Plastic Surgery up in 2010

2009 may have seen a bit of a plunge in plastic surgery procedures, but 2010 saw a serious comeback in a number of different procedures, according to the newest stats published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Here are some of the most popular surgical procedures that rose in 2010:

• Breast augmentation procedures were up 2% in 2010 compared to 2009

• Breast lifts (Mastopexy) went up 3% in 2010 compared to 2009

• Breast reduction in men were up 6% in 2010 compared to the year before

• Buttocks lift (we’ve written about this) were up 5% in 2010

• Eyelid surgery (Blepharoplasty) was up 3% in 2010

Some of the most popular minimally-invasive procedures in 2010 were:

• Botox/Dysport treatments were up 12% in 2010 with over 5.3 million people having this procedure

• Intense Pulse Light treatment was up 7% in 2010

• Laser hair removal was up 5% in 2010

According to ASPS President, Michael McGuire, MD. “The current economic climate will likely not have an impact on long-term growth. The largest contributor to the increase in procedures over the past decade has been the advent of injectable wrinkle fighters and other minimally-invasive procedures.”

“It would seem, as innovations in cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increase, surgery will continue to decrease,” added Dr. McGuire. “However, as the economy rebounds, more patients and Boomers will continue to seek surgical body contouring procedures (liposuction, tummy tuck), eyelid surgery and breast augmentations. In fact, breast augmentations are up 36 percent since 2000. Silicone implants are now used in 50 percent of all breast augmentations.”

As more and more people continue to get both surgery and injections, the technology and healing time will continue to improve. I’m excited to see the evolution thus far and even more excited to see where we go in the future.

Questions about these procedures or any others? Please let me know!

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Madonna’s Aging Hands

There’s been a lot of press going around about Madonna’s aging hands over the past few years. Blogs have been written, photos have been posted, and assumptions have been made. Some doctors have said her “vigorous exercise routine” is partially to blame, mainly because strenuous exercise does cause increased blood flow, which in turn, causes veins to appear more prominent. But hang aging is a natural thing. The question turns now to, ‘what can be done about it?’

Working out is essential to our overall health. I would never advise anyone to not work out because it could cause hand aging. Madonna has taken her fitness level to the extreme, and she’s always been on stage. There is pressure for entertainers to be fit.

Another thing to consider is that the skin on our hands is just as sensitive as the skin on our face. It’s very thin, and some of the first signs of sun damage can be seen in these areas. Sunscreen is just as important on your hands as it is on every other part of the body. Also, genes are genes, and can’t be changed – some people will be more prone to hand and neck aging than others. We all have to work with what we’ve got.

The good news is, if you’re self-conscious about the way your hands look, you can change that. We’ve been using fillers in to rejuvenate hands for years and have seen great results. My favorite hand filler is Artefill because it lasts longer than any of the other fillers, though it’s more of an investment up front. The patients who have had this procedure done have loved it. Radiesse is a great alternative, less expensive and less durable.

Hand rejuvenation is an in-office procedure that takes a short amount of time. A small wheal of numbing medicine is raised on the back of the hand with a little needle, and the filler is injected painlessly into the area. It is then massaged into position, and voila! Done in 5 minutes. You can drive off and go back to what you were doing before you came in. There is numbness on the back of the hands and sometimes the fingers for a few hours.

A great combination for those with sun damage is to get laser treatments for those brown spots and freckles. I have a combo package going with my laser expert, Marian Urban. If you have any questions about this, always feel free to call my office in Santa Fe, at 505-988-8886.

Questions?

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Introducing the Obagi Skin Peel

People have been looking for alternatives to facelifts for years. Cosmetic and beauty products is an industry that topped over 45.4 BILLION in the U.S. alone last year, and that was in the midst of a serious recession. the same report shows that skin care will reportedly account for 60 percent of all cosmeceutical demand by 2010. I recently shared a blog post that showed that even cosmetic procedures were up this year. There is no doubt that people care about how they look and how they’re taking care of their skin. If you don’t believe, check out this article in Newsweek that shows exactly what the average beauty spending is ranging from tweens to adults.

Regardless of the numbers (I just wanted to make the point), I meet people who really care about their skin and face everyday. It’s not about vanity for many. It goes much deeper than that. But not everyone wants to undergo a facelift. Some don’t even need it. Instead, patients can seek other treatments in order to see results of a lighter, healthier complexion.

Marian Urban and I (she’s my medical aesthetician) have been looking into different options to serve the patients who come to me with this. We’re now incorporating the Obagi chemical skin peel. I’ve seen amazing results with this peel. Once the peel has been applied and removed (and you can apply in non-facial areas as well, such as the neck, arms…pretty much anywhere you have damaged skin), it typically heals between seven to ten days. The peel itself takes off layers of dead skin cells allowing for fresh ones to be seen. This improves the tone and clarity of the skin.

Because we’ve just introduced it into our office, we’re offering 20% off the procedure. Ask questions, talk about concerns, let me know your thoughts. And as always, feel free to call my office at 505.988.8886.

Also, we’re still giving away a free microdermabrasion session for anyone who comes in for IPL (laser hair removal treatment). It’s worth $750, so it’s definitely worth looking into.

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