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Women's Self-Image and Sexual Satisfaction Increase After Cosmetic Surgery
Patients Positively Weigh In On Liposuction
Keep up with the latest news in cosmetic surgery and aesthetics.
NEW YORK, July 20, 2005
(CBS) Jan Leighton is an actor who bills himself as "The Man Of 3,000 Faces," and now he's about to have one more.
As CBS News Correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports, the 84-year-old is about to have a facelift.
"OK, so I look at myself, and I say to myself, 'I could be a little younger. a little bit hanging here,'" he says.
Over the last five years, the number of men having plastic surgery has increased by more than 700 percent, and many of the men making up that new statistic are men in their late 60s, 70s even their 80s.
"I'm not surprised that men are getting plastic surgery," says Helen Fisher, a sexual anthropologist. She says the definition of "middle age" is expanding in America.
"Demographers now say middle age should be up to age 85, and we've got more and more men in their 60s and 70s who feel middle aged, are middle aged and want to look middle aged," Fisher says.
So some men take it into their own hands, or at least a good surgeon's hands. Aging actors, like Michael Douglas and retirement age rockers like Ozzy Osbourne, are rumored to have been nipped or tucked.
And while they're not talking, their faces tell the story, just like the growing group of grandparents in Dr. Mark Erlich's book of "happily-ever afters."
Erlich says age alone no longer disqualifies a patient.
"There are people who are 50 who are medically unfit for doing cosmetic surgery, and there are patients that are 80 that are totally fine," says Erlich.
Erlich says some seniors say they want cosmetic surgery to keep up with their younger wives or girlfriends, while others, like Leighton, insist they need it to prevent their careers from sagging.
"You can be passed over like that, by virtue of your gray hair or bags under your eyes," he says. Leighton adds that hurts no matter what age you are.
"I just wanna be what I feel that I am," he says. "And besides which, I might have a whole bunch of relatives, progeny that might be waiting for my money. why not spend it on me?"
After the surgery, Leighton shows off his latest face in his repertoire. Sure it's a stretch, but at 84-years-old, he says he's ready for a second act.
Twelve habits, ranging from diet to exercise, can help your patients fight obesity and disease.
By Brandon Heiberger, MD
Twelve tips can help your patients fight obesity and disease.
With advances in modern health care, the 20th century witnessed a dramatic increase in lifespan. Yet, the latter half of the century also ushered in an era of processed foods, ubiquitous chemicals and sedentary lifestyles. The result is a diseased population.
Consequently, we're in the throes of many epidemics, including obesity, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and heart disease. We keep prescribing more drugs and ordering more tests, but our patients are getting sicker. This is the first generation in modern history with a decreased projected lifespan.
Are we going to let this decline occur on our watch? It's time to put down the prescription pad for a moment and focus on the roots of disease. Many preventable factors cause or exacerbate most disease processes. These include smoking, lack of exercise, processed foods, over-reliance on pharmaceuticals and stressful lifestyles.
Shortcuts to mental and physical well-being simply do not exist. A healthy lifestyle is the only way. Unfortunately, patients believe everything can be fixed with a miracle pill.
This, of course, is not the case. We must continually emphasize the role good nutrition and regular exercise play in maintaining all aspects of health. As physicians, we must be tenacious in driving these messages home during all of our patient encounters.
A healthy lifestyle relies on the following fundamentals.
1. Stop smoking. If your patients smoke, helping them stop is the No. 1 health care priority. Don't gloss over this fact to get to easier conversation material, such as which new combo of antihypertensives will be tried next. Hound your patients until they stop-if not for their sake, then for society's. Smokers cost the United States a minimum of $157 billion a year in direct medical expenses and lost productivity.
But at the same time, sympathize with them. Let them know you're aware of how addictive nicotine is. The tobacco industry also is aware. Hence it enhances the nicotine to enslave more consumers. It's a difficult addiction to overcome, but many state health departments offer plans for quitting, even free patches. Whether it's patches, gum, lozenges, therapy or hypnosis, do whatever it takes to help your patients end this addiction.
2. Water. Replacing soda with water is probably the single most effective lifestyle change for permanent weight loss. Water is the basis of life. Soda is carbonated syrup with refined sugars and chemicals. Even diet sodas, with their artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, have been linked to altered appetites and weight gain.
Water (even tap water) is superior in every way to soda. Tell your patients to try to drink eight glasses of water daily (8 ounce glass). If they must have something sweeter, then juice is a healthy alternative. But it should be 100 percent juice and with lots of pulp.
