Plastic Surgery 2005

I recently attended the Annual Convention of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons held in Chicago, Illinois from Sept. 24 to 28, 2005. This annual meeting presented the latest information regarding new developments in cosmetic surgery, such as thread lifts, injectable fillers, and breast implant technologies.

There is an increasing demand for non-surgical alternatives for facial rejuvenation. Plastic surgeons can now offer patients more options for looking younger. The thread lift is gaining popularity because of the very short downtime associated with this procedure. It takes only a couple of days for the swelling to subside after a thread lift, unlike a classical facelift where a patient needs from 2 to 3 weeks to recover from the surgery.

Patients with deep wrinkles and deep grooves at the sides of the nose and mouth can now avail of a new volume filler named Sculptra. Unlike other fillers such as Restylane, Perlane, Hylaform and Aquamid which are indicated for fine wrinkles, Sculptra is used mainly for filling up deeper wrinkles and grooves.

The state-of-the-art in breast augmentation is the use of anatomical form-stable cohesive gel implants. The use of these implants results in bigger but more natural-looking breasts.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

The Anesthesiologist's Role in Cosmetic Surgery

An important factor in any successful surgery is the anesthesiologist. A good plastic surgeon will always work with only qualified MDs as anesthesiologists. This does increase the cost for the procedures but safety is always a priority, as well as the comfort of the patient during the procedure.

The experienced anesthesiologist uses modern anesthetic techniques and medications specially customized and developed for cosmetic surgery patients and procedures. The anesthesiologist chooses and gives the medications which keep you from feeling pain or sensation. These medications allow you to go to sleep gently and quickly and wake up feeling the same, usually free of nausea.

The anesthesiologist is present all throughout the surgery, monitoring and controlling the patient's breathing and blood pressure. He also makes medical judgments that protect you during and after surgery.

As I mentioned before, even patients on a budget should never scrimp on a qualified plastic surgeon and an equally qualified and experienced anesthesiologist for procedures that require more than local anesthesia.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

First Lady Kwon Underwent Double Eyelid Surgery

According to this article, even the First Lady of Korea, Kwon Yang-sook had double eyelid surgery, although the report says it was not only for cosmetic reasons but also to improve her vision. Kwon underwent the surgery when a medical team from Seoul National University visited the government Blue House to perform the same operation on President Roh Moo-hyun, the official said.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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President Roh Undergoes Eyelid Surgery

This article says Korean President Roh Moo-hyun had plastic surgery in which small parts of both of his upper eyelids were removed to give him better vision. His sagging eyelids often obstructed his sight, a spokesman said. The surgery was conducted on Feb. 4, 2005 by a team from the Seoul National University Hospital. After the surgery, Roh acquired double-edged eyelids, the spokesman added.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Asian Double Eyelid Surgery

Asian eyes are typically smaller in size than those of other races. Many Asian eyes also have little or no visible eyelid. Today, more and more Asians are having double eyelid surgery, to enhance their eyes. This procedure involves creating a crease that divides the eyelid into a top and bottom portion. Although many Asians have this crease, there are also many who do not. The challenge for a cosmetic surgeon is to enhance the patient's appearance, not to westernize an Asian face. To retain the patient's natural Asian look, the plastic surgeon aims to create a crease similar to that which is found naturally in Asians. Otherwise the eyelid will not blend with the rest of the patient's features and may not look normal.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Popular Summertime Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

During the summer, when people plan their beach outings, many women worry about what swimsuit to wear to hide their not so perfect bodies. Others, after struggling through summers of camouflage and wishing for better bodies, consider liposuction and breast augmentation, two of the most popular summer time cosmetic surgery procedures. Many patients are mothers who, after giving birth, never have been able to get back to their pre-pregnancy bodies. Liposuction results in a flatter abdomen and slimmer waist line while breast augmentation restores the volume that is sometimes lost as a result of pregnancy and lactation.

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Breast Augmentation
Liposuction Surgery
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Are you a Good Candidate for Liposuction?

To be a good candidate for liposuction, you should be in good physical health, near your ideal body weight (only 10 or 20 pounds overweight) and have good skin elasticity. You should exercise regularly and eat healthy well-balanced meals. You may have an area on your body that exercise and dieting has been unable to reduce. Such a localized fatty deposit is perfect for liposuction. Liposuction is not a cure for obesity. There is a limit of fat tissue that can be removed safely from the human body.

