Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group

The number of men opting for male chest reduction surgery rose sharply during January, according to experts.

A report published by the Echo newspaper today suggests that more men than ever are enquiring about cosmetic surgery procedures to change the way they look and increase self-confidence. Treatments for gynaecomastia or ‘man boobs’ are said to be topping the list.

When interviewed, consultant plastic surgeon Dr Venkat Ramakrishnan said: “We feel it is important to remind people that having cosmetic surgery is a very serious, life-changing decision and one which should not be rushed or taken lightly.

“Women and men should not let their eagerness for change overpower their ability to make a responsible choice about their surgeon and hospital.”

A spokesperson for NHS South East Essex echoed Dr Ramakrishnan’s concerns, pointing out that gynaecomastia can be caused by liver abnormality, or breast or testicular cancer, and that these conditions should always be ruled out by a GP before cosmetic surgery is performed.

People who undergo cosmetic surgery abroad are confident but not always informed or aware of the potentially huge risks, according to a recent study published in The Guardian newspaper.

The research, carried out on the back of the tragic death of 20-year-old Claudia Aderotimi, asked a number of women why they had travelled abroad for cosmetic surgery. Many answered that they had simply searched online and chosen the cheapest option, saying that looking ‘fake’ shows you have “the balls to change your life”.

Alarmingly, the interviews revealed that many of the women saw surgical procedures simply as “beauty treatments”.

With this attitude towards major surgery such as liposuction and breast enlargement, it’s no wonder that more people do not thoroughly research the risks. All the women questioned said they had attended a consultation lasting on average half an hour, but they were not armed with the right questions to ask, instead relying on recommendations from friends who played down the associated risks.

Experts warn that patients should always select their clinic carefully, ensuring that they are regulated by the Care Quality Commission if based in the UK.

University graduates in Hong Kong are spending thousands of US dollars on cosmetic surgery procedures, in a bid to be first in line for the best jobs.

The South China Morning Post reported that the number of people looking to have cosmetic surgery had risen by more than 20 per cent in the last few years, and that many procedures are being funded by the parents of young jobseekers.

One surgical specialist reportedly said that patients as young as 14 were undergoing surgical procedures and that these were being paid for by parents.

Dr Daniel Lee Tin-Chak, a plastic surgeon based in Hong Kong, said: “Some young people go for the treatment before looking for jobs. They will grab the school holidays to do it, or have one right after graduation before going for job interviews.”

A 23-year-old graduate who was interviewed by the newspaper revealed that she had spent $5,133 on eyelid surgery to enlarge her eyes before she started her hunt for a job.

Competition for jobs in Hong Kong is fierce amongst those who have a degree as the number of people achieving high academic qualifications continues to rise.

Hollywood actress and A-list celebrity Jennifer Aniston has told reporters that she wouldn’t rule out the possibility of having cosmetic surgery in the future.

The star, who was made famous by long-running sitcom Friends, made the revelation in an interview with Hello! Magazine, admitting that she would never say never when it comes to having cosmetic surgery.

She said: “I will never, ever say ‘never’ about anything. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with making yourself feel better about how you look – although we’ve all seen how you can go too far with it.

“But for me, until that day has to happen, I’ll try every other way to make myself feel good first.”

Aniston has already had to deny rumours that she has had breast enlargement surgery, and knows that if she were ever to undergo procedures, that she would have to deal with further attention from the press.

In the month that she will turn 45, nineties supermodel Cindy Crawford has admitted to changing her mind about cosmetic surgery, announcing that her views are no longer quite as “high brow”.

The stunning mother of two spoke frankly in a recent interview, to be published in American fashion and lifestyle magazine Futureclaw.

“When I was 30 I might have said, ‘I’m going to age in a way that honours time and is completely natural’ but I’m no longer so high-brow about it”, said the star.

Crawford, who has admitted to trying Botox in the past, added: “I think I’m holding up pretty well”.

The interview will be published in the latest issue of the magazine, alongside photographs of Crawford recreating some of her most iconic poses. She is still a size 10 and is seen wearing a bodycon dress by designer Emilio Pucci and leopard print tights by Wolford.

Experts recommend that the winter months are the perfect time to have laser hair removal treatments if you’re looking to be hair-free in time for the summer.

