Procedures such as rhinoplasties, face lifts, liposuctions, and breast augmentations do not leave much in the way of visible scarring and our threshold for doing surgery is lower than it would be for procedures that leave visible scars. A breast reduction and tummy tuck, for example, leave visible scars and, while they are excellent procedures for patients who are bothered by massive breasts or a very lax abdomen, the same operation and degree of scarring would result if we removed just a little from a breast or abdomen, thus raising my threshold for offering this option to patients. Nasal surgery can be done with an external scar or by using only internal scars. I prefer the internal scar method, and since we are not leaving the patient with visible scars, we can offer a patient correction of a minor nasal deformity without worrying about tell tale signs. You mentioned that your friends all think that you look fine no doubt, to them you do! They do not have to live with your nose and cannot be relied upon to help you make a decision. Your best bet would be to discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon.

Plastic surgery is a booming industry that is gaining popularity among men. Many men travel to the heart of Beverly Hills to consult with plastic surgeons on surgical procedures ranging from botox to liposuction. A common procedure done on men is liposuction of the chest area, performed on men who suffer from gyconomastia; breast tissue and fat accumulation in a man’s chest. Many men are also seeking tummy tucks, or abdominoplasties after they have had significant weight loss and cannot seem to get rid of the excess, sagging skin. Plastic Surgery for men is a wonderful, and safe approach for men to get the body that they have always wanted, whether it be sculpted abs, a smooth, wrinkle-free forhead or a toned chest.

Beverly Hills is a great place to find a plastic surgeon. Movie stars and other celebreties are known for there propensity towards impoving their looks. Plus with money to spend the best doctors tend to gravitate to Beverly Hills to practice their trade.

Choosing a surgeon in Beverly hills is much like choosing one anywhere else. First you must look at before and after photos. Check references and consult the BBB.

When choosing a plastic surgeon, you need to consider a number of factors. Medical training and surgical experience are primary indicators of the surgeon”s qualifications.

Body procedures such as breast augmentation and abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) require a long time in surgery and are very invasive. Major organs and muscle groups are affected by these procedures and great care must be taken to perform them safely and effectively.

Facial plastic surgery such as facelifts and rhinoplasty (nose surgery) include incisions in very delicate areas and require considerable surgical skill.

Board certification is another important criterion. No single factor can guarantee you the best doctor for a specific procedure. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which surgeon is best for your specific goals and expectations.
What Does it Mean to Be a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon?

Board certification can be a very confusing issue. Just open the yellow pages or a view newspaper advertisement and you”ll see plastic surgeons promoting all kinds of society memberships and board certifications. So, how do you make sense of it all?

All certifying boards require different amounts of surgical training and experience, and you should be aware of these different requirements. In other words, all board-certified physicians are not trained equally for certain cosmetic surgery procedures. (An important note is that medical societies do not grant board membership.)

Membership in a society or board-certification doesn”t guarantees a successful outcome. But, some certifying boards do require extensive medical training and experience, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Patients can be confident that physicians certified by these boards do have specific and rigorous surgical education and training.

But in the world of plastic surgery, where many of the procedures are performed in the surgeon”s office, it is relatively easy for a physician to give the impression of a “qualified plastic surgeon.” So it is very important that you learn about the doctor”s education, training, certification, and experience in order to make the best choice.
CDC Warns Against Cosmetic Charlatans

ATLANTA, May 2008 — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning consumers against undergoing cosmetic surgery by unlicensed providers.

Three women in North Carolina developed kidney failure after they received soft-tissue filler injections in their buttocks. The women received the injections from an unlicensed provider, who was arrested and charged with practicing medicine without a license.

Click here to read the complete story.
The Importance of Board Certification

The popularity of plastic surgery is soaring and more and more doctors are trying to meet the demand for this specialty that has become an integral part of mainstream medicine. Any licensed physician can call himself or herself a plastic surgeon, so the importance of finding a properly trained and certified provider is paramount. Choosing a doctor who”s a certified member of an accredited board is the first step in ensuring quality care and outcomes.

In plastic surgery, where many of the procedures are performed in the surgeon”s office, it is relatively easy for a physician to give the impression of a “qualified plastic surgeon.” For example, the doctor may be board certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties, but not certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The laws requiring disclosure of specific credentials in advertisements or brochures vary among states. So, while a doctor may be listed in the yellow pages as a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon the information may not reveal which board granted the certification. It”s important, then, that you learn about the doctor”s education, training, certification, and experience to make the best choice.

Previously, once a physician became “board certified,” the physician was certified for life. Now, due to new developments in medical technology, the certifying boards are requiring physicians to periodically recertify in order to ensure the physician”s training is up to date.

