Men and Women Purposely Saw Legs in Half to Grow Taller
Originally meant to improve dwarfism or uneven limb growth, limb lengthening surgery is now also offered as a cosmetic procedure. Men (and women) are paying up to $53,000 to purposely saw their legs for the possibility of growing 2-6 inches taller. No, this is not a magic act. It is a real surgery.
Addicted to Big Lashes? There's a Name for That
Do you suffer from Eyeagra Latissma (eye-AG-ra la-TEES-ee-muh)?
First you bought an eyelash curler, but after a while your lashes still looked too small. Then you tried falsies -- too mush hassle. Now you're a daily Latisse user, but still you wonder if your lashes couldn't be just a little bit thicker.
If that sounds like you, then the answer is yes, according to Mike Albo in W Magazine. He devised some tongue-in-cheek names for increasingly common beauty addictions.
7-Year-Old Gets Boobs for Birthday, Lipo for Christmas
Remember the woman who gave her daughter a boob job gift certificate for her 7th birthday? Well she must've noticed that no one was talking about it anymore, because for Christmas the youngster received another certificate -- this time for liposuction.
Bride Spends $20,000 on Pre-Wedding Surgeries
How much are you willing to pay to look picture perfect at your wedding? If you’re Linsey Ray, that magic figure is $20,000, the same amount she’s spending for the entire wedding. While many wouldn’t dream of paying that much, Ray, who hopes to look like a princess walking down the aisle, tells ABC News, “It’s worth it for me.”
PIP Implant Scandal Spurs Some UK Clinics to Cash In
The PIP medical scandal has prompted some UK clinics to take advantage of potential victims - by charging fees just to find out if implants were made by the now-defunct manufacturer.
Despite the growing fears that many women may possibly be carrying ticking time bombs in their bodies, the Daily Mail reports that some private clinics in the UK are making money off the medical scare.
5 Cosmetic Procedures Your Insurance May Cover
Cosmetic procedures are not cheap, so wouldn’t it be nice if insurance covered the cost for you? Though few and far between, there are some cases when a doctor can identify a legitimate medical problem that necessitates the procedure -- obligating your insurance to chip in.
Here are 5 procedures that insurance may cover -- along with what they will and won't pay for.
24 Stories We Won't Forget from 2011
It's a new year, and time for new content. But first I wanted to round-up some of the most memorable stories from the RealSelf blog in 2011...
Former Head of Manufacturing Knew French Implants Were Potentially Defective
The former head of the now shuttered manufacturer PIP has admitted to knowing that the gel used in the implants was inferior.
Jean-Claude Mas confessed through his lawyer today that Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP) knowingly used inferior gel in their breast implants. According to Mas, there were apparently two types of gels utilized to make their implants, a high-grade gel intended for wealthier patients that paid for higher quality and a low grade, non-tested version used to meet "economic objectives" and sell more implants.
Update: France Will Pay to Remove 30,000 Breast Implants
In an unprecedented move, the French government has offered to pay for the removal of 30,000 potentially toxic breast implants.
As we previously reported, a now-defunct French company called Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP) was found to have filled the implants with industrial grade silicone instead of medical grade. Apparently the external capsule is also poorly made, making them more prone to rupture.
Good News: People with Facial Disfigurements Aren't as Depressed as You'd Think
The anguish of living with a facial disfigurement may seem like a lot to bear, but new research published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons demonstrates that patients with facial scars and deformities are psychologically on par with those without disfigurements. According to Dr. Sarah L. Versnel, reconstructive surgery, self-esteem development, and therapy all appear to contribute to “relatively normal” mental functioning.
Woman Has 10 Plastic Surgeries, Is Promoted to CEO
Will cosmetic enhancements help advance your career? That’s the experience of one 55-year-old woman who had 10 plastic surgeries, which not only overhauled her look, but her professional trajectory as well. In an anonymous interview with O Magazine, she credits her physical changes in elevating her from a mere employee to a full-fledged CEO.
