Last year, actress Daryl Hannah was seen with an overly plumped face, with rumors surrounding the idea of plastic surgery, claiming that she had undergone several facial rejuvenating procedures. From injectables to facelift surgery, Hannah’s face showed evidence of cosmetic plastic surgery. However, as many before her have done, she denied having had any work done, instead blaming the ocean, no makeup, and bad photography for the way she looked in the images.

As more recent images have emerged, it appears that Hannah may indeed have had some cosmetic enhancements. Her cheeks, lips, and the area below her eyes look fuller – much like that of an injectable filler patient. At the age of 49, Hannah is at the average age of the typical facial rejuvenation patient, which is why it is not unlikely that she underwent some type of rejuvenation. Other Hollywood stars have openly discussed their facelift, Botox ® injections, facial fillers, and other plastic surgery procedures, while still some remain quiet and/or express negative thoughts on the subject.

In Baltimore, Janet P. Woodyard, M.D., F.A.C.S. offers surgical and non-surgical procedures at her practice. You may learn more regarding facelift surgery and facial injectable when browsing her website. Dr. Woodyard has the experience and training to provide patients with beautiful results.

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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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It seems as though just about anyone can have his/her own reality show on television these days, or at least be a part of one. The new VH1 show “You’re Cut Off!” features nine very pampered and fortunate “spoilistas” who find out that they have been cut off from their family fortune. One of the participants, Erica Rose, may be familiar to those who watch ABC’s “The Bachelor” since she is a former contestant. She is also the daughter of a prominent Houston, Texas plastic surgeon, Dr. Franklin Rose.

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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For many women, having large, voluminous breasts is the epitome of the feminine physique; however, those who have overly large breasts are often in constant pain due to the excess weight. Oftentimes, women who are active in sports and fitness routines find that their breasts hinder their ability to fully partake in an activity. To remedy this bothersome feature, women choose to undergo a plastic surgery procedure – breast reduction surgery.

Recently, it was reported that Romanian tennis player Simona Halep underwent a breast reduction due to severe back pain and interference in her performance. Like Halep, other athletic females who have large breasts may find relief with this procedure. In Houston, breast reduction surgery is frequently performed by Christopher K. Livingston, M.D., F.A.C.S., P.A., a board certified plastic surgeon. He has the experience and training to achieve natural-looking results for women who suffer from this condition. By removing excess fat, tissue, and skin, Dr. Livingston can help to provide women with the ability to become more engaged in physical activities, as well as attain a more balanced body shape through breast reduction surgery.

Those in The Woodlands area who seek a breast reduction specialist to help reduce neck, shoulder, and back pain may wish to contact Dr. Livingston. After the procedure, many patients have found that they are able to become more active in their favorite sports and/or fitness routines. Breast reduction surgery ultimately helps to lessen the pain, discomfort, and/or dissatisfaction that is previously associated with overly large breasts.

Sugar Land breast reduction surgeon Dr. Livingston may be reached at his Houston practice. Prospective patients are encouraged to contact him to learn more regarding the procedure.

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According to recent reports, approximately 25% of young Americans are unable to meet physical requirements in order to join and serve in the military, according to top armed forces leaders.

For the first time in history, a potential threat to national security is originating from an internal source, being a lack of healthy individuals who are willing and able to serve, according to Mission: Readiness, a group of retired admirals, generals, and other senior military leaders.

“It’s not drug abuse, it’s not asthma, it’s not flat feet — by far the leading medical reason is being overweight or obese,” said retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Norman Seip at a news conference.

In light of this startling health discovery, the medical field, including several plastic surgeons, is responding to the demands for healthier recruits and to combat obesity on a national level in the wake of this urgent issue.

Discount Liposuction For Military Personnel

Hawaii liposuction specialist, Dr. Michael Pasquale, M.D., is among the plastic surgeons offering discounted liposuction for military personnel. Being a former soldier and located near Hawaii’s military facilities, Dr. Pasquale is very knowledgeable about the requirements for the military, including the “tape test” and other standard assessments. These tests for military personnel have direct bearing on your fitness for both promotion and employment retention.

“The logic is pretty obvious,” said retired Army Brig. Gen. Clara Adams-Ender. “The troops need to be in excellent physical condition because of the demands of the important jobs they do in defense. Rigorous physical and mental standards are critical if we are to maintain the fighting readiness of our military.”

Many plastic surgery facilities, particularly practices near military bases, offer discounts to military personnel and their dependents. Interested parties must conduct research on practices near them, in order to learn which offer discounts, as well as providing a level of care and service that only comes from board certified doctors and medical facilities.

