Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Selecting a Plastic Surgeon

Although plastic surgery is usually a voluntary choice, you should treat it as seriously as any other medical procedure. Here are some thoughts on selecting a plastic surgeon.

If you were to be told you needed surgery to resolve a medical issue, you would take some basic steps. You would want to know exactly what was involved, the possible results and the risks of going ahead. In most cases, you would also want to get a second opinion, particularly if there were significant risks associated with the surgery. If a specialist were doing the surgery, you would undoubtedly want to know about their qualifications before agreeing to the procedure. Although plastic surgery is an elective surgery, you should treat it the same way.

The decision to improve your appearance through elective surgery should not be taken lightly. As with any surgery, you should consult with at least two plastic surgeons to get a full understanding of your options, the potential results and any risks. In making the final choice, there are some basic questions you should get answers to:

1. Is the plastic surgeon board certified? Board certification is a sign the surgeon has undergone significant training and continues to do so. You can confirm certification for any plastic surgeon by calling the American Board of Plastic Surgery at 866-275-2267.

2. Has the surgeon perform the surgery on previous occasions? If so, how many times?

3. Assuming the surgeon has done the surgery before, do they have before and after pictures?

4. What are the possible results from the surgery including potential risks?

5. Where will the surgery be performed and does the surgeon have privileges at a hospital?

6. As odd as this question may sound, will the surgeon actually perform the entire surgery? Some surgeons will allow assisting physicians to take active roles.

As with any surgery, you want a plastic surgeon that is highly qualified and experienced. Surgery is a serious matter, so do not shop by price.

Ricardo de Silva is with PlasticSurgeonPractices.com a directory of plastic surgeons.
By Ricardo Silva

Monday, November 05, 2007

Colorado Lasik Vision Correction - What Is The Cost?

The cost of Lasik surgery can vary wildly depending on where you have the procedure, and Colorado Lasik vision correction is subject to the same market forces as everywhere else. You'd think that a surgery like Lasik, one that's done so often and on so many people, would run pretty much the same price no matter where you go. But there are a lot of variables - how expert the doctor is who'll perform the procedure, for example, and what sort of a facility you go to for your Lasik procedure. The eye centers at hospitals use a different fee structure than a private practice doctor, for example, and private physicians have different levels of overhead costs, which drive the prices they charge patients. Feesd are also based on your prescription, too - the more work that the doctor needs to do to correct your vision, the more it may cost.

Taking a look at Colorado lasik vision correction, for instance, you'll find that fees vary from a low of about $500 per eye to over $2,500. That's huge range of fees, isn't it? The good news is that the price usually includes all of your pre-surgery and post-surgery care, including office visits. Often, the cost of the procedure is driven by the amount of money that the individual doctor's office has invested in the equipment to perform the surgery. New techniques like Wavefront Lasik creates a three-dimensional computerized "map" of the surface of your eye, and the procedure is far more precise than previous methods of laser corrective surgery.

This equipment is pricey - over $100,000 - and the physician also pays a fee of around $200 to the manufacturer each time they use the equipment, much like musicians pay a royalty fee when they use someone else's songs. Whether the eye doctor is in Denver - where rents for office space are quite high compared to other cities in Colorado - or in a less metropolitan area, if you add in the cost of gowns, masks and other accoutrements plus overhead like rent on the office and utilities, insurance and salaries for staff, and you can not only see why the procedure is expensive, but why the price varies from eye doctor to eye doctor.

As with medical procedure, you should research different eye doctors and clinics for both their cost and their reputation, ask for referrals, and base your decision on a combination of factors. Don't automatically go for the least expensive Lasik surgeon in the Colorado White Pages - these are your eyes, after all, and you don't want to cut corners. But don't assume that the most expensive eye clinic is the best, either. Look for a doctor with plenty of up-to-date training, excellent patient references, and a price that doesn't break the bank for colorado lasik vision correction.
by Dean Iggo

Complications with LASIK

LASIK, surgery to reduce or eliminate the need for eye glasses, has become very popular over the past 5-10 years. While most cases proceed quite well, the potential for complications does exist, and is often not discussed prior to surgery. It should be noted that all but one of the complications is NOT due to surgeon error. Most potential problems are simply physiological, and have nothing to do with how well the surgeon performed the procedure.

The first is infection. While topical antibiotics are employed prior to, and after the surgery, there is always the possibility of infection if the individual is exposed to an infectious agent. The cure is simple; proper follow up and more antibiotics. There is minimal risk of further issues.

