Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Blog in New York, NY | George Lefkovits M.D.

Winter Skin Care for Men

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:28:00 +0000

Although women tend to be very aware of the adverse effects of winter weather on their skin, men often pay less attention, and may suffer serious adverse consequences.

Your skin is the outer protection for your body, and when the weather outside is frightful, it is your skin that bears the brunt of the damage. One of the main dangers your skin faces is the dryness of winter weather. Cold, winter air contains much less moisture, and it draws the moisture out of your skin, especially when driven by fierce winter winds. This is also a problem for indoor air. Although the fire may be delightful, heating the air actually increases its ability to draw moisture from your skin. And it's the same for forced-air heat, unless you have a home humidifier.

Another significant problem is sun exposure. You may think that when you're out there waiting for the bus on a cloudy day you aren't getting any sun, but UVA rays are essentially the same strength no matter what the cloud coverage. And UVA radiation penetrates deep into the skin, playing an important part in skin aging, the creation of facial wrinkles, and skin cancer, so it's a good idea to wear sunscreen all year long.

To help combat the negative effects of winter weather on your skin, men too need to think about nourishing their skin and exfoliation. You can use facial and body washes with antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E to supplement the skin's store of nutrients. Shaving is also a good way to scrape away older, dead skin cells.

Finally, as winter weather begins to wane, it may be time to consider a nourishing chemical peel to restore your skin after all the damage it's suffered over the hardest seasons of the year. You might also look at wrinkle treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic injections if you find yourself looking a lot older this spring, when the rest of the world is suddenly young and refreshed.

To learn more about improving the health of your skin and keeping the visible signs of age at bay, please schedule a consultation with Manhattan plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Surgery for Breast Asymmetry Improves Quality of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:27:00 +0000

According to a recent study, women who received treatment for their significant breast asymmetry experienced a significant improvement in their self esteem and overall quality of life.

Some amount of breast asymmetry (unevenness of size or shape in breasts) is normal, but a small number of women have significant asymmetry that leads them to feel self-conscious and may reduce their quality of life. Breast asymmetry can be corrected surgically with breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, or a combination of procedures.

The study evaluated 35 women who underwent surgery for correcting breast asymmetry with questionnaires designed to evaluate physical and emotional characteristics to determine quality of life. Women filled out the questionnaires at three months and six months postoperatively. The results showed that women experienced statistically significant improvement in vitality, self-esteem, and overall mental health.

The study, although small, shows that women experience positive psychological benefits when they seek treatment for conditions like breast asymmetry. To learn more about breast asymmetry and whether you are a good candidate for surgical correction, please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Little Changes Can make a Big Difference

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:13:00 +0000

If you look at your face and feel that your appearance is either too masculine or too feminine, you may wonder whether anything can be done to help you look more like you feel you should look. The answer is: yes. Actually, the physical differences between a masculine face and a feminine one are very subtle, and often can be addressed with a number of treatments.

The nose is one of the most common areas that women feel makes their face look too masculine. A large, projecting nose contributes significantly to a masculine appearance, but a rhinoplasty can reshape the nose subtly, reducing the projection, changing the shape of the tip, and narrowing the bridge to convey a more feminine appearance.

Men often complain about a receding chin or a narrow chin that conveys a feminine appearance. Chin implants can contribute to a more masculine jaw shape and help give you a strong, masculine appearance.

Although high cheekbones tend to be a masculine feature, on an otherwise feminine face they can convey an elegant, striking appearance. Cheek implants can refine the contours of your face, and convey masculinity or strength.

In all these cases, the changes can be subtle, but make a big difference. You will still look recognizably like you, but you will be a little more masculine or feminine, depending on your desire. To learn more, please call or email D. George Lefkovits for an initial consultation.

Tubular Breast Correction: Not Your Average Breast Augmentation

noreply@blogger.com (Megan P) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:04:00 +0000

Tubular breasts (also called tuberous breasts) are breasts that have not developed normally. Instead of a wide base that allows for breasts to become round, tubular breasts have a very narrow base and maintain that narrow size, but may be long often with enlarged or puffy nipples. Women with tubular breasts do not just have small breasts, they have breasts with an unusual shape that commonly leads to self-consciousness or even social isolation.

