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With 14.7 million Americans currently unemployed,
some job seekers are doing anything and everything to edge out the
competition. Some may go back to school to gain new skills, but others
are going to more extreme measures -- seeking cosmetic surgery to improve physical appearance.
"I’ve seen an increase in clients coming in who want to look better for
the job market," says New York-based cosmetic surgeon Yan Trokel, M.D.
"They have the skills and experience, they have [the] résumé, but they
want to look refreshed and show that they can keep up with younger
competition."
Botox
is just the beginning. Sam Rizk, M.D. of New York has seen an increase
in demand for eye and neck lifts in his patients. He believes these are
the most effective areas to help patients look refreshed and
rejuvenated, which is the look his patients want to achieve.
In order to avoid major recovery, patients are attracted to procedures
that use local anesthesia and do not involve any cutting. Dr. Trokel’s
Y lift, for example, is a face lift that involves a series of
injections and takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete. Because there
is no surgery involved, there is no healing time. Another top request
is the Zerona laser, a cold laser that reduces fat, like liposuction
but without cutting. It claims to blast away fat in about six 40 minute
sessions.
In addition to an increase in face and neck lifts, doctors are seeing a
change in who is seeking cosmetic procedures. "We’re seeing people who
have retired and are coming back," says Los Angeles facial surgeon
Anthony Griffin, M.D. "People who thought they were done are finding
themselves working again because of the economy, so now they have to
worry about interviews and looking their best."
In addition, housewives entering the workforce to supplement their
husband’s income and men in their late 40s and early 50s who lost high
paying jobs have also begun to turn to cosmetic surgery. "They’re not
vain," Dr. Rizk explains, "but they want to look refreshed. The issue
is competing with younger people. These guys don’t want to look like
old men who are tired."
The types of patients coming in for cosmetic surgery aren’t the only
ones changing, the procedures are, too. From Zerona lasers to 3-D neck
lifts, all three doctors mentioned the importance of rapid recovery
time for their patients who are seeking newer, minimally invasive
procedures. "Non-surgical procedures are getting the most requests,"
says Dr. Trokel, "because people want to get out and go on their
interviews as quickly as possible."
While non-invasive procedures may be where some people are turning now, the American Society of Plastic Surgery
reminds patients that these are in fact medical procedures and that no
surgical procedure is risk-free. The risks of these types of surgeries
range from blood clots to a pulmonary embolism.
Not to mention, these procedures don't come cheap, especially for
people who are already out of work and looking for their next paycheck.
Face lifts can cost as much as $15,000 and liposuction can cost as much
as $3,000 per body area. Dr. Rizk also points out that anesthesia and
facility fees are usually a separate cost.
Despite the high cost, increasing numbers of baby boomers are seeking
noninvasive cosmetic procedures, and traditional plastic surgery is
getting left behind. A survey
conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons of cosmetic
surgery trends in 2008 shows a 9 percent decrease in surgical
procedures and a 5 percent increase in noninvasive procedures. The
survey also showed an overall increase in the number of patients
seeking cosmetic surgery. Minimally invasive procedures saw the largest
increase among patients ages 40-55 with those 55 and older a close
second. The data seem to be in line with what the doctors have noticed.
"There is definitely a move to noninvasive procedures because of
technology and lifestyle choices," Dr. Griffin explains. "We’re doing a
lot more laser skin treatments and botox, because recovery time is
minimal compared to traditional surgery."
It is always best to gather facts before committing to any surgical procedure, cosmetic or otherwise. Click here
for safety guidelines and information on what to discuss with your
doctor as well as tools to find ASPS accredited surgeons and facilities
in your area.