Clinics offering laser hair removal will advise consumers on the optimum number of treatments on an individual basis, but on average, four to five sessions will usually achieve the desired results.

While this method of hair reduction and removal is quicker than electrolysis, the treatments must be spaced out over a number of weeks in order to allow the procedure to take effect. As such, planning to have laser hair removal during the winter months is the best idea if you want to be free from unwanted leg, underarm, bikini-line, back, or facial hair in time for the summer.

Advances in laser treatments mean that all types and colour of hair can now be treated effectively, including vellus hair (the short, fine hairs often found on the face) and grey hair.

The secret to looking your best in old age is to plan it all along, according to Gervaise Gerstner, dermatologist to the stars. 

This isn’t a cryptic glimpse into the world of Peter Pan, but advice from an expert that planning to undergo a programme of Botox, laser hair removal skin peels and other non-surgical cosmetic procedures, is the key to growing old gracefully.

Of course eating healthily, moderating your intake of alcohol, exercising regularly and quitting smoking will help you to look and feel younger, but dermal fillers and the like are a sure-fire way to keep your skin plumped up and wrinkle-free when used in the right way, at the right time.

Based on the requests she receives from women, Gerstner has put the ideal ‘face age’ at 36. In an interview with the Guardian online, she said: “Some people wake up at 42 and realise they need to return to 36, but the people who end up looking best have been planning for it all along”.

In America, 20 per cent of Botox procedures are carried out on patients aged under 34, but the problem comes when wrinkle treatments are used as preventative. Overdoing Botox can have the opposite of the desired effect, in other words it can make you look older, and Lindsay Lohan is the perfect example of this, a 24-year-old who looks, well, about 36.

The business of going abroad for cosmetic surgery procedures is now worth an estimated £2 billion a year, according to a report by The Sun.

According to the story, published online today, more than 60,000 Brits fly to clinics and hospitals around the world each year to find cheap cosmetic surgery. But experts warn that a decision to undergo serious and complex operations such as tummy tucks and liposuction should not be based solely on price.

Leading UK-based plastic surgeon Simon Withey said: “Flying out for an operation is far from ideal. You are asking for trouble”.

While the cut-price surgery offered in foreign countries may be tempting, consumers are warned that “post-operative complications can lead to misery and added costs”, and are advised to visit registered clinics in the UK and Ireland instead.

A British woman has died after undergoing buttock implants, carried out in a hotel room by suspected illegal surgeons.

Claudia Aderotimi, 20, travelled to Philadelphia, America, from her hometown of London in search of a beauty ideal, which involved increasing the fullness of her buttocks, with devastating consequences.

Aderotimi is just one of approximately 60,000 people who travel from Britain each year in search of cheap plastic surgery abroad, most unaware of the serious dangers that undergoing operations performed by surgeons who are often unregistered, or worse, unqualified, can pose.

In this tragic tale, the young woman paid $2,000 for buttock implants and the surgery was carried out not in a sanitised and fully-equipped environment, but in room 425 of a budget Hampton Inn hotel. She was then reportedly injected with liquid silicone, which is not licensed to be used in this form due to the risk of it leaking into the blood stream and causing potentially fatal blood clots.

This story highlights the importance of choosing reputable and fully registered clinics in the UK and Ireland, which only employ qualified and experienced plastic surgeons.

The number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures carried out in the United States in 2010 increased by 5 per cent, year-on-year.

Statistics compiled by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that 13.1 million people invested in some form of cosmetic surgery.

Breast augmentation was the most popular surgical procedure last year, with 296,000 operations carried out – an increase of 2 per cent on 2009. Nose reshaping and eyelid surgery were the second and third most popular procedures respectively.

According to the ASPS, a significant number of the surgical body contouring procedures carried out last year followed substantial weight loss by patients.

Dr Phillip Haeck, ASPS president, believes the rise in the number of procedures performed is linked to the improving US economy. He also highlighted the fact that more people are now investing in surgery to help them stay looking younger, in order to remain competitive in their working environment.

He said: “There’s some pent-up demand for cosmetic surgery procedures. People have waited a couple of years or more to have procedures, until their finances were at least somewhat back in order. But all indications are that more consumers are again willing to spend more to look better.”