You should also be psychologically stable, and realistic in your expectations. You may think having liposuction will make you look like your ideal or give you a perfect body. You may think that people will treat you differently or that you will be a happier person after your liposuction. These are unrealistic expectations. Good results will help you increase your self-confidence but you won't necessarily get your ideal body.


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Liposuction Surgery
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Liposuction vs. Abdominoplasty

Many men and women struggle with unwanted fat. At times, even after months of diet and exercise, it is difficult to eliminate fat specially in problem areas such as the hips, thighs, stomach, and neck. For the abdomen and waist areas, options to remove fat include liposuction and abdominoplasty (also known as the tummy tuck). Which procedure is best?

Depending on the amount of excess fat to be removed, I would consider abdominal liposuction as the preferred initial procedure. It is an excellent method of spot reduction which involves removing fat tissue by a suctioning technique (with a special machine), and contouring the body area to obtain the desired shape. Liposuction takes a few hours and the patient is able to walk around immediately after the procedure. It may be done as an outpatient procedure, minimizing costs.

Abdominal skin contracts remarkably after liposuction. If there is loose skin still remaining after 6 months, this can be easily removed as an outpatient surgery procedure under local anesthesia only.

Abdominal liposuction entails less risk than a tummy-tuck. The surgical removal of excess skin and fat in the tummy tuck operation involves a wide curvilinear incision from the left side to the right side, mobilization of the skin from the pubic region up to the ribs, and placing of drains. It is an in-patient hospital procedure which takes from 2 to 6 hours under general anesthesia. The patient stays in the hospital from 5 to 7 days.

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Liposuction Surgery
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Breast Augmentation for Asians

Breast augmentation is very popular among Asians and many of my patients are Filipinas whose partners are Caucasians. Since Asian women are generally small framed and small breasted when compared to Caucasian women, relatively smaller breast implants may be recommended. If the implants are too large, they may not look natural and in proportion to the particular patient's body. In my initial consultation with patients, I discuss the various options that are available to the patient, including the look the patient hopes to achieve. In good cosmetic surgery, the goal is to enhance, with a result that is as natural as possible and not glaringly noticeable.

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Breast Augmentation
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Breast Augmentation: Is the Size Right?

When breast augmentation gained popularity in the 80's and 90's, many women wanted oversized implants, “the bigger the better”. With these oversized implants popularized by media, the public’s perception was that ideal breasts were supposed to look large, taut and high.

Today, breast augmentation is more popular than ever. But unlike in the earlier years, patients are going back to a more natural look, with the aesthetic ideal for the female breast looking more natural in shape, soft, supple, and in proportion to the rest of a woman’s figure.

Many breast augmentation patients are women in their 30’s and 40’s (especially moms). Many mothers lose volume in their breasts after pregnancy and breastfeeding. Breast augmentation restores a natural, more youthful breast contour. Even women who have not had children are choosing smaller implants for a more realistic look.

Patients considering breast augmentation should consider the advantage that smaller implants are much more likely to be soft, supple and even undetectable (by touching). With very large breast implants, this is not the case.

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Breast Augmentation
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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The New Cohesive Gel Implants

Cohesive gel implants are silicone gel implants. But unlike their predecessors, the filler in cohesive gel implants has a higher amount of "crosslinker," resulting in a firmer, gummy-bear consistency that does not wrinkle or deflate like saline, nor leak as easily as the more fluid filler of earlier-generation silicone implants.

Dr. Mark Solomon, a plastic surgeon and a spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons described it by saying that even if you cut through it, the gel does not leak out.

The cohesive gel implant has a more stable shape, and works well when implanted above the pectoral muscle. This eases post-operative pain. However, because of the firmer shape, it is necessary to make a larger incision to insert the implant, which is most often made under the crease of the breast. Cohesive gel implants are not recommended for those seeking especially large implants.

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More on Breast Augmentation
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Rhinoplasty: the most frequently performed surgical procedure among teenagers

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), the most frequently performed surgical procedure among teenagers in 2003. It can be performed when the nose has completed 90 percent of its growth, which can occur as early as age 14 or 15 years old for girls and a little later for boys. It is best to have rhinoplasty after they have completed their growth spurt.

