Did you know that liposuction, or just lipo, is one of the most popular aesthetic plastic surgery procedures performed on women and men in the United States? According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), almost half a million people underwent lipo in 2007. Many people turn to this procedure because dieting and exercise have not given them the results they are looking for. Lipo removes fatty tissue from areas of the body that don’t respond to diet and exercise.

Lipo is a contouring procedure and is not to be considered a weight loss method. It is best for people who are at a normal weight and who have skin that is still firm and elastic, yet simply want to remove fat deposits in certain areas. Ideal candidates should have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of the procedure. They should also be physically healthy and mentally stable.

Consult a plastic surgeon about the risks and complications before you make any decisions regarding having this reconstructive surgery done. You should evaluate your reasons for wanting to enhance your looks, since plastic surgery is not for everyone. The surgeon you choose should discuss any questions or concerns you may have and give you an idea of the benefits and risks of having liposuction.

There are four lipo techniques that have been developed to help create a slimmer and more proportioned body contour. They are tumescent, ultra-sonic assisted, super-wet and power-assisted lipo.

The tumescent technique involves injecting a large amount of anesthetic liquid into areas of excess fat before lipo is performed. This liquid contracts blood vessels and causes fat to become swollen. The expanded fat pockets let the surgeon’s tool travel smoothly under the skin to remove the fat.

During the ultra-sonic assisted procedure, ultrasound waves break up the fat before it is removed. This method uses a combination of vibration energy and heat energy on fat. It is commonly used when a secondary procedure is needed and targets fibrous areas of the body, such as the upper back or male breasts.

The super wet method is similar to the tumescent technique, where fluid is injected into the tissues prior to it being suctioned away. The only difference is that less fluid is used.

Power-assisted lipo is the latest advance in fat removal. During this procedure, a wand-type instrument is used to quickly break up fatty tissue. It loosens up the fat cells so that they can be gently suctioned away without causing trauma to the surrounding tissues.

As with all plastic surgery procedures, the risks and complications associated with lipo vary, depending on the method used. Generally, the most common risks include blood clot formations on the leg, excess blood loss, bleeding, infection, reaction to anesthesia, asymmetry, hyper-pigmentation, swelling, necrosis and numbness.

Most people feel some discomfort after the liposuction procedure, but are able to return to work within three or four days. As the body heals, usually within four to six weeks, the results of the procedure will emerge. Generally, you will feel more confident in your appearance and enjoy your new look once the healing process is complete. Just remember to do your research and become well informed before undertaking any type of cosmetic plastic surgery.

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Confidence gives you an added bounce to your step. When you look good, you feel good about yourself and who doesn’t want to feel good about how they look? If you are unhappy with your nose or your eyelids droop a bit, then your confidence level may be low. With the help of facial plastic surgery, it is possible to get that confidence back. The most common type of facial cosmetic surgery is the nose job. Over 300,000 men and women underwent rhinoplasty in 2008 alone.

As with any type of facial plastic surgery procedure, the best candidates for nose surgery are those who want a general improvement in their appearance, not perfection. A person should be in good physical and mental health, and have realistic expectations before undertaking any type of aesthetic plastic surgery. It is important to remember that most surgeons won’t perform surgery of the nose on a patient until they have finished growing. This is typically at age 17 or older for males and 16 or older for females.

Reconstructive surgery of the nose usually takes around one to two hours and is performed under a general or local anesthetic. You may have it at a hospital or at an outpatient surgical center. Nose surgery can be performed one of two ways; either through an open or closed technique. It will depend on your condition and what your surgeon prefers.

The open technique can give the good results if the plastic surgeon performing the procedure has good visibility of the internal structure of the nose. Small surgical incisions are made inside the nostrils and across the vertical strip of tissue that separates the nostrils.

The closed technique can be completed almost without any scarring. It is favored by many doctors because it doesn’t require an external incision. If the closed technique is performed, the healing time is relatively quick, though swelling can be more prominent and may take longer to go away than with the open technique.

The possible risks and complications are typically minor with surgery of the nose, though all plastic surgery procedures carry side effects and risks. These can include numbness, infection, a negative reaction to anesthesia, excessive nose bleeding, the need for a another procedure, swelling, bruising and delays in healing.

Regardless of which surgical technique is used, after it is done, a splint is applied and the nose is packed lightly with surgical gauze. Changing the gauze bandages a few times each day during the first few days following cosmetic plastic surgery is important because you may have some minor bleeding. Within a few days, most patients are able to resume light activity, but do keep in mind that it could take several weeks before the nose is completely healed.

