|
Cosmetic Procedures You Should Avoid
|
Cosmetic Procedures You Should Avoid
The Potential Aesthetic Benefits of Some Procedures Aren't Worth the Risk
Combination Mastopexy/Breast Implant
What do you get when you combine two tried-and-true plastic surgery techniques in a single operation?
If the procedures in question are a breast lift, or mastopexy, and a breast augmentation, the chances are higher that you could get more complications than if you staged the two procedures six months apart.
A mastopexy, or breast lift, with simultaneous breast augmentation is associated with one of the highest sources of malpractice suits in the USA.
The reason for all the problems is clear when the aim of each procedure is considered. While mastopexy is often aimed at breast reduction -- essentially tightening up the tissues of the breast to eliminate a flabby, loose appearance -- the aim of breast augmentation is the exact opposite.
So while surgeons performing both procedures may start by removing the excess skin on the breasts during the mastopexy operation, they may find themselves stretching the remaining skin in order to accommodate the breast implants that they put in later. At CosmeSurge we do have experienced surgeons who have done this procedure hundreds of time. They have learned the hard way to leave excess skin when they do the lifting so that there is room left to stretch the skin after placing the implant used for augmentation.
A Jab to Dissolve Fat? Mesotherapy and Lipodissolve
Several cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists agree that if there is one procedure to avoid when shopping for a slimmer look, it is one called lipodissolve -- a shot that is purported to dissolve away stubborn fat deposits.
This shot is often part of "mesotherapy" -- a shallow injection of a cocktail of substances using a fine needle.
"There is really not a single scientific study to show that it definitely works.
The treatment frequently involve the use of a material called lipostabil, which can dissolve fat and other structures. However, it can in rare cases cause pain, swelling, hard lumps, ulceration of the skin, and contour irregularities.There have been no double-blinded studies revealing the mechanism of diffusion of solutions following injection and the precision and control of fat destruction by the chemicals.
Despite the lack of evidence of the long term effectiveness of this procedure, the growing number of clinics offering lipodissolve in USA and the Gulf countries is a testament to the growing desperation of patients who want to get rid of the localized fat deposits on their hips but are afraid of liposuction which is very safe and effective when done in the right hospital by well trained physicians.
A Sexier Step: Cosmetic Foot Surgery
Those who desire cosmetic surgery from top to toe should be no strangers to cosmetic foot surgery -- a collection of surgical and minimally invasive procedures designed to yield a sexier foot.
Despite the continued popularity of these procedures, which involve everything from filler injections to round out angles to total surgical reshaping of the foot, doctors have been warning consumers away from cosmetic foot surgery for years.
The trend toward the practice of cosmetic surgery raises serious concern when one considers the risks of surgery on painless feet. Complications can include infection, nerve injury, prolonged swelling of a toe, and even chronic pain with walking.
Not surprisingly, the sector of consumers that tends to be the most enthused at the prospect of better-looking feet are women who hope to adorn their feet with the latest in strappy, high-heeled fashions.
And the procedures involved run the gamut from filler injections to full-blown surgery to reshaping the foot. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society noted that surgery to shorten the toes or narrow the feet are favorite options in this category. Some practitioners will also inject the fat pad of the feet with collagen or other substances -- again, solely to change the appearance of the feet.
Permanent Filler Injections
Injectable fillers, simply put, are special gels that are injected into the skin to plump up lips, push out wrinkles and fine lines -- in short, "fill out" spaces in the face where a bit of extra volume is needed.
Most of the fillers that are on the market today are temporary -- that is, after a certain amount of time they are absorbed into the body and the results are lost. A number of newer gels such as hyaluronic acid are on the market and depending on their molecular structure can last between five months and two years.
But some fillers are designed to stick around in the body for longer periods of time. These fillers, appropriately termed permanent fillers, include liquid silicone and the product known as Aquamid.
Though tantalizing to some consumers who would prefer to pay for fillers once rather than shell out for repeat procedures, such fillers have also been known to lead to a number of complications, including irreversible binding with tissues and a tendency to "drift," which can lead to a distorted appearance.
The problems become even more severe in the event of a botched job.
At CosmeSurge we do not do permanent fillers. Even with temporary fillers, once they are injected, even though it is going to go away, you are occasionally stuck with unsatisfactory results until it goes away. Permanent fillers do not go away.
But despite widespread disapproval among cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists, many consumers still seek out permanent filler injections.
One female model presented to our CosmeSurge Center with a serious infection of her lips that took one year to resolve and multiple corrective surgeries to remove the silicone nodules after her body rejected her fillers that were placed by a Female visiting French surgeon at another Center.
Injection for Breast Augmentation
What if getting bigger breasts was as simple as getting a shot?
The idea is not a new one, and it stands to reason that pumping the breasts full of fat or fillers would offer an alternative to breast implant surgery -- all without the scars.
Traditionally, doctors performing such procedures have used the fat harvested from other areas of the body, such as the buttocks and thighs. By purifying this fat and reinjecting it into the breasts, they say, they can offer their patients a safe enhancement using the body's own spare materials.
But in reality, the procedure is not nearly as simple as it appears.
"On the surface, the concept of using liposuction to remove unwanted fat from one's own thighs and buttocks, and then injecting it into the breasts to make them larger, has appeal," the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery noted in a past statement on the procedure. "However, aesthetic surgeons certified in plastic surgery have long maintained that injection of fat, or any substance, into or behind the breast tissue can be potentially dangerous."