The second, is movement of the flap. This will occur if the individual rubs his/her eye before the flap has had proper time to reattach itself to the underlying tissue. The patient will experience pain, blurry vision and redness if this occurs. It is an emergency, and does require being brought back into surgery to move the flap back into position. Once this is done, the individual should heal normally without further complications. This flap movement tends to occur more frequently when Intralase (laser is used to lift the flap) is performed. While the incision is more precise, it results in a very thin flap which tends to move easier post surgically. Once the flap heals though, the incision area is barely noticeable.

The third complication is epithelial (outside) cell growth under the flap. This may occur days to months after surgery. These cells grow around the edge of the flap, and move inward causing haziness under the flap. When this occurs, the flap must me lifted up and these epithelial cells washed away. No further problems will occur after this procedure is done.

The fourth issue is striae, or wrinkles in or under the flap. This is corrected by lifting the flap and flattening it out. No long term issues after this point.

Issue five is extreme swelling often called " Sands of the Sahara", because it looks like a sand dune to the examining eye doctor. This may occur more frequently, but is dealt with higher doses of steroid eye drops to reduce the inflammation. As with the other complications, the results are most often successful.

The final and most serious of the potential complication is ectasia. This occurs when the inner most layer of the cornea, the endothelium, has irregularities in it. If this issue is not detected prior to surgery the final results after LASIK may be terrible. The patient may have poor, distorted and irregular vision that is NOT surgically correctable, nor corrected with glasses. Most often the individual will either have to wear hard contact lenses, and may even require a cornea transplant to improve his/her vision. This complication is the only one that could be surgeon related. A test called the Orbscan MUST be performed prior to surgery, and the potential for ectasia can be easily detected. NO INDIVIDUAL SHOULD EVER consider LASIK with out having an Orbscan done. Any office that does not have an Orbscan should not perform LASIK.

As with all surgical procedures, patients must be comfortable with the surgeon and the office they choose, and understand all the potential complications prior to surgery.

Jay B Stockman O.D. is a practicing doctor for New York Vision Associates and a prolific write. Visit http://newyorkvisionassociates.com for more information.
by Jay Stockman

Laser vision surgery Toronto

Studies have shown that a large percent of the global population suffers from eye disorders commonly known as refractive errors. Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism affect a lot of people, forcing them to wear corrective prescriptions such as glasses or contacts. Laser eye surgery has been able to remove this refraction flaws using surgical procedures so as to shape the cornea.

The removal of corneal tissue with the excimer laser is the basic operation performed by laser vision surgery Toronto experts. They use precise and commanded skills, rectifying the refractive incorectness and allowing people not to depend on glasses or contact lenses anymore. This type of surgical procedures are presented on the Internet, people having instant access to the websites of laser vision surgery Toronto specialists.

Laser eye surgery Toronto doctors can explain all the steps of the procedure, pre and post surgery expectations not to mention potential complications. It is important to understand everything there is to know about laser corrective eye surgery before taking any final decision. As any other operation, there are certain risks and you must be fully aware of the ones related to eye laser surgery.

Today, laser eye correction surgery is on everybody's lips. You hear a lot of people talking about it, stating how much their vision was improved and how quick the procedure was. They enjoy not having to wear corrective prescriptions and they are always prepared testify the efficiency of laser eye surgery Toronto. Corneal irregular asymmetry can now be corrected with one of the three methods available for laser eye correction surgery, meaning LASIK, PRK and LASEK.

From the methods mentioned above, by far the most used is LASIK. It represents a safe and rapid surgical procedure, in which a slender level of the cornea is raised in order to make a flap. The cornea is then reshaped with the excimer laser and the flap placed back at is place. There are many advantages to LASIK eye surgery but the main ones refer to the recovery period and better healing results.

LASIK vision eye surgery Toronto doctors perform this procedure knowing how much good it can do a to a pacient and also being aware of the fact that patients describe very little soreness afterwards. After the operation, eye laser surgery patients may experience a blurred vision and discomfort; however, these consequences of the LASIK eye surgery will pass the following day and they may even return to work in a couple of days.

The eye is perhaps one of the most important parts of our body. It helps us sustain one of our basic senses, the eyesight and is responsible for gathering a large percent of the information from our surrounding environment and not only. LASIK vision eye surgery Toronto specialists perform a pre-surgery careful analysis of the patient, making sure that this procedure is right and that they understand the information provided.

