A survey conducted by researchers from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has given us some insight about patients who choose wrinkle treatments. Researchers sent questionnaires last March to 687 patients who had received Botox and/or dermal filler treatment.

The following statistics illustrate the motivations of the ‘typical’ patient. Who is the ‘typical’ patient?  According to the survey results, she is “a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.”

• Roughly 70 percent of the respondents claimed that Botox and dermal fillers play an important role in their cosmetic routine.  About the same number of respondents said they used both treatments.
• When asked what their motivation was for pursuing Botox treatment, 34 percent said their appearance looked “stressed” or “angry”. Others said that a friend, family member, or their physician had recommended it, or they were preparing for a social event. 66 percent said they received Botox treatment 2-3 times per year. 72 percent of the respondents chose Botox to treat glabellar lines – the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows.
• When asked about their motivation to use hyaluronic acid fillers, the majority (63 percent) of patients reported a desire to remove facial wrinkles and folds – mostly the nasolabial folds that travel from the nose to each side of the mouth.

A full summary of the survey results is available (in an MS Word doc) here.

As reported by the New York Times, medical practices in Prague are offering free surgical enhancements to nurses as an employment incentive.  One nurse opted for breast augmentation and liposuction, free of charge.  

The piece raises some interesting ethical questions: While the procedures could certainly be beneficial to individual nurses in the short term, would such a practice harm the nursing profession as a whole?  

According to reporter Dan Bilefsky, nurses in the region “insist they are under enormous pressure to look good in a society where attractiveness is often as highly prized as clinical skills.”  Critics argue that the incentives could promote an idealized body image for nurses, in a profession already suffering from misconceptions about technical competence.  A spokeswoman from the Czech nurses association argues that nurses are still perceived as “low level workers” with little to offer besides manual labor.  Nurses after all, aren’t intended to be models, but caregivers that provide an enormous benefit to the medical profession and the public they serve.  A misplaced emphasis on their physical appearance could undermine public perceptions of their competence and value.

Still, others see no ethical problem; perhaps breast augmentation or rhinoplasty is analogous to employee discounts at a retailer, employee vacation packages, or other career perks.  

The supposed ethical problems brought by these surgical incentive programs probably shouldn’t be directed at the programs alone, but rather, toward the sexism and discrimination that underlie them.

Last week The Doctors featured the endoscopic brow lift, a favorite of Dr. Haiavy. The endoscopic brow lift is a facial plastic surgery procedure that slightly raises the eyebrows and alleviates ridges and furrows on the forehead, providing the patient with a more pleasing facial expression.  In some cases, it even improves the patient’s vision.

The term ‘endoscopic’ refers to the surgical endoscope – a specialized instrument that we introduce into the body to view its internal parts and aid in surgery.  Endoscopic techniques have improved the brow lift dramatically: they have allowed us to use smaller incisions, which expedite the healing process and reduce residual scarring.

Many patients choose to combine the endoscopic brow lift with other procedures, like blepharoplasty for example.  At Inland Cosmetic Surgery, we understand this is no easy decision.  Patients should heed the advice of Dr. Travis Stork on The Doctors; he says, “If you’re considering going under the knife, stop smoking, improve your diet, always follow your doctor’s instructions, and do your homework before deciding to undergo surgery.”

For more information on the endoscopic brow lift, see our home page.

Cosmetic surgery procedures on men have declined during this recession, despite their growing popularity in the past decade. Women are of course, still actively seeking cosmetic enhancement and surgery.

Cosmetic procedures on men dropped 2 percent last year, while the number of procedures done on women increased by 29 percent, according to statistics from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.

“For the time being, males and females are beginning to separate themselves in regards to cosmetic surgery,” said AACS president Dr. Patrick McMenamin. According to Dr. McMenamin, women’s acceptance or willingness to try non-invasive cosmetic procedures like dermal fillers, Botox and laser treatments, may explain the percentage gap.

