Plastic Surgery in today's World by Paul Green

These days, plastic surgery is often much maligned, and while the apparent levity with which it is sometimes undertaken and its almost epidemic-type spread can seem rather worrying, the benefits of plastic surgery can easily be overlooked. Choosing to have plastic surgery on any area of your body is likely to be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, and should not be undertaken lightly. Rhinoplasty, commonly referred to as a "nose job", is one of the most popular forms of plastic surgery.

Although plastic surgery has always had a place in the medical profession, its position as a popular procedure is relatively recent. Impressive sounding surgeon's credentials or a plastic surgery procedure that does not name the surgeon may be listed as pitfalls of plastic surgery.
If you are considering plastic surgery to give you the edge in the workplace, or if you just want to look and feel better, contact a plastic surgeon near you. Both plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery are designed to improve the appearance of a person. As is the case with any surgical procedure, including plastic surgery, there are specific risks of infection and/or complications.

One option to turn back the clock is plastic surgery; it has certainly become mainstream and affordable but surgery has inherent risks such as anesthesia complications, loss of sensation, risk of infection and less than stellar results sometimes occur. Other pitfalls of plastic surgery are those offering dramatic results with superficial treatments, minimal or non-invasive procedures, no risk or little risk and downtime as well as a variety of products, procedures or manipulations without mention of the doctor's qualification, board certification or his/her specialty.
Before rushing off to have plastic surgery, it is vital that you evaluate different surgeons to find the right choice for your treatment. It's important to know the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery, especially if you're planning on having your insurance company foot the bill for your procedure. This is why it is so important to choose the surgeon for your plastic surgery carefully.

Another important consideration you should carefully examine is your reason for plastic surgery. Last, but not least, cost is an important consideration when thinking about plastic surgery. The question of the location of your surgery probably never even occurred to you when you started thinking about having plastic surgery.

Regardless of whether or not you ultimately decide to have plastic surgery, it's very important to pick up all of the facts. Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed to correct or reduce the effects of congenital defects, accidental trauma injury, infections, tumors, and other health-related conditions. For many people who want to correct some of the signs of aging, but do not want an invasive plastic surgery, BOTOX® is a minimally invasive form of plastic surgery.
And while plastic surgery is not a bad thing in itself, it is still an invasive procedure as dangerous as any other type of surgery, and should not be undertaken lightly. Although Plastic Surgery goes as far back as Ancient Egypt the first physicians who actually placed a more scientific scope in the field of Plastic Surgery and, to be more precise, cosmetic surgery were two Sicilians Gustav and Antonio Branka .

If you have a little sense of adventure and wish to save thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery, Mexico might be the place for you. Although prices may cause a bit of sticker shock, plastic surgery costs have actually come down significantly over the last 15 years.
You can read more articles on Plastic Surgery at http://www.plasticsurgeondiaries.com

About the Author
An Author of many Talents.

Plastic Surgery for Men by Lloyd M. Krieger, MD

Plastic surgery has undergone a change lately. When I first started surgery training 15 years ago, I met only a few men who wanted to go under the knife. Plastic surgery was the domain of young women working on their bodies, and women over 35 refreshing their faces. Men picked up their wives and girlfriends after the procedures. They stayed away from the operating room themselves.

Not anymore. Last year more than 1,000,000 men had plastic surgery procedures, according the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery. The number is growing: I see more and more men every month. Sports Illustrated now sits with Vogue in the magazine rack at our California plastic surgery center.

Men are turning to plastic surgery to feel better, look younger, and help with their careers. But just as men are from Mars and women are from Venus in relationships, so too are they different when it comes to plastic surgery. With the wrong procedures, or the right procedures done the wrong way, men wind up looking less like they did when they were in college -- and more like their college-aged daughters.

Where women tend to undergo lifts, men steer more toward reshaping and recontouring. Nationally, the top three surgical procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose work), and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Men are going for Botox and skin treatments as well.
Even in-shape guys have love handles that tend to scream "flab." These areas usually can be eliminated with liposuction. Likewise, many men I see complain of fullness in the chest (and I am not talking pecs here) that diminishes their masculine look. Liposuction provides excellent results here too. This surgery can help bring back the abs men had in college.

Liposuction often provides desired outcomes that often cannot be achieved at the gym. Localized fat deposits that are hard to exercise away stand as inviting targets for liposuction. I had one patient nickname my liposuction machine his "mechanical personal trainer." Results like this are improved still more as men head back to the gym after their procedures. The procedure can be especially useful for the male chest as well.