With the help of the Internet, patients interested in LASIK vision eye surgery Toronto can now benefit from a free consultation and read all about refractive surgery. They can check our every method for reshaping the cornea and see for themselves if they match the required criteria. Online, doctors explain in a comprehensible manner how the excimer laser ablates the cornea, thus providing faster healing of the cornea tissue and helping the patients to recover their eyesight much more quickly.

Physicians working for LASIK vision eye surgery Toronto clinics have complete confidence in this method. It can help people with all kinds of refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. Accurate refraction is easily obtained and people no longer need compensatory devices. With laser corrective eye surgery Toronto experts and their many years of experience, people can now regain their sharpness of vision and enjoy life once more. by Clint Jhonson

The Risks of Lasik Surgery

The first Lasik eye surgery was performed in 1998; so long term data on the effects of Lasik eye surgery are not available. While Lasik eye surgery has been marketed as a quick and painless way to improve the vision of those afflicted with nearsightedness, Lasik eye surgery may do more harm than good if performed negligently.

Lasik eye surgery procedures are meant to correct faulty or myopic vision, sometimes this procedure has tragic results. To lose your vision as a result of the negligence of a medical professional is a very serious thing.

The Pros and Cons of Lasik Eye Surgery
Undoubtedly, thousands of Americans see better because of Lasik eye surgery - but this procedure is not necessarily right for everyone. Anyone considering Lasik eye surgery should always consult their Lasik eye doctor about the benefits and possible complications of a Lasik procedure. It is important that a potential Lasik patient receives all the information available to make an informed decision.

Lasik is a fairly new procedure for vision correction. It involves surgery of the cornea. A knife, called a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the cornea. This flap is lifted out of the way and the doctor reshapes the corneal tissue with a laser. The flap is replaced and quickly adheres to the eyeball. There are no stitches involved. A shield, either plastic or metal, is placed over the eye to protect the flap.

While thousands of people have had Lasik, It does not necessarily mean you will have perfect vision. You may have to return in the future for additional surgery to fine tune your vision. It is also important to remember that there can be serious side effects associated with Lasik eye surgery.

The possible negative side effects of Lasik eye surgery include:

- Loss of lines of vision on a vision chart. - Debilitating visual symptoms, such as glare, halos and double vision. - You may develop severe dry eye syndrome where the eye doesn't produce enough tears to keep the eye moist. - For far sighted patients, your results may diminish with age.

Don't forget that there are no guarantees in medicine, so it is important to make an informed decision in choosing a Lasik eye center and a Lasik eye doctor.
by T. Daniel Frith, III

How much is the LASIK Cost?

LASIK eye surgery is not usually covered by insurance. It is considered an elective, not medically necessary, procedure. This means that a person must pay for their LASIK surgery themselves. Usually this is done through financing since LASIK can be quite expensive.

The cost of LASIK surgery varies due to a few different factors. The surgeon is going to be one variable. More well-know surgeons will charge more then others. Additionally, surgeons with more training will charge more. The equipment is another factor in the cost of LASIK. If a surgeon is still paying off their equipment then they will reflect that in their prices. If a surgeon is using older equipment then he may charge less. Also, newer equipment is considered superior so surgeons using the newer equipment will charge more. There are also different types of lasers used. Some are more expensive then others and this is carried over in the price of the LASIK surgery.

The location can also affect the price. Some regions are higher priced then others. Generally, larger more populated areas will charge more for LASIK then smaller areas.

There have been some discount LASIK surgeons that have popped onto the market. It is usually recommended to avoid discounted surgery because the surgeon may not have updates equipment or the proper training which is why they can offer discounts.

When it comes to LASIK eye surgery, the cost is a major factor. Most people have to secure financing, so knowing the cost ahead of time is important. The best way to find out about LASIK eye surgery costs is to do research in your own area. The cost of LASIK varies so much that it is hard to give a general idea of the cost.

You should find a handful of LASIK surgeons in your area and start calling around to get price quotes. This should give you the best idea of what LASIK eye surgery will cost you. It will be the most accurate and you will also be able to find out what surgeon interests you the most through using this method. You may also be able to find a surgeon who offers their own financing.

