More men having tummy tucks to get rid of their gut.

A recent report published by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has revealed that more and more men are choosing to have tummy-tucks to get rid of their post beer guts after extensive weight loss. According to the report, abdominoplasty’s in men have increased over 15% from last year alone indicating a new trend in male cosmetic surgery.

Men typically don’t fret over their body image, however, a beer gut is synonymous with male unattractiveness. Unfortunately, a large flabby gut is not easily remedied after massive weight loss, so men are turning to cosmetic surgery to help them achieve a new body image.

Male abdominoplasty’s are performed very much the same way as they are on a woman. A section of excess skin and fat is removed from the lower abdomen and then the skin is stitched up. Typically the surgeon will make sure the incision is hidden under the belt-line usually above the pubic area. The surgeon will also carefully create a new belly-button. Often times the surgeon will stitch the underlying muscles that have become extended over time helping to firm up the stomach.

Abdominoplasty’s should never be considered as a weight loss option. However, where there is excessive drooping skin, that hangs profusely over the belt line, a tummy-tuck can surely make the difference.

Learn more about Abdominoplasty Tummy Tucks.

Dietary supplement Pycnogenol, has been shown to help reduce wrinkles.

Pycnogenol represents a natural combination of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and other organic acids. It has been researched extensively for over 40 years. Pycnogenol is represented in more than 700 dietary supplements, cosmetic products and foods worldwide.

Pycnogenol is composed of four basic properties, including:

• A very powerful antioxidant
• Acts as a natural anti-inflammatory
• Binds to collagen and elastin
• Helps in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which provides blood vessels the ability to dilate.

Recent studies of Pycnogenol has found it to improve skin hydration and elacticity in women. This study was published recently in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology.

A test study consisted of over 20 women, spanning ages of 55-68 years, were given a set amount of Pycnogenol over a period of 12 weeks. The studies concluded that after 12 weeks of use Pycnogenol:

• Increased hyaluronic acid in the test subjects skin by 44%
• Increased skin elasticity by 25 percent
• Increased skin hydration by 8 percent
• Reduced skin dryness by 21 percent
• Decreased skin fatigue considerably
• Reduced skin wrinkles by 3 percent
• Increased skin smoothness by 6 percent

It is interesting to note that Pycnogenol is the only known natural supplement that stimulates hyaluronic acid production in humans. The molecular science behind Pycnogenol clearly shows the benefits of using it as a functional dietary supplement to reverse the affects of aging.

Robotic Surgeons Becoming a Reality

Recent advancements in scientific research have made robot assisted surgery a reality. The medical bot of Star Wars science fiction may not be too far off in the distant future. The company responsible for this technology, Intuitive Surgical, INC®., has developed a very sophisticated surgical robotic system that allows a surgeon to perform highly detailed – precision surgery using their proprietary da Vinci System.

The da Vinci surgical process is one of the most sophisticated minimally invasive surgery systems available on the market today. It allows a surgeon unparalleled control using less incisions and reducing surgical trauma as well as recovery to the patient. More and more hospitals are including da Vinci systems into their program as surgical robotics become the future of surgery.

Currently there are close to 1,500 da Vinci systems already in use world-wide. The da Vinci System is a surgical robotic system designed to perform complex procedures of all kinds through a series of very small incisions, some of which are only 1 to 2 cm long. Currently there have been over tens of thousands of procedures performed by the da Vinci system. It has been used in all forms of minimally invasive and micro surgery of all kinds, including, general, urologic, gynecologic, transoral, cardiac, thoracoscopic, and thoracoscopically-assisted cardiac procedures.

Learn more about the da Vinci Surgical System from this video, by it’s creators, Intuitive Surgical®.

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Be aware of where your breast implants are manufactured

The recent discovery of manufacturing defects, in specific silicone gel implants from the French company Poly Implant Prosethese (PIP), has the entire French government on end.

Clinical evidence has shown that PIP used unapproved silicon gel that may be causing abnormally high implant rupture rates. Records indicate that some tens of thousands of women in more than 65 countries had received implants produced by PIP, mainly in South America and Western Europe. Documents indicate that PIP had exported nearly 84% of it’s annual production of breast implants oversees.

France’s ministry of health is advising more than 30,000 women with these types of implants to have them removed, indicating their lack of trust in the product altogether. Those women who refuse to have their breast implants removed or replaced are subject to mandatory breast scans every six months.

For women who have received breast implants in North America, most can be confident that their breast implants are safe since only certain implant manufactures are allowed for use by the FDA for aesthetic and reconstructive purposes since 2000. These include Mentor brand breast implants and Allergan brand breast implants.

Breast augmentation is a personal choice and often weighed by many factors which may include cost. With inexpensive flights to South America or Europe the temptation to save money on these procedures are outweighing the risks. Unfortunately, for those women who have these defective implants, it will require more surgery and years of post follow-up monitoring as a result of wanting to save a few dollars.

Learn more about how the French government plans to deal with the problem of defective silicone breast implants from this news report from CNN.

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Don't Risk Do It Yourself Plastic Surgery

During the recent economic downturn there are some who have resorted to performing Do-It-Yourself Plastic Surgery on themselves to try to save money. As incredibly idiotic as this may sound, some people completely ignore all sensibility and self-administer procedures and products they have purchased illegally over the internet and even from their local hardware store. These have included silicone and other unbranded injectable fillers, and recently concrete! The authenticity, efficacy and safety of these products can not be assured.