Like rings in a tree trunk, lines reveal our age. In men, they tend to develop around the eyes and forehead. When treated early, Botox smooths fine lines on the face. By weakening tiny facial muscles, it stops the constant pulling that leads to lines on the overlying skin. Though the results only last between three and six months, the changes look very impressive.
When fine lines around the eyes graduate to true wrinkles, eyelid surgery turns back the clock. By removing excess skin and fat of either the upper or lower eyelid, men look refreshed without changing their overall appearance.

Men have different goals from women in seeking plastic surgery. And their distinct anatomy means that simply offering the same procedure to men as women will leave men dissatisfied with the results.

Plastic surgery is no longer for women only. Men have great results, just like women. But their bodies, goals, and temperaments are different. So the correct procedures, done in the right way, need to be selected to give men the outcomes they're looking for.

Lloyd M. Krieger is a plastic surgeon and the founder and medical director of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California. More information can be found at http://www.RodeoDrivePlasticSurgery.com and http://www.RDPS.com and http://www.RodeoDriveLiposuction.com

About the Author
Lloyd M. Krieger is a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California and the founder of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery.

What's Better Than Plastic Surgery? by Michael Kimmel, LCSW

Better than plastic surgery
Joni Mitchell has a song, "Happiness is the best facelift", but curiosity is an equally effective anti-aging device. If you want to stay youthful and energetic, consider the role of curiosity in your life. As kids, many of us were not encouraged to be curious: "Remember, curiosity killed the cat", my grandma told me when I asked too many questions. At the time (age 5) I shut up and obeyed her, but I wish I had replied with, "But Grandma, I'll bet that cat had a fabulous 9 lives before he died."

Curiosity in the world
Curiosity is enthusiasm about your own life and that of others. It's about being out there in the world, not all wrapped up in your neurotic little self. Curiosity is questioning, wondering, and pondering. Reading can be a great way to experience curiosity: you can travel the world and meet the most bizarre and amazing people without leaving your sofa. Travel is another way to express your curiosity about the world. When you go to different places, you leave your comfort zone behind: new people, places, things and customs keep you alert and pose questions like: "Why do they do that?" or "What would I be like if I grew up here?" Curiosity in the world keeps us mentally expanding and growing...and youthful!

Curiosity about yourself
Besides wondering about others and how they live, it's mentally healthy to wonder about yourself. When you ask yourself questions like:

 Who am I really?  Who am I today?  Who did I used to be?  Who do I want to be in 5, 10 or 15 years?

You literally create new neural patterns in your brain that keep you younger, smarter and healthier. While there is a fine line between self-curiosity and self-obsession (hello narcissists!), it's hard to grow without periodic spells of self-examination (even Madonna said, "an unexamined life is not worth living" in her song lyrics), You can use self-help books, prayer, meditation, psychotherapy and even shopping to explore your curiosity about yourself. Yes, shopping! For example, when you go shopping, how do you define what's really "You"? Do you look at something and think, "I like that shirt/lamp/whatever, but that's just not 'me'." This is shopping as a form of self-definition. By saying "yes" or "no" to things you could wear/buy/have, you are asking yourself, "Who am I and what do I think is right for me?" So the next time you go shopping, consciously enjoy your curiosity. Let yourself be amused and perhaps even surprised at how you define yourself.

Passion: curiosity's best friend
I define passion as strong feelings or energy directed towards someone or something. There is a common misconception about passion, that it must be dramatic and over-the-top for it to count. This is bullshit. Passion can be as subtle as watching a spider spin a web at your cubicle at work or noticing the color of the tomato plants on your apartment balcony. We are all passionate beings. You may not think you are, but, dear reader, get over yourself. You may not yet be aware of your passion or expressing it (yet), but it's there.

Often I hear my clients say, "Oh, I wish I felt passionate about something...my life is just so boring." Even a statement like: "I just HATE my life! Everything sucks!" is hardly passion-less. There is passion there: thwarted passion. Thwarted passion kills: a little bit at a time, we die. Don't let this happen to you. Instead, look for little things that bring you joy, that make your heart beat just a little faster. Look at the people in your life in whose presence you feel most alive. Look at the animals and plants in your life whose presence you delight in. These are all sources of passion. Your passions will be uniquely your own...no one may understand why you love gardening and circuit parties. This is your passion and it only needs to fulfill you. If you can share it with friends or partners, great. But so much of our inner passions aren't easily shared. They're our own little happy secrets.