But if tubular breasts are making you feel uncomfortable and are affecting your ability to be involved socially or romantically, there is a solution. Breast implants can be used to improve the size and shape of tubular breasts. You can have breasts that are normal in size and shape.

But before you have breast augmentation to improve your tubular breasts, you should remember that correcting them is not the same operation as breast augmentation performed on more commonly-shaped breasts. As a result of their different development process, tubular breasts have muscle and other tissue connections that must be addressed to allow your breasts to assume a normal shape after breast augmentation. Before getting your tubular breasts corrected, talk to your plastic surgeon about his experience with tubular breasts.

New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits has extensive experience in breast augmentation, including the correction of tubular breasts. During your consultation, he can show you women with breasts similar to yours and talk about their experience and results, and talk to you about the results you may experience. To learn more, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Lefkovits today.

Hard Questions: Pain after Plastic Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Megan P) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:57:00 +0000

There are two hard questions everyone wants answered before they come in for a consultation: How much will it cost? and How much will it hurt? Unlike most plastic surgeons, we have answered the cost question, and will also do our best to answer the pain question. Of course, this question goes beyond just hard: it is in fact impossible for us to tell you how much postoperative discomfort you will experience after your plastic surgery, because pain is subjective. Nonetheless, our experience has given us a general idea of the relative discomfort involved in each of the major plastic surgery procedures. Of course, for all procedures you will be prescribed pain medication adequate to control your discomfort during your recovery.

Minor discomfort is typical of rhinoplasty, subglandular breast implant surgery, eyelid surgery, and breast lift procedures. Most of our patients report these procedures being less painful than they expected, but your expectations and experience may differ.

Moderate discomfort is typical of facelift, buttock augmentation, submuscular breast implant surgery, breast reduction, and liposuction.

Significant discomfort is typical of tummy tuck procedures.

In most cases, the level of discomfort is related to the level of improvement you see. For example, liposuction removes just fat, but a tummy tuck may remove not only fat, but also skin and involves tightening of the abdominal muscles. Another variable to consider in thinking about postoperative discomfort is not only the level of pain, but also its duration. Included in our fees chart are estimated times required for recovery, which can be used to estimate how long your discomfort may last.

For most of these procedures, discomfort is measured in days, but results are measured in years. If pain is a concern for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits, who can share with you the personal experiences of some of his previous patients and you can make an informed decision about whether the procedure is right for you.

If Your Teen Asks for Breast Implants for Graduation . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Megan P) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:53:00 +0000

It is becoming a more and more common phenomenon: teen girls telling their parents that they want bigger breasts for graduation. Parents often find themselves taken aback. Their daughters and smart and pretty and should feel no need for surgery to feel self-confidence. Mothers may look at their daughters and say, "If only I had your body," and tell their daughters they have no reason for plastic surgery.

But if your daughter makes this request, it is best not to be judgmental. You may not understand how she feels, but as a recent study showed, women of all ages dislike the size and shape of their breasts. About 65% of women aged 18-25 are unhappy with their breasts, and the majority of them wish their breasts were larger.

And, if you are looking for a graduation gift that will help your daughter navigate the complex social world of college, you could do worse than breast implants. College years are when women are under the most pressure to uphold society's high standards of beauty, and if she feels she is falling short, it can seriously impact her self esteem. The less mental energy she devotes to worrying about her small breasts, the more she can spend on schoolwork and positively adapting to college society.

But, even if you sympathize with her request, you might still feel uncomfortable. What should you do then?

A flat denial is not a good decision--it may give breast implants the appeal of "forbidden fruit," and lead your teen to seek them out without the benefit of your support and input. Instead, help her figure out if this is really what she wants. Help her with research and attend surgeon consultations with her. Make sure she understands the risks and complications of breast implants, and make sure she understands how to select a good surgeon.

And if, at the end of the process, she still wants breast implants and you still feel uncomfortable, you can decide what you would like to spend on a graduation present and give her the money and make it her decision. After all, a graduation gift is partly an acknowledgement that your little girl has become a woman and will have to make decisions for herself.

