Palin’s Jaw Surgery Creates Interest in Chin Augmentation

May 23rd, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis chin surgeryFor Bristol Palin, what she called “corrective jaw surgery” actually gave her aesthetic improvements, as well, according to Us Weekly.

Though Palin said she underwent the procedure to help align her jaw and teeth, her appearance is now more streamlined. Palin said because of the surgery she looks more mature and has less of a “chubby little baby face.”

Women, as well as men, who wish to improve the projection of their chins actually have several cosmetic options. Though Palin said she chose surgery for medical reasons, the aesthetic improvements that can be made include permanent chin implants as well as more temporary options like fillers.

By augmenting the shape and projection of the chin, your facial features can be streamlined and harmony between your chin and other prominent facial features can be improved.

Chin augmentation with an implant can add projection to an underdeveloped chin. In this procedure, an alloplastic implant is placed in front of the jaw through an incision under the chin or inside the mouth.

For patients whose chin is only slightly underdeveloped, a dermal filler may be used to fill out its shape, though this is only a temporary solution.

In addition to these procedures to augment the chin, your other facial features can be modified surgically to improve facial harmony. These procedures may include other facial implants (like the cheeks or jaw), lip augmentation or rhinoplasty, to reshape the nose. Additionally, neck liposuction may create a more refined jawline and chin.

Breast Cancer Survivor Finds Help in Fat Grafting

May 16th, 2011 by Staff Writer

Fat grafting is often recognized as a means to correct more superficial issues like wrinkles, but can be used successfully in reconstructive surgery, as well, according to WWLTV in New Orleans.

Two months after she underwent a type of mommy makeover, which included breast augmentation and a tummy tuck, Tina, a 46-year-old mother of three learned she had breast cancer, unrelated to the surgeries.

After chemotherapy and radiation, part of her breast tissue was removed. In its place, a tissue expander was placed to keep the shape of the breast. As tissue expansion is only a step along the way to reconstructive procedures, it soon had to be replaced.

Tina’s plastic surgeon elected to use Tina’s own fat, which was removed from her lower body through liposuction to support the breast. In this process, the fat that was liposuctioned from Tina’s lower body was placed around the breast implant to cushion it and provide a natural appearance.

As she recovers and sees the benefits of her surgery, Tina says she now looks forward to an anniversary trip with her husband. They plan to renew their wedding vows in Hawaii.

In addition to this sort of life-altering use, the cosmetic applications of fat grafting are many. Most commonly, fat grafting is used on the face. Placement of this fat may fill depressions in the face like deep lines and wrinkles or scars and may be used to augment lips. It may also be used for some body procedures, like a buttocks lift.

Tummy, Breast Surgeries Popular Among New Moms

May 9th, 2011 by Staff Writer

Regardless of what you may have gotten your own mother for Mother’s Day, it’s likely that a new mother you know may have been interested in a mommy makeover, according to the ASPS. The ASPS found that 62% of mothers would undergo a mommy makeover procedure if money was not a factor.

Dana Van Gray, 38, who underwent breast augmentation and a tummy tuck a year after having her last child said she felt the need to seize the opportunity and said the positive change in her body improved her attitude.

“I feel good so I can be a better mom to my kids,” Van Gray said.

A “mommy makeover” is not one procedure, but actually a variety of surgeries that help women regain their pre-pregnancy physiques. Breast augmentation helps restore volume to breasts that may have begun to sag after breastfeeding. Meanwhile, a tummy tuck removes excess skin and tissue that may hang around the midsection after childbirth. Also a part of many “mommy makeovers” is a breast lift, which removes sagging breast tissue to restore the breasts to a more youthful position. This procedure may include the placement of breast implants to replace lost volume. The ASPS recommends that new mothers wait six months to a year before undergoing any of these procedures and that they lose weight before surgery.

ASPS President Dr. Phillip Haeck said more and more, the women who are electing these procedures are not older women, but younger mothers like Dana. He attributes this to improving attitudes toward cosmetic surgery and an openness about the desire to change what diet and exercise may fail to.

We encourage you to learn more about the mommy makeover procedures like breast augmentation, tummy tuck and breast lift and to consult with your plastic surgeon about what surgery may help you achieve your aesthetic goals.