Board certification provides no guarantee that you will obtain good results from the cosmetic plastic surgery procedure or that there will be no complications. But you can be sure that a board-certified plastic surgeon has the right training and experience. The surgeon”s training and skill play a major role in plastic surgery results. As in any profession, some practitioners are better than others. In addition to training and board certification, find out how well the surgeon has performed in the past. You can do this by viewing before-and-after photos of previous patients and by word-of-mouth referrals from other patients.
Understanding Designations: MD, DO, FACS, Medical Training

Two types of medical schools and medical degrees are available:

* Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree: A doctor of medicine attends a four-year medical school and learns allopathic or traditional medical theory and practice. In traditional medical practice, diseases and health are evaluated and treated based primarily on symptoms or attributes associated specifically with the health condition.
* Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree: A doctor of osteopathy attends a four-year osteopathic school and learns holistic medicine as well as traditional medicine. The focus of holistic medicine is evaluating illnesses and health in the context of the “whole patient.”

The curricula of both schools are nearly identical. State licensing agencies and most hospitals and residency programs recognize the degrees as equivalent. In other words, osteopathic doctors are legally and professionally equivalent to medical doctors.

In order to become a physician, each student must complete four years of undergraduate training, four years of medical school, and additional years of internship and residency. During the period of internship, they work with patients under the supervision of physicians in many areas including internal medicine, psychiatry, gynecology, and surgery. Many MDs receive graduate medical education in a particular specialty through a paid residency that they complete in a hospital. Many DOs participate in a 12-month internship and a residency that may extend into six years.

To be licensed in the United States, physicians must graduate from an accredited medical school, pass a rigorous examination, and receive one to seven years of graduate education, depending upon their specialty. In order to receive board certification by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the physician must pass another examination within two years of practice. Some doctors become Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), meaning that the doctor”s education, training, competence, and ethical conduct has passed an intensive assessment consistent with the standards of the College of Surgeons. The doctor may also complete more training in a subspecialty.
Find plastic surgeons by location or procedure
Society and Board Memberships

Membership in a society or certification by a specific board provides no guarantees of a successful outcome. But some certifying boards do require extensive medical training and experience, such as the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and you can be confident that physicians certified by these boards do have specific and rigorous surgical education and training. All certifying boards require different amounts of surgical training and experience, and you should be aware of these different requirements. In other words, all board-certified physicians are not trained equally for certain cosmetic surgery procedures.

An important note is that medical societies do not grant board membership. However, in order for a doctor to obtain membership in certain societies such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, they must be invited to participate. In order to maintain certain memberships, the doctor must complete a specific number of continuing education hours each year, focusing on new procedures, patient safety, and other ever-changing areas in plastic surgery.
Plastic Surgery Related Boards

Three primary boards are relevant to plastic surgery:

* The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the entire body, including the face, neck, and full body. These physicians have the most stringent surgical training requirements and have the highest standards of certification for plastic surgery procedures for the whole body and face, including procedures such as breast augmentation, abdominoplasty and facelift.
* The American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) certifies physicians in the field of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. These board requirements for certification are specifically related to surgery of the face, head, and neck; especially procedures such as facelift and rhinoplasty.
* The American Board of Otolaryngology (ABO) certifies physicians in the specialty of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery.

To determine whether a physician is board certified, you can visit the website of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS). The ABMS has 24 member boards that certify physicians in 88 different medical specialties.

While some cosmetic plastic surgery procedures are performed in a hospital, many are performed in a surgeon”s office, surgical suite, or other facility. These facilities must meet certain quality standards to be accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). Setting standards for office-based surgery has become a collaborative effort sponsored by the ASPS. You can read the standards and verify that an office or facility is accredited by the AAAASF by visiting their surgery facilities web page.
Verifying Credentials

* To determine whether a physician is board certified, you can visit the website of the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or call (800) 776-2378.
* To investigate physician credentials, pending malpractice judgments, and disciplinary actions, you can visit your state”s medical board website or call them.
* To determine if the physician is permitted to perform care in a hospital, ask if the physician has hospital privileges and what procedures the privileges are for. Some doctors may have privileges to perform surgery, others may have privileges to use certain equipment such as a laser surgery, and others yet may not be permitted to perform your procedure in hospital at all. In order to obtain hospital privileges, the physician”s skill set is reviewed by peer members.
* To determine that the facility is fully accredited, you can contact the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
* To determine that your surgeon or anesthesiologist is qualified to provide general anesthesia, you may contact the American Board of Anesthesiology at (919) 881-2570.

So you have decided that liposuction is what you want to have done. You have found a good surgeon with recommendation from other patients as well as a professional association. You have researched the risks and have considered the benefits. Still, you want to move forward with the liposuction, but the price tag is standing in the way. Today, with sky-rocketing medical costs and a weak economy, choosing to have an elective surgery like liposuction is not an easy choice, but there are options.