Please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today to learn more about breast implants so you and your daughter can make an informed decision.

Mommy Makeovers Remain Popular

noreply@blogger.com (Megan P) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:49:00 +0000

A trend that continues strong in plastic surgery is the popularity of mommy makeover procedures. Although some had though the trend had tapered off in 2008 women keep coming in for this popular package of procedures.

A "mommy makeover" is a customized package of plastic surgery procedures that help older women restore their figures after childbirth. Pregnancy and the early years of a child's life can be hard on a woman's body. A woman's body undergoes dramatic changes during pregnancy, many of which cannot be reversed with diet and exercise. In addition, many women find that with the demands of those early childhood years they just don't have the time and energy to devote to their appearance. So women seek mommy makeovers to undo some of the changes their body has undergone during these years. The most popular procedures in a mommy makeover are breast enlargement or breast lift and a tummy tuck, but the packages are designed to address your particular concerns.

Plastic surgery mommy makeovers are only a small part of a continued cultural emphasis on older women looking, acting, and feeling more vigorous and, frankly, sexy. In addition, women in their forties and even fifties are commonly seen taking pole dancing classes, dressing more provocatively, and enjoying rowdy girls' nights out.

A couple of years ago, this blog took the standpoint that mommy makeovers were not as popular as some supposed. It turns out that not only were we wrong, but the trend is continuing strong.

If you would like to learn more about your own mommy makeover, please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Hand Treatments Can Restore Your Youth

noreply@blogger.com (Megan P) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:39:00 +0000

Many men and women are taught to use a person's hands to gauge their age. And it is true that hands tend to be a more consistent indication of age than your face. Some people look prematurely old in the face, while others retain a youthful face for longer, but people's hands are more consistently affected by the march of time.

With your hands, there are two major factors that tell your age. First, the quality of your skin. As we age, the skin on our hands undergoes the same changes as the rest of our skin, becoming duller, more wrinkled, and even discolored. Second, your hand tends to lose volume, becoming more bony, often with excess skin. But you don't have to accept the aging of your hands. New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits can help restore the youthful appearance of your hands.

Glycolic acid peels are a great way to nourish and restore a youthful luster to the skin of your hands, face, and other areas. You will probably see a reduction of fine wrinkles and a healthier, younger-looking skin after your glycolic acid peel. For the reduction of age spots on your hand, and more improvement of wrinkles, laser skin resurfacing can be a great option.

To give your hands a youthful fullness and reduce their bony appearance, we commonly recommend dermal fillers. We commonly use Radiesse for this application.

With both these treatments, many people say they feel they look ten years younger. Treatment of your hands can be used as a standalone treatment, or it can combined with facial rejuvenation procedures like BOTOX® Cosmetic or surgical rejuvenation.

To learn more about reducing the signs of aging in your hands and elsewhere, please call or email Dr. George Lefkovits today and schedule a consultation.

People Believe Society More Accepting of Cosmetic Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:54:00 +0000

According to a recent survey, the majority of people believe that society is more accepting of plastic surgery than ever. According to the study performed by a cosmetic surgery advocacy group, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, 71% of people felt that society was less judgmental about cosmetic surgery than it was five years ago. In addition, nearly 62% said that the growing acceptance of cosmetic surgery made them more likely to have plastic surgery.

Breast augmentation was considered the most accepted surgical procedure. 42.4% of respondents said that breast augmentation was a normal, accepted procedure, with about 32 % saying the same thing about facelift and tummy tuck. Not surprisingly, non-surgical procedures were considered more socially acceptable, with about 62% saying that laser hair removal and BOTOX® Cosmetic injections were widely accepted. The majority also said they would feel comfortable telling their family about their cosmetic surgery.

About 20 percent of people said they would consider cosmetic surgery. As another sign of changing attitudes, respondents under the age of 40 were nearly twice as likely to consider cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic surgery is more common than over. If you would like to learn how it might benefit you, please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Save Money for Plastic Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:51:00 +0000

You may (or may not) remember our New Year's resolution blog from last year. Among other tidbits, it recommended that people should not buy a gym membership that they will not use anyway, instead saving the money for plastic surgery. The point is that if you have the willpower to work out, you don't need the gym membership, and you can save the money for plastic surgery.

