Unless you’re getting reconstructive surgery to treat an injury or illness, it’s unlikely that your insurance will cover even a small portion of your procedure.

“Consumers should be aware that cosmetic surgery is not covered under insurance, so all of the expenses must be paid out of pocket,” says Kevin Kautzmann, a certified financial planner.

Fortunately, when you can’t technically pay out of pocket, there are options, as explained in this popular article by Fox News Business.

If you’re willing to shop around, a credit card can end up being a savvy choice. Health care or medical credit cards, which can only be used to cover medical expenses, have seen a recent surge in popularity for people getting plastic surgery.

Some cards have 0% interest promotions, as well as reasonable interest rates and payment plans. They also give lenders “a sense of control if they tend to overspend,” because they are limited to medical purchases, says Billy DeFrance, an El Paso financial planner.

You could also consider taking out a personal loan to cover the cost of plastic surgery. Bank loans often have fixed interest rates as well as fixed repayment periods. This can add up to less interest, and build your credit at the same time.

Though most plastic surgeons require full payment before the day of surgery, it doesn’t hurt to ask if you can setup a payment plan. In some cases, the practice can provide you with repayment plans that offer more flexibility than other payment methods.

If all else fails, saving up the cash for your procedure is the smartest choice. “It may not be sexy, but the best answer for most people is to save each month until you have the bill covered—then get the procedure done,” says financial adviser Michael Masiello.

Photo credit: Personal finance by Alan Cleaver, on Flickr

It’s often said that a face lift can make you look 10-12 years younger, but how long do these results last?

Members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery gathered last weekend to discuss facial rejuvenation techniques and their longevity.

A panel discussion called “How Long Will My Facelift Last, Doctor?” investigated factors which affect longevity of a face lift, enabling the participants to educate their patients about what to expect.

Panelists included Chris Inglefield, MD, Mark L. Jewell, MD, Brian M. Kinney, MD, and W. Grant Stevens, MD. The discussion was moderated by Leo R. McCafferty, MD.

Topics included:

• Which face lift techniques achieve enduring results?
• Do anatomic factors play a role in face lift longevity?
• How do secondary face lift procedures compare to primary ones?

“Plastic surgeons would like to offer rejuvenation procedures that last forever,” said Dr. Grotting of Birmingham, “and most patients would like this as well! This panel will give us an opportunity to try to reach some consensus on what we should be telling patients about how long they can expect to benefit from the investment they are making.”

The Clock Keeps Ticking

Face lift results can last a decade or longer, but each patient varies, with genetics and lifestyle playing a major role. Aging doesn’t stop after surgery, it continues to change a patient’s appearance in varying ways.

Minor Procedures Yield Short Term Results

Many patients today want a face lift with a short recovery period and a low cost. This approach often indicates a less aggressive face lift, which may not last as long as a traditional face lift. Patients need more frequent touch-ups in these cases.

“Instead of the classic facelift with a variable recovery time, most patients prefer a shorter procedure that can be maintained over a number of years,” said Dr. Javier De Benito. If required [patients undergo] re-tightening in the surgeon’s office under local anesthetic, allowing for an immediate return to work.”

Read more on surgery.org

Apparently she’s into fixing her frown lines with Botox every few months.

How does Jenny still look so great? “I’m an obvious Botox user,” she tells the magazine. “I tell everyone.”

With a little shot in the forehead and a little help from a professional makeup artist (her sister), McCarthy looks fabulous at age 39.

The latest issue of Life & Style has more about more about celebrities and Botox.

Photo Credit: Jenny McCarthy by duncan arsenault, on Flickr

You could choose to buy Allergan’s Natrelle implant sizing kit, or undergo Vectra 3D imaging to see a picture of what you might look like after surgery.

Or you could try the inexpensive, do-it-yourself approach shown in the video below, created by a plastic surgeon in Colorado.

How to Make Breast Implants Sizers with Rice

Read more about breast augmentation in Bellevue, WA.

The stats suggest that chin augmentation is the fastest growing trend in plastic surgery, recorded across all major patient demographics. The society says the trend may be driven in part by increased usage of video chat technology, which is being used by aging baby boomers who want to maintain success in the workplace.

In 2011, chin augmentation grew more than breast augmentation, Botox® and liposuction combined. A significant increase in procedures were seen in both men and women. The largest increase (77 percent) was seen in patients age 40 and older.

As a manager for a major software company, Lizette Stephens often finds herself face-to-face with people all over the world. And while she loves how technology keeps her in touch, she didn’t always like how it made her look.

“I do a lot of video chats and I’m in a lot of photos and noticed that my double chin was very pronounced. It really, really bothered me. I wanted to do something about it to get a more profound profile and more definition in my chin area,” said Stephens.

Plastic Surgeons Comment on Chin Augmentation Trend

“The chin and jawline are among the first areas to show signs of aging. People are considering chin augmentation as a way to restore their youthful look just like a facelift or eyelid surgery,” said ASPS President Malcolm Z. Roth, MD. “We also know that as more people see themselves on video chat technology, they may notice that their jawline is not as sharp as they want it to be. Chin implants can make a dramatic difference.”

Lizette Stephens (seen in the video) had chin augmentation with Darrick Antell, MD, based in New York City. Dr. Antell has reportedly studied the facial profiles of successful people.

“We know that CEOs tend to be tall, attractive, good-looking people,” he comments.” We now know that these people also tend to have a stronger chin. As a result, people subconsciously associate a stronger chin with more authority, self-confidence and trustworthiness.”

Read more about Chin Augmentation in Bellevue.

Instead of national cancer databases, the researchers looked at a “well-defined population” of Olmsted County, Minnesota. According to dermatologist Dr. Kurtis Reed, this method improved accuracy.

