Whether you blame it on the “young and invincible” mentality or the Gen-Z of the digital life, it’s clear that Gen-Y has a real issue with permanence. Among the young, rich and famous, no one understands this better than Heidi Montag, who recently came to the stark realization that when it comes to plastic surgery, there’s no undo button.

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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Many have come to the conclusion that the change yielded by plastic surgery is strictly superficial. But the truth is more complex than that.

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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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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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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Despite personal views, plastic surgery has gone mainstream, and is obviously here to stay. The release of plastic surgery statistics has become an annual ritual, almost on par with announcing awards show nominees. Every year the numbers are analyzed to see what trends are revealed, and the 2008 data, released last month from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), provided a few surprises.

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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