30 Plastic Surgery Facts for 2014

1. The new Eclipse micropen, a device, used to treat a number of dermatological indications, looks for all the world like a mascara with a motor inside. The new must-have for handbags?
2. Coolsculpting, or cryolipolysis, is a relatively new procedure for freezing away fat without surgery. The technique relies on the fact that fat cells are more susceptible to freezing than muscle and other tissue. Patient waiting rooms are looking a lot different – more than half of the patients are men!
3. Muscle definition liposculpture – when diet and exercise aren’t enough to achieve the perfect six-pack. For patients with a low amount of fat above the muscles, surgeons can use liposuction to artfully sculpt the fat in the direction of muscle lines.
4. Breast augmentation today is faster and better than it was a few years ago. Instead of choosing between silicone and saline, women now have the option of selecting round or shaped and textured versus smooth implants.  –
5. Good news for mastectomy patients. Contoured breast implants sit in a collagen sling in the lower pole of the breast for a more aesthetically pleasing result. –
6. Breast reconstruction using your own tissue – A team of surgeons on Atlanta have developed a technique to construct new breasts from the patient’s own tissue following mastectomy, rather than relying on implants.
7. The top three plastic surgical procedures in 2013 were: facelift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck.
8. Xeomin is the new Botox. This new product is similar to BOTOX and Dysport. It is used in the same types of procedures but it has one significant difference. Unlike bacterially derived products it is not composed of protein so there is reduced potential for an allergic reaction.
9. ThermiRF, formerly called Symphony RF, is a novel plastic surgery treatment that uses radiofrequency to warm up he under surface of the skin to stimulate production and tightening of collagen.
10. Embrace advanced scar therapy is a new scar management therapy. Scars naturally appear after breast augmentation or tummy tuck. The Embrace scar therapy is a type of treatment that stabilizes the wound site, preventing the normal micro-forces within the tissue that lead to scar formation. –
11. Gee, thanks, Ma! A recent article in Nature magazine points out that the genes you inherit from your mother determine whether you will show wrinkles at an early age or keep your peaches and cream complexion well into your 40s and 50s. Cellular structures called mitochondria, known as the “power house” of the cell, have a lot to do with aging. Mitochondria have their own DNA, which is transferred down the maternal line.
12. Excess sugar in the diet is a main cause of premature aging. Metabolic end-products damage collagen and lead to loss of elasticity.
13. To protect your skin against ultraviolet radiation, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Dark green veggies, berries, pomegranates, pink and orange fruits and veg, as well as sunflower seeds and almonds are all rich in antioxidants. These help to neutralize free radicals, which are triggered by UV exposure.
14. To replace collagen and elastin for firmer, more resilient skin, eat more protein, copper, selenium and vitamin C. Look for turkey and halibut, beans, peas, nuts and plain, non-fat Greek yogurt.
15. After a tummy tuck, almost all patients are advised to wear a compression garment continuously for at least two weeks. This provides numerous benefits, such as quicker recovery, less swelling and less risk of infection, among others.
16. Is South Korea the new Hollywood? According to a survey by Trend Monitor, one in five women from Seoul have had at least one procedure.
17. Is China the new South Korea? Here, too, the cosmetic surgery business is booming. Some women pay vast amounts of money to have their bones broken to get longer legs. Businessmen and women are opting for nose jobs because, “a well-shaped nose commands respect.”
18. Children make up for 3% of plastic surgery procedures. Most of these are to performed correct a congenital deformity.
19. Scientists have worked out how to replicate collagen-producing cells from the foreskins of circumcised male neonates. Collagen is injected to treat fine lines and wrinkles.
20. Would you like fries with your Macrolane? Get a boob job during your lunch hour with Macrolane injections to plump up the breasts.
21. The first-ever randomized human trial using stem cell-enriched fat grafts has shown that the procedure a reliable, safe and effective approach for reconstructive surgery.
22. A new ultrasound technique called Ulthera is being used to promote new collagen formation and achieve significant lifting by focusing energy deep beneath the skin. Patients can expect to see results within 90 days with little or no recovery time.
23. Want to reduce the signs of aging without going under the knife? Try a liquid facelift, using Botox and Dysport with soft tissue fillers such as Radiesse and Juvederm.
24. Custom hardware and 3D models are helping surgeons plan reconstructive surgery with better predictability and more efficiently. Virtual surgical planning enables complex maxillofacial reconstruction with simultaneous multiple free flaps reliably and accurately.
25. Reconstructive surgery may one day be carried out using gene therapy techniques. Using gene therapy to grow specific tissue types may one day solve the problem of having enough tissue to replace large areas of burned skin.
26. The European Union has banned the sale of all cosmetics tested on animals. The ban applies to all 27 member countries and applies to all cosmetics regardless of their country of manufacture. The EU is urging all of its trading partners to follow suit.
27. Laser liposuction, a relatively non-invasive treatment, results in excellent body sculpting with tighter skin.
28. Never agree to plastic surgery if the doctor’s office is full of portraits by Picasso (Bumper Sticker).
29. PIP breast implants containing non-medical grade silicone do not place women at a higher risk of cancer and women do not have to have them removed. So says the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR).
30. Voice lift treatments can help repair weak or damaged voices in an increasingly ageing population that is working longer. The aim of the procedure is to bring vocal cords closer together more efficiently.