“Those large databases are known to have some under-reporting bias,” he reportedly said, “and so the true incidence is hard to estimate from those databases.”

During a 40-year period, 256 melanoma cases were found among Olmsted County residents age 18-39. The overall rate was 16.9 skin cancer cases per 100,000 people.

Young adult women showed a surprisingly high rate of 23.2 per 100,000, while men showed 10.8.

Why are skin cancer rates rising?

The burning question for researchers is….. why are rates of skin cancer rising? Most assume that there must be a change in the behavior of people that has led to this dramatic rise.

If young women are known to have a higher rate of melanoma, one would assume that a difference in behavior exists between genders. But the study revealed nothing about subject behavior, so a conclusive link cannot be made between skin cancer and any behavior, including tanning.

Screening for Skin Cancer

The traditional advice for skin cancer screening is to see your dermatologist if you suspect that a mole you have is changing, growing or bleeding.

If you believe that you are at a high risk for skin cancer, ask your primary care physician if you should be screened for skin cancer, and if you should be screened on a regular basis.

Read more

• Mayo Study: Skin Cancer Rates Rising Rapidly Among Young Adults

During an interview with Barbara Walters last month, Joan Rivers was candid as usual talking about her experience with plastic surgery.

Joan says she has undergone two face lifts, numerous injectable filler treatments, a breast reduction and a tummy tuck.

Her main motivation for doing so is the desire to hear the words : “You look amazing for your age.”

Nothing seems taboo for Joan, especially the quest to look beautiful. “I just want women to know: It’s ok- do it,” she says in the interview.

How to Find a Good Surgeon, According to Joan Rivers

If you’re looking for a good plastic surgeon, ask your hairdresser. Joan suggests that hair dressers have a valuable point-of-view, since they may see the scars from facial procedures. Also: check the doctor’s reputation and make sure he or she has a personable bedside manner.

She tells reporters that although she feels great and has been training for years, she doesn’t have the same chest or the support anymore. A breast augmentation would help her feel better about herself, while helping her compete in shows.

Columbus plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Donaldson says that in addition to breast surgery, he has seen demand from the fitness crowd for procedures like liposuction, Botox and Restylane.

Breast Augmentation for Balance and Proportion

Proportion is an important factor for image-conscious athletes like Ms. Melendrez. The problem is that breast size may decrease over time, especially with intense physical training.

“In the case of a female athlete who loses breast volume while she’s training to increase her musculature, then it may be appropriate to recreate that breast that’s been lost,” Dr. Donaldson said to ABC 6 News.

When it comes to balance and proportion of the body, a breast augmentation can make a big difference. Breast enlargement can improve overall body proportion, and also help correct a size discrepancy between a patient’s breasts.

The Ethics of a Fitness Competition

Is it fair for competitive bodybuilders to undergo cosmetic surgery? According to Ms. Melendrez, it is fair if they undergo “minor surgical changes that won’t be judged.” Anything beyond that would be unethical.

People have the right to enhance their body to feel better about themselves, but once they enter the competitive arena, they have to abide by certain rules.

Several major cosmetic procedures have been developed that go beyond restoration of normal shape. Procedures that use body implants like pectoral, calf or deltoid augmentation would likely be considered a breach of the competitive bodybuilder’s ethical code. After all, bodybuilding is about taking the time to train your body to enhance both physical performance and muscular physique. A sedentary person who has implants would not be considered a bodybuilder.

Sources

• Arnold Sports Festival
• ABC 6 News: Plastic Surgery for the Arnold Fitness Expo
• Bodybuilding.com: Is cosmetic surgery ethical in bodybuilding?

The film is about women in Pakistan who survived traumatic “acid attacks.” With the help of a plastic surgeon, they are now moving on with their lives. Most women who experience this type of trauma aren’t as lucky. According to the film, more than 100 acid attacks occur every year, and the majority are perpetrated against women.

To make matters worse, they have little or no access to reconstructive surgeons who can repair the damage. While the victims are emotionally traumatized and physically scarred, their assailants receive minimal punishment.

Saving Face documents the stories of Zakia and Rukhsana, two acid-attack survivors who are seeking justice. Meanwhile, they undergo reconstructive surgery with a plastic surgeon named Dr. Mohammad Jawad. The film sheds light on the situation of Pakistani women who are struggling against a vexing issue.

The film was directed by filmmaker Daniel Junge and Pakistani director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who were both present to receive the Oscar. Saving Face will be broadcast internationally in 2012, beginning with HBO in North America.

Of the 13.8 million procedures performed by plastic surgeons in 2011, nearly 12.2 million of them were classified as “cosmetic minimally invasive.”

The figure seems to be increasing every year. The numbers for 2011 were 6 percent higher than 2010, despite economic woes affecting the American economy.

According to the ASPS, these 5 minimally invasive procedures are the most popular:

• Botulinum toxin type A (5.7 million procedures, up 5 percent)
• Soft tissue fillers (1.9 million procedures, up 7 percent)
• Chemical peel (1.1 million procedures, down 3 percent)
• Laser hair removal (1.1 million procedures, up 15 percent)
• Microdermabrasion (900,000 procedures, up 9 percent)

Injectable fillers like hyaluronic acid (Restylane®, Juvederm, Prevelle etc.), calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse®), and fat grafting procedures showed significant growth during 2011.

Surgeons performed more than 1.3 million hylauronic acid filler procedures in 2011 – 9 percent more than last year. They performed 286,000 calcium hydroxylapatite procedures – 36 percent; more than last year. Fat grafting increased by 19 percent, at 68,000 procedures.

Read more about our minimally invasive cosmetic procedures in Bellevue, WA.