LASIK eye surgery can be life changing, Unfortunately, insurance companies do not see it as being necessary, so until they decide to start offering coverage for LASIK, people who want ht surgery are going to have to find their own way to pay for it. Prices have come down as it has become a more common procedure, but it is still a pretty good investment. Planning for the financial aspect of LASIK eye surgery is something that a person must do to ensure their surgery goes smoothly.
by Joseph Then

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Reasons to Seek Cosmetic Surgery

Your motivations for pursuing cosmetic surgery are important issues that your cosmetic surgeon will discuss with you during a consultation. The reasons behind your decision to change part of your body need to be explored by you and your surgeon to help you attain satisfaction with your cosmetic surgery procedure.

As you consider cosmetic surgery, you should avoid making a snap emotional decision perhaps based on a hurtful comment or unpleasant episode. You also need to learn what you can realistically expect from cosmetic surgery. For example, a tummy tuck can smooth the contours of your torso and significantly alleviate problems you may have with stretched skin, but for some people it is not going to make you “super model” thin.

Appropriate Reasons to Pursue Cosmetic Surgery

Self Improvement: Your desire to improve yourself in your own eyes is a reasonable goal. Sometimes people undergo cosmetic surgery simply because it is an available option for increasing personal satisfaction and enhancing self image. For example, you may be dissatisfied with the size of your breasts and therefore seek breast augmentation cosmetic surgery. As long as you want breast augmentation for the sake of satisfying your own desire for a fuller bustline, then you may have a healthy outlook. Basically, it is best to realize that cosmetic surgery will not change how others regard you. Cosmetic surgery is about how you feel about yourself. When we do Beverly Hills cosmetic surgery, we always find that people are happiest when they do the procedure for themselves.
Relieve Discomfort: Cosmetic surgery can also provide some patients with relief from physical discomfort while improving appearance. For example, if your abdominal skin and muscles are stretched out by multiple pregnancies, then the loose flesh may be making it difficult or impossible to find pants that fit comfortably. Also loose folds of skin can cause skin irritation. In such a situation, a tummy tuck would give you cosmetic benefits and allow you to wear pants in comfort and avoid skin irritation. Beverly Hills liposuction can also provide improvements in many similar situations.
Reduce Aging Effects: Cosmetic surgery is traditionally associated with the reduction of the signs of aging on the face and body. This remains a primary motivation for cosmetic surgery candidates. No one likes watching their youthful skin and physique fade with the years, and your desire for rejuvenation is reasonable. The important factors in this situation are keeping your expectations realistic and not counting on people to treat you differently just because you improved your appearance with surgery. The unique characteristics of your body and your age will determine how much change can be obtained with cosmetic surgery.

When you go to a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon, be prepared to discuss your motivations. This way you will have had a chance to think things through yourself before your cosmetic surgeon describes what is possible and appropriate for you. A careful analysis of your feelings about your body will guide you toward a positive outcome whether or not you ultimately get cosmetic surgery. The procedure can enhance your lifestyle, but always remember that it will not change who you are.
By: Lloyd Krieger-7577

Kids and Plastic Surgery: When Should A Surgeon Get Involved?

A boy that is shy and self-conscious because of the size of his ears.

A girl suffering from a broken nose after a soccer game injury.

A child born with a cleft lip.

Each of these cases is a prime example of how plastic surgery can intervene, and improve the child's lifestyle now and well into the future.

Plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is defined as a variety of operations performed to repair or restore body parts to look normal, or to change a body part to look better. These types of surgeries are highly specialized, and undergo careful preparation of the person's skin and tissues to ensure minimal scarring. With technological advances, the options available today are amazing, and can provide a world of relief to an insecure or injured child.

Plastic surgeons offer two types of surgery.

Reconstructive – procedures that correct birth defects or traumatic injuries. These would include cleft lips and ear deformities, as well as car and sports injuries, dog bites, and burns.

Cosmetic – procedures that alter a part of the body a person may have previously been uncomfortable with. This may include rhinoplasty (reshaping the nose), or otoplasty (repositioning protruding ears).

According to the ASPS, over 333,000 people 18 years and younger had plastic surgery in 2005, up from about 306,000 in 2000. And like cosmetic surgery for adults, the numbers will keep climbing as technology increases the options available.

While adults typically choose plastic surgery to stand out from the crowd, children and teens choose plastic surgery to fit in with their peers. Plastic surgery allows them to blend in with their friends, and reduce the chance for name calling over differences.

Is plastic surgery the right choice for your child?

Ultimately it's a very personal decision.

Reconstructive surgery is almost always a great choice. Repairing significant defects or problems will not only improve a child's looks, but help improve their self esteem as well. The teenage years can be difficult times with peer pressure, and eliminating differences can help a child blend in, and reduce being the brunt of jokes. It can allow a child to concentrate on what's truly important – school and friendships – instead of worrying about the next round of laughter or rude comments.

