Many of us can identify something about our face or body that we do not like. Maybe we can even identify a few things. In the majority of people these perceived flaws do not fit the notion of physical beauty and, if they were corrected with cosmetic surgery, may actually make the patient look more attractive. Most of us have a reasonable self image or body image. When we see a feature that could be improved or enhanced we either have surgery to change it, wish to have surgery some day or simply live with the less-than-ideal feature. Some people, however, do not have the self-esteem or positive self image to rationally consider a flaw and move on. Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a psychiatric disorder in which the sufferer is exceedingly preoccupied with minor or even nonexistent “flaws” in their appearance. They seek out the services of cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and other specialists in a never-ending pursuit of perfection. Sadly perfection is rarely achieved, either because the “flaw” was not “corrected” or one surgery reveals to the patient’s mind another “imperfection” that must be addressed. In BDD, appearance becomes an obsession. People with BDD avoid social interactions because they are ashamed of their appearance or fear ridicule. They constantly seek reassurance from others about their appearance, which put strain on relationships. Patients with BDD will commonly worry about their appearance for hours each day. Shrewd plastic surgeons can identify people with presumed or borderline BDD and require that these patients seek psychiatric treatment before surgery. This saves the patient from potentially disfiguring surgery and from multiple procedures. Unfortunately...
The proliferation of plastic surgery facilities around the country has lead to a wide selection of cosmetic surgeons. However, despite an extensive array of choices, it may not be easy to choose a good doctor that you can have total confidence in. The most important consideration is whether or not the doctor is a board certified plastic surgeon. While surgical procedures are life changing and often irreversible, the abilities and qualifications of the surgeon are paramount. The American Board of Plastic Surgery Different amounts and hours of surgical training are required by each certifying board, which means all certified surgeons are not evaluated equally for each cosmetic procedures. Nonetheless, there are certifying bodies that require extensive and comprehensive medical training coupled with experience, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a major specialty board that certifies surgeons specializing in treatments for the face, neck and whole body. Patients can rest assured that doctors certified by these boards have had the education along with the training necessary to perform various surgical procedures. In order to become a certified plastic surgeon through the ABPS, a physician must meet stringent qualifications. Graduation from an accredited medical school and completion of at least five years of residency are the basic educational requirements. Within the five years of residency, the physician must have a minimum of three years’ experience in general surgery and two years of plastic surgery. In addition, the doctor has to successfully complete comprehensive oral and written examinations. Due to new developments in the medical field, physicians need to be re-certified periodically. Importance of a Surgeon’s Certification Although your...
Undergoing cosmetic surgery is an important and often life changing experience, thus the matter should not be taken lightly. Patients should consider a few things prior to the procedure, one of which is the experience and skills of the surgeon, whether it’s for a simple BOTOX injection or a massive operation like body contouring. Board certified plastic surgeons are usually the specialists with the most training and experience. What is Board Certified? Board certified most commonly refers to physicians who have passed a variety of exams, or boards, in their field of expertise. Often, all doctors need to pass the boards before obtaining their license to practice medicine and health care. This is to assure the public that the medical expert has successfully completed an approved educational program and evaluation requisite to performing quality patient care. Issues With Board Certification In recent years, certification has become an issue because there have been some doctors who have yet to complete additional hours of study and practice, and are performing procedures that might be better left to specialists who are board certified. Plastic surgeons are the most glaring examples of this medical concern. With more clients requesting Botox injections and other non-surgical treatments, some physicians who are not board certified have found a way to achieve an easy profit. In cases like these, patients seeking services from uncertified doctors often end up with less than ideal results. Incorrectly injected collagen could result to lips that are too large for the patient’s face, and faulty Botox injections could cause near paralysis of the face. Other botched up cosmetic procedures have resulted to...
