concerns. He or she will be able to best inform you on how to protect yourself from illness and surgical complications.

Report Suspect Practitioners and Facilities

There is a fear among surgery patients that reporting sub-standard or un-licensed facilities, especially if the patient chooses to go to such a facility, will get said patient in trouble with the law. This is simply not true. If you’ve witnessed an un-sanitary facility or a practitioner who seems suspect, report them immediately. Protecting the lives of fellow potential patients is something that benefits everyone in the long run.

Even though information regarding swine flu pandemic is somewhat controversial and, in some cases, outright untrue, its easy to become confused and concerned about how to best protect oneself. Participating in sound and well-trusted post-op practices as instructed by a licensed medical professional is the best way for patients to protect themselves.

Report suspect facilities and practitioners to the Center For Disease Control and any other swine flu information to the World Health Organization.

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As the recession affects more and more people in the U.S., its a safe assumption one will see increasingly peculiar behaviors, all in the name of saving a buck. Cosmetic surgery patients are certainly no exception. As the economy worsens, its natural for people to feel more concerned about everything, from job security to health and well being. Unfortunately, our physical appearance has a big hand in how we perceive ourselves and each other with regard to those aspects and, as we worry about our life circumstances, many will attempt to quell the feelings of hopelessness and confusion with things such as some cosmetic enhancement.

Mind you, this isn’t necessarily bad if one can afford to have their elective procedure(s) in the safety and comfort of an abundantly staffed and accredited medical facility, with a highly-skilled and licensed plastic surgeon. Many even see the opportunity to have the plastic surgery procedure of their choice as the cornerstone to reinvigorating themselves, ultimately excelling in the workplace and their personal lives. Someone like an out-of-work T.V. newscaster could find themselves in a better position to find work and more confidence, after a facelift, botox or eyebrow lift.

Others, however, succumb to the circumstances of their personal and professional lives, resorting to desperate and dangerous means to get their appearance up to their own standards.

Take the case of Korean pop singing sensation, Hang Mioku. Now age 48, she began a troubling pattern of behavior some 20 years ago, when she began seeking facial rejuvenation procedures. Still frowned upon by many cosmetic surgeons, she began silicone injection treatments (instead of traditionally accepted injectables such as collagen or Botox) and exhausted her ability to continue having the procedure in her home country! After moving to Japan and seeking more treatments, often from un-licensed practitioners, she illegally obtained medical supplies and began injecting cooking oil directly into her own skin. Citing paranoid schizophrenia, and “hearing voices” telling her to do it, Mioku couldn’t avoid her own ill intentions. She eventually sought psychiatric help and gifted surgeons, who could help begin the path to reconstructing her face.

This phenomena isn’t exclusive to the mentally distressed, or regions where “black market medicine” reigns supreme. New York resident Fiordaliza Pichardo, died at age 43, after recieving similarly controversial silicone injections in her thighs, hips and buttocks. Refered to a local New York woman, from a mutual friend, none of Pichardo’s family or friends believed this could happen, let alone in a country with such stringent medical regulation.

Health officials fears that the illegal use of silicone as an alternative to cosmetic surgery is on the rise. Many attribute this to growing economic problems, and a desire to get facial rejuvenation quickly and discreetly. Appanrently the injections, usually done in motel rooms, makeshift medical offices and even in-home “pumping parties” are most popular among Latina and transgender women, who may be unable to afford conventional plastic surgery and who tap into it through unlicensed practitioners working through word of mouth, New York city officials said.

In a recent New York Times article, Dr. Nick Gorton was quoted: “If you go to a pumping party, you can have it tonight. It’s a big temptation, especially among young people who, when you’re 20, you’re not thinking about your own mortality.”

The fallout from these illegal injections are certainly no laughing matter. Dr. Nathan Graber from the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says that these products can get into the blood stream causing severe breathing problems, such as lung failure and worse. Silicone injections can embolize to the brain and cause seizure, coma, and of course death. Dr. Graber says if you have already had an illegal injection, see a doctor immediately.

Medical advisors strongly urge patients to never undergo a treatment outside of a licensed clinical setting. If procedures are offered at a home or in a hotel room or in a nail salon then you really have to think twice before you go ahead with that procedure.

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