Many people are taking this advice to heart, not just with gym memberships, but with many of the expenses that make it hard for people to save. Even when money is tight, some people prioritize the big life change that plastic surgery can give instead of the daily expenditures that drain your resources. Here are some things to look at in terms of saving money:

Eating out: Americans spend $100 billion a year on fast food, most of which is unhealthy and people don't enjoy that much. Save eating out for special occasions and you will save money, be healthier, and enjoy it more.
Grooming: Do you normally go to a manicurist? Do your nails yourself, or, even better, invite some friends over for a manicure party. If your husband always gets the same old cut, learn how to do it yourself. Love a massage? It's a great way to rekindle some of the affection you share with your husband to incorporate massages into your daily routine. After a little while, you'll find you do just as good a job as the professionals.
Entertainment: If you love going out for first-run movies, take off a few afternoons to catch matinees; you can cut the cost almost in half. If you rent movies, try visiting your local library. Most have hundreds of feature films that you can check out for free.
Energy: Energy is money. conEdison has many tips to help you save energy around your home. Also, reading is a more energy-efficient entertainment, so while you're at the library, consider checking out books in addition to movies.
Telecom: check out all your telecommunications services. Do you need them all? Evaluate whether your rollover minutes mean you need a less expensive cell phone plan, whether you ever use your land line, and whether you need all those cable TV channels.

You'll be surprised how much money you can save following these simple tips. If you have long wanted a breast augmentation or tummy tuck, but thought you couldn't afford them, try saving for a month or two and you'll see how easily they will fit into your budget.

If you want to learn more about plastic surgery, please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Lost Weight but Still Don't Have the Curves? We Can Help

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:48:00 +0000

Many women hope that going on a diet and exercising will be the key to a brand-new body. Then, after months of hard work, they find that the results are not what they desired. Some women find that they are left with:

Smaller breasts
Smaller buttocks
Loose, hanging skin

Or all three. If exercise and dieting haven't gotten you the results you want, even after you reached your target weight, plastic surgery may be the answer.

For some women, breasts are the first place they lose fat, meaning that you simply can't have the body and the breasts you want at the same time without surgery. But breast augmentation can restore your lost volume and give you the breasts you desire.

You may also have worked hard to tone your backside, only to see it shrink or altogether disappear. If this is the case, buttock enlargement is an ideal solution that gives you the rounder, fuller buttocks you desire, using only your own tissue.

You might have achieved the weight you want, but you are disappointed to see that instead of toned abs or arms, you just produced loose, flabby skin. A tummy tuck can remove excess skin and tighten your abdominal muscles, and other body contouring procedures can target loose skin in your arms, thighs, or elsewhere.

We might also be able to combine some of these procedures to help you achieve the figure you desire. To learn more, please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Negative Body Image Can Be a Relationship Problem

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:35:00 +0000

It's a staple of comedy that men are often drawn into women's uncertainty about their bodies. Women ask something like, "Does this dress make me look fat?" to which a man is always supposed to reply, "No." But for many women, the validation of such a response is not enough, and it can lead to significant tension in a relationship. Here is some advice for men in relationships where body image is a destructive influence.

Be proactive. Don't wait for your wife or girlfriend to ask how you feel about how she looks. Notice what she's wearing, and compliment her when she looks good.

Be honest. Don't lie to your wife or girlfriend about how you feel. She will likely be able to tell, and lying will increase her insecurity in the relationship, which can negatively impact her body image further and lead to more tension. Although honesty can create short-term tension if she doesn't like what you say, but you can overcome this by honestly praising her appearance on other occasions.

Don't take her uncertainty as an insult. Sometimes it seems like nothing we do makes the women in our lives feel comfortable with themselves. This is not because they don't love us, but because the problems are deep inside their minds in a place we often cannot reach.

Be supportive. If your wife or girlfriend talks to you about an exercise program, liposuction, breast augmentation, or some other idea to address her uncertainties, don't tell her what she does or does not need to look good. Express your feelings honestly, but remember that ultimately a woman's issues are generally between herself and her body. Make sure she considers her options carefully and help her follow through on her ideas in a way that will ensure the best possible results.

