The study, which involved 2,500 respondents, revealed that women are still more eager to have some nip and tucks than men; however, it does not mean that male patients are quite rare in cosmetic plastic surgery. In fact, they accounted for about 10 percent of all cosmetic surgeries in the US.

According to the finding, 28 percent of female respondents said they would consider cosmetic surgery, while 18 percent men favored the procedure.  Meanwhile, the study was conducted between January 5 and 9 on US adults aged 18 years and older.

In addition, 9 percent of women aged between 18 and 44 said they have used online coupon to enjoy discounts on cosmetic procedures such as Botox injection, laser skin resurfacing, and other non-invasive treatments.  On the other hand, about 22 percent of respondents who have not used “daily deal” said they would consider using it.

About 31 percent of women between 18 and 44 years old said they would consider online coupon to enjoy discounts of cosmetic procedures compared to 23 percent of men in the same age bracket.

While non-invasive procedures are usually offered by online companies that promote discounts vouchers, surgical treatments such as breast augmentation and facelift are quite rare.  However, it did not stop Groupon from offering up to 50 percent discounts on aesthetic surgeries.

But in November 2011, the popular online company has been accused of being irresponsible as it seemed to pressure consumers to buy vouchers for a limited time period.  According to Advertising Standards Authority, the practice clearly violated a provision by the British Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) prohibiting cosmetic doctors from offering “date-linked” incentives.

While people have different views on plastic surgery, it is important to remember that the procedure is a serious decision to make; in fact, any ethical doctor would require a lengthy consultation to determine if a patient is qualified or not to receive a certain procedure.

A qualified patient should be physically healthy, emotionally mature, and well-rounded individual who can understand the ramifications of plastic surgery, including not just the benefits but also the potential risks.  It is also important that he or she has realistic goals and expectations with a certain procedure.

In 2004, teachers in the school district had received plastic surgery worth around $1 million, which then ballooned to $5.4 million annually.  But in 2009, it seems that they were “extra” conscious with their appearance that the cost of their elective procedures were estimated to have reached a whopping $9 million—enough to pay 100 educators if they will be given an average salary.

According to reports published by The Buffalo News, 100 percent of the procedures were elective, and 9 out of 10 were skin treatments.

This seemingly extravagant perk started in the 1970s as a way to help teachers pay the cost of reconstructive plastic surgery.  But probably because of the city’s disorganized collective bargaining system, cosmetic surgeons have found ways to advertise their services to educators.

Teachers have started enjoying cosmetic plastic surgery in 2004, with its usage almost tripling just after six years of its introduction.  Meanwhile, it has been estimated that 500 employees were taking advantage of the free aesthetic procedures.

After the scandal has been publicized by several newspapers, even some of the officials from the Board of Education agreed that the whopping cost of plastic surgery proves to be extravagant almost to a fault.

However, it may probably take some time before the plastic surgery perk is scraped off.  Since 2004, Buffalo’s public school teachers have been working without a new contract, and with a state law that allows public employees to work under the last contract’s terms, it simply means that they can still enjoy the rider, including a 2.5 percent annual increase in salary.

It may be appalling to know that in August, the school district laid off 117 staff members.  And with the $5.4 million annual expenses from cosmetic surgeries performed on teachers, the money could have prevented at least 100 of educators from losing their jobs.  But perhaps one consolation is that those who are able to keep their works are still sitting pretty—literally.

In an effort to avoid layoffs, the school board requested to suspend the cosmetic surgery rider for at least a year.  However, the union declined because they wanted to deal with the issue during a full contract negotiation.

To remove or at least minimize the signs of aging around the eyes, plastic surgeons use blepharoplasty or what is more commonly known as eyelid surgery.  Depending on the location and amount of excess fats and skin, this procedure may involve the upper or lower eyelid, or sometimes even both.

If the procedure will involve both the upper and lower eyelids, doctors usually work first on the excess, drooping skin in the upper eyelids which in severe cases can even affect the vision of a patient.  This is done by making a discreet horizontal incision along the natural crease of the skin so the scars will not become noticeable.

Through the incisions, plastic surgeons can trim off the excess skin and fats and then tighten the remaining part to eliminate the sagging appearance.  And once the necessary alterations are completed, they will close the surgical wound using tiny sutures.

To remove the fatty deposits and excess skin along the lower eyelid, doctors make a horizontal incision in the lash line.  But if the bulging fats are the only problem, the surgical cut is usually made inside the eyelid that will enable surgeons to remove or redistribute them more evenly.