Dangerous, because there exists the potential for the reinjected fat to calcify, creating a scarred mass buried within the breast tissues. These calcifications can either mask or mimic the presence of breast cancer. And since between 7 and 14 ounces of fat are needed for the enlargement of a breast, there is no shortage of relocated fat to make the detection of breast cancer difficult, or even impossible.
More recently, a procedure referred to as the "boob jab" has made headlines by using artificial fillers to accomplish the same goal of bigger breasts. Specifically, the procedure requires the injection through the armpit of a temporary filler called Macrolane directly into the breast.
The procedure costs $4,000, and the results are temporary. And some doctors worry that this technique, too, could make it more difficult for current screening tests to detect breast cancer.
"Unapproved gels are still being used by some practitioners in the breast," says Dr Max Sawaf, medical director of CosmeSurge. "I have seen three people in the last year who had silicone injections administered by non-physicians. Silicon is approved only when surrounded by a capsule such is the case for breast implants.
Another Russian patient was injected in her breasts by a massive amount of unapproved fillers that resulted in her death after less than 12 hours of being admitted to the ICU of the American Hospital in Dubai. She was injected by a community based French unlicensed GP who fled the country that same day! Such criminal operators are hard to control despite regulators best efforts. Witness the death of several patients in USA when they were injected by a physician who used cheap Korean made Botox illegally imported.
Buttock Implants
While many people hit the gym and suffer through crash diets to attain a smaller behind, there are others who actually seek out surgical solutions for a larger, rounder butt.
For these people, cosmetic surgery can offer buttock implants. Unlike breast implants, which are filled with either silicone gel or saline, buttock implants are solid slabs of silicone, positioned beneath the fibrous lining of the buttock muscles.
The result is a rounder, more voluminous rear end. But this result comes at a price for many patients.
We have recently experienced an increased demand for buttock implants in our part of the world However. there is a high rate of problems with these implants. We do discourage patients from proceeding with an elective procedure that is fraut with potential serious complications.
Among these problems is an increased risk of infection. This is because in order to hide the incision from plain view, surgeons will often place it between the buttocks, perilously close to the anus and the germs that reside there. One out of five patients experience a life threatening serious infection that requires removal of the implant and drainage of the pus and a long hospital stay.
And even after the incisions have healed, the implants are situated in an area of the body that endures its share of daily abuse.
Just logically, if you think about what you're doing -- putting an implant into an area that you sit on -- it stands to reason that there is a very significant rate of problems with these devices.
Wake Up with Make Up: Tattooed for life
While many women may dream of skipping their makeup routine in the morning, for those who opt for permanently tattooed makeup, the reality can be more like a nightmare than anything else. We have had more than my share of patients who ask me to remove the permanent makeup tattoo that someone else gave them, and I will tell you that they're difficult to take away even though we have the best lasers to do just that, Dr Max says
Much of this difficulty in removing these tattoos is owed to the fact that the areas that are tattooed are some of the most delicate tissues of the face -- namely, the inner folds of the eyelids and the lips. And even with today's complement of high-tech tattoo removal lasers, there is never a guarantee that the tattoos will disappear completely.
This is especially bad news for those who have received botched jobs from untrained practitioners. But even for those who get what they want in the short term, their long-term satisfaction with the job may still be in question.
"If you don't like the results, you may still be stuck with them. And even though you might like the result in the short term, fashions change."
Extreme Facial Procedures
As the images of more than a few celebrities can attest, extreme facial procedures can have a dramatic impact on one's appearance -- and not always in a good way.
At CosmeSurge our surgeons treat a number of patients who want a revision of previous work done on their faces. Sometimes, this previous work involved facial liposuction in which the natural fat pads of the face are sucked out. While these patients likely hoped for a sexier, more angular appearance, what they usually got was a hollow, "Cruella deVille" kind of look.
Another procedure we see regularly is the skin lift using a gold thread or sling -- a relic of 1970s-era cosmetic surgery in which the skin was pulled taut to eliminate wrinkles.
While we do not perform these procedures I have seen patients come into my practice with broken or failed sutures that are extruding and need to be retrieved. We have not seen good long-term results with these, and they are generally quite expensive when you compare them to a conventional face-lift or even a mini-lift that is a surgical procedure with more promise of a longer lasting result."
But the ravages of bad facial procedures are not confined to surgery alone. Another extreme facial procedure, the CO2 laser peel, leaves patients with a scabby, red face that takes weeks to heal. While these patients eventually enjoy a smoother complexion once the healing is over, there are a number of alternative procedures available today that can give much the same result -- without the intense pain and downtime.
Any Procedure by Untrained Hands
With the explosion in the popularity of cosmetic surgery in the past two decades has come another explosion in the number of people who are willing to perform these operations.
But not every doctor has the training necessary to perform these procedures. Indeed, many of the proprietors for whom cosmetic procedures represent a lucrative part of their business do not even hold a medical degree.
"Probably everyone has heard of the visiting practitioner who performs procedures in a hotel room for bargain basement prices and then is nowhere to be found when complications arise.
So what is the key to avoiding such practitioners? Do your homework, say Dr Max-- and don't rush into surgery before you know everything you need to about your surgeon.
And when in doubt, don't go through with the procedure.
"We have a saying," Dr Max says. "You never regret the operation you don't do. “At CosmeSurge we cannot control who goes through our doors, but we sure try and control who operates on our patients and who goes through our operating room doors”.
|
|