Discover your own passions
Here's a little exercise to get in touch with some of your passions. Sit in a nice relaxing spot, turn off the cell phone, get a piece of paper and pen and then ask yourself these questions:
 What do I care about?  What do I find interesting?  What would I like to know more about?  What have I long wanted to do/try/learn?

These are not easy questions, but they will stimulate the right side of your brain...the creative, inspiring side. Take your time and think about them. You may want to answer them now and put them aside, then look at them tomorrow and add to your answers. Let yourself free associate...there are no wrong answers! Let these questions help you identify your passions, those parts of your life that you are curious about and want to explore more. When you follow your curiosity, your life gets more vivid and energized. Curiosity leads to passion: curiosity is the process of investigation and passion is the experience that comes from acting on what you discover. If your life feels a bit dull and boring, try the above exercises and have fun playing with your curiosity and identifying some of your passions. Above all: enjoy the process.

About the Author
Michael Kimmel,LCSW, is an openly-gay psychotherapist with a private practice in San Diego, CA. Michael writes the "Wellness" column for San Diego's BUZZ magazine Contact Michael at GayFriendlyTherapists.com

Tips in Selecting a Qualified Plastic Surgeon by Sara Goldstein

Plastic surgery is becoming increasingly common among more men and women each year. Selecting a qualified plastic surgeon should be done in the exact same manner a surgeon would handle medical instruments: very carefully.

"One of the worst things a cosmetic surgery patient can do is select a plastic surgeon who lacks the knowledge or experience to provide the results the patient is looking for," says Dr. Mack Sullivan, a board certified plastic surgeon from The Centre, P.C. in Elkhart, Indiana.
With advances in plastic surgery techniques and the increased demand for cosmetic surgery, it is important to know how to identify highly skilled and highly qualified plastic surgeons. The most important factor in the surgery's success is the surgeon you choose. Some suggestions for making an informed decision include:

§ Find references. Consult some friends who've had a comparable procedure. Evaluate their experience with the surgeon. Each patient is unique. Likewise, each surgery is unique and results cannot be generalized. For a medical opinion, ask your family physician to recommend one or more qualified plastic surgeons. Calling a respected hospital in your community could not only give you additional names, but assure you that even if the surgeon has their own surgical facility, he or she maintains privileges at that specific hospital.

§ Do some homework. After gathering a list of plastic surgeons, begin to check their credentials. The physicians recommended to you might all be plastic surgeons, but knowing which certifications are more rigorous for a surgeon to attain could narrow your selection to include names of only the highest qualified. Although a physician's academic schooling is important, in your research it is more important to look for the type of training they received. If the surgeon has completed an accredited residency program in plastic surgery, then the surgeon received two or three years of intensive training in the full spectrum of both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

§ Board certification. A plastic surgeon can obtain board certification from a number of medical societies. It is imperative to know which board certifying societies to look for. A board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is the most prestigious certification a plastic surgeon can achieve. To be eligible for certification by the ABPS, plastic surgeons not only need to graduate from an accredited medical school but complete at least five years of additional residency. To be certified, a physician must also practice plastic surgery for two years and pass comprehensive written and oral exams. Obtaining certification through some alternative boards may only require a monetary fee.

§ During the consultation. Bring any prewritten questions you may have regarding the procedure to your consultation. Discuss any pros or cons with the surgeon and prior successes and obstacles they experienced as a result of the surgery. Ask the doctor about his or her capabilities performing the procedure. Look through Befores and Afters with the surgeon during your consultation. Do not feel uncomfortable to verbally ask the surgeon of their qualifications and training as a plastic surgeon. You should get to know your plastic surgeon.

About the Author
The plastic surgeons at The Centre, P.C. are all board certified by the ABPS and maintain privileges at each hospital in the Michiana area. If you are interested in receiving more information on The Centre, P.C.'s plastic surgeons credentials and experience, contact The Centre, P.C. or schedule a complimentary cosmetic surgery consultation by calling (574) 296-9100.

Male Plastic Surgery: Specialized Techniques For Best Results by Lloyd Krieger

Plastic surgery has undergone a change lately. When I first started surgery training 15 years ago, I met only a few men who wanted to go under the knife. Plastic surgery was the domain of young women working on their bodies, and women over 35 refreshing their faces. Men picked up their wives and girlfriends after the procedures. They stayed away from the operating room themselves.

Not anymore. Last year more than 1,000,000 men had plastic surgery procedures, according the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery. The number is growing: I see more and more men every month. Sports Illustrated now sits with Vogue in the magazine rack at our California plastic surgery center.