If your wife or girlfriend is considering cosmetic surgery, you can help her get the best possible results by helping her choose an experienced plastic surgeon to perform the procedure. Please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Firing of Woman for Breast Augmentation Prompts Possible Legal Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:32:00 +0000

Last year Condé Nast fired a woman for supposedly showing the results of her breast augmentation to two friends. Now, the woman is considering a lawsuit to get herself reinstated or win damages from the company after she was given no severance pay.

According to the woman's testimony, she talked to some long-time female friends about her breast augmentation and they were curious about the results. To show her friends the results, she invited them into her office, closed the door, and removed her blouse to show them her breasts. She was still wearing a sports bra, but rumor of the event quickly spread around the office. Someone filed a complaint and she was called into human resources to talk about the issue. Two days later, she was fired, ostensibly based on "additional information" they had received but did not share with the employee in question.

Breast enlargement is your right, a protected form of personal expression, and should not lead to any negative consequences in terms of your employment. However, it is probably best to save details about your operation for off-work hours.

If you are interested in learning more about breast augmentation, please contact New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today to schedule a consultation.

Chinese Communist Party Officials Rush for Plastic Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:30:00 +0000

As further proof that plastic surgery is not just an American phenomenon, politicians at the highest levels of Chinese government are seeking plastic surgery. The male plastic surgery patients are trying to look their best during increasingly common TV and public appearances. According to a senior surgeon, at least 500 government officials a year receive treatment at a single hospital in Beijing. The surgeon denied that the patients included any of the Communist Party's ruling council, the Politburo (possibly out of fear of reprisal), but said that some of the Party's highest cadres took advantage of the service.

The officials "want to make sure that they have the strong features that government officials are supposed to have," according to the surgeon. The most popular procedure is an eyelid lift, followed by other facial rejuvenation procedures, including BOTOX® Cosmetic and facial filler injections.

Plastic surgery is a growing industry in China. Currently, the Chinese spend about $2.4 billion on plastic surgery, a figure that is growing at about 20% per year.

To learn more about how plastic surgery can help you look your best for television, public, or private appearances, please call or email us today to schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits.

Breastfeeding and Breast Implants

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:27:00 +0000

Some women are concerned that if they have breast implants, they will be unable to breastfeed, but this is not true, as recently demonstrated by celebrity mom and former Playmate Kendra Wilkinson. Wilkinson, former star of The Girls Next Door, shared fears that her breast implants would interfere with breastfeeding. But, after giving birth to a baby boy in early December her fears were put to rest as she began successfully breastfeeding within just a few days, a not-unusual delay.

Breast implants do not generally interfere with breastfeeding. Some women are naturally unable to breastfeed, and for most women, breast implants do not reduce their ability to breastfeed. Breastfeeding can be affected by some complications of breast augmentation, though, such as:

Loss of nipple sensation can affect "let-down" response
Increased nipple sensation can lead to pain in breastfeeding
Infections after breast augmentation may affect milk ducts

These complications are infrequent, but should be considered.

Breastfeeding is one of many things you have to consider in deciding whether breast implants are right for you. If breastfeeding is vitally important to you, even a small risk might be too much for you, and you might wait until after having children to get breast implants. But if breastfeeding is less important to you, there is no reason why it should affect your decision on getting breast implants.

If you would like to learn more about breastfeeding and breast implants, please schedule a consultation with Manhattan plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Study Reveals that 70% of Women Are Unhappy with Breasts

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:23:00 +0000

A study published last year in the International Journal of Sexual Health confirmed that more than two out of three women are unhappy with their breasts. This study, based on one of the largest surveys ever compiled on the subject--with over 26,000 women of all ages responding--assessed women's dissatisfaction with their breasts in three categories. Women were asked to tell whether they thought their breasts were too small, too large, or too droopy. The study also included men, who were asked to rate satisfaction with their partner's breasts. In contrast to the women, over 56% of men responded that they were satisfied with their partner's breasts.