Plastic Surgery Disasters
by Karen Asp
Americans are flocking to cosmetic surgery. In 2007 alone, a whopping 12 million procedures were performed, up from the previous year. That begs one question, though: How dangerous are these surgeries? "Although many of these procedures are safe, complications are always possible, especially if you don't choose your doctor wisely and have a procedure in an unsafe setting," says Brent Moelleken, M.D., F.A.C.S., board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, CA. Take, for instance, the case of Priscilla Presley whose face looked distorted when she appeared on Dancing with the Stars. Later, it was reported that her doctor injected silicone into Presley's face as well as others at "injection parties," backing Moelleken's point that you should always seek a qualified doctor and never have procedures done at a spa or someone's house. Here, Moelleken reveals the dangers behind 10 of the most popular surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures as determined by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Plus, we've included a few celebrity cautionary tales.
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Botox
Although major problems are rare, potentially fatal allergic reactions could occur, which is why you need to have this done in a facility equipped to handle emergencies. Smaller complications include differences from in appearance from one side to another, lazy eye muscle, bruising as well as, headache and flu-like symptoms. Of course, if you remember the case of Irena Medavoy, wife of producer Mike Medavoy, she received a Botox injection to cure her migraine headaches and wound up battling muscle weakness, respiratory problems and a host of other side effects, according to CNN.com.
Breast Augmentation
Make sure your doctor understands what you want. When actress Tara Reid decided to get big Bs, her doctor gave her two Cs, she told 'Us Weekly'. After surgery, she had bumps that worsened, forcing her to undergo surgery to repair the damage. Unrealistic expectations are also a major problem with breast implants, as implants that are too large can stretch the skin, cause breasts to droop and make you look heavier. No matter what size you get, though, over time, scar tissue can form around the implants, which could lead to more surgery. You might also experience diminished sensation around the nipple region. And of course, if you expect implants to last, think again: You'll need the surgery redone every 10 to 15 years.
Tummy Tuck
Because of the risk for major complications, including anaesthetic problems (i.e. vomiting, stroke or allergic reaction) or even death in rare cases, like rapper Kanye West's mother, Donda West, who died after having a breast reduction, tummy tuck and liposuction, you must have this procedure in a surgical center or hospital where there's access to immediate emergency care. Irregularities, bad scarring or bleeding after the surgery can also happen. Life-threatening blood clots could even form anywhere from three to 11 days after surgery.
Nose Reshaping
The biggest problem with nasal surgery is the way it's done. There's a risk that doctors, especially if you're not going to one who's board certified in plastic surgery, may alter the shape of the nose too much, causing parts of the nose to collapse and breathing to become difficult. The most obvious example of this is Michael Jackson, whose nose looks to be so delicate that it could collapse at any time. Farah Fawcett is another celeb whose nose now looks deformed. Awfulplasticsurgery.com shows the star from 1998 to 2004, and the difference is startling.
Liposuction
Complication rates are surprisingly low with liposuction, but there is always the chance of blood clots forming, which is why you need to go to a setting designed to handle medical emergencies. Other problems may include differences in appearance from one side to another, irregularities like bumps or depressions and changes in skin color. Some people also have trouble recovering from liposuction with http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/chronic-pain
target="_blank">chronic pain being a problem for a few individuals.
Eyelid Surgery
The more aggressive the surgery, the more chance there will be problems, like the eyes not closing properly and becoming chronically dry and irritated or having a burning sensation. And although everybody usually has differences between eyes, you could also see a more pronounced difference between eyes if the surgery is done poorly.
Hyaluronic Acid
You may know this filler by the name Restalyne. It's commonly used to fill in small lines and wrinkles and is relatively safe compared to other fillers, like silicone. Yet you could still experience bruising, swelling and significant asymmetries.
Chemical Peel
Problems are typically minor and include things like leaving the skin with too much pigment, a loss of pigment or prolonged redness. If deeper chemical peels are performed, however, serious scarring can result.
Laser Hair Removal
This sounds like a relatively harmless procedure, but lasers can burn the skin and could cause scarring. There may also be a loss of pigment, especially in individuals with darker skin. Also, in some cases, when individuals have numbing cream put on larger areas of the body, the cream may be absorbed into the bloodstream and affect the heart, which is why you need to have this done in a medical setting.
