Plastic surgery’s link to psychology

Check out this article from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery regarding plastic surgery and how how it can improve a person's psychological thought process.

When you feel better about your self you are more confident and have a better outlook on life! At Sleek Surgical & MedSpa we can help you achieve your goals to achieve the look that you desire. Whether you are interested in larger breasts, a tighter tummy, or a butt lift, Sleek Surgical & MedSpa can help! Call us today at 1-800-SLEEK-USA today for your free consultation.

A recent study presented at the 30th Anniversary Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) finds that individuals who undergo various plastic surgery procedures enjoy a positive psychological effect, improved quality of life and increased perceptions of well-being.

"The purpose of cosmetic surgery is to improve a person's psychological functioning by modifying their body image," said plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Borah, author of a 1997 study on the effects of plastic surgery. "This prospective study is important because it demonstrates that objective measurements of a patient's quality of life are improved after cosmetic surgery."

According to ASAPS, the study involved 105 cosmetic plastic surgery patients between the ages of 18 and 70. Researchers found that most participants experienced positive effects, such as increased quality of life, following their procedures.

However, experts warn that while many people choose plastic surgery to discreetly improve their appearance, drastic changes can be shocking to some. A recent article on Buzzfeed.com examines those who have issues with their identity after drastic plastic surgery, like Heidi Montag, who many believe has body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This psychological condition is a “red flag” for plastic surgeons who screen patients to make sure they are not having surgery to become a different person or make a perfect image.

One plastic surgeon from New York screens patients for psychological disorders and if he suspects a problem, refers them to a psychiatrist. Although “most surgeons are increasingly aware of a need for psychological screening,” experts warn, “there are unscrupulous people in every field.”

Sociologists and therapists suggest that cosmetic changes over the course of many years might be an easier adjustment than extreme plastic surgery. A person’s identity forms at adolescence and major changes could cause a shock. As always, it is best to consult with board-certified plastic surgeons while considering cosmetic surgery to make the best choice for you.

CHINA performs more cosmetic surgery than any country except America and Brazil

China, Brazil and the USA perform more plastic surgery thank any other country! Maybe you are thinking that this is due to the wealth of these countries, but according the Forbes this is not the case. It seems that inequality is the reason more people, specifically women go under the knife. According to the article, poor good looking women have a better chance at equality in the patriarchal world we live in. Read the article below for more information.

If you are interested in plastic surgery (whatever the reason) call us today for a free consultation at 800-SLEEK-USA today. We can answer any questions you may have during your free consultation with one of our Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. You can also visit us on the web at www.SleekMedSpa.com to learn more about the procedures we offer and financing options.

China, Brazil, USA Lead For Plastic Surgery: Why?

I thought this was an interesting little point that The Economist’s made, that China, Brazil and the US are the leading countries for plastic surgery:

To me the interesting question is why? Sure, they’re three countries with large populations but they’re higher on the rates of surgery as well, not just the total number.

It’s not the general level of wealth as there are much richer countries than Brazil or China with lower levels of such surgery.

The most interesting answer I think was suggested some time ago by Tyler Cowen. It’s the inequality.

All three are very unequal countries by the standards of the rest of the world. And, most patriarchal though it may sound, almost misogynistic, one way for the poorer to make the leap from poor to rich is by marrying up. This is obviously more achievable for women than it is for men, given human mating habits. But poor good looking women do have an opportunity to make the leap across that equality chasm in a way that not good looking poor women or almost all poor men do not.

Thus we might not be all that surprised at such low wage good lookers using a little bit of aid from the surgeon’s knife to increase their potential success at making this leap.

