Cosmetic treatments blog posts and news

New National Trend Data For Cosmetic Surgery And Treatments

Noses in Northeast, Tummy Tucks in the South, Breast Reductions in the Pacific Northwest

Despite the down economy, cosmetic procedures continue to be a hot topic across the country as people research various treatments they may consider in the future. But does where people live affect what’s hot and what’s not in cosmetic makeovers? Our geographic based search data suggests the answer is “yes.”

Here are some highlights:

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3 Truly Odd Plastic Surgery Requests

1. Help me get past casino security

Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Fleming was visited by a professional gambler wanting plastic surgery. "He wanted to totally change his physical appearance because he was being monitored in Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos." Dr. Fleming refused to do the surgery for obvious reasons.

2.  I want to look good -- dead

Kamran Jafri, MD, a New York City Facial Plastic Surgeon, was asked to do a facelift by a terminally ill cancer patient so "she would look her best for her funeral."  He declined to do the surgery. "I did advise her on some skin care regimens that would improve some of the blemishes that had occurred on her face during her treatment," said Jafri.

In Kentucky, a 78 year old woman contacted plastic surgeon Dr. Randy Waldman and asked for a nose job. "I asked her why she had waited so long and she replied that she had always wanted a different nose and now that she was getting up in years she wanted to make sure she looked good in her coffin," explains Dr. Waldman.

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Latisse Side Effects: What Are Women Really Experiencing?

The FDA yesterday issued a letter to Allergan regarding their lack of warnings on the Latisse Web site about possible side effects of using the eyelash lengthening product, claiming the company is misleading consumers.

Top rated cosmetic treatment

At RealSelf.com, Latisse turns out to be one of the highest rated procedures, with 86% of those who’ve used Latisse believing it was worth it. Side effects are certainly discussed, yet the most controversy has swirled around whether or not to buy the generic version of Latisse, the glaucoma drug Lumigan.

By way of background, Latisse was approved by the FDA this past December, and since then has become a popular treatment for those looking to enhance their eyelashes.

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6 Things Your Doctor Wishes You Wouldn't Do

Doctors are here to tell you what to do -- but there's also plenty they really, really wish you wouldn't do. Here's just a few of the things they'd prefer if you refrained from -- because we know you want to be the best patient possible, too.

1. Run to the mirror right after a procedure expecting an INSTANT! RESULT! 

So says Dr. Jonathan Hoenig, an oculoplastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. Almost every cosmetic procedure takes a little while -- or longer -- to show it's full effect, and if someone promises you "instant results," you might want to think twice about how effective the procedure will end up being. So even if you look a little bruised or sensitive immediately post-procedure, don't worry -- you won't look like that forever.

2. Utter the words, "But that's not what they said on 'Oprah.'"

No disrespect to Ms. Winfrey, but several doctors we talked to complained that the Queen of All Media's often mesmerizing air of authority can make patients think that Oprah's the one with the MD, not them. And, yes, she does have good doctors making intelligent judgments on her show, but keep in mind what works for some might well not work for you. (The same goes for infomercials.)

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5 Things You Need To Know About Sculptra

The big news in facial injectables last week was that Sculptra Aesthetic, manufactured by Sanofi-aventis, was approved by the FDA for aesthetic use in all patients. Until then, Sculptra (sans the "Aesthetic" tag) was largely used only for immune-deficient patients, including those with HIV, who had suffered significant facial fat loss associated with their disease.

Notwithstanding the recent FDA stamp of approval, RealSelf's community has been asking our experts about Sculptra for a while now, and here's a few of the things they've learned:

1. Sculptra can last up to 2 years.

Sculptra works by stimulating collagen production in the skin, and doctors stress that results are gradual. However, after anywhere between 3-5 treatments on a four-to-six-week-frequency basis, the consensus is that the treatment will last about two years. 

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Claim Check: Easy Injections That Smooth Cellulite, Zap Fat, And Erase Dark Circles!

