Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group

Brides-to-be are increasingly making cosmetic surgery and non-surgical procedures a part of their preparations, and Botox and laser hair removal are among the most popular treatments.

Cosmetic laser technician Kevin Shwenk believes it is because of the short downtime that hair removal and fillers are so popular, and while cosmetic surgeon Dr Wayne Perron agrees, he reports seeing a number of brides-to-be and husbands-to-be for surgical procedures.

Male chest reduction and liposuction are top of the list men’s requests he tells the Calgary Herald.

“They want to make sure they are able to take their shirt off and feel comfortable around the pool and beach,” says Dr Perron.

And while it is true that an engaged couple has a lot to think about in the run-up to the big day, achieving the perfect appearance seems to be taking precedence over finding caterers and booking the honeymoon.

Dr Perron says he sees often meets  engaged women a year before their wedding day to discuss liposuction that can help to sculpt their dream curves before they choose their wedding dress.

Bristol Palin, the daughter of Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, has confirmed rumours that she has undergone facial surgery.

The 20-year-old mother of one is said to have had jaw reconstruction surgery for “medical reasons” but sceptics think she has had a face lift in order to alter the shape of her face. ‘Before’ and ‘after’ photographs of the sexual abstinence activist appear to show a dramatically altered image, which sparked speculation that she has had cosmetic surgery.

The ‘after’ photograph was taken as Palin stepped onto the red carpet at the Candies Foundation 2011 benefit gala on May 3, and this was compared with an image of her at an event in September last year.

She decided to speak out on the subject and in an interview with US Weekly, said that the surgery definitely “improved the way I look”, but that the “surgery was necessary for medical reasons”. These reasons were not given and rumours therefore continue to circulate that she has had surgery for cosmetic reasons.

Quirky singer Paloma Faith has told online magazine MyDaily.co.uk that she had laser hair removal to get bikini-ready for the summer.

Talking to the magazine, Faith said: “I’ve had laser hair-removal treatment – it’s amazing. It’s so good. It’s permanent hair removal which is great.”

The 25-year-old songwriter also talked about how she stays in shape, and while she says she has got far from the perfect figure, she admitted that she is not prepared to do what it takes to get it! She talked about running just to keep from getting out of breath on stage.

“I go running, but that’s only because I get out of breath at gigs in-between songs if I don’t. As my career has grown, the stages have got bigger, and I’m noticing how unfit I am!” she said.

As the new face of the latest Tia Maria campaign, Faith is expanding her already eclectic career and she knows that image is a big part of her success. When asked whether she ever dresses down, she talked about using her image to keep a bit of privacy and admitted to therefore only dressing down in private.

Consumers should be “suspicious of extremely low-price Botox” from unregistered clinics and practitioners, says Dr Claudio L DeLorenzi, past president of the Canadian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

Speaking on Australian television show Dr Oz, Dr DeLorenzi illustrated the point by comparing injectable treatments to purses.

“Unlike fake purses, fake injectables can really hurt you, or worse”, he said.

“Ask questions, check credentials, and do your homework. Real specialists have nothing to hide and will welcome your questions”, he added.

The US equivalent of the Independent Health Advisory Service (IHAS) Treatments You Can Trust register, the Physicians Coalition for Injectable Safety, has released three essential things that patients should be aware of when considering cosmetic treatments.

They are: do your research, ask about the brand name, and do not accept treatment if you don’t feel completely confident in the practitioner. Their advice follows the increased use of imitation Botox and other injectable treatments in unregistered clinics.

Experts have advised that a combination of diet, exercise, exfoliation and laser hair removal could be the secret to great legs.

Since photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge and her sister Pippa Middleton wearing nothing but white bikinis have appeared in the press, many are wondering how they too can achieve perfect pins such as those shown off by the sisters.

Cosmetologist Apratim Goel says: “Waxing and threading are painful options for hair removal. In these processes, the hair grows back very fast. Shaving is another option. I would recommend laser as the best option, as it rids legs of in-growth. In just a few sessions, hair growth is reduced.”

While there is no doubt that good genes give a good head start when it comes to body shape and appearance, regular walking, running and swimming can help to firm up wobbly legs and create muscle definition and a nice shape. And a balanced diet and lots of water can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite, but it is laser hair removal treatment that can permanently reduce or remove unwanted leg hair and leave the skin feeling soft and looking blemish-free.