Most experts agree that for appropriately selected teenage patients, cosmetic plastic surgery can have a positive impact on physical and emotional development. Having the surgery should be something the teens want for themselves and not something other people want for them. Their social and emotional adjustment is also important to consider.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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The Art of Augmentation Rhinoplasty

Previously, I wrote about the technical expertise required for augmentation rhinoplasty. However, not only does the plastic surgeon need to be an expert on the "science" of this operation, he must also be an artist. There is so much artistry involved in the planning and execution of this operation. The best plastic surgeons carve an implant especially for each patient in the right size and shape to create a new nose that will look natural. Your surgeon must have a fine aesthetic sense such that the surgical results of your nose operation will appear natural and unnoticeable. The new nose should look like it "fits" together with the rest of your features.

With this need for surgical skills, aesthetic judgement, sense of beauty, and an ability to visualize the end result, untrained doctors find out that augmentation rhinoplasty isn't so easy after all.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Augmentation Rhinoplasty

As I mentioned before, one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures is augmentation rhinoplasty (commonly called nose lifts). This is specially true for Asians. Many Filipinos, especially those who reside in countries like the United States, the U.K., and countries in Europe, where nose bridges are commonly very high, get a boost of self-confidence and feel more attractive when they have their noses surgically enhanced. Indeed, since the nose occupies the prominent central area of the face, it determines to a major extent whether the face is considered attractive or not, and a higher nose bridge makes a big difference in the overall balance and appearance of the face.

A big difference, yes, but unfortunately, not always a positive difference. Augmentation rhinoplasty is a deceptively simple operation. Thus, many doctors who have not had special training in plastic surgery think they can easily do it well. After all, what could be so difficult about placing an implant to increase the bridge of the nose?

As any well trained and experienced plastic surgeon can explain, rhinoplasty is one of the most delicate plastic surgery operations. Everyone has a different nose and the plastic surgeon should evaluate the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, your skin, and your age since these factors influence his decisions about what techniques to use for the surgery to get the desired result.

Although rhinoplasty usually takes only an hour or two, this operation is difficult to learn and difficult to perform well. A skillful surgeon knows where to make incisions so that they will be practically invisible after healing. With proper technique, scar tissue doesn't interfere with achieving the desired results. A skillful surgeon also knows where to make incisions to minimize the amount of bleeding during the operation. The surgeon can have better results when there is less bleeding because he can clearly see what needs to be done. An experienced surgeon also knows how to minimize intra-operative swelling. Swelling can make it hard for the surgeon to see what the nose's final shape will be and what needs to be done during surgery.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Authentic Plastic Surgeons

Mere anatomical and physiological familiarity with a general body region does not automatically give a doctor the license to practice plastic surgery in that area. The principles of plastic surgery are special and the conceptual application of these principles requires indoctrination from years of training and experience. Once indoctrinated, the plastic surgeon can apply these concepts in any area of the body if he has had basic training in general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery.

During his surgical training , the surgeon must seek training in as many areas of surgical endeavor as possible. Only when equipped with the knowledge of general principles common to all fields of surgery can the surgeon be admitted to specialized training in plastic surgery. Authentic plastic surgeons have at least five to six years of approved surgical training, including a two to three year residency in plastic surgery.

No surgeon should call himself a plastic surgeon unless he can do both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

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Who can perform cosmetic surgery?

Any licensed physician can legally perform cosmetic surgery, even if his or her training is in a non-surgical specialty. Would you want your plastic surgery performed by someone who has never had any formal surgical training? It can easily happen. That is why it is important for prospective cosmetic surgery patients to check on the credentials of any physician with whom they plan a consultation.

There are many physicians today practicing plastic surgery who have received their formal training in another specialty. These doctors may call themselves plastic surgeons or cosmetic surgeons but they may not be trained in plastic surgery. Many physicians who call themselves "facial plastic surgeons" are trained in otorhinolaryngology, a surgical specialty of the head and neck.

Physicians who call themselves " cosmetic surgeons" could be trained in any specialty, including a non-surgical specialty, or even be just plain general medical practitioners. Similarly, any doctor can call himself or herself a "plastic surgeon", regardless of training.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Beauty and The Waist to Hip Ratio

According to The Evolution of Human Sociality by Stephen K. Sanderson, studies have shown that males prefer women with low Waist to Hip Ratios "in at least seven different cultures or ethnic populations," including the United States, England, Germany, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Guinea-Bissau. A WHR of 0.70 has been shown to be the predominant preferrence . Accoding to him, "Girls with lower WHRs show earlier pubertal endocrine activity, and married women with higher WHRs have more difficulty getting pregnant and give birth to their first child at a later age." In this case, it seems that beauty is once again related to fertility.