If you are considering plastic surgery, you should be interviewing a number of cosmetic surgery doctors in order to make the right selection for your procedure. The skill of the plastic surgeon is the most important factor in achieving the results that you desire. You can begin your process of selecting the right plastic surgery doctor by asking friends, relatives and coworkers for a referral. You can also ask people at the salon or spa that you go to about who they would recommend. Your family physician may also be a good source of information about a qualified cosmetic surgeon. Any of these people may have great suggestions, personal experience or special knowledge about the skill levels of plastic surgeons in your area. Researching a Plastic Surgeon’s Credentials and Board Certification Once you have a number of suggestions, you will want to research the cosmetic surgery doctors’ reputation and find out whether they are board certified. You can go to your state’s medical board website to make sure that there are no complaints lodged against the surgeon. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is responsible for maintaining registration of board certification of cosmetic doctors. They ensure that the physician is qualified and trained to perform plastic surgery. You may also want to make sure that the doctor is a member of professional organizations such as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. These professional groups offer training and information about new procedures for the members. Conducting In-Depth Consultations With Cosmetic Surgery Doctors When you have ensured...
If you are considering cosmetic surgery for yourself, selecting your cosmetic surgeon is the most important thing in ensuring that you get the results that you want. There is an ideal way to select your cosmetic surgeon to perform you aesthetic surgery and that is by doing your own research and then interviewing several cosmetic surgeons. Here is a step by step method that will teach you how to find cosmetic surgeons. Do Your Own Research Ensure that you have a good understanding of what you are hoping to achieve with your beauty surgery. This means you will first need to learn about the procedure. You should have a complete understanding of what the cosmetic surgeon will be doing during your procedure. You can begin by reading about the procedure you are considering and follow with examination of photos of both the procedure itself and before and after pictures. This will give you a good basis for selecting a cosmetic surgeon. Interview Several Top Cosmetic Surgeons Now that you have educated yourself about the specific cosmetic surgery you desire, the next step is to identify who you want to perform your operation. In order to find the best cosmetic surgeon for yourself you should interview several physicians. Having a consultation with several clinics will allow you to compare the skill and consideration of each physician. You should make sure that you are comfortable with the physician’s bedside manner and that you establish a good rapport with the doctor and the staff. The doctor should be fully willing to explain the entire procedure for you and answer any questions that...
There are thousands of plastic surgeons operating in the United States and if you are considering plastic surgery, you need to find the right one. Here are a few suggested ways to find the right cosmetic surgeon for yourself or a friend. Get a Recommendation from a Friend You may have friends or acquaintances who have had plastic surgery, such as breast augmentation or liposuction, or who have visited a plastic surgeon for aesthetic treatments, such as laser therapy. If they were happy with their plastic surgeon, you may be too. If they were unhappy with the results of their procedure, that will also be important to know. If you don’t have any friends who have had plastic surgery, your friends may know someone who has and you might want to ask around anyway. Get a Recommendation from your Hair Stylist Your hair stylist may be a good person to ask. Cosmetologists are in the beauty business and skilled at assessing beauty treatments. They are also in a unique position to have seen firsthand before and after results of the surgery. They can tell you a lot about what cosmetic surgeons to go to for any type of procedure. Hair dressers and manicurists spend a lot of time talking to their clients and any type of plastic surgeon visit will certainly have been a topic of conversation. Though they may not be able to tell you who had what type of procedure, they will probably be able to give you the entire story – good and bad. Other people who work at a spa or salon are also good...