You might not expect someone to be taken more seriously following a boob job (amongst other procedures), but this woman says looking great got her attention from executives who suddenly wanted to include her in exciting new projects. Consequently, she considers the time and money put into the surgeries an investment toward greater overall success and makes no apologies for her approach.
Santa Makeover: What Plastic Surgeons Suggest for St. Nick
Like a true media-shy celebrity, this week’s headline maker never divulges his real age. But we heard it through the toy-assembly line that Rudolph’s comments about “too many cookies” and casting calls for “hefty, elderly-looking men” to play him on TV were starting to get to a certain jolly old man.
Just for fun, we decided to ask a few plastic surgeons who are in touch with their humerus bones (sorry, had to) what they would recommend if ol’ St. Nick walked into their office looking for help.
So Santa, if you’re reading this, here are your options. Better make appointments now to avoid the New Year’s makeover rush!
30,000 French Women Received Defective Breast Implants
Over 30,000 European woman have discovered they received defective breast implants filled with industrial grade silicone (a potentially lethal poison) vs. safe medical grade silicone.
The breast implants in question were made by a French company called Poly Implant Prosthesis (PIP). An investigation last year uncovered cost-cutting measures that had the manufacturers making implants with weak exterior cases filled with silicone traditionally used to manufacture computer parts or mattresses. The cheaper models were likely to rupture or leak into the body causing irreparable harm. The company has since closed.
Protesters Rally Against Labiaplasty at Muff March
Time Magazine named “The Protester” its 2011 Person of the Year, but it’s not just political and economic issues that are leading to dissent: cosmetic vaginal surgeries are also leading people to picket.
Two weeks ago in London, hundreds of women – and some male supporters of natural vaginas alike – flooded the streets to speak out against how pornography makes women feel insecure with their own genitals.
Jennifer Aniston Admits Using Cosmetic Injectables
Another A-lister has caved in and admitted – at the very least – she has tried cosmetic enhancements. Jennifer Aniston, recently named the Hottest Woman Alive by Men's Health, is the surprise celeb of the week.
In this month's InStyle magazine, the 42-year-old actress discussed her beauty regimen and the subject matter of anti-anging injectables came up as many fans think she has steadily used things such as Botox, Restylane, etc.
Week in Photos: Laser Rejuvenation
We've been doing "Photos of the Day" on our social media accounts for a while, so it seemed like to time to round 'em up at the end of the week. This week's photos focused on the ever fun device, lasers! Except these aren't destroying planets or correcting vision, they're rejuvenating skin.
(LEFT) CO2 Laser -- Dr. Jonathan Hoenig
Medical Spas Face More Scrutiny Over Safety
If you typically get your anti-aging injections at medical spas, you may notice some changes in the near future. Last month, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a new policy with the goal of protecting patients regardless of the setting and type of medical care they are receiving.
As it currently stands, procedures that are not deemed “medically necessary” are not always subject to the same standards as those that are considered medically necessary. For example, someone who injects Botox might not be required to have appropriate training and supervision. But just because Botox isn’t essential to one’s health, doesn’t mean it can’t endanger a patient when applied improperly.
Breast Implant "Swallowed" by Body During Pilates
“Woman's breast implant 'swallowed' by her body during pilates” says FOX News. “The woman [59], a cancer survivor, had undergone a double mastectomy and had then gotten breast implants. Her ribs had also been weakened after a heart operation.”
Freaking out yet? Not surprising if you have, want, or know someone with breast implants. Even if they don't do Pilates!
What FOX doesn’t really answer is: Could this happen again?
FDA Takes Aim at Popular Scar Fading Gel
Hybrisil, a prescription-only scar treatment gel, has come under fire for not complying with FDA standards.
In a letter dated November 17, 2011, the FDA states that the product’s maker, Crescendo Therapeutics, “does not have written procedures in place for the surveillance, receipt, evaluation, and reporting to FDA of adverse drug experiences pertaining to the drug HybriSil.”
Legendary Supermodels Talk Aging and Plastic Surgery
An upcoming documentary asked some of the best past supermodels such as former America's Next Top Model judge, Paulina Porizkova (left) and Mick Jagger's ex, Jerry Hall, how they felt about plastic surgery and aging. Their answers were both candid and quite comical.