The Claim: Mesotherapy -- an injection of vitamins, drugs, and enzymes -- and carboxytherapy -- carbon dioxide gas injected under the skin -- can do everything from reduce cellulite to spur weight loss to clear dark circles under your eyes.

The Background: Carboxytherapy and mesotherapy have became quite popular recently, especially in New York City, with some practitioners claiming the carboxytherapy, in particular, could work its magic in just five minutes per treatment and in just a few treatments.

The Reality: To begin with, the two treatments aren't even FDA approved for the uses for which they've been touted. The overwhelming majority of our community who have tried it haven't liked it. And RealSelf's expert response has been unequivocal: Steer clear, at least until some claims have been proven.

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Kat Von D Tells RealSelf: True Love And Tattoos Don't Mix

Kat Von D -- tattoo artist extraordinaire, reality TV star -- might be the queen of ink, but even she knows there's one thing you probably shouldn't get engraved onto your skin.

"I'd have to say getting a boyfriend or girlfriend's name tattooed on them is the most common tattoo regret," Kat tells RealSelf. "Relationships don't always last as long as the tattoos." But if you're going to get inked and want to avoid that Oh-Jesus-what-did-I-just-do feeling afterward, says Kat, do your homework: "Research is the one thing that is neglected the most."

If you want to keep certain tats hidden from, say, potential employers, vigilant grandparents, or officers of the law, you can always use Kat's new Tattoo Concealer. But, says Kat, if you're "really determined" to get that ink erased for good, do it right: " I would recommend doing your research on the most experienced dermatologist in your area that does tattoo removal."

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4 Ways Dysport Could Be Better Than Botox

Dysport, the latest injectable wrinkle treatment, has finally arrived as the first true competitor to Botox. And already the RealSelf community is finding out from our docs just how Dysport might amount to serious competition to Botox.

It's still early in Dysport's run -- very early, we should stress -- but here's what we've been hearing from medical experts about what Dysport could do better than Botox.

1. Dysport could act faster. 

Botox typically takes 3-7 days to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles and lines. According to the doctors on RealSelf, Dysport could start to show its effect in as little as a day. Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Carmen Kavali, who has administered Dysport injections, has observed results "as early as 1-2 days after treatment."

2. Dysport could last longer.

In most studies, Dysport is lasting about 3-4 months, about the same as Botox. But, as our medical experts point out, some studies in Europe show Dysport might last even longer than Botox. It hasn't been out long enough here to know yet -- but you can be sure RealSelfers and docs will share their experiences with the community.

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Claim Check: A Laser That Melts Inches In 2 Weeks!

The Claim: It's a non-surgical laser that will melt fat (like, inches of it!) in 2 weeks.

The Background: On Twitter we saw a post from @myzerona (the twitter handle for Zerona) that a laser could melt fat without surgery.

The Reality: The medical experts at RealSelf were quick to respond to (and dispute) the Zerona claim.

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Lifestyle Lift Slammed For Deceptive And Illegal Posting By NY AG -- And How RealSelf Protects Our Community

Earlier today, the New York state Attorney General announced it fined Lifestyle Lift, the "facial-firming" mini-lift company, $300,000 for posting fake consumer reviews on the Internet.

Lifestyle Lift is actively discussed on RealSelf, with one million visits made to RealSelf.com content related to the treatment in the past year by both previous patients and those considering the plastic surgery procedure. With over 180 reviews of LifeStyle Lift, 36% of past patients felt the procedure was worth it.  

The Attorney General accused Lifestyle Lift of tricking consumers "into believing that satisfied customers were posting their own stories" about the product. This deception, said the AG, constituted "deceptive commercial practices, false advertising, and fraudulent and illegal conduct" under New York and federal laws.

Last year, Lifestyle Lift and RealSelf settled two lawsuits, one a trademark infringement claim by Lifestyle Lift, and the other a counter-claim by RealSelf based on this same issue of fake postings.

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