That was, as I recall it, Cowens’ potential explanation about the prevalence in Brazil at least: and I’d say that seeing that the top three countries are also the top three most unequal just bolsters his case.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor About SLEEK Lipo HD

The below questions are taken from www.Vaser.com and will help you to ask the right questions during your SLEEK Lipo HD consultation. Sleek Surgical & MedSpa specializes in the SLEEK Lipo HD procedure and can help you to achieve the results you desire. Hopefully these questions will be useful for you when meeting with the doctor. For more information go to Sleek Lipo HD where you can watch the procedure in 3D to learn more about what to expect during surgery. Call us today at 800-SLEEK-USA to book a consultation with one of our Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. We look forward to seeing you in one of our surgical centers soon!

Questions to Ask Your Doctor:

Am I a good candidate for the VASER Lipo^® or VASER^® Shape procedure? 
While VASER procedures can be used to treat most patients, your physician may suggest an alternate treatment, based on your body type and medical situation.

Where do you perform the procedure, and what type of anesthesia will you use? 
VASER Lipo can be performed in a physician's office, surgery center or hospital. For many VASER Lipo procedures, you may elect to have general or localized anesthesia. VASER Shape does not require anesthesia and is typically performed in an office setting.

How much fat can you remove? How many body areas can you treat at once?
 Your physician may recommend a specific number of areas be treated and a maximum amount of fat to be removed per treatment.

When will I see results, and what results are realistic in my case? 
The kinds of results you can expect will usually depend on your body type and your exact procedure.

How long is the healing process? 
While the recovery process is usually minimized with VASER Lipo compared to traditional liposuction surgeries, you can expect to go through a period of healing post-treatment. This healing process can be affected by the total amount of fat removed and the number of body areas treated.

There is no downtime with VASER Shape procedures.

How much will my procedure cost, and what are accepted forms of payment?
 The cost of your VASER procedure will often vary according to your physician and factors such as numbers of body areas treated, type of anesthesia used, etc.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a Physician

What is your board specialty?

Who will be performing my treatment?

How many VASER procedures have you performed and what training did you receive?

Can I see before and after photos of your VASER patient treatments?

Can I speak with a patient who has undergone the procedure at your facility?

New plastic surgery package called the 'mommy makeover' gaining popularity in Canada

Happy Friday Everyone! The below is an interesting article about the rise in 'mommy makeover' plastic surgery packages. Sleek Surgical & MedSpa can give you a a mommy makeover package as well. We specialize in lipo, breast enhancement surgery, tummy tucks, and more! Call us today to schedule your free consultation and get your body in tip top shape for summer! 

This article is taken from Global News -

There's a new plastic surgery trend just for moms called the "mommy makeover." It's a package deal that started in the US but is now being offered by more and more by plastic surgeons in Canada.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Chong describes it as "a combination of surgeries that's performed in a safe, controlled fashion, that is aimed at reversing some of the negative effects of pregnancy and breastfeeding on a woman's body."

Kim Nelson says that after having four children, some of those negative effects had taken a toll on her body.

"You know you work hard at working out and stuff and it was frustrating to know that all the crunches in the world weren't gonna get rid of the excess skin, right?"

So Nelson decided to get a breast lift, augmentation and a tummy tuck "combo". The procedures were done in a single three-hour surgery, with full recovery taking about two months. Nelson says she's very happy with the results.

Mother of five Linda Tulloch, who also decided to go for the plastic surgery package deal, claims it's been life-changing for her.

The 41 year-old says she'd always been slim - but was never really been happy with her body. And giving birth to five children didn't help.

"I just didn't feel pretty anymore, you know? 'Cause my stomach, my belly button was wrecked and my stomach was all loose skin. I could literally pull - I could squeeze together and pull - the stomach."

Tulloch was also self-conscious of her breasts, which she says were deflated from nursing.

"My shoulders would be stooped, you know, I didn't carry myself proud."

Now, she is proud to wear a bikini, and says her friends can't believe how much confidence she now has.

"I've done a lot of things for my kids, I'm not getting any younger and I felt it was something that I needed to do for myself."