More widespread economic trends could be a more primary cause. In February, The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that men lost 2.7 million jobs since the start of the recession – a figure that represents 82 percent of the total number of jobs lost. The New York Times opined that given this situation, “women are poised to take a greater share of the nation’s jobs.”

Many patients ask, what is the best time to get breast implants? Women across the United States and Canada seek breast augmentation with either silicone or saline implants to enhance the look of their breasts at many different stages in their life. Thousands of breast augmentation procedures are performed each year as more women are realizing benefits such as increased confidence and better fitting clothes.

As our society becomes more health-conscious, women try to determine if they are an ideal candidate for breast implants by asking their surgeon many qualifying questions regarding their age and medical history. When determining whether or not you are an ideal candidate for breast augmentation, only a consultation with a qualified cosmetic surgeon can help you learn what’s best for you. However, as a safe rule, breast augmentation is appropriate for healthy women between the ages of 18 and 50. While this is a large age range, it is up to the individual and their surgeon to determine when to choose breast augmentation surgery.

Can Teenagers Have Breast Implants?

Yes. While the Food and Drug Administration does not recommend breast implants for anyone under the age of 18, there are no strict laws preventing younger patients from having breast augmentation surgery. In general, it is advised that women wait until their breasts are fully developed to realize the most benefits from getting breast implants. For many women, breasts continue to develop through the teen years until their early 20’s. However, depending on your particular situation, your surgeon may develop a customized plan of care for you at any age.

What is the Most Common Age for Breast Implants?

Most breast augmentation procedures are performed on women between the ages of 20 and 35. While most women get breast implants during this age, there are many things to consider before moving forward with surgery. First of all, women in their early 20’s may still have developing breasts. Getting breast implants too early in the developing stages, may result in stretch marks or sagging breasts.

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This video is part of a recent episode of The Doctors, which features Dr. Jessica Wu showcasing the new eyelash enhancement drug, Latisse.

Dr. Wu says that Latisse starts to work in about 4 weeks, and provides “luscious” eyelashes after just 4 months. You apply Latisse to the base of the upper eyelashes once each night “just like liquid eyeliner.” According to Dr. Wu, the results should yield lashes that are 25 percent longer and 100 percent thicker!

See the video for before & after photos; they’re impressive! If you are interested in learning more about Latisse in Rancho Cucamonga, contact us.

A quick survey of public perception may reveal that the concept of male breasts has been transformed; what was once a relatively obscure condition is now approaching the level of pop culture phenomenon.

Journalist Finlo Rohrer, of BBC news, reports that the media – especially the tabloid scrutinization of celebrities – has popularized the concept of ‘man boobs.’ In the summer of 2006, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and conservative party leader, David Cameron, were photographed shirtless, which led several media outlets to “comment on their moobs.”

The weblog www.manboobs.uk, which according to one reader, has “plumbed the depths of poor taste,” pokes fun at the concept, but further popularizes it.  American television sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends have done the same.  According to Rorher, this popularity could lead to “more men making their way through the surgeon’s doors.”

So what is the deal with male breasts?  Here are a few things you might not know:

• Gynecomastia – the condition that forms breast tissue in males, is relatively common, and often mistaken for simple excess fat. It can affect newborns, pubescent boys, and adults.  While it isn’t serious (unless it is a sign of something else), it can be rather painful and embarrassing.

• Obesity will often cause excess breast tissue, but real gynecomastia is caused by a hormone imbalance. In either case, surgery can alleviate the symptoms.

• Medications, or illegal drugs like marijuana and anabolic steroids can cause gynecomastia. Particular drugs that are used during treatment for prostate cancer are to blame.

• Gynecomastia can also be caused by genetic conditions like Klinefelter’s Syndrome.

• Surgery isn’t the only option: in cases of pubertal gynecomastia, the condition will sometimes disappear over time or when puberty is over.  Other cases have shown improvement without any interventions; one case published in the June 2008 issue of Endocrine Practices documents a rare case of bilateral gynecomastia in a 60 year old man. The patient’s examination results were normal, but he reported a daily intake of 3 qts soy milk.  Once the patient ceased his intake of soy milk, his condition improved and his hormone imbalance was resolved.