While the incisions are commonly created by a scalpel or surgical knife, some plastic surgeons use laser beam which is said to be more accurate and safer since it minimizes bleeding.

As a stand-alone procedure, blepharoplasty can make a drastic result, although this is commonly used to complement other facial rejuvenation surgeries such as face lift, neck lift, and forehead lift.

However, patients should remember that this procedure is only designed to remove the excess, loose skin and fats around the eyes but it cannot eliminate or reduce the appearance of wrinkles and furrows.  For this reason, they can ask for complementary treatments such as botox injection, facial fillers, microdermabrasion, and laser resurfacing.

As with any cosmetic surgery, blepharoplasty is associated with recovery and risk of complications, although patients can reduce these by carefully following their doctor’s pre- and post-operative advice which may include avoiding aspirin and other “blood-thinning” medications, quitting smoking, using eye cream to prevent infection, wearing sunglasses to protect the eyes and incision sites, and avoiding activities that may strain their eyes such as reading, using computer, and watching TV.

Perhaps secretary of state Hillary Clinton is the most perfect example of a politician who seems to have had several plastic surgery procedures.  The rumors are hard to ignore as she looks almost 15 years younger today than when she was still the first lady.

Cosmetic surgery expert Dr. Tarick Smaili, who did not treat Clinton, said that she might have undergone eyelid surgery, neck lift, and face lift possibly complemented with Botox injection.  And with her glowing skin, the surgeon added that she had probably resorted to laser skin resurfacing, chemical peel, or dermabrasion.

If you would look Clinton’s previous photos and television appearance, you might notice that she had wrinkles and prominent crow’s feet in the corners of the eyes, and deep creases across her forehead—problems which can be easily treated with soft tissue fillers and Botox injection.

But nowadays, the secretary of state looks more youthful and rejuvenated.  Gone are the sagging skin in her neck and the undefined jaw line, probably due to face and neck lift.

While facial rejuvenation surgeries are enough to erase up to 15 years off your face, skin resurfacing treatments such as laser, chemical peels, and dermabrasion can further make the countenance more youthful by removing or at least minimizing the appearance of sunspots, fine wrinkles, and skin discoloration.  These treatments are also known to correct the leathery, dry skin caused by too much sun exposure and natural aging.

Although good makeup can also do wonders on one’s face, it would be difficult—if not impossible—to achieve the dramatic improvements in Clinton’s appearance.

While some people may think that cosmetic plastic surgery for politicians is superfluous because they are not expected to look just like a celebrity, some may need this “medical enhancement” particularly if their countenance looks haggard or even angry (even if they are not) because of the sagging skin around their eyes and jaw line.

As superficial as it may sound, several studies have proven that our brains judge a person’s traits based on his face—and an angry or tired look caused by sagging skin may not be good to a politician who must appear likeable, competent, and approachable to voters.

According to plastic surgeons, there are three manifestations of facial aging: photo damage from the sun’s harmful ray, loss of fat in the face, and development of hanging skin.

During the previous years, the favored treatment to remove the effects of aging has been facelift.  When the signs of aging recurred, another procedure is done, and so on.  Unfortunately, after the second or third plastic surgery, the face no longer looked natural and had a “windswept appearance.”

Over the last 10 years, plastic surgeons have been acknowledging that aging does not only involve sagging skin.  With this, they developed “isolated” facelift techniques and non-invasive procedures to complement the surgery and further remove the effects of aging.

For younger patients aged between 40 and 50, most plastic surgery specialists recommend “isolated” facelift surgeries such as brow lift, eyelid lift, and mid facelift which is arguably the most popular.  Through these minimally invasive procedures, facial rejuvenation now involves shorter recovery, less risk of complications and minimal bleeding, and is more effective in removing the signs of aging.

To treat the loss of volume in the face especially in the upper eyelids, tear trough (area below the lower eyelid’s fat bag) lips, temples, and cheeks, plastic surgeons recommend the use of “volumizers” or facial fillers.  In most cases, they use a patient’s own fats from the tummy which are purified and re-injected to plump up the skin and fill in the hollowed area in the face.

Meanwhile, there are some alternatives to fat injections which include Radiesse, Restylane, Juvederm, and Sculptra which is also known as “liquid facelift.”  Regardless of which facial filler is used, this usually lasts for several months to a year which means that additional procedure is needed to plump up the skin.