Men are turning to plastic surgery to feel better, look younger, and help with their careers. But just as men are from Mars and women are from Venus in relationships, so too are they different when it comes to plastic surgery. With the wrong procedures, or the right procedures done the wrong way, men wind up looking less like they did when they were in college -- and more like their college-aged daughters.

Where women tend to undergo lifts, men steer more toward reshaping and recontouring. Nationally, the top three surgical procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose work), and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Men are going for Botox and skin treatments as well.
Even in-shape guys have love handles that tend to scream "flab." These areas usually can be eliminated with liposuction. Likewise, many men I see complain of fullness in the chest (and I am not talking pecs here) that diminishes their masculine look. Liposuction provides excellent results here too. This surgery can help bring back the abs men had in college.

Liposuction often provides desired outcomes that often cannot be achieved at the gym. Localized fat deposits that are hard to exercise away stand as inviting targets for liposuction. I had one patient nickname my liposuction machine his "mechanical personal trainer." Results like this are improved still more as men head back to the gym after their procedures. The procedure can be especially useful for the male chest as well.

Like rings in a tree trunk, lines reveal our age. In men, they tend to develop around the eyes and forehead. When treated early, Botox smooths fine lines on the face. By weakening tiny facial muscles, it stops the constant pulling that leads to lines on the overlying skin. Though the results only last between three and six months, the changes look very impressive.

When fine lines around the eyes graduate to true wrinkles, eyelid surgery turns back the clock. By removing excess skin and fat of either the upper or lower eyelid, men look refreshed without changing their overall appearance.

Men have different goals from women in seeking plastic surgery. And their distinct anatomy means that simply offering the same procedure to men as women will leave men dissatisfied with the results.

Plastic surgery is no longer for women only. Men have great results, just like women. But their bodies, goals, and temperaments are different. So the correct procedures, done in the right way, need to be selected to give men the outcomes they're looking for.

About the Author
Lloyd M. Krieger is a plastic surgeon and founder of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California. More information is available on California plastic surgery and plastic surgery in Los Angeles.

Men Flock to Plastic Surgery But Need Different Procedures and Techniques by Lloyd M. Krieger, MD

Plastic surgery has undergone a change lately. When I first started training 15 years ago, I met only a few men who wanted to go under the knife. Plastic surgery was the domain of young women working on their bodies, and women over 35 refreshing their faces. Men picked up their wives and girlfriends after the procedures. They stayed away from the operating room themselves.

Not anymore. Last year more than 1,000,000 men had plastic surgery procedures, according the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic surgery. The number is growing: I see more and more men every month. Sports Illustrated now sits with Vogue in our magazine rack.
Men are turning to plastic surgery to feel better, look younger, and help with their careers. But just as men are from Mars and women are from Venus in relationships, so too are they different when it comes to plastic surgery. With the wrong procedures, or the right procedures done the wrong way, men wind up looking less like they did when they were in college -- and more like their college-aged daughters.

Where women tend to undergo lifts, men steer more toward reshaping and recontouring. Nationally, the top three surgical procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose work), and blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery). Men are going for Botox and skin treatments as well.
Even in-shape guys have love handles that tend to scream "flab." These areas usually can be eliminated with liposuction. Likewise, many men I see complain of fullness in the chest (and I am not talking pecs here) that diminishes their masculine look. Liposuction provides excellent results here too. This surgery can help bring back the abs men had in college.

Liposuction often provides desired outcomes that often cannot be achieved at the gym. Localized fat deposits that are hard to exercise away stand as inviting targets for liposuction. I had one patient nickname my liposuction machine his "mechanical personal trainer." Results like this are improved still more as men head back to the gym after their procedures.

Like rings in a tree trunk, lines reveal our age. In men, they tend to develop around the eyes and forehead. When treated early, Botox smooths fine lines on the face. By weakening tiny facial muscles, it stops the constant pulling that leads to lines on the overlying skin. Though the results only last between three and six months, the changes look very impressive.

When fine lines around the eyes graduate to true wrinkles, eyelid surgery turns back the clock. By removing excess skin and fat of either the upper or lower eyelid, men look refreshed without changing their overall appearance.

Men have different goals from women in seeking plastic surgery. And their distinct anatomy means that simply offering the same procedure to men as women will leave men dissatisfied with the results.

As a plastic surgeon, I have seen that plastic surgery is no longer for women only. Men have great results, just like women. But their bodies, goals, and temperaments are different. So the correct procedures, done in the right way, need to be selected to give men the outcomes they're looking for.

About the Author
Lloyd M. Krieger is a plastic surgeon and founder of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, California. More information is available on this California plastic surgeon and plastic surgery in Los Angeles.