Top Op in the UK? Lipo for Men!

Following on the footsteps of their beloved soccer star, Ronaldo, who had abdominal lipo last year, British men have been flooding plastic surgeries with a desire to trade their love handles for 6-packs—to the tune of a 117% increase just since last August! Previously, the Brits were hot for man boob treatments, to avoid looking like Simon Cowell, famous for his noticeable nipples in t-shirts.

In America, there was an increase of 9% in men’s cosmetic surgery procedures from 2008 to 2009, with a total of almost a million surgical procedures for men. Lipo was the top pick, followed by nose jobs, eyelid surgery, breast reduction and halr transplantation to round out the top five US men’s procedures.

Here in my Delaware plastic surgery practice, liposuction enables me to predictably contour all kinds of fatty areas, including the jawline, thighs, belly, flanks (the dreaded love handles!), the neck, buttocks, almost anywhere. Traditional lipo works best on people with good skin quality, so that there isn’t loose skin hanging around at the end of the procedure. For those who are a bit older and whose skin might not “snap back” after lipo, here in our practice in Delaware, tummy tuck procedures are a great alternative to abdominal liposuction, both for men and for women. It’s a popular choice for women who have finished childbearing (as well as for the men who gained weight during their wife’s pregnancy!)

If you’re thinking about lipo for the man in your life, or for yourself, come in and see me in consultation. You’ll be surprised how sexy and young you feel afterwards! 

Could Beauty be Bone Deep instead of Skin Deep?

Like other plastic surgeons, I have focused on lifting the muscle and skin of my aging patients when performing a face lift in my Delaware plastic surgery office. Fat is often moved, as well—specifically the fat pad of the cheek—to a higher position to eliminate the flat look of the aging face. Sometimes, fat is injected to plump up that part of that face in need, such as around the temples, and between the mouth and nose, called the nasolabial folds.

However, researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center, joined by colleagues from Harvard and Stanford, have discovered, through an evaluation of 120 individuals’ CT scans, that beauty may indeed be bone deep, and this research may change the way plastic surgeons perform face lifts.

The 120 participants were divided into three groups by age: 20-36, 41-64 and 65+. Measurements of the facial bones were taken to evaluate whether or not the facial bone structure becomes smaller with age. Scientists know that most of us will shrink as we age, and these researchers discovered that a similar phenomenon occurs in the face: the jaw bone, especially, will shrink in size, causing sagging in the lower face and a jawline that seems to disappear with the years. Their research suggests that future face lift procedures may include bone grafting or the use of plastic prosthetics to “beef up” the lower face and allow the face lift to be just that much better. 

Arms: Your Greatest Beauty Asset?

Put those uncomfortable stilettos back in the closet. According to StyleList.com, a recent study has found that men are more attracted to a woman’s arms than her legs.

The study, which was administered by the University of New South Whales in Sydney, was recently published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology. The study involved Chinese and Australian women and men. The men were asked to watch videos of 96 women from the ages of 20 to 49 and then to rate their appearance.

The researchers found that the length of a woman’s legs had no significant impact on how attractive she was perceived. On the contrary, women who had long arms were ranked continuously as the most attractive. Although the study pointed to a strong appeal to long arms, lead researcher Professor Robert Brooks attributes attraction to a combination of good traits.

"The dimensions can tell observers if that person is suitable as a potential mate, a long-term partner, or perhaps the threat they pose as a sexual competitor,” Professor Brooks told the Daily Mail.

Waist-to-hip ratio, age and weight are also common factors that play into our judgment of appearance.  Next time you go to the gym, you might want to consider trading in squats and opting for push-ups instead.

Drink Those Wrinkles Away

According to the Deccan Herald, a new study has found that drinking water can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Not only that, certain waters can reduce wrinkle depth more than others.

Any medical professional will tell you that drinking eight glasses of water a day is good for your health. For years, we have been told that staying hydrated adds to clear skin and a youthful complexion.  Now there is solid evidence to back up these claims.

During the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, female volunteers has their skin analyzed with the VISIA complexion imaging system.  Following their initial analysis, the women were asked to drink 1.5 liters of water daily for 8 weeks. In addition, the women were not advised not to change their diet or exercise routines.