Another popular complementary procedure for facelift plastic surgery is laser treatment which can improve the appearance and texture of the skin and remove discolorations such as freckles and sun spots.  In some cases, chemical peels, creams, and microdermabrasion can also be used to treat photo damage in the skin.

To address the effects of aging in the eyes, plastic surgeons use a procedure called blepharoplasty or what is more commonly known as eyelid surgery.  To date, this cosmetic surgery comes in several techniques to create a more natural result and address the main problem.

If blepharoplasty involves both the lower and upper eyelids, most surgeons work first on the sagging, excess skin in the upper eyelid by making a tiny incision along the natural fold of the skin.  In this way, the scars will blend in and will not be noticeable in any circumstances.

Through this incision, plastic surgeons can trim away any excess skin, reshape the muscle, and reattach the remaining tissue for a more youthful look.  During this procedure, they are very careful in removing the sagging skin since eliminating too much of this usually leads to unnatural “wide awake” appearance.

After making the necessary adjustments in the upper eyelid, doctors will then close the incision sites with tiny sutures.

Instead of using scalpel or knife to create incisions, some plastic surgeons use laser beam which not just creates a more accurate cut but also reduces bleeding and swelling by cauterizing (the process of sealing off the blood vessels and skin by heating them) the treated area.

To perform lower eyelid lift, doctors in LA plastic surgery usually create a discreet incision below the lower eyelashes; through this tiny cut, they can remove the excess skin, fat, and muscle, or in some cases, redistribute the fatty deposits to minimize puffiness and uneven swelling.

For patients who have minimal under eye bags, cosmetic surgeons prefer a different incision technique.  Called as the transconjunctival method, they create several incisions inside the lower eyelids to remove or redistribute the fats without trimming any skin.

In this new approach in lower eyelid surgery, there is no risk of visible scarring since the incisions are made inside the eyelid and patients can expect shorter recovery.  But since the surgery does not involve the removal of skin, this is not ideal for people who need the most correction.

To date, plastic surgeons are using different liposuction techniques to target a specific area, provide the most desired result, and/or lessen the surgical trauma.

These are the basic types of liposuction:

• Wet liposuction

Plastic surgeons perform this procedure by injecting a small amount of solution made up of saline, local anesthesia, and vasoconstrictor directly into the fatty area.  This fluid is said to loosen the fatty deposits and minimize bruising and surgical trauma.

• Super wet liposuction

This also uses the same process of wet liposuction; the only difference is that plastic surgeons use a greater amount of solution—about the same volume of the fats that are expected to be eliminated.

According to plastic surgery specialists, this approach further minimizes bleeding and surgical trauma, although some patients may still need general anesthesia.  Occasionally, they can have the IV sedation which is combined with the fluid and local anesthesia.

• Tumescent liposuction

In US plastic surgery, this liposuction technique is probably the most commonly used due to its effectiveness and safety.  In this procedure, doctors also inject fluids to destroy the fat cells just like in wet and super wet technique.  However, the injected solution is usually three to four times the amount of target fats to make it easier for doctors to manipulate the cannula and break up the fatty deposits.

The tumescent liposuction technique is typically performed under local anesthesia, making this significantly safer compared to earlier fat removal techniques which use general anesthesia.

Several studies have proven that this technique lowers the risk of surgical trauma, bleeding, swelling, bruising, and toxicity as the epinephrine (one of the ingredients in the tumescent solution) constricts the blood vessels and spreads the effect of the other drugs.

• Ultrasound liposuction

Doctors perform this technique by using ultrasonic waves that can emulsify the fats, thus making them easier to be removed.  This energy may be transferred internally through the use of cannula, or externally via paddles which are passed over the skin.

The ultrasound liposuction, particularly the internal method, is ideal for treating fibrous fats which are commonly found in the male breasts, upper back, and calves.

To address the drooping skin in the upper eyelids and “sagginess” around the eyes, cosmetic plastic surgeons use blepharoplasty or what is more commonly called as eyelid surgery.

With the advancement in US plastic surgery, most doctors today use a new technique in eyelid surgery that involves incisions created by lasers.  While there many types of lasers that are used in this procedure, most plastic surgeons prefer the CO2 as it can cut tissues and cauterize blood vessel at the same times, resulting to minimal bleeding.  And because the laser can create tiny, accurate incisions, there is no visible scarring after the procedure.