She and Nelson are not alone. Dr. Chong says the "mommy makeovers" make up about half of his business. Five years ago he did just a few a month. Now, he does one to three a week.

In order to qualify for the procedure, patients must be non-smokers, at a healthy weight and have finished breast-feeding for at least 6 months. The cost ranges from $10,000 to $25,000 dollars.

And as with any surgery, there are always possible risks.

Happy 10th birthday, Botox

Happy Birthday Botox!! It's the tenth anniversary of Botox which makes all of us exited at Sleek Surgical & MedSpa. What would we do without it? Botox is one of Sleek's most popular procedures and is ranked by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons as the most popular non surgical procedure.

Call us today to schedule your free consultation at 800-SLEEK-USA, and visit us online at http://www.sleekmedspa.com/procedures-botox.php to learn more about Botox and how it will work for you.

This article is taken from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 

April 15th marked the 10-year anniversary of the approval of Botox Cosmetic by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since its inception as a cosmetic injectable, Botox has been used by thousands to reduce sweat in various areas of the body as well as eliminate or decrease wrinkle lines around the eyes and mouth. However, many people who receive Botox treatments or are considering the injectable medicine may not know much about Botox's long history.

According to CBS, San Francisco ophthalmologist Dr. Alan Scott is credited with creating Botox as a treatment for crossed eyes. And while the injections worked for those with the eye disorder, an unexpected side effect made the drug famous.

"Some of these patients that would come would kind of joke and say, 'Oh, doctor, I've come to get the lines out,'" Scott told the news source about his eye patients who were among the first people to receive Botox. "And I would laugh, 'Ha-ha,' but I really wasn't that tuned into the practical, and valuable aspect of that."

A few years later, in 1990, Scott sold his Botox creation to pharmaceutical company Allergan, and CBS reports that the company received a pretty good bargain. While Allergan paid $8 million for the drug, today the Botox industry is pulling in around $1 billion year, and showing no signs of slowing.
Botox wouldn't have achieved the popularity it knows today if it hadn't been for the approval by the FDA 10 years ago, The Inquisitr reports. That landmark moment allowed the injectable medicine to be used for cosmetic purposes, changing the face of cosmetic procedures forever.

"When approved by the FDA in 2002, Botox Cosmetic changed the way that physicians could treat patients who were interested in improving the appearance of their vertical frown lines between the brows," said David E.I. Pyott, President and CEO of Allergan, Inc., according to the news source. "Botox Cosmetic has become the number-one neuromodulator in the United States."

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), Botulinum Toxin Type A was the most popular nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in 2011, with approximately 2,619,739 procedures performed by a qualified physician over the course of the year.

Bargain-basement liposuction booted out of Florida

Liposuction is not a procedure where you should be cutting corners, so to speak. This article brings light to the issue of how liposuction can be dangerous if you do not go to a certified plastic surgeon, and should only be performed at a safe facility. Sleek Surgical & MedSpa has 5 locations with Board Certified Plastic Surgeons and specializes in Liposuction. We guarantee that you will feel comfortable and safe at Sleek from start to finish. Give us a call today at 800-SLEEK-USA today to schedule your free consultation. For more information on Sleek lipo visit us on the web at http://www.sleekmedspa.com/procedures-liposuction.php. 

This article is taken from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery -

If you’re a Floridian whose bikini-clad body needs a little tweaking, you will now have a much better chance of undergoing a safe liposuction procedure. The April 27 Sun-Sentinel  reports that Governor Rick Scott of Florida just signed legislation mandating that doctors can no longer perform most liposuction procedures in unregulated offices. These tougher restrictions, which take effect on January 3, were backed by plastic surgeons, the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Board of Medicine, which oversees doctors.

