| Cutting reality-teens and cosmetic surgery
Local doctors talk about the misconceptions about self-image that lead teens to seek cosmetic procedures and surgery, and the dangers of going under the knife too young.
By Melonie Magruder / Special to The Malibu TimesMore than 326,000 procedures, including rhinoplasty (reconstruction of the nose), otoplasty (pinning back of the ears), liposuction, breast augmentation, cheek and chin implants, male breast reduction and something called "buccal fat extraction" for perceived chubby cheeks, were performed in 2005- not on adults, but on American children aged 18 and younger, according to the American Society for Plastic Surgery."Cosmetic surgery and 'makeovers' for teens are something now featured on the Disney Channel," said Dr. Annie Thiel, a family therapist who has practiced in Malibu for more than 30 years.
New facelift procedure has less risk
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 A minimally invasive procedure can tone, tighten and plump aging skin with less risk and than a traditional facelift, says a U.S. dermatologist. With new understanding about the skin's aging process -- and in particular what actually makes a person look old -- dermatologists are now able to combine several minimally invasive procedures to give a final result that approaches and in some cases surpasses that of traditional facelift surgery, said Dr. Michael S. Kaminer of Yale University and Dartmouth College. From radiofrequency skin tightening to thread lifts that can lift and tighten the face without surgery, these procedures have proven to provide reliable, effective, noticeable and long-lasting improvements with little downtime.Kaminer presented the findings at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Silicone Breast Implants Are Unsafe, Despite FDA Approval, Opinion ...
Despite FDA's recent approval of silicone breast implants, there still are "considerable risks that women must consider before walking into the operating room," Edward Melmed, a Dallas-based plastic surgeon, and Judy Norsigian, executive director of Our Bodies Ourselves, write in a Boston Globe opinion piece (Melmed/Norsigian, Boston Globe, 2/2). FDA in November 2006 approved the use of silicone breast implants manufactured by Santa Barbara, Calif.-based Mentor and Irvine, Calif.-based Allergan for breast reconstruction and cosmetic breast augmentation, but the agency limited cosmetic use to women ages 22 and older. Most breast implants, which often are given to women who have undergone a mastectomy to treat breast cancer, contain saline solution. Silicone breast implants were banned in 1992 because of safety concerns.
Liposuction on the rise as many women shun exercise and dieting ...
The demand for cosmetic surgery is on the rise, with a worsening obesity epidemic feeding a desire for quick-fix weight loss.
According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the use of liposuction in the U.K. increased by 90 percent in 2006. The number of cosmetic surgeries in general rose by 31 percent, to almost 29,000.
The Harley Medical Group disputes these numbers, and claims that the total number of operations was actually more than 90,000.
Liposuction is a cosmetic surgical procedure in which fat is sucked out of certain portions of the body, such as the thighs or abdomen. "It is not desperately difficult," said Douglas McGeorge, president of BAAPS.
Mentor Expects 2007 Revenue Growth
Breast implant and liposuction product maker Mentor Corp. said Monday it expects revenue to increase between 13.7 percent and 17.4 percent during fiscal 2007. The outlook, for revenue between $305 million and $315 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expect revenue of $313.4 million. Mentor also said it expects a charge of between 15 cents and 17 cents per share due to an incentive-based equity expense. The company also expects to see $3 million to $4 million in costs for the post-approval conditions of its MemoryGel breast implants. Also on Monday, Mentor said it earned $13.6 million, or 29 cents per share, in the fiscal third quarter, compared with $12.7 million, or 26 cents per share, during the same period a year prior. Mentor's fiscal year ends March 31. Revenue for the quarter rose 19 percent to $75.3 million from $63.1 million.
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