In many cases the results of self-administering have been catastrophic for the end user, resulting in permanent disfigurement, infection, pulmonary embolism, permanent blindness, and in some cases death.

The ease at which people can purchase these products over the internet is staggering. According to one statistic, there are nearly 2000 websites that will sell you prescription drugs, from Do It Yourself dermal fillers, Botox Cosmetic and medical grade chemical peel kits.

According to one plastic surgeon,

“I went to school for four years, and then seven years just to get the surgical fundamentals. To assume someone could perform a procedure in their own home is absurd.”

The only way to ensure safe and satisfactory results is to seek out a qualified medical care provider who has been trained in the procedure you desire.

To learn more about people performing Do-It-Yourself Plastic Surgery, watch this video from ABC’s 20/20.

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Higher percentage of rhinoplasty patients suffering from Body Dismorphic Disorder

According to a recent report published by the journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, found that nearly one third of a study group of over 250 rhinoplasty patients had acute symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. The study group was conducted in Belgum.

Body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD for short, is a mental illness where a person excessively worries over their appearance that can interfere with their daily life.

BDD symptoms can include being extremely self-conscious, constant self-examination of themselves in the mirror, frequent grooming and purposely avoiding social engagements to avoid being seen.

The study shows that the widespread symptoms of BBD in rhinoplasty patients shows that the symptoms clearly have a negative effect on a person’s daily routines.

Learn more about Body Dysmorphic Disorder and people seeking rhinoplasty surgery in this video from ABC News.

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Trick Your Lines, Treat Your Lashes

Plastic Surgery Seattle, is pleased to be offering the following special:

Buy our bundled offer of 3 Kits of Latisse Eyelash Enhancement Therapy with the Vivite’ Vibrance Therapy lotion for $350.00, regularly priced $480 and choose any of the following:

• 50% off Vivite’ Body Firming Lotion
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• Vivite’ Travel Packs
• 1 Month Supply Latisse

While supplies last. Limited Quantities – Book Early – Must Mention Offer

*Earn Brillian Distinction Points

Call (206) 320-2270 to schedule your appointment today.

FREE Breast Implants - Winning the Plastic Surgery Lottery

For many women, the idea of having plastic surgery is only a dream. They may often want to have surgery, which can include a breast augmentation, tummy-tuck abdominoplasty, or liposuction, but may be reluctant to spend their own money to have it done or just can’t afford it. The cost for plastic surgery can often be beyond their means to do so. However, new marketing promotions are capitalizing on this desire for plastic surgery procedures by offering FREE Breast implants, and more recently Trump Casino is offering a chance to win $25 thousand dollars worth of plastic surgery procedures.

There has been some debate and concern, that both marketing programs could set a bad precedent by pairing potentially compulsive behaviors, gambling and possible sexual vices. However, these promotions have sparked considerable attention for renewed interest in obtaining legitimate plastic surgery from a reputable physician.

Learn more about FREE Breast Implants in this news clip from CBS.

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Susan G. Komen 3-Day Cure

Plastic Surgery Seattle is proud to have sponsored the Valley Girls & Guys Team who had managed to raise over $322,000 this year for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day walk for the Cure.

The generosity of their supporters made a huge difference this year. Thank you.

FDA looking at more silicone breast implant follow-up studies

A recent warning issued by the FDA to the two major breast implant manufactures in North America, Mentor and Allergan, warns that they have not thoroughly followed up on the thousands and thousands of women who received silicone breast implants as a condition of approval for use since 2006.

Both manufactures have admitted that they have lost track of a number of women after implantation due the migratory conditions and discontinuous follow-up practices with the surgeon who performed the surgery.

Both companies have stressed the importance of follow-up to the patient and the physician. However, it remains a big challenge.

Letters sent by the FDA to physicians and patients urging them to regularly meet for the post-approval studies has had little impact with the follow up rate. According to one researcher, it’s typically not a practice for a woman who underwent breast augmentation surgery to visit with her plastic surgeon annually unless there is some form of complication.

According to Dr. Susan Wood, with George Washington University’s School of Public Health and Health Services,

“For more than 20 years, FDA has been asking manufacturers to conduct and report rigorous studies on the safety and effectiveness of breast implants. This committee is now very aware of the limitations of the current post-approval studies.”

According to the American Society of Aesthetics Plastic Surgery, more than 300,000 women had received breast augmentations in 2010 alone. This is more than any other cosmetic surgery procedure. Of those, 62% were performed with silicone breast implants.

Both Mentor and Allergan have comprehensive warranties with their signature line of silicone breast implants which can include free replacement, in case of rupture or deflation, as well as assistance in surgical cost for revision surgery.

Other suggestions for post-followup studying is to utilize a long-term post-market system utilizing current published literature and existing databases. These sources are believed to provide the FDA with data that can be flagged for potential medical conditions for women who have breast implants. This would reduce any need for a more rigorous large-scale epidemiological study. If any issues are identified the manufactures would work with the FDA to define and implement a secondary targeted study.

However, before the FDA makes any final decision, or recommendations, they plan on engaging professional groups, consumer groups and patients.