3. Whole grains. Now that people are finally realizing the Atkins diet was a dangerous sham, carbs should no longer be vilified. How could carbohydrates be considered evil when they're one of the three basic nutrients? Clearly, it's the type of carbs that matter. Simply put, the label must say "whole" grains. "Enriched" flour sounds good, but it's just a euphemism for "nutrients processed out."
Whole grains are good for all aspects of physical and mental health, particularly the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system and attention span. People should choose whole grain cereals, breads and pastas. Brown or wild rice should replace white rice.
4. Avoid saturated and hydrogenated fats. Before the low-carb craze, low-fat meal plans dominated the diet landscape. But fat is not the culprit. Rather, it's the type of fat. The saturated fat in red meat and dairy needs to be held to a minimum. Even worse are the artificial fats created by the food corporations for the sake of extending shelf-life. Hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated and trans-fats make up this dysfunctional family of artificial fats. They cause a host of medical problems, most notably clogging the arteries and adversely affecting neurons.
Try to steer your patients toward the beneficial fats found in fish, flaxseeds, nuts, soy and vegetables. The best oils are extra virgin olive oil, canola and flax.
5. Protein. If we shouldn't eat the saturated fat in red meat, then where can we get protein? Many patients believe they cannot receive sufficient protein without red meat, but this is simply not the case. There is more than enough protein in whole grains, nuts, beans and vegetables to support growth at all stages of development, including pregnancy. Soy is the ideal source, since it contains all of the essential amino acids, plus healthy fat and phytonutrients. If your patient scoffs at the idea of moving toward a vegetarian diet, then recommend fish and organic poultry. Veggie meats offer a tasty alternative to red meats.
6. Colorful fruits and vegetables. These phytonutrients (beta carotene, lutein, lycopene) not only make whole, unprocessed foods nutritious, they add a full spectrum of color. That's why the more colorful the fruits and vegetables, the more health benefits people receive. Ideally, people should eat organic, locally grown produce. However, frozen vegetables contain most of the original nutrients, and even canned vegetables have plenty of health benefits. Fiber, vitamins and minerals are found in abundance, but the most important benefits may be derived from the phytonutrients. Foods with the highest amounts of phytonutrients are pomegranates, blueberries, apples, spinach, cherries, cranberries, watermelon, spices/herbs, tomato sauce, red grapes, red wine, green tea, whole grains, and yes, dark chocolate (but not milk chocolate).
7. Green tea. If your patients insist on drinking coffee or tea, urge them to switch to green tea. Copious amounts of antioxidants and phytonutrients in green tea are effective at combating a wide array of diseases, particularly heart disease, infections and cancer. Heart patients should drink no more than two cups daily, however, because green tea contains a small amount of caffeine.
8. Red wine. For centuries, a variety of robust cultures have consumed red wine for strength. Research now shows why. Red wine helps prevent and treat heart disease, high cholesterol, infections and possibly, cancer. Red wine is made with grape skins. Thus, it retains a wealth of antioxidants and phytonutrients. Strongly advise drinking no more than one or two glasses daily, however. If your patients abstain from alcohol, tell them to eat red grapes for many of the same benefits.
9. Daily multivitamin. Nearly everyone can benefit from a daily multivitamin with minerals. Diseases, as well as depression, have been linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, particularly a lack of B vitamins. True, a perfectly well balanced diet meets all nutritional needs, but nobody's perfect. Besides, the origins (topsoil) of nearly all our food has been over-farmed and depleted of minerals. A daily multivitamin is a safety net. An additional 500 mg of the antioxidant vitamin C is also a good idea, especially when ill. Consider adding additional chromium to your diabetics' regimens, and a calcium/magnesium/vitamin D combo supplement for those with osteoporosis or fibromyalgia.
10. Omega-3 fatty acids. While all the recent interest in omega-3s may seem to be hype, assure your patients this is not a fad. The current American diet has gradually been leeched of omega-3 fatty acids. This is a dangerous situation because deficiencies are linked to diseases of inflammation (arthritis, autoimmune), the central nervous system (dementia, ADHD) and the cardiovascular system (atherosclerosis, elevated triglycerides).
The best sources of omega-3s are fish, flaxseeds, flax oil and fish oil capsules. Children and pregnant women should eat no more than two servings of fish per week. Recommend wild salmon and "light" tuna as the fish highest in nutrients and lowest in contaminants. Lesser amounts of omega-3s also can be found in canola oil, walnuts, wheat germ and soy.