David Pyott, chief executive of Allergan Inc., the parent company of cosmetic treatment Botox, has predicted double-digit profit growth between now and 2016 thanks to high sales of both Botox and eye and urology medicines.

Mr Pyott believes that new uses for Botox could also be a big driver in the brand’s success going forward. The injectable treatment is currently used to combat fine lines and wrinkles, but it is increasingly being used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and migraines.

“Just think of the diversity of the different growth drivers both by product and geography”, Mr Pyott told the Reuters Health Summit in New York yesterday.

Sales of Botox have already risen by 10 per cent to a total of $365 million and are testament to the successful recovery from the global financial crises that hit the cosmetic surgery industry hard. Sales of Botox are expected to total $1.55 billion this year and industry analysts have predicted that the sales of Botox to treat migraines alone could eventually reach $800 million.

An iPhone app has been created that allows those considering breast implants to see what they would look like with bigger breasts.

The iAugment app has been created by Elizabeth A. Kinsley, a plastic surgeon from New Orleans, and is free to download, making it easier and quicker than ever for women to get an idea of the difference breast enlargement surgery could make. But experts warn that this should be used as a bit of fun and should not replace the need for thorough pre-surgery consultations with a qualified surgeon.

Users can take a picture of themselves – makers say pictures taken in a bra or bikini top work best – and virtually enhance their bust by up to three cup sizes.

Creator Dr Kinsley said: “Breast augmentation can be a complicated procedure with women asking questions like “what will they look like?” or “what size is right for me”.

“This is designed to give them the best idea possible of how they might look after surgery. You can show your friends, your boyfriend or your husband and say “what do you think?’” She added.

iAugment has already received more than 7,000 ratings since it was launched in Apple’s App Store.

South African-born actress and model Jessica Marais has revealed that she would not rule out the possibility of having cosmetic surgery in the future.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the 26-year-old blonde said that such decisions should be made carefully, particularly as an actress.

“Personally I think beauty is about how you feel and your image of yourself, and I think ‘each to their own’”, she said.

“I don’t really have definite thoughts on it, but, as an actress, I think it’s very important to be able to move your face. But I know a lot of older actresses who do dabble with small amounts of Botox and things like that, and still manage to have expression. I don’t think I can say, ‘I’ll never, ever do that’ because I’m not 40 yet”, she added.

The actress, who is an Australian passport holder and lives down under, is set to star in a Miami-based project and hopes the move will kick-start her acting career in America.

A woman who suffered from for 20 years with excess facial and body hair has praised laser hair removal technology for giving her a life back.

Claire Menzies, who is in her 40s, noticed a change in her appearance when she was 24 and came off the contraceptive pill because it did not agree with her. At the same time Menzies noticed the early signs of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which included bloating, erratic periods and weight gain. It wasn’t long before she started seeing small hairs growing on areas of the body such as her shoulders and back.

Over the next 20 years, Mrs Menzies saw a variety of medical experts, none of whom offered her a solution to the increasingly embarrassing problem, and she was told that the hair was the result of a hormone imbalance that she would just have to live with.

Until recently, Mrs Menzies had to follow a vigorous shaving routine.

“I was having to get up in the morning and shave and tweak and then by 5pm at night I could see them coming back again,” she says.

“I lost a lot of my confidence with that because everyone could see it.”

She admits that having laser hair removal treatment has allowed her to wear strappy tops and has boosted her confidence levels. She hopes to have the treatment on her stomach and chest in the future.

The new face of lingerie brand Wonderbra has revealed that she suffered from breast asymmetry and had cosmetic procedures to treat the condition.

Model Katie Green was chosen by the brand to front the campaign, following in the footsteps of the likes of Eva Herzigova and Dita Von Teese, because she didn’t conform to the size-zero trend and instead represented real women. But when the huge billboard was revealed, Miss Green felt guilt, not pride, because her figure was not what it seemed.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the 24-year-old said: “As a teenager, I had looked at images like these featuring models with perfect breasts and felt terribly self-conscious that I didn’t measure up.

“Back then I didn’t know the images were manipulated. Of course, in reality most models I know have funny moles or lumpy thighs that get airbrushed away. I understand why they retouched the photos, but in a way I felt as if I was now complicit in some kind of lie.”

Breast implants can be used to even out differently sized breasts, as can a procedure that takes fat from another area of the body (often the thighs and buttocks) using liposuction techniques, which is then injected into the breast area. Experts say that around 100ml of fat is needed to boost the breasts by a cup size.