A number of the participants drank only tap water over the course of 8 weeks, while others were given mineral-rich Willow Water from England.  Willow Water contains willow bark extract that is high in salicin, an anti-inflammatory agent that metabolizes into salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is commonly found in many skincare and acne products.

At the end of the 8 weeks, the women had their skin analyzed once more with the VISIA complexion imaging system. Researchers found that the participants who drank tap water saw an overall 19% reduction of wrinkles, while the Willow Water-drinkers saw a 24% reduction.

The great news is you can now drink your way to better skin. The bad news? Willow Water is only available in the UK—for now.

Tip Asymmetry Leading Request for Rhinoplasty, Revision Rhinoplasty

There are many reasons why someone would undergo rhinoplasty: deviated septum, collapsed nostrils, crooked nose, etc. HealthDay News recently reported that the number one aesthetic reason for rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty in patients is tip asymmetry.

The study, which was published in the September/October issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, was administer by Kathy Yu, M.D. of Columbia College and Cornell University in New York. Yu and her colleagues used a questionnaire to analyze the functional and aesthetic concerns of 104 patients considering revision rhinoplasty.

According to the investigators, tip asymmetry topped the list as the most common aesthetic concern for surgeons and patients alike. The second most popular was the crooked middle third of the nose, followed by upper third irregularity. An average of 79 percent of surgeons shared the same aesthetic concerns as their patients.

"In conclusion, this study sheds light on the major concerns of patients seeking revision rhinoplasty and compares them with the surgeon's objective findings. These findings emphasize the importance of physician awareness of patients' concerns, understanding the causes of post-surgical nasal obstruction, and clearly explaining nasal aesthetics to patients seeking revision rhinoplasty,” the authors wrote.

For patients considering rhinoplasty for the first time or revision rhinoplasty, it is important that your doctor understand your aesthetic concerns and objectives. Whether it is difficulty breathing, a crooked middle third or an asymmetrical tip, it is important that the patient’s concerns are adequately communicated to their plastic surgeon.

The Line Between Cosmetics and Cosmeceuticals is Getting Thinner

A recent article by Plastic Surgery Practice reports that the gray area between the skin care and cosmetics industry is growing. Global Industry Analysts, Inc., revealed that the color cosmetics market will reach $41.4 billion by 2015. This is due in part to the inclusion of UV protection, moisturizing components, and natural and organic ingredients in cosmetics.  Makeup is now available in a multitude of formats, textures and pigments.

Not only that, consumers are now benefiting from an array of different treatment options available in the cosmetics, including anti-aging effects. There is a cosmetic product made for virtually every skin type and condition.

Going green is another trend that has been affecting the cosmetics industry. Product manufacturers are now beginning to include ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ ingredients such as vitamin E and plant extracts to attract consumers.

Once upon a time, makeup contained heavy pigments that clogged pores and caused skin irritation. Now, mineral blends and light-capturing crystals, like topaz and mother-of-pearl, are being used to give skin a natural, flawless appearance. To produce an intense color and limit smudging, lipsticks are beginning to incorporate vitamins A, C and E.

Referred to as cosmeceuticals, products with skincare benefits were once only made by high-end makeup lines such as Jane Iredale. Nowadays, one can walk into a drug store and nearly every makeup brand offers SPF-enriched or mineral products. With this growing gray area, it will be interesting to see how the boundaries of the FDA will adjust.

A Way to Treat Those Aging Lobes

Just like any other area of skin, earlobes are prone to the signs of aging. From drooping earring holes wrinkled skin, your ears deserve to look just as beautiful as you do.

Dermal fillers—such as Juvederm or Radiesse—can now be used to treat aging earlobes. More commonly used for wrinkles in the face, these fillers can rejuvenate your maturing lobes. For earring holes that have drooped due to heavy jewelry, fillers can be injected to minimize the size of the whole and add support.

Plastic surgeons can also treat wrinkles on the earlobe with fillers as they would treat wrinkles around the eyes or mouth.

Avoiding sun exposure and heavy earrings are ways to prevent premature aging of the skin, however, collagen and elastin naturally breaks down over time.

While some patients prefer to undergo otoplasty for more permanent wrinkle reduction, dermal fillers both deliver permanent results and no downtime. If you are a Delaware resident considering fillers for your ears,  our friendly staff at Danyo Plastic Surgery would be happy to address any questions or concerns you may have.