Overall, 33% of women felt their breasts were too droopy, 28% felt they were too small, and 9% felt they were too large. Men who were unsatisfied with their partner's breasts were equally divided between feeling the breasts were too small and too droopy (20% to each), while a small minority thought their partner's breasts were too large (4%). The greatest disparity between men and women occurred in the 18-25 age group, when 67% of women were unsatisfied with their breasts, but 63% of men were satisfied with their partner's breasts. Although 22% of women in this age group felt their breasts were too droopy, only 11% of men in this age group had this complaint about their partner's breasts. Younger women were more likely to feel their breasts were too small (38% for the 18-25 age group), while older women were more likely to feel their breasts were too droopy (47% for the 56-65 age group). Breast dissatisfaction was lowest for both men and women in the age group of 36-45 (74% of women dissatisfied and only 51% of men satisfied).

This study shows again that women's dissatisfaction with their breasts is a common, but personal and individual problem. Women may be unhappy with their breasts because they perceive their partner is, but their partner generally does not share their concern.

Breast dissatisfaction is also a problem with an available cure, and New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits can help. If you believe your breasts are too small, breast enlargement is a good option. If you feel your breasts are too droopy, a breast lift gives good results. Finally, if you are among the women who desire smaller breasts, breast reduction can help.

To learn more about procedures that can help you achieve the breasts you desire, please call or email us today to schedule a personal consultation.

Italy Bans Breast Augmentation for Teens

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:21:00 +0000

This month, Italy joins the US in banning breast augmentation for women under age 18. It may seem straightforward to people in the United States that a certain level of maturity is needed before a person can decide on life-changing cosmetic surgery, but in many countries there is no restriction on teens receiving breast augmentation or other forms of cosmetic surgery.

The reform comes after a growing number of cases of botched surgeries in the country and is part of a larger program. The government is also seeking to draw up an official registry of patients qualified to perform plastic surgery, similar to the board certification that plastic surgeons undergo in the United States. An official in the government described the current situation as "a Wild West, cowboy style system of plastic surgery for women," and a representative of the Italian Society of Plastic Surgeons said, "too many people carry out these operations without the proper qualifications."

Plastic surgery is a worldwide practice, but in many countries there is difficulty regulating the practice. In Britain, for example, there is no law against breast augmentation for teens, and the growth of plastic surgery procedures has led to some practices engaging in "irresponsible" sales techniques, according to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS).

In the United States, patients who do their research can be assured of the quality of training received by a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). If you are of age and interested in plastic surgery from a board-certified plastic surgeon, please schedule a consultation with Dr. George Lefkovits in New York.

Plastic Surgery Tax Axed in Senate Bill

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:18:00 +0000

During the final days of debate, the Senate decided to remove a proposed cosmetic surgery tax, sometimes known as the BOTAX from their version of the healthcare reform bill. The 5% tax on cosmetic surgery procedures, defined as plastic surgery and similar procedures not recognized as medically necessary, was intended to help defray the cost of health care legislation, currently estimated at $871 billion. The tax may have generated as much as $5.8 billion over the 10-year life of the bill.

The bill was opposed by several interest groups, including Allergan, the maker of BOTOX® Cosmetic, who spent more than $1 million lobbying lawmakers during the first three quarters of this year, before the tax issue moved to the forefront. Allergan also launched a Facebook page to stop the tax. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons had previously released survey results showing that the majority of Americans opposed the tax.

In place of the BOTAX, the Senate introduced a 10% tax on tanning bed procedures.

If you are considering plastic surgery, you no longer have to worry that you will face additional taxes. To learn more about procedures that might be right for you, please schedule a consultation with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits.

Breasts Can Help a Woman Feel More Feminine

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:01:00 +0000

The size of a woman's breasts affects not just how attractive she feels, but also how feminine. A woman may be very attractive, feel attractive, but may not be happy with her appearance because she doesn't feel feminine. Consider the case of Nicole Kidman, who has long been considered one of Hollywood's most attractive women, but who has long had one particular issue with her own appearance, the size of her breasts. During an interview after her recent pregnancy, she talked about how she felt when her breasts enlarged during pregnancy: "They're not very big, my boobs, so they just became normal size. I loved it. I felt very Woman. When you've had a slightly androgynous body your whole life, having breasts is a nice feeling."