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Beauty and Fertility

Various studies have showed that the symmetry of a man's body relates to when he begins his sex life (earlier if his body is symmetrical) and how many partners he'll have (more if symmetrical). According to this study, symmetry could also mean more fertility.

One study showed some relationship between the number of children that a woman had, and the symmetry of her breasts. According to this study, the women with more evenly-sized breasts had more children, while the women with differently-sized breasts had fewer children.

It is interesting how symmetry can make any difference to one's fertility, fitness or attractiveness. Perhaps, like animals, symmetry in humans could also be a measure of general fitness, a strong immune system, robust genes, vigour and fertility.

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Beauty and Symmetry

A number of biologists and psychologists who have tried to define what exactly beauty is have found evidence that beauty seems to be related to symmetry, fitness and fertility.

Biologists studying the animal kingdom have discovered that animals that are more symmetrical are more likely to attract a mate. Scientists say that the preference for symmetry is a trait seen in many different animals such as swallows and zebra finches. In a study of horses, it was observed that horses that are more symmetrical run faster than those that are less symmetrical even if the differences measured were minimal. In this case. it seems symmetry is related to fitness and may be a good indicator of general health and strength.

In humans, it seems that symmetry is also a major factor in the average person's perception of what beauty is. Persons with symmetric facial features are more likely to be thought of as beautiful.

In a study done in the University of Louisville, when shown pictures of different individuals, Asians, Latinos, and whites from 13 different countries all had the same general preferences when rating others as attractive. The most symmetric faces were rated as the most attractive.

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Beauty and the Golden ratio

In ancient Greece, Helen of Troy, was the paragon of beauty, celebrated for her physical perfection. Philosophers tried to answer the question of what made Helen and other women beautiful. Plato wrote of so-called "golden proportions," in which, among other things, the width of an ideal face would be two-thirds its length, while a nose would be no longer than the distance between the eyes.

Although some research has pointed out that the golden ratio plays a part in what we perceive as beauty, researchers in modern psychological and biological research now believe symmetry is the answer the Greeks were looking for.


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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Beauty, babies and symmetry

In an experiment with babies, when given a choice of looking at pictures of symmetric individuals and asymmetric ones, the babies preferred staring at the symmetrical faces. In another study, when several faces were averaged to create a composite picture, the composite (which was symmetrical) was judged more attractive by the panel of judges.

Another study, done by Victor Johnston of New Mexico State University, utilizes a program called FacePrints. Viewers are shown facial images of variable attractiveness and are asked to rate the pictures on a beauty scale from one to nine. Then the pictures with the best ratings are merged together, while the less attractive photos are taken out. Each trial ends when a viewer rates the composite a 10. All the perfect 10s in the study were super-symmetric.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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More Research findings: Beauty and Babies

There is evidence that our preference for beauty may be biologically ingrained. In an experiment done by Alan Slater, a developmental psychologist at the University of Exeter in south-west England, almost 100 newborn babies, an average of 2.5 days old, were shown photographs of pairs of faces which were matched in everything except attractiveness. The infants chose to stare at the face the psychologists judged as the attractive face rather than the unattractive one.

The research showed that while it has been suggested that humans determine their concept of attractiveness based on the "average" of all the faces they see, and that features that are most close to the human average in size and shape are the most attractive, it is interesting that the newborn infants, with their very limited exposure to various human features still chose to look at the more attractive of two faces.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Study Proves People Who Have Plastic Surgery Make Better First Impressions

Many studies have shown that first impressions are greatly influenced by facial appearance but this interesting report published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is the first of its kind to scientifically validate that patients who underwent facial cosmetic surgery created a better first impression after they had the surgery.

Randomly selected observers were asked independently to view and grade before and after photos of patients who underwent facial cosmetic surgery. They did not know the pre- or postoperative status of the photo. The questions posed to the reviewers were based on first-impression studies used in the past.

Findings indicate that after facial cosmetic surgery, patients were graded as 31% more attractive, 27% better in social skills, 22% % more successful in dating, 19% better in athletic skills, 15% better in relationship skills, and 13% more financially successful.

Dr. Steven H. Dayan, the principle investigator of the study, explained, "There appears to be innate characteristics in all of us that attract us to definable standards of beauty. I am often told by my patients that following their cosmetic surgery procedure they have achieved a new job, an improved romantic relationship or greater personal success. I had always felt that it was secondary to a greater self confidence which had projected through, but I now have to consider that maybe there is more to it."