Moderate Botox Users Experience Fewer Psychological Side Effects, Study Finds

May 2nd, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis botox restylanePatients who receive excessive amounts of Botox or Dysport to minimize wrinkles may have more difficulty reading others emotions, found a  study in Social Psychological and Personality Science, according to WebMD.

Dr. David R. Neal, a psychology professor at the University of Southern California said that, “If you have a poker face because your facial muscles are paralyzed, you can’t read others emotions as well.”

Oftentimes, Neal said, we read the emotions of others by mimicking their facial expressions using a sort of “sixth sense.” Under the effect of too much botulinum toxin, the main component in Botox and Dysport, we lose that sense, he said.

Despite the decreased ability of some Botox users to read the facial expressions of others, Neal maintains that the effect is subtle and says patients need to weigh the aesthetic benefits with the possible psychological effects the treatments may have.

Conversely, the study found that patients who received treatments of the dermal filler Restylane did not experience a change in their ability to read facial expressions.

Eyelid Surgery, Among Other Procedures, Highly Popular in China

April 26th, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis botox eyelid surgery rhinoplasty nose surgerySince the industry began to grow exponentially a decade ago, more and more Chinese are choosing to spend extra income on plastic surgery, according to The New York Times. Only houses, cars and travel are ranked above plastic surgery as ways those in China choose to spend discretionary income.

The number of operations performed in China doubles every year and in 2009, China was ranked third in the number of procedures performed with more than two million. Ranked numbers one and two were the US and Brazil, respectively.

While plastic surgeries may often be thought of as an age-fighting measure, in China, the most popular procedure is actually eyelid surgery to increase the apparent size of the patient’s eyes. This surgery involves adding a crease in the eyelid to create what is called a double eyelid.

One such patient, 25-year-old Chen Xiaomeng, pictured, underwent the procedure and was pleased with the result and is now considering nose surgery. It may have been easier for her to undergo plastic surgery than it may have been in generations past since, “Cosmetic surgery is now accepted in practically every household,” Xiaomeng said.

Other popular procedures in China include rhinoplasty to build up the bridge of the nose, jaw surgery to lengthen and narrow its appearance, as well as facelifts and non-surgical wrinkle treatments like Botox.

Mammograms Reliable for Breast Lipomodeling Patients

April 18th, 2011 by Staff Writer

edina minneapolis breast augmentation breast implantsUsing a patient’s own fat stores for breast lipomodeling will not result in issues when later undergoing a mammogram, a study by the ASPS found.

The study, which was published in March, examined women who had undergone breast lipomodeling as an alternative to more traditional implant-based breast augmentation. It found that 16 months after the procedure, more than half of the women displayed no abnormalities that would cause an issue on a mammogram. Of the women who did show any abnormalities, they were minor issues like scarring or small calcifications.

The study also compared mammograms for women both before and after breast lipomodeling and found no significant differences in the mammogram results.

Breast lipomodeling was originally introduced as a means for breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. In the cosmetic procedure, your plastic surgeon would use liposuction to remove excess fatty deposits from a donor site on your body, like the hips or thighs. After it has been purified, your plastic surgeon then uses lipomodeling techniques to inject the fat into your breasts, giving them volume and improving the shape.

While the results of the ASPS study are only preliminary, they bode well for the continued adoption of breast lipomodeling in the plastic surgery breast augmentation canon.

Plastic Surgery Favored Among More Americans

April 11th, 2011 by Staff Writer

edina minneapolis botox breast augmentationA new study published by the ASAPS shows that now, more than ever, Americans approve of cosmetic plastic surgery. The study, which was released this month, found that 51% of Americans regardless of income hold a favorable view of plastic surgery.

While the approval numbers vary somewhat between income levels—56% with an income above $75,000 approve while just 45% with an income between $50,000 to $75,000 approve—there is an overall 3% increase in approval from 2009.

ASAPS President Felmont F. Eaves III, MD credits society’s growing dedication to maintaining a good physical appearance and adds that, “As both traditional surgical procedures have been improved and refined, and new nonsurgical options have become available, aesthetic plastic surgeons have more to offer our patients.”

These popular surgical procedures include breast augmentations for women, eyelid surgery to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and rhinoplasty. Non-surgical treatments like Botox, injectable fillers and chemical peels, which all work to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face, are also highly sought after.