Cosmetic surgery is a preference that is dependent on the child and the procedure. A doctor may spend time with a child to discover why the procedure is important to him or her, and to decide if the child is ready for the requirements and demands of surgery.

Above all, be honest and upfront with your child, providing they are old enough to be a part of the decision. Find out as much as you can and talk through all of your questions and concerns. The more informed you are, the easier the procedure will be. Once you have the facts, decide which procedure is right for you.
By: Dr Randolph C Robinson-12244

Plastic Surgery Procedures - Find a Plastic Surgeon

Alex Kuczynski spent $100,000 before she realized she was addicted to cosmetic surgery. Now the 39-year-old author of ”Beauty Junkies” is ready to tell her story.

“I hardly wear make-up anymore. I’ve spent 10 years dyeing my beautiful brown hair blonde and bleaching it to straw. I used to get a manicure and pedicure once a week (until I) discovered I have really nice fingernails with beautiful half-moons in them. What is amazing to me, having given up the Botox and collagen injections too, is how much time I have and how much money I save,” said the daughter of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, the former Prime Minister of Peru.

The mad rush to look beautiful and be perfect has forced many Americans to have cosmetic surgery – many of which are unnecessary. In 2004 alone, 478,251 Americans had liposuction; 334,052 had breast enhancement surgery; 290,343 had surgery to alter their eyelids; and 166,187 had rhinoplasty or nose jobs.

“Tens of thousands had more esoteric surgeries. New procedures include belly-button enhancement, nipple enlargement, and lower body lifts (to remove the excess folds of skin resulting from gastric bypasses),” according to Helena De Bertodano in The Times Online.

Like most Americans, Kuczynski was also caught in the beauty trap. Living in New York City pressured the style writer of the New York Times to compare herself with others and seek endless ways to beautify herself. This led to one cosmetic procedure after another.

“I always thought I would never ever do anything because in my view it was just not something that intelligent people did. (Cosmetic surgery) was considered the purview of dopey Hollywood starlets and aging Palm Beach housewives. I think that what happened is it somehow became OK, not only OK but required, to care about your outer carapace. It sounds bizarre but it’s almost as if it is disrespectful to show up in a business meeting with a huge furrow between your eyebrows,” she said.

With that in mind, Kuczynski began her slow but painful descent into the world of cosmetic surgery. It began with Botox injections to erase the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, her forehead, and her eyebrows. From there, she had collagen implants to fix her nose, liposuction to remove some excess fat from her thighs, and she even had her eyelids done.

“I had spent $6,000 - about the annual salary of the average Hungarian, Mexican or Korean - to correct a minor imperfection of my body, a flaw so trivial that ultimately no one, not even my fiancĂ©, would ever notice a difference. I was a junkie with a problem,” she confessed.

While attending the funeral of a close friend, Kuczynski couldn’t wait to have Restylane injections on her upper lip to look more like Angelina Jolie. She left the funeral to get the shots hoping to return there in a few minutes to make a speech. She never made it back.

Her lip swelled and it took some time before things returned to normal. By now, she realized her mistake and swore never to do anything to herself again.

Before you decide to have any cosmetic procedure, ask yourself: is it worth the risk? Do I really need it and am I ready to face the consequences? While generally safe at the hands of a skilled doctor, cosmetic surgery can hurt both you and your wallet. That’s why a lot of people are turning to non-invasive and natural ways to stay beautiful. One of them is Dermaxin, a potent anti-aging cream that can take years off your face without harming your health.
By: Frank

Obesity Surgery and Weight Loss Surgery

Also called: Bypass surgery, Gastric banding, Obesity surgery

If you're very overweight and can't lose pounds with a healthy diet and exercise, surgery might be an option for you. The surgery is usually for men who are at least 100 pounds overweight and women who are at least 80 pounds overweight. If you are somewhat less overweight, surgery still might be an option if you also have diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.

Severe obesity is a chronic condition that is very difficult to treat. For some people, weight loss surgery helps by restricting food intake or interrupting digestive processes. But keep in mind that weight loss surgery is a serious undertaking. You should clearly understand the pros and cons associated with the procedures before making a decision.

In order to understand how weight loss surgery works, you need to first understand how the normal digestive process functions.