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Ways to Enhance Appearance

Although most would agree that physical beauty is not all there is, it seems unfair that it is given such heavy weight as shown by researches done about beauty. There are many ways to improve a person's appearance. Most important, I think would be to be in the best health as possible through regular exercise and proper diet. The benefits of these basics are numerous, clearer skin and better body shape, etc. It is certainly not necessary to follow the excessive thinness of many models in the fashion and beauty magazines but to have a healthy, well exercised body greatly enhances appearance. Of course there are also instances when no matter how hard people exercise, there is still stubborn fat that doesn't respond to exercise. Liposuction is an excellent option for patients like this.

Make-up and flattering hairstyles, colors and styles of clothing are also helpful ways to enhance appearance but there are also some enhancements that are possible only through plastic surgery.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Beauty Research

Here are some interesting examples of findings in research studies made about beauty:

Attractive children are more popular. In general, their teachers give them higher grades and have higher expectations of them (resulting in improved performance in school).

Applicants looking for jobs have a better chance of getting one if they are attractive. They also have a better chance of receiving higher salaries. One study found that attractive men make about 12% to 15% more a year than unattractive ones. In another study, military cadets whose faces matched the "manly" ideal of strong jaws, bright eyes and sharply defined features tended to advance faster in their careers than men who fell short of the ideal.

Attractive people are often looked upon with favor because of the 'what is beautiful is good' stereotype - a common belief that physically attractive people have positive characteristics such as intelligence, competence, and moral virtue.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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The Advantage of Being Attractive

Beauty is an interesting topic not only to men and women of all ages but to scientists as well. According to evidence presented by biologists, psychologists and other researchers, looks may matter even more than we think. Research studies that have been done make the interesting observation that there is a distinct advantage of being attractive. Good-looking people enjoy social advantages unavailable to the plain and the homely. This 'bias for beauty' is apparent in various situations. Studies show that, in general, we react more favourably to physically attractive people.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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The Science and Art of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic plastic surgery is both a science and an art...

A science because it requires a solid foundation of medical and surgical knowledge to be able to achieve the best results with the least risk. But technical skill and years of experience are not enough.

A cosmetic plastic surgeon needs to be an artist. A paramount quality required for a plastic surgeon is a sense of form, of what is beautiful, what is pleasing to the eye. He must have creativity, imagination, meticulous attention to detail, and a sense of harmony and balance, His aesthetic judgement and ability to visualize the end result sets him apart from other surgeons. As an artist, the plastic surgeon is able to transform his given materials into something beautiful. These qualities distinguish the artist from the mere technician.

Just like a painter uses his brush to create works of beauty on canvas, a cosmetic surgeon uses his scalpel and utilizes the most refined surgical techniques to transform flesh and achieve results that are pleasing to the eye of the beholder.

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Job Candidates Get Plastic Surgery For Competitive Edge

People get plastic surgery for a variety of reasons. This article reports on how patients turn to plastic surgery procedures to make them look younger when they hunt for jobs. According to the interviewed patient, "The market out there is a lot more competitive now ... sure, you've got talents, but you still have to get your foot in the door--and appearance counts no matter what anyone says."

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Motives and expectations for plastic surgery

There may be urgent reasons for having aesthetic plastic or cosmetic surgery. You may have a career that you are unwilling to relinquish and that is dependent upon your attractive youthful appearance. You may be suffering in silent desperation when you look at yourself in the mirror and see what aging has done to you. You may need "a whole new you" to shake off the "blues" of the menopause years. These are valid reasons for desiring cosmetic surgery.

If you have made a decision in favor of cosmetic surgery, choose a plastic surgeon for consultation concerning your facial and body problems. As you face the truth about yourself and summon up the initiative and motivation for physical improvement, your surgeon can help you evaluate your motives and expectations. The patient with a healthy attitude toward cosmetic surgery can benefit greatly from the various procedures available.

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Isn’t cosmetic surgery only for vain people?

Undergoing cosmetic surgery to improve one’s self-image can be the ultimate form of catering to vanity, but it is only one more modality in a long list since the beginnings of man that includes the constant changing of styles of clothes, hair and self-adornment.

It is impossible to measure human suffering. A minor physical irregularity can be of no consequence to one individual and yet can be of major significance to another.