The typical costs of liposuction can begin around $2,000 and can exceed $11,000. The variation in these prices depend on several factors including how many areas of the body that you are having processed, the type of facility you use, the surgeon you selected, and the type of procedure that he or she uses.

However, these are not the only costs associated with plastic surgery. Because this type of procedure is evasive, it may likely require general anesthesia, which costs money. If the work to be done is extensive you may need an anesthesiologist, which also increases your total costs. All said and done, however, an average liposuction will range between $2,500 and $3,000.

Still, money is a concern, which is stopping you from moving forward. However, there are ways to finance the procedure so you can look better now while paying the money back later. The quickest way to pay for your procedure is to use your credit card. This automatically transfers the fees into monthly payments that you may already be making.

However, this should only be an option if you have a good rate on your credit card. If you charge $3000 on a card that has an interest rate of 29% (and it is not unreasonable to have such cards today), your monthly payment would be $127 over 3 years. Additionally, your procedure, with interest would be almost $4500. At 15%, your payment would be $105 over 3 years and a total of $3800.

Another option to financing your liposuction procedure is to go through a financing company that specializes in small loans for cosmetic surgery. Some companies charge low interest rates as much as 5.9%, but even at 7-14% this is a much better value than several credit cards. There are various companies worth considering that can be found on the Internet.

Also, ask your surgeon or the facility that you would be using for the procedure if they have payment schedules. This way, the payments are taken care of in-house and you do not have to deal with a separate company.

Still, the facility is likely to charge you interest as well because you are technically borrowing money. However, some facilities allow you to pay over a 3-month period that greatly reduces the amount of interest you would pay on a loan.

The most cost effective way to pay for your liposuction is to set up a separate savings account or possible even a CD account with a decent interest rate. Have a portion of your income go into that account monthly until you have the necessary amount. Although you will have to wait to have the procedure you really want now, you will save money in the long run.

An important part of your self esteem is the face you see staring back at you in the mirror every morning. It is the first impression you make, and it is where the subtle signs of aging first appear. They are marked by sagging skin and fine lines.

Cosmetic facelift surgery is minimal to standard, depending on the extent and location of skin laxity. Face plastic surgery can be done by itself, or in conjunction with other treatments such as a suture suspension neck rejuvenation, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, or a forehead lift.

Suture Suspension Neck Rejuvenation

The first sign of growing older will be an aging neck line. A suture suspension, also known as a Thread Neck Lift, has been a procedure that has been utilized for the last ten years, and the results have been impressive.

Eye Brow and Forehead Lift

The forehead lift and eyebrow lift surgical procedure supplies individuals with a more rested and youthful appearance. The brows and forehead are raised through small upper eyelid incisions, then the skin is lifted and repositioned. The muscles that cause frown lines are weakened.

Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery

Cosmetic eyelid surgery, aka upper and lower blepharoplasty, is a technique to take away excess fat and skin from the lower and upper eyelids. The treatment corrects sagging upper lids and treats puffy bags under the eyes. The sergury takes around 45 minutes and is performed using IV sedation. Sutures are removed after six days.

Cosmetic Nose Reshaping Surgery

Another common facial cosmetic surgery procedure is a rhinoplasty, or nose job. Since the nose is the most prominent aspect of an individual’s face, nose reshaping is done to patients who want to balance their facial features. A rhinoplasty cosmetic surgeon usually performs the procedure using IV sedation. Incisions are made inside the nostrils.

The soft tissues, cartilage, and nasal bones are reshaped to improve the exterior contour. Larger nostrils can be decreased through small incisions at the outer base of the nostrils with either type of cosmetic open rhinoplasty surgery.

Lip Augmentation and Enhancement

Another type of facial cosmetic surgery involves a plastic surgeon performing a lip augmentation surgery to give lips a vivacious, full appearance. The technique involves creating permanent lip enhancement by utilizing the patient’s own fat, or other human donor skin. The cosmetic surgery is performed under local anesthesia within 45 minutes.

Laser Skin Resurfacing and Micro Laser Peel

Another face plastic surgery involves a procedure known as a Micro Laser Peel to produce skin that is youthful, less wrinkled, and tighter. Carbon dioxide laser skin resurfacing takes less than an hour.

Botox Injection Treatments

A final maintaining option includes Botox injections, that allow mild alterations to the individual’s face to cause significant benefits in their overall appearance.

