FACING THE FACTS - AVOIDING 'BARGAIN' FACELIFTS AT ALL COSTS

We have all seen the photos. The many thousands of people, mainly women, demanding redress having become the victims of disastrous cosmetic surgery. All are deserving of our sympathy as they underwent the procedures in good faith, but worryingly their stories do not seem to deter the few who still think that the 'cut-price deal' is a good idea.

There is an alarming trend, particularly in the US, for women to have 'lunch-hour' facelifts, procedures offered at discounted prices to lure in patients who are on a budget. This trend is not one that any sensible person wishes to see spreading on this side of the Atlantic. As one US surgeon, appalled by the way that patients are risking their health, life and appearance for a 'bargain', put it:

"Basing this type of decision, which can have lifelong repercussions, on an advertising campaign that promises low prices can be incredibly risky."

A real, experienced and qualified, plastic surgeon leads the patient on a medically-guided journey, not to be undertaken lightly, that most often results in a very pleasing alteration in one's appearance. They will hold at least one consultation beforehand, discuss the risks and know how to minimise them, as well as oversee the aftercare. What they will never do is offer 50% off for a 'quickie facelift' that is carried out in your lunch break!

Many of these 'bargain' facelifts are also carried out by surgeons abroad. They may offer 'plastic surgery holidays' with 'up to 70% off', which often turn out to be even more unsafe than they sound. Your break in the sun may result in heavy scarring and other terrible results, far from what you were promised but with no means of pursuing the surgeon responsible. At this point, the huge discounts never seem like such a bargain.

If you are considering a facelift, please do not ever use anyone who is not registered with the General Medical Council and are a member of BAAPS and/or BAPRAS. It will be a genuine cosmetic surgeon's expertise, painstaking skills and diligent aftercare that turns out to be the really excellent deal.

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3D IMAGING BOOSTS PATIENT CONFIDENCE

When considering breast surgery, many potential patients have come up against the tricky problem – ‘But what will they actually look like on me?’

It is this issue of being unable to picture the final results that has proven a persistent barrier for a significant proportion of women. This is one of the main reasons why only a small percentage of those who think about breast augmentations actually go on to have surgery.

However, all that is rapidly changing. Thanks to fantastic technological advances from U.S. imaging companies, it is possible for potential patients to view post-operative simulations of their bodies using the VECTRA® 3D imaging system. In other words, it is possible to remain as ‘before’ whilst you see a clear image of the ‘after’.

The VECTRA® 3D imaging system has been designed to show potential patients all possible outcomes of their breast augmentation surgery. A three-dimensional image is created, then women can choose different cup sizes to view. They can see how each size will look on their body – there is even virtual clothing so that they can see how, for example, a bikini would look after surgery.

This 3D imaging application is a fantastic asset within cosmetic surgery. It essentially removes unnecessary concerns and doubts from would-be patients who are unsure what to expect, whilst at the same time giving them realistic expectations. It may also prevent corrective surgery for unhappy patients as the right individual choice can be made each time. This can only be a positive boost to patient care, since the women who are given the opportunity to use the 3D imaging are essentially able to make an even more informed decision about their cosmetic surgery.

As technology develops, expect to see a growing number of systems being more commonly used by surgeons in the U.K., where it has already proven popular with those who appreciate the value of such state-of-the-art tools. It is a way of improving patient confidence and satisfaction, hence the need to spread the word about the increasingly widespread availability of Vectra in the UK.

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HIGHER EDUCATION TACKLING UNSAFE COSMETIC SURGERY

In a fantastic bid to limit the number of people undergoing unsafe cosmetic surgery, a UK University has decided to launch a hands-on course to provide qualified surgeons with additional knowledge and expertise.

This move by British higher education recognises the specialist skills needed to perform cosmetic surgery procedures and the concern with increasing numbers of Brits using unqualified surgeons. This course may have been set up following the recent PIP breast implant scandal, which greatly increased awareness of the need to only undertake surgery if you are sure you are in safe hands.

As the number of cosmetic surgery procedures undergone in Britain increase and more complicated operations are conceived, it’s no wonder that there is a need for more specialist training and it’s great to see that a British University has decided to take matters into their own hands and offer a practical course.

The course is being offered by Anglia Ruskin University and it is hoped that as well as improving surgeons skills, it will also help to raise public awareness and push members of the public to find qualified surgeons and undergo safer procedures. There are many highly experienced cosmetic surgeons the UK, such as the surgeons who are members of BAAPS and/or BAPRAS, and it’s hoped that the introduction of this new course will raise awareness to the fact that Britain is leading the way in safe cosmetic surgery. This awareness may help to deter people from travelling abroad for cheap, high-risk surgery.