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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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When it was first discovered a year ago about surprising new evidence that Botox and other drugs containing the neurotoxin botulinum could travel from the site of injection to the brain, it wasn’t clear whether this posed a threat to patients (the study cited described was done on lab animals).

Earlier this week however, the Food and Drug Administration announced that the risk was all too real: effective immediately, the FDA will now require Botox, Myobloc and all other botulinum treatments to carry what is known as a “black box warning” — the strongest FDA warning of record — alerting doctors and patients alike that the toxin can spread to distant parts of the body, well enough away from the injection site(s), posing serious risks such as trouble breathing and swallowing.

The FDA is also requiring manufacturers to send doctors and all other licensed practitioners a letter warning of the risk.

The action comes in response to a petition from Public Citizen, which in 2008 asked FDA to require both a black box and the warning letters. Initially, it was expected that FDA would have limited the warnings to non-cosmetic uses of the drugs, since that’s where most of the problems with adverse side effects had occurred (Editors note: botulinum is used to treat cervical dystonia, eyelid spasms and a few other medical conditions in addition to cosmetic applications such as treating frown lines), especially in unapproved uses such a limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.

But the administration said it found 225 cases in which the drug had migrated beyond the injection site, sometimes as far as to deep internal tissue. That was alarming enough to justify the black-box decision, even on cosmetic Botox.

According to the FDA, “there is insufficient information to fully characterize the safety profile and potential risk factors for spread of botulinum toxin at this time, given that the mechanism by which spread may occur has not been confirmed…Based on available information, it is not possible to precisely predict the role of injection site, injection technique, or dose in the spread of toxin or severity of the event. Therefore, we are seeking safety labeling changes for the both the dermatologic and neurologic indications.”

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Two California and two Las Vegas women have been charged with organizing, and participating in a scheme to defraud the local Culinary Union’s health insurance program. The women submitted claims for unauthorized cosmetic surgery procedures performed on union members in Mexico, according to U.S. Attorney Greg Brower of Nevada.

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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Our second “Cosmetic Surgery FAQ” post in the series, we take a closer look at Tummy Tuck surgery. A plastic surgery mainstay, but often overlooked for other less invasive procedures such as liposuction, “abdominoplasty” deals with removal and/or tightening of excess skin and fat in the abdominal region. Today, we take a look at a couple of the most common questions that prospective body contouring patients have, when considering a tummy tuck.

Q. Is getting a tummy tuck the right decision for me?

A. Choosing to undergo an abdominoplasty or any kind of body contouring surgery is a major decision. This is due in no small part to the extensive and invasive nature of the surgery itself, the risks and side effects involved and the amount of recovery time the surgery typically requires. However, many thousands of men and women choose the procedure every year to get rid of unwanted fat and sagging skin in their mid-section. A consultation with a qualified tummy tuck surgeon will make sure that you are thoroughly informed about the procedure, its risks, your alternatives, and whether a tummy tuck is right for you.

Q. What should I expect before, during and after my tummy tuck surgery?

A. Your cosmetic surgeon will provide a thorough and unique list of things for you to do to prepare for your surgery. Most of what will be included on the list are medications and activities to avoid during the two weeks prior to and after the surgery in order to minimize risk during the surgery itself, and during your recovery period. For example, if you smoke, you will be strongly advised to quit for two weeks prior to and after surgery, as smoking significantly slows the healing process. There are a number of medications, vitamins and supplements that should be avoided prior to surgery that your surgeon will discuss with you. Upon his or her asking, full disclosure with your doctor about any and all medication is the best way to anticipate and hopefully avoid any post-operative problems. If you are in generally good health and lead a healthy lifestyle, then you should not expect to have to make any significantly drastic changes in the weeks leading up to your surgery.

Most abdominoplasty surgeries are done in a hospital with the patient under general anesthetic. This being said, you will be unconscious during the surgery itself, so you should not expect to experience any discomfort. Typically, abdominoplasty lasts anywhere from two to four hours.

A tummy tuck is a very involved, invasive procedure that requires the patient to spend a few days in the hospital afterward. You will be given pain medication during and after your time in the hospital. You will also be advised to begin walking around and doing light exercise as soon as possible after the surgery in order to prevent the formation of blood clots in your legs. Expect a week to pass before being able to walk normally and without discomfort.

Q. What about scarring?

A. You should expect to have a permanent or near-permanent scar. The length of the scar or scars will depend on how extensive your surgery is. Tummy tuck scars generally run from hip to hip, across the lower abdomen. Extra attention is given to the placement of the incisions to ensure that your scars will be minimal and inconspicuous. Typically, the incision site is well-hidden beneath undergarments and swimming attire.

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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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