If you have always had a somewhat androgynous body, breast enlargement can help you achieve a more feminine shape, and help you feel more feminine as well. Whether you feel attractive or not, feeling feminine can be an important part of feeling good about yourself. Breast procedures like breast enlargement have been shown to help women's self-image. In a recent survey of patients, about nine in ten felt that their breast procedure helped their self-image.

If you would like to learn more about breast enlargement with New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits, please contact us today.

Study Explores Why Women Get More Wrinkles

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:15:00 +0000

There are many reasons why about 90% of plastic surgery patients are women. Women are under more pressure to look younger and more beautiful for the majority of their lives. Age is not considered attractive in a woman the way it might be in a man. But women's faces also tend to wrinkle more around the mouth than men's, and Dutch researchers believe they have discovered why.

The researchers did a detailed analysis of the flesh and skin around the mouth in 25 male and 25 female cadavers, aged 75 to 93, and found a significant anatomical difference between men and women. The researchers compared skin thickness, wrinkles, muscle attachments, and other characteristics of the soft tissue around the mouths and found that women have:

Fewer sweat and sebaceous glands
Fewer blood vessels
Muscle fibers attached closer to the skin

The results suggest that women's skin around the mouth gets less lubrication and nutrients, which can make it less resistant to the effects of aging, and, with closer muscle attachments their skin is subjected Earlier theories suggested that men had thicker facial skin to support a beard, but this was not upheld by detailed analysis.

The results suggest that women who want to reduce wrinkles around their mouths should make sure they use an appropriate amount of moisturizers around the mouth area. It also supports the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic for "smoker's lines" or "lipstick lines" around the mouth.

If you would like to learn more about anti-aging treatments to help you look younger longer, please schedule a consultation with board-certified New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Experimental Vampire Therapy for Facial Rejuvenation

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Ever wonder how vampires like Twilight's Edward Cullen keep their youthful appearance despite being a hundred years old or more? Perhaps it's the blood. Some London doctors are experimenting with what they call the S3 treatment for facial rejuvenation in which serum from your blood is injected into your face to stimulate it regain its taut, youthful appearance.

S3 therapy is not a facial filler and is distinct from treatments like BOTOX® Cosmetic injections. Instead, S3, or Stimulated Self Serum, therapy involves the use of serum extracted from your blood to encourage your skin to regenerate itself. After your blood is drawn, it is separated into its three components: the red blood cells, the platelets, and the clear fluid serum. The serum is then combined with vitamins and amino acids before being injected in numerous micro-injections into the skin of the face.

The theory for S3 comes from the dental treatment in which serum is injected into receding gums to stimulate their regrowth. In addition, some studies have shown that injections of plasma (serum plus platelets) into sports injuries can encourage healing.

At this point, there are no controlled studies to show that this particular rejuvenation procedure really works, but it does represent an intriguing, if strange, treatment possibility.

If you would like to learn about proven facial rejuvenation techniques, please call or email New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Plastic Surgery and Recovery from Drug Abuse

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:27:00 +0000

One of the consequences of drug abuse can be a disastrous impact on your body. Many young men and women who abuse drugs find themselves and their bodies marked, wasted, or scarred as a result. These scars can be an unfortunate reminder that follows people for the rest of their lives and can prevent them from feeling fully recovered from their habits and abuse. But plastic surgery, by helping to restore the body, can help erase the physical scars and help emotional healing become complete.

An example of this is burlesque star Dita Von Teese, who says her drug habit in the 1990s took a toll on her figure. She credits seeing her gaunt form with inspiring her to change her ways. Her weight had dropped to about 90 pounds and she had a wasted appearance. She decided to give up drugs as a result, but while she was able to regain weight, her breasts never recovered, so as when she was 21 she decided to have breast implants. With an eye to a natural appearance, her breast augmentation has helped her gain a position as a world-recognized model and performer.

Weight loss during drug abuse is common, but not the only effect. Major nutritional deficits and dehydration can have a negative impact on the health of your skin, leading to a prematurely aged appearance. Facial rejuvenation procedures can help restore a youthful appearance.

