Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Blog – Harley Medical Group

Cosmetic industry experts have predicted that the number of people choosing to undergo non-surgical procedures will continue to grow in 2012.

Figures show that demand for surgical and non-surgical treatments is rising in America, while the International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine expects to see a continual increase in non-invasive cosmetic procedures this year, according to a report by Healthcare Global.

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Cameron Diaz’s appearance at Paris Fashion Week has sparked rumours that the Hollywood actress has had cosmetic surgery.

Looking youthful in a simple cream lace dress and a short blonde bob, the star looked much younger than her 39 years and journalists were quick to speculate on how she had achieved this. In a report by online news site Radar, plastic surgeon Dr Anthony Youn said he thought she may have had Botox treatments or another procedure in order to defy the ageing process.

Dr Youn said: “There’s something about Cameron Diaz’s face that is very unusual.

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Botox and surgical procedures including tummy tucks are topping the list of many people’s wish lists this Christmas.

Surgeons in Orange County, America, have noted a rise in the number of patients opting for non-surgical treatments and surgical procedures in the run-up to Christmas. One such example is Tina Franklin, a resident in Orange County, who has put Botox on her Christmas list because she wants to start the New Year feeling ‘fresh’.

Ms Franklin’s older sister Nicole Tuzzolino obliged her sister’s request and paid $650 (£415) for the treatment.

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Dr Michael McCracken, who heads up a cosmetic surgery clinic in Colorado, has said that people in the 31 to 45 age group are behind an increase in demand for cosmetic procedures.

His views are backed up by the latest figures to be published by The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), which showed that Generation X – those aged between 31 and 45 – accounted for 43 per cent of cosmetic procedures last year.

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Courtney Thorne-Smith, star of hit US television comedy Two and a Half Men, has spoken openly about how she turned to Botox to help maintain a youthful appearance.

The 43-year-old actress, who is also known for her parts in Ally McBeal and Melrose Place, first turned to the non-surgical treatment 10 years ago when wrinkles on her forehead became apparent.

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Doctors in the US have reiterated the dangers of DIY Botox in a recent report.

News site MSNBC asked Dr Tracy Favreau, a dermatologist at Nova Southeastern University, about the risks  associated with Botox kits. In response, Dr Favreau warned of the “horrible results” that are “almost killing people”, and described buying kits online as “a catastrophe waiting to happen”.

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Scottish women will spend an average of £100,000 each on anti-ageing products to stay looking young into old age.

This is the conclusion of new research which found that those asked spent on average between £30 and £50 a month on anti-ageing creams and other cosmetic treatments to keep their skin looking young. Perhaps more surprisingly, the survey also revealed that women would spend £7,000 on counselling to help them come to terms with the prospect of growing old.

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More women than ever before are opting for laser treatments to reduce scars, according to Britain’s largest cosmetic surgery group.

The Harley Medical Group told the Scottish Daily Express that its clinics have seen a 67 per cent rise in the number of women opting for non-surgical cosmetic treatments to reduce the visibility of post-caesarian section scars and stretch marks.

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Epilating, depilatory creams, shaving, waxing…these hair removal methods – let’s call them over-the-counter techniques – are designed to temporarily remove hair from the face and body, and there’s no denying that they do just that. But is temporary good enough for everyone?

For some, it is. Some men enjoy the ritual of shaving their faces, and some women don’t mind shaving their underarms, legs, or bikini line each time they shower. For these people the trick is to remember the importance of preparation and aftercare.

Epilating and Waxing
Reduce the pain of this hair removal technique by soaking the area to be treated in warm water to open the pores and reduce resistance. Exfoliate the skin gently and pat dry. Once you have exfoliated the area, ensure that you use a good moisturiser to reduce the possibility of ingrown hairs.

Depilatory creams
Hair removal creams tend to incorporate moisturisers, but they still involve using chemicals on the skin, and washing the cream off using water, which is proven to dry out the skin. It is therefore advisable to moisturise thoroughly after using hair removal cream, to keep the skin feeling smooth and silky.

Shaving
Shaving offers hair removal and exfoliation in one, but because shaving is often a daily activity, it can cause trauma to the skin, including dryness, itchiness, and redness. Avoid these symptoms by opening up the pores using a warm flannel or having a warm bath or shower before shaving, and by moisturising thoroughly afterwards.

For those who feel that taming and controlling the appearance of unwanted facial and body hair is a full-time job, a more long-term solution is laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal
This method of hair removal offers men and women a way to permanently reduce or remove unwanted hair from just about any area of the face or body. The laser is passed over the area being treated, and this destroys the hairs and reduces the chances of them growing back. Laser hair removal is effective not only at removing all types of hair (including Vellus hair, or ‘peach fuzz’) but it also treats the painful and unsightly problem of ingrown hairs, which can occur in any area that is regularly targeted for hair removal. Most people require a course of treatments of laser hair removal, but afterwards – are left with smooth, soft, and hair-free skin.

The rise in demand for non-invasive cosmetic procedures has caused a spike in the number of requests for formal training in administering Botox, laser hair removal, microdermabrasions, and other non-surgical procedures.

Recent research carried out by The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM), has revealed a significant increase in the number of people registering for their Aesthetic Medicine Symposium training programme. This programme allows aesthetic practitioners to add procedures such as Botox and dermal fillers to their repertoire.

“Physicians are realising they not only need to offer Botox treatments to their patients, but also laser hair removal, IPL skin rejuvenation, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and physician-directed skin care to their healthcare businesses”, says Jeff Russell, executive director of the IAPAM.

All practitioners offering injectable cosmetic treatments should be registered with the International Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS). As more and more clinics are seeking to maximise growth by offering non-surgical procedures, consumers are advised to only visit those that are registered by the IHAS.