11. Exercise. I cannot overstate the importance of regular exercise, so don't just pay lip service to this. Every patient encounter should include at least one question (and answer) about physical activities. Strongly encourage your patients to keep mentally and physically fit by exercising a minimum of 30 minutes a day, four days a week. Ideally, have them aim for 60 minutes a day, six days a week, especially if they're trying to lose weight.
If they're not accustomed to physical exertion, then start them off slowly with low-impact activities, such as gentle stretching, gardening, walking, Pilates, water aerobics or tai chi.
Strength training is just as important as aerobic activities. It builds up the muscles around the joint space to prevent (and treat) arthritis and lower back pain. Beginners can start with small dumbbells, stretch bands and modified push-ups.
Generate enthusiasm for exercise. Give your borderline hypertensive and pre-diabetic patients a challenge to exercise away their diseases rather than starting them off on lifelong medications. Be sure to start inactive patients of all ages on exercise regimens that match their abilities.
12. Reduce stress. Remind your patients that stress has physical as well as psychological manifestations. The best example you can give is the "stress" ulcer. Irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia and some ischemic events are other examples of the mind affecting the body.
Unfortunately, modern life hasn't put the average American mind in a happy place. Job satisfaction ratings are sinking while personal debt skyrockets. Between 1990 and 2000, credit card debt nearly tripled. Patients suffering from anxiety and depression may simply have too much on their plates. It's easy to become a victim of consumerism, so people must stay vigilant. Buy less, work less and get more sleep. This is simple advice, but it means more coming from a concerned doctor than a nosy grandmother.
Women's Self-Image and Sexual Satisfaction Increase After Cosmetic Surgery
Body image and sexual pleasure, including orgasm, enhanced after aesthetic makeovers
from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
New York, NY (February 16, 2006) - Aesthetic Surgery Journal today released new data from a study on the impact of aesthetic plastic surgery on body image and sexual satisfaction. Women who undergo common elective cosmetic surgery procedures not only feel better about their bodies, but also have higher degrees of satisfaction with their sex lives, including ability to orgasm. Women in the study who had undergone aesthetic procedures were more sexually satisfied, reported that their partners were more sexually satisfied, dressed to enhance their new figures, and were apt to try more and different sexual activities post-surgery. The greatest benefits were seen in women who had breast augmentation/breast lift and/or body contouring procedures. The study was published in the January/February 2006 issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the peer-reviewed publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
"This data is particularly interesting because several studies have suggested that women are not motivated to undergo aesthetic surgery to improve their sex lives. It appears that the improvements in sexual response are an unexpected benefit,' said Dr. David Sarwer, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University Of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and lead editor of Psychological Aspects of Reconstructive and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery: Clinical, Empirical, and Ethical Perspectives, published last fall.
According to the study, women who had facial aesthetic surgery (e.g., rhinoplasty, face lift), breast augmentation or lift and/or body contouring surgeries (e.g., tummy tuck, liposuction) experienced a high degree of body image satisfaction after surgery. Many also reported sexual benefits for themselves and their partners, which were most pronounced in the group who underwent breast or body procedures. While women who underwent facial procedures experienced enhancements in body image, they reported significantly fewer improvements in psychosexual outcomes. This research suggests that the physical modifications achieved by major aesthetic plastic surgery procedures have far-reaching effects on body image, sexual satisfaction and relationships."Patients in the study showed an unexpected, but important benefit: increased satisfaction with their sex lives after plastic surgery," said Guy Stofman, MD, chief of plastic surgery at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and lead author of the study. "This study is important because we were able to objectively measure a significant quality of life benefit after cosmetic surgery."
"The benefits of cosmetic plastic surgery appear to go beyond enabling patients to feel better about their physical appearance," commented Mark Jewell, MD, President of ASAPS, which publishes Aesthetic Surgery Journal. "It also extends to her most intimate and personal moments. These new data in a peer-reviewed scientific publication will add a lot to how we measure the outcomes of cosmetic procedures.
Of 70 women who completed a survey about their postoperative psychosexual life, more than 95 percent reported improvements in body image, regardless of the type of surgery they had received. After surgery, 81 percent of the 26 breast surgery respondents and 68 percent of the 25 body surgery patients experienced improvements in sexual satisfaction, compared to 32 percent of the 19 facial surgery patients. Seventy-three percent of breast surgery patients and 56 percent of body surgery patients also perceived an increase in their partners' sexual satisfaction, compared to 21 percent of facial respondents. Remarkably, 31 percent of breast and 52 percent of body patients reported that they could achieve orgasm more easily after surgery. Only one patient (5 percent) in the facial surgery group reported a similar improvement in ability to orgasm.