How Kate Middleton Gets Her Practically Perfect Smile
What is the secret to the new Duchess of Cambridge's perfect smile? A French doctor in the UK is behind the exclusive technique.
Woman Who Lost 282 Pounds May Need Plastic Surgery
In a country faced with an obesity epidemic, massive weight loss is always highly praised. It’s revered enough to earn folks like 20-year-old Natalie Strawn a segment on Good Morning America. But what’s rarely talked about is what happens to your body cosmetically when the fat is gone. And the results may make dieters just as self-conscious as the extra pounds.
Want a Celebrity Body? Here's What It'll Cost You
Let's face it, celebrity bodies are what pop culture bases most of our beauty standards on. It's fairly common for people to express interest in a celebrity feature. But what I'm always left thinking when we talk about how celebs stay beautiful is the fact that they have TONS of money to spend on the best ways to do it.
Thankfully the folks over at New Beauty (who know what it takes to look your best) put together this list of how much it would cost the average woman to be red-carpet-ready...
Jason Torres Spent over $313,000 to Turn Himself into Barbie
Cindy Jackson and Sarah Burge have some competition! Someone else is vying for the title of "Real Life Barbie." What makes this person different is that they started out as a "Jason." Becoming Barbie for him was a bit more...well, difficult.
H&M Models are Computer Generated
Did you know that H&M puts real model's heads on computer generated bodies??
“It’s not a real body; it is completely virtual and made by the computer,” H&M press officer Hacan Andersson told a Swedish newspaper. At least they're honest about it...
Did DWTS Lacey Schwimmer Succumb to Hollywood Pressure?
Has Dancing with the Stars' Lacey Schwimmer gotten a boob job? According to an inside source, she's had that and more.
It's not too surprising to hear that another Hollywood celeb (albeit, not quite D-List) has gotten some work done. In Tinseltown, they just call it Friday (or whatever day of the week it is). Regardless, the 23-year-old pro dancer has tongues wagging with her updated look and Us Weekly is confirming the whispers.
Madonna Keeps Hands Looking Youthful with Non-Surgical Treatment
When pondering how to look younger, it's easy to forget one fairly prominent area -- the appearance of our hands. Is it possible to “make over” aging hands, too?
A new procedure in the UK is being hailed as the one-stop solution to age spots, sun damage, and wrinkles that plague our hands as we get older. It’s called the CACI, short for Computer Aided Cosmetology Instrument. The treatment uses a combination of microdermabrasion, electrotherapy and LED light therapy to remove dead skin cells, stimulate collagen growth, and improve blood flow and circulation (which plumps up the skin, making hands appear younger).
The Couple That Lipos Together...
Common interests and activities are an important part of a thriving relationship. Some couples attend concerts, some play golf, and still others… have plastic surgery? It may sound surprising, but that’s a trend that MSNBC is noticing anyway. As the husband of the couple featured in this story tells his wife, “If you’re gonna look good, I want to look good!”
Kate Middleton Chooses Bee Stings Over Botox
How does Kate Middleton keep her skin so youthful? The newest member of the Royal Family is turning to bee venom in place of Botox to reduce signs of aging.
We told you last spring that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has been using this same beauty regimen. Apparently, Camilla thinks the treatment is the bee’s knees and couldn’t help buzz about it to Middleton. While most commoners head to salons for these special facials, Kate and Camilla are said to receive home visits.
The Right to Write: Medical Justice Pulls Anti-Doctor Review Contracts
The company that encourages doctors to ask you, the patient, to sign away your right to free speech on the Internet, is backing down in the winds of a law suit.
Medical Justice provides doctors and dentists with contracts that essentially prohibit their patients from writing negative things about them online. To be more specific, they give the provider copyright ownership of whatever the patient writes about them. So if you have a bad experience with your dermatologist and write about it on Yelp, they could ask you to edit it or take it down because, technically, they own the rights to it.