Most cosmetic surgeons in LA plastic surgery agree that laser eyelid surgery is significantly safer and easier to be performed compared to the traditional approach which involves the use of knife or scalpel when making incisions.  In addition, this new technique can lower the cost of surgery as it is performed under local anesthesia (which is cheaper than the general anesthesia) and does not involve an overnight stay at a hospital.

Despite the safety of laser, patients should still remember that any plastic surgery involves risk of complications particularly to those who have serious medical conditions such as diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, delayed healing, kidney disorder, etc.  For these reasons, it has become a standard in US plastic surgery to require patients to undergo physical examinations that will determine their candidacy for any cosmetic procedure.

It is very important for patients to only consult with plastic surgeons who have board certifications and expertise in laser eyelid surgery.  In this way, they can avoid or at least lower the risk of serious complications such as excessive scarring caused by skin becoming darker or lighter, damage to the cornea, or lower lid turning outward.  (While certain types of laser do not involve these types of complications, they do not provide satisfactory result unlike the CO2.)

If necessary, botox injection or facial fillers are performed following an eyelid surgery to remove the “crow’s feet” and wrinkles between the eyebrows.

To rid themselves of cellulite’s hated, dimpled fat, women (and some men!) have tried enough creams, lotions, tonics and elixirs to float a battleship, herbs by the thousands, and hundreds of supplements “guaranteed” to make the dimpled pockets of fat disappear.

But none ever showed any evidence of effectiveness. Usually, the only reducing taking place was in the wallet.

Plastic surgeons say cellulite is so widely disliked due to its lumpy, dimpled appearance. The condition is caused by bands of fibrous tissue that connect muscles to the skin; otherwise, cellulite fat is the same as other fat.

Treatments have also included:

• Liposuction
• Lower body lift
• Fat injections

Plastic surgeons and dermatologists, writing in the November/December, 2008, issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal reported a new treatment using laser energy and fat transplantation.

The treatment uses a YAG laser tip inserted under the skin in cellulite areas to stimulate collagen growth and tighten the skin while reducing the pockets of fat.

After that, the doctors took some of the patients own fat and injected it into the treatment area to fill in depressed and dimpled areas. Massage followed to help spread the fat.

Plastic surgeons and dermatologists in New York City and Brazil used the new treatment on 52 women from 18 to 47 who had severe cellulite pockets but no other surgical cellulite treatments.

The patients were followed from 2003 until December, 2006 and asked to rate their final appearance.

Results?  84.6 percent of the patients said the outcome were either good or excellent.

The method has the tongue-twisting name, YAG laser lipolysis and autologous fat transplantation. (Read more about the cellulite treatment.)

Concluded the doctors: “This represents a new treatment…that is proved to be both safe and effective.”

Translation: It may not be widely available until more testing has been done. But look for a sexier name!

What would you call the laser and fat injection treatment for cellulite?

Plastic surgeons and dermatologists have advised sun bathers for many years to give up the habit.

But a recent report in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reveals young women are still worshipping the sun and paying the price: skin cancer is on the rise, particularly in that demographic.

The National Cancer Institute studied Caucasian men and women 15 to 39 years old between 1973 and 2004. Findings? Annual cases of melanoma increased from 9.4 cases per 100,000 people surveyed to 13.9 cases, a rise of 50 percent!

But for men, the rate leveled off in 1980 at 7.7 cases per 100,000 people and remained constant.

While surgical lasers can’t cure cancer, many plastic and cosmetic surgeons use lasers to remove or lessen the scars resulting from the condition.

Without use of a scalpel, lasers can help correct skin problems such as:

• Sun and age spots and other discolorations
• Facial scarring, especially acne scars.
• Birthmarks
• Spider veins
• Moles
• Warts
• Unwanted tattoos
• Unwanted hair
• Wrinkles and crow’s feet

But the $64,000 question might be: why does anybody want a tan in the first place?

Young women are still getting tans on the beach, poolside and in tanning salons because we identify a dark tan with Hollywood stars, wealth and with having massive amounts of leisure time.

But in the middle ages, it was exactly the reverse: virtually everybody worked outside farming in the sun and sported a deep tan.

So the really hot look way back then – for Europeans, anyhow – was a milk white complexion which then was associated with lots of leisure time spent indoors and wealth.

A sociology professor at Trent University, Stephen Katz, sums up this point, “Tans were labor tans, and not leisure tans like they are today.”

Maybe soon, we’ll again get to the point where we associate no tans at all with good health!

Have you ever had a laser procedure?