The New Plastic
by Vicki Salemi
Thinking about having a typical nip and tuck procedure like a nose job or some lipo? That's so 2008. When it comes to trends in plastic surgery, Botox parties are the new black. As are toe-shortening procedures, vein removal on the hands and yes, calf and chin implants. We checked out the new plastic that also includes hymen reconstruction, eyelid surgery and more.
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Eyebrow Transplant
Have years of plucking left you with less brow than you bargained for? Hair restoration has made its way to the face, allowing for eyebrow transplants. As fuller, thicker brows become more in style, the demand for follicular unit transplantation is increasing in patients.
According to Bosley Hair Replacement patients may have thin or patchy brows due to over-plucking or may have almost no brow hair due to genetic factors. Hair is taken from a "donor area" at the back or sides of the scalp and artistically placed in the eyebrow area during an in-office procedure.
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Male breast reduction
Even with the economic downturn, people are still going under the knife to get rid of their physical imperfections, and men are no exception. According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the number of cosmetic surgeries performed on men has tripled from 2003 to 2008. Rounding out the list of top five male procedures is male breast reduction, which has had a 44 percent increase from 2003.
According to the University of Michigan, breast reduction is performed on men who have enlarged breasts, a condition called gynecomastia that occurs in 40 to 60 percent of men and is linked to obesity as well as the use of some drugs, including anabolic steroids, marijuana or alcohol. The procedure involves removing fat, skin and glandular tissue to create a more masculine-looking chest. Recovery time varies but usually takes no longer than one month.
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Labiaplasty
Once considered the kind of surgery women had but didn't talk about, labiaplasty (or labia rejuvenation) is quickly gaining popularity. "Nobody really talked about it before," says Fardad Forouzanpour of The Beverly Hills Cosmetic Surgical Group. "Now I'm getting hundreds of hits on my Web site every month for information on labiaplasties, and several dozen calls a week from women wanting consultations," he says. The surgery reduces the size of enlarged or asymmetrical labia for either aesthetic purposes or to prevent discomfort. Recovery time varies but usually takes no longer than four weeks.
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Toe shortening
This procedure involves removing a piece of skin and bone from the toe resulting in straightening and shortening. Dr. Elena Blanco, podiatrist, Hackensack University Medical Center explains, "Patients get this procedure done when they are having pain in shoes due to pressure or from an overlying corn or cannot fit into shoes or find it aesthetically unpleasing." The recovery is approximately four weeks to get back to comfortable shoes; however, she notes it can take one to two more months until the patient is comfortable in dress or high heeled shoes because of sensitivity and/or swelling.
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Eyelid surgery
If Asian women want their eyes to appear "more western," this hour-long procedure involves local anesthesia with one week of recovery time. Women seeking this surgery typically want to fill a void of the fold in their upper eyelid by having the plastic surgeon create an incision to rearrange the tissues.
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Hymen reconstruction
As people pursue plastic surgery in order to feel rejuvenated, feeling better is not limited to the face -- people are looking to feel youthful down there, too. The medical term for the procedure is hymenoplasty, a surgical restoration of the hymen. "I think this is on the rise because women are bothered by it or they want to feel rejuvenated." Women request the procedure to have the vaginal walls tightened, which can help to "rejuvenate" or "re-virginize" the vaginal area in an attempt to experience greater sexual satisfaction.
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Chin implants
"Silicone is used to enhance a chin," says Dr. Tehrani. "You may need to take a little off the nose and add it to the chin to create facial harmony." If someone has an asymmetrical chin, this surgery intends to add volume to a chin. The procedure itself takes one and a half to two hours with a one to two week recovery time.
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Vein and wrinkle removal on hands
Although plastic surgeons can do face and eyelifts to restore the fountain of youth, when it comes to the hands they're often giveaways as to the person's real age. The procedure leaves the hand a little painful and swollen the first few weeks after surgery. The first month of healing makes it uncomfortable to type, drive and do housework. Denver-based plastic surgeon Dr. Christine Rogers notes, "Wrinkles on the hands can also be treated with retinol and light treatments. Some of the more effective treatments involve injecting fillers as well. I prefer a patient's own fat as there is little chance of an allergic reaction and I think that it gives a more natural result."
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Botox parties
Forget Tupperware parties -- these days BotoxBotox parties come equipped with friends, conversation and yes multiple injections. According to Dr. Kevin Tehrani, founder and director of Aristrocrat Plastic Surgery and Chief of Plastic Surgery at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and Delivering Beauty, Botox parties typically occur after hours at a plastic surgeon's office. "People typically talk about the subject and then between myself and staff, multiple injections are given in that setting." Recovery time is only between three to four hours and results can last anywhere from three to six months.
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