The survey also found that 67% of Americans would not be embarrassed if their friends learned they had undergone a cosmetic surgery, while men and women 18 to 24 were the most likely to consider a cosmetic procedure for themselves.

Research Investigates Freezing Away Wrinkles

April 4th, 2011 by Staff Writer

botox edina minneapolisEarly clinical trials are showing success in producing the same wrinkle-reducing effect as Botox and Dysport, without employing the use of the botulinum toxin, according to U.S. News.

Though both Botox and Dysport are hugely popular non-surgical options for diminishing many facial lines and wrinkles, new alternatives are often being researched. This treatment, which is called cryoneuromodulation, “appears to have the same clinical efficacy and safety comparable to the existing techniques,” according to Francis Palmer, director of facial plastic surgery at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles, who co-authored the study.

Rather than paralyzing the underlying muscle to smooth out the wrinkle as Botox and Dysport do, this new method freezes specific nerves in the forehead using small needles. This stops the nerve from communicating with the muscle, which causes it to relax. The smoothing effect is almost immediate and lasts about as long as botulinum toxin-based methods—three to four months.

The procedure takes about 15 minutes to complete while the patient is under a local anesthetic. Patients said the level of discomfort was similar to that experienced with Botox.

Though you may want to jump at the chance to try this new wrinkle-fighting treatment, it is still in the early stages of trails and has only been tested on forehead wrinkles. In the meantime, Botox is known to beautifully treat forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet.

Plastic Surgeon Explores Varying Beauty Ideals

March 28th, 2011 by Staff Writer

minneapolis facelift tummy tuckWhile the old adage is “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” a New York plastic surgeon suggests it is rather the perception of beauty that matters. In an article for The Huffington Post, Dr. Robert Tornambe points out that each of us consider varying aspects of the human form to be beautiful. In a similar manner, plastic surgery procedures are customized with aesthetic sensitivity in mind, as no two people’s faces or bodies are exactly alike.

Take, for example, a facelift. This procedure, which tones sagginess in the lower parts of the face, could not successfully be performed in an identical manner on a man and a woman. For the man, the ideal result might be a strong, toned jaw line and the woman may desire a softer look, if applying conventional beauty standards.

It is with these conventions that Dr. Tornambe also takes issue. Rather than use a checklist for what is beautiful, he suggests that each woman has a Beauty Quotient. This is made up of three components: Physical Health, Psychological Health and Personal Appearance. He asserts that the combination of these three elements, which can be improved greatly with even minor tweaks or changes, make up a woman’s individual beauty.

When you go in for a cosmetic appointment, like a facelift, rhinoplasty or even a body procedure, such as a tummy tuck to tone hanging midsection skin, your plastic surgeon will keep this aesthetic sensitivity at the forefront of their mind. The goal of any good plastic surgeon is not to mold you into someone else’s idea of beauty, but rather to highlight your own beautiful features.

A Surge Seen in Percent of Male Facelifts, ASPS Finds

March 21st, 2011 by Staff Writer

edina minneapolis facelift make breast reductionMore men than ever are choosing to undergo plastic surgery in order to look as young as they may feel inside, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. In new statistics published this month, the ASPS found that the number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures chosen by men rose 2% from 2009 to 2010. More dramatically, however, was the increase in the popularity of individual procedures for the face and body, some of which saw rises of nearly 15%.

Of the more than one million cosmetic procedures men chose in 2010, a majority of the top 10 were surgical, a change in the previous trend toward non-invasive options.

Plastic surgeon and ASPS President Dr. Phillip Haeck said this is largely because “as you age and gravity takes over, surgical procedures that lift the skin are necessary in order to show significant improvement.”

The procedure that saw the greatest spike between 2009 and 2010 was the facelift, which saw a 14% increase. This procedure tones the sagging skin of the lower face to remove jowls and deep wrinkles.

Otoplasty, a type of ear surgery that decreases the size and projection of protruding ears saw an 11% increase. Though this jump was among adult men, this procedure is often performed on children, as well.

Two body procedures that saw the greatest boost were liposuction and male breast reduction. Both of these body slimming procedures aim to create a more masculine form through the removal of excess fat and tissue.

On the non-surgical side, injectable fillers and Botox, which treat many moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds saw increases of 10% and 9% respectively. This indicates that even with a greater spike in surgical procedures, some men still choose the non-invasive route, at least at first.