This course comes of the back of another course targeted at cosmetic surgeons. In 2010, Lincoln University created an art class, aimed to help surgeons form a sense of perspective and knowledge of the human form through sculpture classes and drawing. Whilst this course is less technical it offers surgeons the ability to improve a different range of skills. Its aim is to improve surgeons’ perceptual skills, thus enabling them to really tailor each procedure to the individual.

Both courses are great examples of why Britain is gaining a fantastic reputation as having one of the safest and most advanced cosmetic surgery offerings. We look forward to seeing which other educational establishments join this growing trend, and the types of courses and activities that they come up with.

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MALE PLASTIC SURGERY – THE DISAPPEARING STIGMA

Plastic surgery used to be seen as an activity undertaken by women and perhaps a few high profile celebrity men, but this is becoming less and less true. Increasingly men from all walks of life are opting for cosmetic surgery to improve their looks and confidence. There are many popular cosmetic surgery procedures for men and these include: facelifts, ear surgery and liposuction. In the UK, in 2011, nearly 4000 men underwent cosmetic surgery (figure from BAAPS). The variety of operations for men also continues to grow with some more extreme procedures becoming available. One example is ‘Leg Lengthening’ surgery, which involves breaking the leg bones and therefore a very painful recovery period. 

So why are men opting for plastic surgery?

There are many reasons why more and more men are choosing cosmetic surgery. As techniques become more advanced, men feel more confident that they can get the results that they want. Furthermore, as more women choose cosmetic surgery, their boyfriends and husbands see the positive affects and are choosing to follow suit.

Successful men often struggle to fit physical exercise into their daily regimes and cosmetic surgery offers them the chance to quickly get their bodies back in to shape. One of the most popular male cosmetic surgery procedures is the "moob job" or male breast reduction. The rise in male celebrity cosmetic surgery also creates a notion that successful men must look good. This has a knock on affect on the male population who feel that improving their looks could improve their career and general success in life. The rise in male celebrities undergoing treatment also shows men that it isn’t a purely feminine activity and that the results can be really impressive.

One concern with this increasing trend is that men may still feel nervous about discussing their surgery and asking for information. Many cosmetic surgery guidelines are targeted towards women, which means that men might struggle to find useful resources and information. The concern with this is that men may not be in a position to choose the safest cosmetic surgery options available to them.

It really is vital that men pro-actively research before jumping into cosmetic surgery and there are many fantastic and highly experience surgeons out their who you can go to for advice. At SaferCosmeticSurgery, we are highly qualified to offer specialist advice to men considering cosmetic surgery to ensure that any procedure undertaken is safe.

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PIP IMPLANTS FOUND TO BE NOT TOXIC

The final report into the PIP breast implant scandal (cheap implants used for breast enlargement) has now been released and concluded that the gel found in the implants does not cause a long term threat to human health.  The investigation was lead by NHS Director, Prof Sir Bruce Keogh. It says the implants, which were filled with unauthorised silicone, have been found to be neither toxic nor carcinogenic.

The review confirmed they do however have double the rupture rate of other implants tested.

Around 47,000 women in the UK have had the implants fitted. Prof Keogh said women had faced an "incredibly worrying time".

It’s thought around 95% were fitted privately. A minority of operations were carried out on the NHS, mostly for breast reconstruction patients following cancer treatment.

Earlier in January, Prof Keogh's team concluded there was insufficient evidence to recommend the routine removal of PIP implants. But it recognised the concern that the issue was causing.

In this week’s final report he said that repeated tests in many countries have "shown that the implants are not toxic and therefore we do not believe they are a threat to the long-term health of women who have PIP implants".

He concluded: "We have however found that these implants are substandard, when compared to other implants and that they are more likely to rupture. We would therefore advise that women who have symptoms of a rupture - for example tenderness, soreness or lumpiness - should speak to their surgeon or GP."

Consultant Plastic surgeon and president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), Fazel Fatah, said: "Despite rigorous testing showing no long-term danger to human health from the individual chemicals in the gel, the fact remains that PIPs are significantly more likely to rupture and leak and, therefore, cause physical reactions in an unacceptable proportion of the patients.

"We agree with the report findings that anxiety itself is a form of health risk and thus it is entirely reasonable for women to have the right to opt for removal - regardless of whether there has been rupture."

Throughout the UK any women who had PIP implants through the NHS have been given the option to have them removed and replaced free of charge.

In Wales the NHS will also replace those of private patients. In England and Scotland the NHS will remove implants of private patients but not replace them.

Last month, a separate review led by Health Minister Lord Howe examined the role of the Department of Health and the UK regulator the MHRA. It said serious lessons must be learned and questioned how well women with these implants were informed about the risks.

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