Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group

New figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show that the number of people having laser hair removal treatment and Botox injections has risen sharply.

Of the 13.1 million procedures performed in 2010, 11.6 million were non-surgical and 91 per cent of them were carried out on female patients. The number of Botox injections administered in 2010 was up 584 per cent on the same figures from 2000, a reflection of the incredible advances made in the last decade. Laser hair removal treatments were also up by 27 per cent on figures from ten years ago.

Other procedures that became more popular last year were breast implants, up two per cent, breast uplifts, up nine per cent, and breast reduction, up 6 per cent. Dermal fillers also gained popularity.

The popularity of a number of procedures fell when compared with the last decade, including liposuction, face lift surgery, nose jobs and eyelid surgery.

Plastic surgeon Nigel Mercer has documented a week in his working life and the results were today published in The Daily Mail.

The five-day diary reveals just how varied the list of procedures can be for a typical cosmetic surgeon, and the very different reasons why people choose to undergo surgery.

According to the diary, Mercer performs breast reduction surgery on Monday, short-scar face lifts on Tuesday, cleft lip and palate reconstructions on Wednesday and Thursday, and on Friday he consults with men about nose jobs, eye bag surgery and liposuction to get rid of man boobs.

In among all of these surgical procedures, Mercer sees patients who are considering surgery, and in one revealing paragraph he writes: “In the afternoon, I see private patients in my consulting rooms in Bristol. One is a lady in her 50s who has travelled from the North of England. She’s had a hard life and is convinced a facelift will be the answer to her problems.

“She doesn’t look old for her age, but her suffering is in her eyes — and no surgery can take that away. So I spend an hour dissuading her from having an operation, suggesting non-surgical procedures such as Botox and fillers.”

The diary reveals the variety of surgery performed, but also emphasises how important it is for surgeons to have an ethical outlook, and for them to take the time to understand a patient’s reasons for wanting surgery.

An Australian mum who has been fighting to have breast reduction surgery paid for by the country’s public health system, has finally been placed on a hospital waiting list.

Amy Mudge, from Tweed Heads South in New South Wales, told her local newspaper that her G-cup breasts are causing her pain and leading to breathing difficulties.

She has been petitioning to have the operation paid for by the state, as it would cost her $10,000 to have the procedure carried out privately.

Speaking to the Tweed Daily News, Ms Mudge said: “The operation is the only way this can be fixed. It is the only way I will be able to breathe again.”

After starting a Facebook group to highlight her plight and having her campaign taken up by the local newspaper, Ms Tweed has now been placed on a hospital waiting list and is due to have the breast surgery carried out within months.

A spokeswoman for the Northern New South Wales Local Health Network said that “each case is considered according to the clinical need”.

Last night, Channel 4 aired the first episode of its controversial reality television show Beauty and the Beast: Ugly Face of Prejudice, in which a plastic surgeon advised that liposuction should not be used as a weight loss tool.

Beauty obsessive Yasmin Disney attended a consultation with cosmetic surgeon Mr Patrick Mallucci to discuss breast reduction surgery and liposuction on her inner thighs and stomach. But far from encouraging Disney to undergo the procedures, Mr Mallucci advised her to undertake a weight loss programme first.

Disney was accompanied to the consultation by Leo Gormley, a 60-year-old father of two who has a significant facial disfigurement caused by third degree burns. Gormley has undergone more than 120 reconstructive plastic surgery procedures to repair damage done to his face, hands, and legs, and campaigns against the idea of a beauty ideal.

At the start of the show, Gormley was anti-cosmetic surgery for beauty’s sake, but he soon realised that the psychological damage caused by the negative attention Disney received as a result of her J-cup breasts, was reason enough to consider breast reduction.

Bride-to-be Allyson Donovan has been announced as the winner of controversial American reality television show Bridalplasty.

Donovan, from Illinois, pipped fellow contestant and New Yorker Jenessa Wainwright to the post, after weeks of wedding-related challenges.

From the opening scenes of the final episode, Donovan was convinced that she would be victorious.

“This is real and quite frankly I am ready to get it on. Allyson – the Chicago born, beer drinking trucker bride is going to be named the winner!”

The winner was chosen by fellow contestants who had been voted off throughout the process. The finalists had to write a speech explaining why they should win, and former competitors then had to choose which of the brides’ weddings they would prefer to attend.

Donovan will now undergo all seven of the surgical procedures on her wish list, which includes liposuction of the chin, tummy tuck, laser skin resurfacing, and breast reduction. She will also win her dream wedding.

A marked rise in our own operating figures has shown that a growing number of women are turning to cosmetic surgery in order to reduce the size of their breasts.

While breast enlargement surgery has always proved popular, a growing number of women are choosing to undergo breast reduction surgery in order to appear slimmer and relieve the pain of back and neck disorders caused, in part, by overly large breasts. (more…)

Ultimate Big Brother contestants Ulrika Jonsson and Vanessa Feltz have been open about their feelings towards cosmetic surgery since re-entering the house, and on Monday night discussed their shared love of non surgical treatments to reduce the signs of ageing.

Asked by Brian Dowling whether she would go under the knife for cosmetic surgery, Vanessa admitted that she had a gastric band fitted, but did not reveal whether she had undergone any invasive plastic surgery.

(more…)

Kerry Katona has never made a secret of her love for cosmetic surgery, and the former Atomic Kitten singer recently revealed that she wants another boob job.

The 29-year-old star, who first rose to fame in the original line-up of the successful girl group before becoming a TV icon, previously had a breast lift in 2008 to correct her sagging bust as well as breast reduction to take her from GG cup down to a DD.

Now Kerry wants her big boobs back, and told the Daily Star on Sunday that she is planning a breast augmentation to take her back to a 30GG.

“I want bigger boobs – I’m thinking about having something done,” Kerry said.

“I definitely see myself having more plastic surgery and it’s my boobs I’d want to change. I wouldn’t rule out more operations.”

After a turbulent year in 2008, that saw the star dropping four dress sizes and six stone in nine months, following liposuction and a strict diet, Kerry said she is more comfortable in her body and will choose cosmetic surgery more carefully in the future.

Speaking after her first breast surgery, Kerry said: “After four kids I need it. When I take my bra off my nipples are by my feet.

“I feel sexier, my confidence has come back and everyone keeps telling me how amazing I look, which is really cool.”

Drew Barrymore has revealed that she is not afraid of ageing, but also says she won’t rule out having cosmetic surgery if she feels she needs it in the future. (more…)

Britain’s most controversial artist, Tracey Emin, recently unveiled her latest work – her new 34DD bust, following long-awaited breast reduction surgery.

The 46-year-old artist, who is best known for displaying her unmade bed as an art exhibition, told the Daily Mail she turned to cosmetic surgery after her breasts continued to grow throughout her life, causing her headaches as well as pain to her back and neck. (more…)