Speaking of alternative weight loss methods, have you tried any other approaches? Many individuals are able to successfully lose weight with healthy eating, exercise, and weight loss products, like diet pills. While there are some individuals who opt for weight loss surgery right away, there are others who only use it as a last resort. Although weight loss surgery, like gastric bypass surgery or lap-band surgery, is more than worth it, you may be able to lose your excess weight without having to spend a large amount of money doing so.

Another factor that you should take into consideration, when determining if weight loss surgery is right for you, is your health. If you are overweight, have you been noticing any other health problems or has your doctor outlined the importance of losing weight for your health? If this has happened, you may not have a choice when it comes to undergoing weight loss surgery. For some individuals, weight loss surgery is, literally, lifesaving.

As it was previously mentioned, two popular weight loss surgeries include gastric bypass surgery and lap-band surgery. While there additional weight loss surgeries that you can undergo, these two are the most popular ones. The surgery that you would like to undergo is also important when determining whether or not weight loss surgery is your best option. For instance, gastric bypass surgery requires the stapling of the stomach, whereas lap-band surgery involves an adjustable or removable band. When deciding which weight loss surgery you should undergo, your decision will need to be made in conjunction with a healthcare professional.

Any weight loss surgery should be done so after careful consideration; several in-depth talks with your doctor and surgeon, discussions with your loved ones (because after all, you are talking about a major change in your appearance and that will affect everyone in your life, not just you). Understand the risks involved, weigh out the pros and cons and proceed on the best course of action to get you back to a healthy life.

What Is The Cost of Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery?

Bariatric gastrointestinal surgical operations cost about $25,000 or more, depending on the experience of the surgeon, the medical team, the surgical procedure and the level of post-op services chosen.

Is Obesity Surgery Dangerous?

Yes. Both types of bariatric surgery (gastric banding and gastric bypass) involve major operations lasting one to two hours (longer if performed laparoscopically) and patients typically need three to five nights in hospital. The first night following the operation is usually spent in a high dependency unit or intensive care environment.
By: Frank

Liposuction And Plastic Surgery On The Rise For Men

If you were asked is it men or women who get plastic surgery and liposuction more, most would invariably say women. Although that is true, the popularity of cosmetic surgery among men in the U.S. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgery among men has increased steadily since 2001. This makes up an increase of over eight percent. Also according to the ASPS, men received a new record 1.1 million cosmetic procedures. Listed were everything from Botox to all forms of liposuction. In turn that makes male cosmetic surgery a $12.2 billion-dollar-a-year industry.

In a recent article in Men`s fitness, "Surgery goes hand in hand with the rising trend of improving health and fitness. People are taking better care of themselves and want to look as good as they feel" says Richard A. D`Amico, M.D., president-elect of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "The old myth about plastic surgery was that it was a lazy-person`s substitute for diet and exercise. Nothing could be further from the truth. The best use of plastic surgery is for it to be part of a healthy lifestyle that is lifelong."

Men are still in the minority though, making up roughly 10% of patients. Plastic surgery was once reserved for those elite in Hollywood and for public figures, now with costs coming down, and its popularity increasing, Cora Daniels of Men`s Fitness says, "Increasingly, plastic surgeons are seeing relatively young, fit, everyday men--guys just like Joe--flood their reception rooms. And for men in their 20s and 30s, body contouring of all forms has never been more sought after."

Daniels claims, "Whether you`re overweight or just unhappy with your body shape, coming to terms with the body you`ve been given can be a lifelong struggle. And it never gets easier." Fact is the number of fat cells all humans have is already determined by the time a person hits puberty (give or take a year). When you gain weight you are not increasing the number of fat cells you are just expanding them. Daniels continues, "the distribution of those cells, and how much they can contract, is completely beyond our control."

According to Daniels, "experts say male fat tends to be more localized and less stretched by things such as pregnancy, so if you do choose to go the surgical route, at least you can expect good results."

So if you are a guy and contemplating cosmetic surgery, consider these five things you should know before you take the plunge. "Forget the word cosmetic and remember the word surgery" warns FOAD NAHAI, M.D., president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. His tips are only have the procedure completed by a surgeon certified by the ABPS. Always go for a consultation before surgery. You should also feel comfortable with that doctor, and if you are not, find a new one. Always, always, always get references and see prior work of the doctor you have chose. Make sure the procedure is being performed at a facility that is accredited by the state in which it is being done. Finally, take your time in making the decision. You should be 100% absolutely sure you want to proceed, before you do
By: Bruce A. Tucker