Hand Lifts and Other New Cosmetic Surgery Trends

The “hand lift” might be the hottest new trend in plastic surgery, and if so, you can blame it on selfies! Some camera-conscious women are getting Juvederm injections to smooth out their hands to show off close-ups of their engagement rings. For a temporary fix to plump up or smooth out their skin, or disguise surface veins, they are willing to fork over up to $1,300 for this 5-10 minutes procedure. But hand lifts are hardly the strangest new cosmetic surgery procedure on the menu. Here are seven other plastic surgery trends that might just leave your jaw agape.

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WOULD YOU LIE ABOUT YOUR FACELIFT? by Lois W. Stern

I just read about a woman who has scheduled a facelift, but instead of leveling with her husband, she has told him  that she’s going away on a business trip. Soon she’ll be traveling out of state – off  to her selected plastic surgeon’s office.

Sure her absence is easily explained, but what about the post surgery bruises and swelling? How does she explain all that? “Easy,” says she. “I’ll just tell him I was in a car accident.”

Now  a car accident that causes injury to your face must be more than a simple fender bender. Won’t her husband want more details?  What about damage to the car? Is she going to run it into a brick wall to feign authenticity?  Wouldn’t he ask about those insurance claims that need to be filed? I can see where we are setting up a house of cards here, with one lie pressing against the next until those cards all fall down.

When I was interviewing women for my book, Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery, I spoke to several others who either concealed or minimized the extend of their surgeries. My hair stylist was one. She confided that she told had her significant other that she was having her eyes done, when in fact she went for a full facelift. When he asked her why she had stitches behind her ears, she answered, “I don’t know, I guess that’s the way they do eyes now.” And funny as it sounds, he actually believed her!

I honestly don’t think we have to share every detail of our beauty routines with our spouses, but where do we draw the line? Would you tell your spouse or significant other? What would you do if you were in those same shoes? I’d love to hear from some of you.

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Looking forward to keeping in touch!

Lois W. Stern

 

BOTOX CAUSES BRAIN DAMAGE – HOGWASH OR SCIENCE? – PART 1

I have read some scary stuff about BOTOX in the past. I know enough about headlines to understand that those written to shock, alarm or titillate grab the most attention. Not usually so with headlines written to calm, soothe or reassure. They seem to draw little notice. Latest case in point: Botox Causes Brain Damage. Scary, right? True? Read on.

I discussed these BOTOX(R) headlines with Dr. Vic Navurkur, past president of the Americn Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery (ASCDAS), with an active aesthetic dermatologic practice in the Bay Area of San Francisco.

The media has taken this completely out of context! he exclaimed with some amusement. As a treatment for medical conditions, Botox is often administered in very high strengths and yes, some complications have been noted there. But these dosages are not comparable to those used in aesthetic treatments.

Scare tactics aside, if you are thinking about BOTOX treatments, here are three important questions to ask yourself:

1. Is there anything in my health history that could recommend against it. (If you have any neurological disorder, first discuss possible complications  with your internist.)
2. Am I bothered by facial wrinkles in areas that BOTOX could soften? (i.e. forehead, crows feet, neck cords, etc.)
3. Can I afford this expense on an ongoing basis (every 3-5 months)

Tune in for Part 2 on Botox next week.

Beauty Within

                Beauty Without . . .

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Lois W. Stern

Can’t WE Redefine BEAUTY Without Narrowing Women’s Choices?

Have you heard the latest? We now have an “anti-cosmetic league” composed of a group of beautiful actresses rallying against plastic surgery. This tight knit group of UK pals – Kate Winslet, Rachel Weisz and Emma Thompson – have banded together to promote this cause.

Jumping on the natural beauty bandwagon has women around the world taking “the pledge” against plastic surgery.

On the one hand I applaud these women for raising consciousness about our culture’s obsession with anti-aging and physical perfection, but what does this message say to the rest of us? Women like Winslet, Thompson, and Weisz were blessed with good looks as well as the financial resources to explore all possible self care venues. Most likely they have a bevy of hair stylists, personal trainers, and fashion/beauty consultants at the ready to help them keep up appearances. Can these beauties really know what the everyday women in her 50s and 60s is feeling and thinking? Furthermore, with ages ranging from 36 to 52, these beauties are still relatively young. I wonder if they have yet reached that moment of truth while looking in the mirror or hearing a hurtful, appearance-related comment?

With women being so self-critical, they just don’t need to have more guilt heaped upon them. Most women who choose to improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery already feel some ambivalence. They are at the crossroads of conflicting values. They want to feel better about their physical selves, but don’t want the baggage that comes with that decision. On top of it all, they don’t need to be told that their actions are immoral.

Both cosmetic surgery and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures offer solutions to women’s complicated needs and wants. As results became more natural and pleasing and procedures became safer and more cost effective, the door opened to overuse, abuse and misuse. We now have everyone from family practioners to back door charlatans offering quick and inexpensive anti-aging solutions. Consumer beware!

In a recent Huffington Post article, psychologist Vivian Diller points a crystal clear finger at the probem and a positive direction for refocusing:
Is an anti-cosmetic surgery league the best remedey to an anti-aging obsessed culture? Need we condemn women who opt for dermatological or cosmetic procedures if they chose them to feel better about themselves? Do these famous – and gorgeous – celebrities need be so sanctimonious about it all?

Instead, how about we all join together to become clearer about the choices we have – surgical or otherwise – while we challenge the unrealistic images created by the media and the dangers they present for women trying to achieve them. Isn’t working together against the narrowing definition of beauty – rather than narrowing of women’s choices – our ultimate goal?

I say amen to that.

Have a beautiful life in all respects!