While underlying issues like hormone imbalance and obesity should always be addressed,  many patients find that surgery is the right choice to correct excess breast tissue.  Surgery can restore a natural masculine appearance. If you are interested in learning more about male breast reduction, contact Inland Cosmetic Surgery for a consultation.

A star-studded Hollywood charity event sponsored by Botox manufacturer, Allergan Inc, had Brooke Shields, Mandy Moore, Marisa Tomei, and other big name celebrities in attendance, supporting the new Latisse Wishes campaign.

The campaign will raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation, as well as spark interest in the new eyelash enhancement drug.

Latisse is Allergan’s latest eyelash enhancing drug, the first drug to be approved by the FDA for the treatment of hypotrichosis (inadequate eyelashes). When applied to the base of the upper eyelids, Latisse causes longer, thicker eyelashes.

It isn’t a mere coincidence that the Make-A-Wish foundation was chosen as a beneficiary for Allergan’s campaign; the superstitious tradition of “blowing on an eyelash to make a wish come true” provides a clever marketing strategy, now backed by philanthropy.

Beauty expert and participant, Anastasia Soare, enthusiastically expressed her support, saying “I constantly work to help make women’s beauty wishes come true, and now we can help children’s wishes come true through the LATISSE™ Wishes campaign.”

During the event, a $500,000 initial contribution was granted to Make-A-Wish, but Allergan is encouraging consumers to help double the donation amount by visiting www.Latisse.com and registering their support.  From now until the end of the year, the company will donate 5 dollars for each new registration, up to one million dollars.

Latisse, and other eyelash enhancements, are available at Inland Cosmetic Surgery; give us a call for more information.

The incredible growth and success of laser technology has taken the cosmetic surgery industry by storm, and new survey results from the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery prove it. Results of their annual survey show a major popularity shift toward non-invasive laser treatments, which began around 2005.

AACS president Patrick McMenamin explains the trend: “As we learn more about the cosmetic uses for lasers, the more patients benefit from effective results and quicker recovery time.” Mcmenamin suggests that this progression drives demand even further, which makes laser procedures more affordable. It’s true – the average price of laser resurfacing has dropped almost $500 since 2002.

More survey results include some highly interesting gender statistics on laser resurfacing. The past three years witnessed a 456% increase in males choosing to undergo procedures, while females choosing them grew by 215%.

The most recent data (for 2008) revealed a sharp drop in male use, which is most likely related to the economic recession. Nonetheless, ‘the big picture’ of laser resurfacing shows that it may be the beginning of an exciting trend. As Dr. McMenamin says, “It is an exciting time for both cosmetic surgery patients and physicians.”

At Inland Cosmetic Surgery, we offer several highly-effective laser treatments. For more information, call us for a consultation.

Featured in the latest issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery is a medical study on the safety of the wrinkle relaxing injectable, Reloxin.  The new drug, which is expected to be an alternative to Botox, was evaluated for its use on moderate to severe forehead wrinkles (or glabeller lines).  The results of the study appear optimistic.

While FDA approval has not yet been granted for Reloxin to be sold in the U.S., Medicis Pharmaceutical expects FDA clearance later this year.  They’re introducing Reloxin with the hope that it will be the first direct competitor to Botox, in a market that helped Allergan Inc. net $1.3 billion last year with the wrinkle relaxing drug.

A California dermatologist who was involved in the study commented to Bloomberg news, saying “the side effects are the same as Botox” and “many of our patients liked it even better.”

The active ingredients of Reloxin and Botox are very similar; they each contain a particular ‘botulinum toxin’ that has been proven to relax the muscles that cause wrinkles in the face.

While Reloxin has actually been sold overseas under the name ‘Dysport’ for about 15 years, Botox has still managed to claim over 80 percent of the worldwide market for the neurotoxin.  One market analyst speculates that “Reloxin may be priced 15 percent lower than Botox” which could allow it to take a significant share of that market.