This may drive up prices of some Florida liposuction procedures. Addressing the cost issue, the president of the Palm Beach County Society of Plastic Surgeons said, “The idea is not to make people pay more. It’s a safety measure to make sure people don’t die.” The medispas and doctor’s offices that were charging less were able to do so because they cut corners to bring prices down.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, in recent years some doctors and unregulated beauty businesses performed liposuction without administering appropriate anesthesia. Instead, they used sedative pills or creams. After 14 Floridians died as a result of medical distress during liposuction in the last decade, Senator Eleanor Sobel filed the legislation.

The new law states that when a liposuction procedure removes more than about two pounds of fat it must be performed in a regulated office. Such an office is equipped with a doctor who has lifesaving training and lifesaving equipment and procedures. Moreover, the office facility would have to be inspected by the state or become accredited.

A Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon speculates, “Some internists and nonsurgeons who had been doing liposuctions at the unregulated offices may choose to stop rather than try to meet the stricter regulations.”

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), cosmetic surgery can be safely performed in a hospital, a surgicenter or an office-based surgical facility. Data shows that accredited office-based facilities have a safety record comparable to that of hospital ambulatory surgery settings. But, most office-based surgical facilities are not accredited. ASAPS requires its members to operate in accredited, state-licensed or Medicare-certified facilities. To ensure your safety, if you undergo surgery, make sure your surgery occurs in such a facility.

Silicone today, fat tomorrow; breast augmentation rocks on

Breast implants are more popular than ever before and can really enhance a woman's body and give confidence. Sleek offers breast enhancement surgery at an affordable rate with great financing options. For more information visit http://www.sleekmedspa.com/procedures-breast-enhancement.php and call us today at 800-SLEEK-USA to schedule a free consultation with one of our Board Certified Plastic Surgeons. 

The article below is from The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Silicone breast implants, invented in 1962, soldier on. Though they provide a smooth profile, they’ve had a bumpy path. The sixties bought a clamor for them. Then, because of complications, the nineties bought a clamor against them. Of these silicone devices, Wmag.com, May 2012, reports, “Now they are back: bigger, safer, and more popular than ever.” In fact, the FDA recently approved a new silicone breast implant manufactured by Sientra.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that last year 316,848 breast augmentations were performed in the United States. Call it a fashion choice or a definer of femininity, the enhanced bosom doesn’t seem to be going away. So it makes perfect sense for Wmag.com to ask the question, “How did so many women become so interested in having a bigger bosom than nature intended?”

Victoria Pitts-Taylor, for one, director of the Center for the Study of Women and Society at the City University of New York, blames it on the media and “women feeling they must compete with what is essentially a pornographic aesthetic.”

There was a time when large breasts were, for the most part, considered a burden. If you did want to enhance your breast size, there was a fear about implant materials. In fact, in the early 20th century, Wmag.com reports that surgeons tried fillers like glass and ivory balls, peanut oil, goat’s milk ox cartilage, honey and paraffin. With the plastics revolution, Teflon, nylon and Plexiglas were thrown into the mix.

The breast really came into its own with the Hollywood bombshells. Blondes, like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, flooded the newsstands and their big-busted sisters, like Rita Hayworth and Jane Russell, came close on their heels. Wmag.com reports that in 1964, Carol Doda, who pioneered topless go-go dancing, underwent dozens of silicone injections and this technique became de rigeur on the burlesque circuit. However, injected as such, silicone tended to migrate, bunch up or turn rock solid.

After tremendous advances in surgical breast augmentation techniques, resulting in fewer infections and a significant reduction in hardening, the question is, “Will silicone breast implants be around to celebrate their 100th birthday?” Wmag.com reports, “Probably not.” Now doctors are working with fat cells that can be transplanted into breasts. A former plastic surgeon who was a resident during the first 1962 silicone breast augmentation says, “The future is fat.” Whether its paraffin, silicone, saline, or your own fat, it doesn’t look like breast augmentation is going out of style.a resident during the first 1962 silicone breast augmentation says, “The future is fat.” Whether its paraffin, silicone, saline, or your own fat, it doesn’t look like breast augmentation is going out of style.