About ASJ
Aesthetic Surgery Journal is the official, peer-reviewed publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and is the most widely read clinical journal in the field of cosmetic surgery, with subscribers in more than 80 countries.
from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)
New York, NY and Arlington Heights, IL (January 12, 2006) - The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) have joined forces to raise awareness about the dangers of unlicensed personnel performing medical cosmetic procedures in non-clinical settings. Recent cases of patients receiving BOTOX® and tissue fillers at shopping malls, beauty salons or in their homes by individuals without sufficient training or licensure caused concerns among clinical and public health experts. Cosmetic procedures, including tissue filler injections, laser therapies, chemical peels and skin resurfacing, should only be done under the care of properly credentialed and trained medical professionals using only products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"There are some misconceptions among patients about the true nature of non-surgical cosmetic procedures. Non-surgical does not mean non-medical," said Mark Jewell, MD, president of the Aesthetic Society. "Patients deserve to know who is treating them, what their qualifications are, who the supervising physician is, and where the product is coming from. These are questions patients should ask."
Over the last few years, there has been explosive growth in non-surgical cosmetic procedures, often performed in retail or spa-like settings. Unlike physician offices where clinicians oversee the treatment and maintain medical records, spa-type centers may have limited or no full-time medical staff and may lack the experience or training to handle more than routine beauty services. Patients need assurances that a qualified and trained practitioner will perform their procedure appropriately, under sanitary conditions, and with product where the quality and source is known and FDA approved.
"In many situations, physicians appropriately provide oversight for patient care in a variety of medical settings," said Bruce Cunningham, MD, president of ASPS. "Our concern here is that physician supervision in non-surgical cosmetic procedures may be inadequate or non-existent and that the individuals performing the treatments lack adequate training to safely perform the procedures. Our purpose in convening a patient safety group on this issue is to ensure that patients have the information they need to make the right decision. While spas and salons are convenient for cosmetic medical treatments, this should not be at the expense of safety and expertise."
The Societies will continue to be vocal advocates for patient safety as it relates to these procedures and work collaboratively with other medical societies, allied health professionals, and industry to raise awareness of the dangers of such procedures being performed by unqualified or untrained professionals. A Joint ASPS and ASAPS Advisory on Injectables and Fillers: Legal and Regulatory Risk Management Issues, released last year, underscores the two societies' position: "The administration of injectables and fillers is a medical procedure and is subject to the same precautions of any medical procedure..It is the physician's responsibility to ensure that the non-physician administering the injectables or fillers possesses the proper education and training."
Patients Positively Weigh In On Liposuction
Study Confirms Adoption of Healthy Diet and Exercise Key to Successful Outcome
from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
For Immediate Release: May 5, 2006
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Patients are weighing in on liposuction, the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedure in 2005, and resoundingly saying they would have the procedure again. According to a study in May's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 80 percent of patients were satisfied with their results and 86 percent would recommend the procedure to family or friends.
"Liposuction is one of the most satisfying procedures for patients and most effective at eliminating localized fat," said ASPS Spokesperson Jeffrey Kenkel, MD, study co-author, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "The majority of patients recognize their role in maintaining positive results and pursue a healthy diet and exercise. These patients typically maintain or lose weight after surgery, while those that do not may gain small amounts of weight. Ultimately, one's lifestyle can affect long term-results."
According to the study, approximately 57 percent of patients reported no weight change after having liposuction - 46 percent of these patients actually reported a weight loss, losing an average of five to 10 pounds in less than six months. Forty-three percent of patients reported gaining weight, with the majority gaining between five and 10 pounds more than six months after surgery.
Fifty-five percent of patients reported an average decrease of three dress sizes after liposuction. Thirty-five percent said their clothing size did not change.
Thirty-three percent of patients reported exercising more after the procedure, while 58 percent had no change in their exercise regimen. In addition, 44 percent reported eating a healthy diet, while 53 percent reported eating the same.
More than 323,600 liposuction procedures were performed in 2005, according to ASPS statistics. In this study, the thighs and abdomen were the most common liposuctioned areas, followed by the hips, buttocks and knees.
This study received a Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation (PSEF) Scientific Essay award. The award is given for excellence in study design, writing, research and clinical findings.
Since 1975, PSEF, the educational and research arm of ASPS, has provided more than $5.3 million to plastic surgery researchers for the development of innovative procedures and treatments that benefit reconstructive and cosmetic patients today. Funding for plastic surgery research is made available through the ongoing financial support of ASPS Member Surgeons who are committed to advancing the art and science of plastic surgery.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
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James J. Barber, M.D.
301 Ohio River Blvd., Suite 204
Sewickley, PA 15143
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