Average Fees

Tummy Tuck Fees:
Total Price: $5,000-$9,000

Surgeons fee: $4,500
Anesthesiologist: $500
Facility fee: $800
Average Total Cost: $6,800

Breast Augmentation Fees:
Total Price: $5,000-$8,000

Surgeons fee: $3,000
Anesthesiologist: $700
Facility fee: $900
Implant fee: $1,300
Average Total Cost : $5,900

Breast Lift Fees:
Total Price: $4,000-$9,000

Surgeons fee: $3,500
Anesthesiologist: $800
Facility fee: $1000
Average Total Cost: $5,300

Breast Reduction Fees:
Total Price: $5,000-$10,000

Surgeons fee: $3,500
Anesthesiologist: $800
Facility fee: $1000
Average Total Cost: $5,300

Male Breast Reduction Fees:
Total Price: $6,000-$9,000

Surgeons fee: $2,500
Anesthesiologist: $800
Facility fee: $1000
Average Total Cost: $5,300

Eyelid Surgery Fees:
Total Price: $1,500-$7,000

Surgeons fee: $2,500
Anesthesiologist: $800
Facility fee: $800
Average Total Cost
Upper and Lower Lids: $4,100

Facelift Fees:
Total Price: $6,000-$12,000

Surgeons fee: $5,000
Anesthesiologist: $1,200
Facility fee: $1,700
Hospital fee: $700
Average Total Cost: $8,600

Lip Enhancement Fees:
Total Price: $300-$5,000

Cost per procedure:
Collagen injection $350
Lip augmentation (other than injectable materials) $1,550
Surgeons fee: $1,600
Facility fee: $400
Average Total Cost: $2,000

Liposuction Fees:
Total Price: $2,000-$10,000

Surgeons fee: $2,000
Anesthesiologist: $800
Facility fee: $700
Average Total Cost: (One Area) $3,800

Rhinoplasty Fees:
Total Price: $3,000 – $12,000

Surgeons fee: $3,000
Anesthesiologist: $800
Facility fee: $800
Average Total Cost: $4,600

plastic surgery photos are a good way to determine which plastic surgeon is right for you.

You need to look at the photos carefully to determine if they doctor is good.

Look to see if there are visible scars.

Look to see if they results are lop sided.

Also be sure to check to see if they results are appropriate for the person. You want to look good and many shapes might not work for a particular body type. Plastic surgery is as much an art form as it is a science and plastic surgery photos are one of the best ways of determining if your surgeon is an artist or not.

Choosing a surgeon can sometimes be the most stressful part of undergoing a plastic surgery procedure. During your consultations, you’ll want to carefully scrutinize each surgeon’s portfolio in order to assess which is best suited for you. Here are some things to consider when reviewing plastic surgery before and after photos.

1.  Are the pictures clear?

The pictures should appear sharp with no blur. They should be in full color and against a solid blue or white background so as not to distract from the subject. Neither the before or after should be a dramatic portrait.

The before should appear natural, not heavily shadowed or bright to obscure the subject’s features as they normally appear. The after should be resemble the same positioning and expression as the original for easy comparison. The after shot should be plain as well so as not to distract from the plastic surgery.

2. Does the subject appear natural?

The hair should be pulled back from the face to view facial procedures. No makeup, accessories, or other distractions should be worn. The after pictures should be taken no later than a year and a half after the procedure was performed in order to see maximum results.

3. Do the pictures represent a wide spectrum of patients?

A plastic surgeon’s portfolio should represent both genders (when applicable for the procedure) and a variety of different ethnicities and age groups. The results will of course vary by individual, but should appear natural and suited for each person’s unique overall features. Keep an eye out for patients with similar complaints and features to yours and their after results.

4. Are there enough examples?

Three or four patient before and after photos is not enough to measure the consistency and quality of a plastic surgeon’s work. You should be able to view many photos in order to best evaluate a surgeon’s skill and experience.

5. Can you speak with former patients?

Often surgeons can offer to help arrange a meeting or phone call with a previous patient to help you further understand the procedure and get an up close view of his work. Seeing the results in person is more accurate than just viewing a mere photo. It can also reveal his patient’s point of view and opinion on not only the results, but the process of the surgery.

6. Are there revision photos?

It is not unusual for plastic surgeons to perform revisions on others works and even their own. Inquire if any of these pictures are available. Not every surgeon, no matter how skilled, is able to perform a surgery perfectly the first time. If revision photos show marked improvement, it demonstrates his ability to correct mistakes and satisfy patients.

7. Does the plastic surgeon’s portfolio make you feel more or less confident?

Ideally, after viewing plastic surgery patients, you should feel more confident in the surgeon you choose. The after pictures should reflect similar aesthetic taste to your own as well as a high level of skill. If you find yourself feeling more apprehensive about a plastic surgery procedure after viewing a surgeon’s portfolio, take the time to consult with others and compare their work.