Facial plastic surgery provides permanent results for people who are unhappy with their appearance. It could, however, take over a year before accurate results can be determined because healing is typically a slow process. The healing of nasal tissues, increased or decreased blood flow, skin thickness and other factors determine the length of the process. Remember that the most important choice you make is in choosing the surgeon to perform your surgery.

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What prompts tens of thousands of men and women to undergo cosmetic plastic surgery every year? Is it the visible signs of aging seen on faces and necks? The effects of gravity, years of stress and sun damage can be seen in our faces as we age. Although it is impossible to defy getting older, men and women who are seeking improvement can elect to take matters into their own hands and have facial plastic surgery. Most commonly known as a face lift, it can remove excess fat, tighten underlying muscles and re-drape the skin.

Without a doubt, patients with realistic expectations and clear goals in mind are the best candidates for any type of cosmetic surgery, and especially a face lift. People should know that while it is true that a face lift can make you look years younger, it will not restore you to the health and vitality of your younger days.

Your number one goal is to find the most experienced surgeon for the facial plastic surgery. He or she is the deciding factor in the success or failure of a face lift. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons can help you search for the doctor that fits you best at their website at www.plasticsurgery.org. It is as simple as browsing through their database to find a qualified doctor in your area.

A traditional face lift can take several hours or longer to perform, depending on how many procedures you have at the same time. With this type of face lift, the surgeon will separate the skin from the fat and muscle below, and then go onto trim or suction fat from around the neck and chin to improve the contours of those areas. Your surgeon will then tighten the underlying membrane and muscle and then pull back the skin and remove anything that is in excess. Your surgeon will then stitch the layers of tissue securely, closing the incisions.

Smoking is absolutely forbidden when undergoing any type of aesthetic plastic surgery or reconstructive surgery. It is imperative that patients who smoke quit at least two weeks before surgery, and not smoke for at least two weeks afterward. Nicotine inhibits the healing process by restricting blood vessels in the face and can have adverse consequences.

So what should you expect after the procedure? The dressings should remain in place for the first 48 to 72 hours. Generally, any drains will be removed when the dressing is changed for the first time. Relaxation is extremely important following a face lift. You should rest or sleep the first two days after your surgery. It is important for the head to remain elevated and immobile in order to keep swelling to a minimum. Most people return to work in about two to three weeks after their plastic surgery procedures.

If you are considering facial plastic surgery, then you may want to remember that time does not stand still, and you will continue to age after the procedure. It is hard to determine how long the results of the initial face lift will last. While some people are happy with a single face lift throughout their lifetime, others may decide that a second procedure, five to ten years down the road, is in order.

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Look around and you will see that celebrity plastic surgery is everywhere. Enhanced breasts, nose surgery, eyelid surgery and liposuction are the norm in Hollywood. From Lisa Rinna’s over-inflated lips to Jennifer Aniston’s cute little nose, the visibility of celebrities inspires the average Joe or Jane to want to emulate their look. Yet at what cost? While living in the spotlight can provide opportunities and advantages, the darker side of living life on the red carpet is that celebrities are under constant scrutiny and are pressured to maintain a youthful appearance.

Some celebrities continue to go beyond reason in having plastic surgery procedures. Is it because they are unwisely shooting for perfection or for immortality? That is a hopeless chase to pursue, and regardless of whether you are famous or otherwise, the same rule of life governs us all; we are all aging. Celebrity plastic surgery showcases the skewed realities of what youth and vigor really mean. The enticing lure of prestige drives average citizens and doctors to do things they might not normally do.

Media personalities reach their level of success and fame by being attractive, charming and smart. With their money and their prestige, they can be very manipulative and convincing in order to get what they want. That is why it is hard for cosmetic surgeons to say no to a celebrity. Surgeons want to say yes; they want to satisfy the important person that is making a request from them.

Just as celebrities stand before the public to be emulated, like the rest of us, they too are not immune from making bad plastic surgery decisions. They have no special wisdom that comes along with their fame. Just like the average citizen, they may not do enough research to find the most talented cosmetic surgeon for their particular needs. Sometimes they rely on a manager or hired hand to do the search for them. Away from the studio, they have no super powers or divine knowledge that can lead them to the right plastic surgeon. Just like the rest of us, they need to do their homework.

Injections that paralyze and plump aging faces do not always give the desired results. Just looking around Hollywood, it is obvious that having too much celebrity plastic surgery will make them begin to look freakishly taut. That is not synonymous with beauty and youth on a face when it is attached to an older woman’s body. In this day and age, wrinkles, sagging breasts, age spots, forehead furrows and baggy eyelids have become optional. Got laugh lines? Get Restylane injections. Got a sagging neck? Get it tightened and tucked. Got crow’s feet? Paralyze them with Botox.

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