If drug abuse has caused major damage to your body that has not healed even though you have been clean, New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits can help. Please schedule a consultation today to learn more.

Plastic Surgery Can Combat Age Prejudice

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:41:00 +0000

Like most prejudices, age-prejudice has a strong visual component. When people look at you, they immediately form judgments about who they believe you are. They look at your clothes, your hair, and your face, and they decide what kind of person you are. Often these judgments are made without the judge even knowing that is what he or she is doing. One of the most common prejudices in our society is age prejudice.

When someone looks at you and decides that you are "old," they are likely to make several summary judgments about you. They may think you lack energy. They may think you are out of touch. They may think you are boring. They may think you are a has-been or a never-was. And, unfortunately, how old we look often bears little relation to our chronological age, let alone how old we feel. People making snap judgments about you will never get to know the real you, and age prejudice can unfortunately seriously hurt you in your personal and professional life.

For people who find that they are encountering age prejudice on a daily basis, plastic surgery and non-invasive cosmetic procedures, can go a long way to improving how people receive you. If you are beginning to encounter the effects of aging, a combination of injectable fillers and BOTOX® Cosmetic injections can turn back the clock a little bit. If your drooping eyelids make it look as though you are tired and have lost your edge, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can restore a fresh, youthful appearance. And if furrowed or sunken brows make friends, family, and coworkers think you are perpetually angry, brow lift surgery can help you look younger and more relaxed.

If people around you are judging you on the basis of your appearance, New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits can help. Please call or email him to learn more.

Tragedy and Triumph at Miss Plastic Surgery Pageant

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:35:00 +0000

We had talked before about plastic surgery and beauty contests. In many places, women who have had plastic surgery are not allowed to compete in beauty pageants. In response to this ban, pageants specifically for women who have had plastic surgery have begun to spring up. The first was in China last year. This year, a similar pageant was held in Hungary. The Hungarian pageant was marked by a startling turn of events.

One of the favorites to win the pageant took an unfortunate tumble in the early competition. Her silicone breast implants were relatively new, and she was unused to walking in high heels with the additional weight of her breast implants. After the judges looked at the results of her breast augmentation and remarked at how tiny her scars were, she tripped and fell, badly tearing a ligament in her foot. However, she managed to recover and won third place in the pageant.

Considering the lengths people go to alter their appearance in other ways, it does not seem sensible that recipients of plastic surgery should be excluded from pageants. After all, plastic surgery is not about completely changing a person's appearance. Instead, plastic surgery is about fine-tuning or providing minor adjustments to what is already there.

If you would like to learn more about how plastic surgery can help complete your appearance, please call or email Manhattan plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.

Research May Replace Breast Implants with Newly-Grown Breast Tissue

noreply@blogger.com (Tiffany) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:05:00 +0000

In searching to find an alternative to breast reconstruction for mastectomy patients, a team of Australian researchers may have found a way to replace breast implants forever. The technology uses breast stem cells to stimulate a woman's body to grow new breast tissue. In the procedure, a sample of a woman's breast tissue is placed in a shaping structure similar in shape to a bra cup. The breast tissue is attached to blood vessels. The body then grows new breast tissue to fill up the cup. In the prototypes, a second surgery is then necessary to remove the cup, but researchers hope that in the next two years they will develop a cup that can be absorbed by the body, leaving only natural breast tissue.

The technique has advanced to animal trials, regrowing breasts on pigs in just six weeks. However, a prototype trial is set to begin in the next three to six months. Researchers are unsure how long it would take for women to regrow breasts because people stop growing at adolescence and it may take longer for growth triggers to be turned on.

Although this procedure has been studied for breast reconstruction, researchers mention that it could be used for breast augmentation as well. In the procedure, women would talk to their surgeon about how much enlargement they desired, and a custom-made scaffold would be designed to give women the size and shape of breasts they wanted.

Researchers believe the technology should be available in three years, but considering the number of challenges the technology faces, this seems to be optimistic. And it may be a long time before the technology gets approved in the United States.

If you would like to learn more about your options for getting the best breast augmentation results with current technology, please call or email New York plastic surgeon Dr. George Lefkovits today.