What Makes a Top Plastic Surgeon? When it comes to identifying the best plastic surgeons in the United States, credentials, experience, and peer recognition are key factors. Surgeons must be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and demonstrate an outstanding track record in both patient outcomes and ethical conduct. Additional criteria such as leadership in medical organizations, participation in academic research, and commitment to patient safety also play a role. Best Plastic Surgeons Nomination Process The utilization of extensive research and relevant medical doctor credential information databases are what go into locating the best plastic surgeons in America. Plastic surgeons must possess a certain amount of experience and expertise in the field of plastic surgery. Best plastic surgeons are chosen based on these steps: Must be board certified and are randomly selected using databases and a proprietary system The proprietary system and software emails or faxes generally ask the question, “If one of your loved ones needed medical attention in your field, which of your peers would you choose?” In those same emails, physicians can log in and choose a username in which they nominate their peers and submit The researchers collect all the information and prepare for the next phase The next phase involves those peers who were selected being reviewed for the proper nationwide licensure status, malpractice judgments, and disciplinary actions. They are then cross-referenced utilizing thirteen leased/owned doctor credential information databases confirming physicians complete nationwide licensure statuses and relevant credential information. The last step includes the researchers collecting and reviewing the pool of nominated plastic surgeons and verifying credentials. Why Peer Nominations Matter Peer nominations...
Cosmetic surgery is medical field of study where plastic surgeons, who are usually board certified cosmetic surgeons, perform restorative and/or corrective cosmetic surgery procedures. In the United States, cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed as early as 1917. You can research an aesthetic surgery procedure and cosmetic surgeons located in their areas on this site: https://cosmeticsurgerytoday.com. You also have access to the latest cosmetic surgery news. How Do I Choose a Cosmetic Surgeon? It is of the utmost importance, if you don’t want to suffer dire consequences, to make the correct choice when researching cosmetic surgeons. You need to make sure to choose board certified plastic surgeon to perform your cosmetic procedures. Board certified plastic surgeons have undergone intense training and possess extensive experience in their specialties. For instance, the American Board of Plastic Surgery requires certain rigorous surgical training and education. If you opt to try and save money by choosing a physician who is not board certified, you could be left with permanent, unsatisfactory results. Most Popular Cosmetic Surgery Procedures in 2008 According to Forbes magazine, the most popular cosmetic procedures performed in 2008 were: Non-Surgical: Botox - 2,464,123 procedures at $443 per procedure Hyaluronic Acid - 1,262,848 procedures at $411 - $657 per procedure Laser Hair Removal - 1,280,964 procedures at $326 per procedure Chemical Peel - 591,808 procedures at $704 per procedure Laser Resurfacing - 570,880 procedures at $2,094 per procedure Surgical: Breast Augmentation - 355,671 procedures at $3,603 - $3,885 per procedure Liposuction - 341,144 procedures at $2,874 - $2,933 per procedure Eyelid Surgery - 195,104 procedures at $2,921 per procedure Rhinoplasty - 4,152,434 procedures...
Botox vs. Collagen Injections: Which Is Right for You? When considering non-surgical wrinkle reduction, it’s essential to understand the difference between Botox and collagen injections. Botox works by temporarily relaxing the underlying facial muscles that cause expression lines, making it especially effective for forehead wrinkles, frown lines, and crow’s feet. Collagen injections, on the other hand, act as dermal fillers to restore lost volume and smooth out deeper wrinkles and fine lines. While both are FDA-approved and minimally invasive, your age, skin condition, and aesthetic goals will determine which option is most effective. Cosmetic Botox Cosmetic botox is a simple, nonsurgical procedure performed by a highly qualified cosmetic surgeon. Cosmetic botox temporarily smoothes frown lines between the brows that are moderate to severe, in individuals who are between the ages 18 and 65 years. Cosmetic botox is the only treatment of its type that is currently approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). It also corrects wrinkles and fine lines in the neck caused by stress and age. Cosmetic botox is also helpful at improving eye-muscle disorders. It can decrease the lines at the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet), at the base of the nose, between the eyes, and on the forehead. Cost and Procedure Each cosmetic botox injection normally costs between $200 and $400, and injection treatment will need to be repeated every six months. One minimally invasive treatment only lasts ten minutes. No anesthesia is required; however, the area can be numbed with an anesthetic cream or cold pack before administering the injections. Pain is brief and minimal. A few small injections of Botulinum toxin type A will be...