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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

A healthy attitude toward cosmetic surgery

Concern with one’s physical appearance is a normal human trait. Throughout the centuries, improvement of one's appearance has been sought after through varying modes of dress and adornment, use of male and female cosmetics and beauty-enhancing products, control of diet for body weight, ingestion of vitamins, use of perfumes, fragrances and skin conditioners, and even behavioral mannerisms.

Your plastic surgeon can help you acquire a healthy attitude toward cosmetic surgery during the consultation. He will give you information to remove or lessen your fears and anxiety. He will explain the goals and limitations of plastic surgery, encourage an honest appraisal of your physical shortcomings, and estimate what kind of cosmetic improvement can be achieved through surgery.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines

Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Consulting with a Qualified Plastic Surgeon

I always say that choosing the right surgeon is the single most important decision you will make regarding your cosmetic surgery. After you are satisfied that the surgeon you are considering has the training and experience, arrange for a consultation and find out if you are comfortable with your choice.

Find a plastic surgeon whom you feel comfortable with, and discuss your needs and expectations. Ask questions and be sure to have all the facts you need in order to make an informed judgement. Be skeptical of any doctor who seems to avoid talking about his or her training and professional qualifications.

Realize that pre- and post-operative photos of the surgeon’s patients can be useful in helping you understand the surgery but are no guarantee that your results will be similar. Every individual is different.

Beware of any doctor who tells you there are no possible risks involved in surgery. There are always risks, and these should be discussed frankly.

Never allow a doctor to talk you into any procedure you don’t want. A reputable plastic surgeon will let the patient suggest what he or she wants done and then advise them on what is or is not possible.

Don’t "bargain shop" for plastic surgery. The training and experience of your surgeon is the most important factor in the success of your surgery.


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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

On Cosmetic Surgery Travel/Vacation Packages

There are various sites on the internet about the cosmetic surgery travel packages being offered in various countries. The Philippines is also a great place for medical tourism since we are well known to have many qualified and well-trained doctors who have acquired their postgraduate or fellowship training from well-known institutions in the U.S.A. Because of the favorable exchange rates, costs here are remarkably lower compared to other countries like the U.S., U.K., Singapore, Australia, and South Africa. Visit Beauty Journeys Philippines for some pre- or post- surgery vacation packages to great spots with the breathtaking views and beaches the Philippines is famous for.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
Medical Tourism and the Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Affordable cosmetic surgery in the Philippines

The Philippines is fast becoming a favored destination for those seeking quality medical care and great results at very affordable prices. There is an increasing number of Filipinos each year who decide to undergo various cosmetic surgery procedures. Many balikbayans and people from other countries also have their various cosmetic surgery procedures done here. The Philippines' highly favorable exchange rate can benefit both local and foreign patients desiring plastic surgery who otherwise couldn't afford it.

When you choose to have your elective cosmetic surgeries done in Philippines you get exceptional value for the latest techniques in cosmetic plastic surgery. Lower overhead costs and professional fees makes it possible for plastic surgeons to perform these surgeries at a fraction of the cost of the same procedures in the United States, U.K. and other countries, without sacrificing quality of care.

Read more of these articles:

How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
Medical Tourism and the
Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Christians and Cosmetic Surgery

There is nothing wrong in trying to improve one’s appearance as much as may be possible. If you are bothered about something in your appearance, approach it just as you would any other physical problem you might be born with. Like crooked teeth. Lousy eyesight. Or poor hearing. It’s just as easy to be born with a nose that’s too small. Or ears that stick out. Or breasts that never develop. Plastic surgery can often solve these problems. Usually permanently.

In fact, no less than Pope Plus XII declared on Oct. 14, 1958:
" If we consider physical beauty in its Christian light and if we respect the conditions set by our moral teachings, then aesthetic surgery is not in contradiction to the will of God, in that it restores the perfection of that greatest work of creation, man."


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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
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Is it wrong to have cosmetic surgery?

If you do have a physical problem that really bothers you and makes you feel self-conscious, is there anything wrong with correcting it? Of course not!

Arguments which you often hear against cosmetic plastic surgery ("It’s just not natural") are ridiculous. And out of date. Fortunately, intolerance and old-fashioned prejudice are fading fast. Everyday more and more people are realizing that it’s okay to have plastic surgery. Let’s face it, Mother Nature does make mistakes. There’s nothing wrong with correcting them.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Plastic Surgery offers a Choice

Blame Mother Nature. Blame your parents. Blame it on bad luck. But whatever you do, don’t blame yourself if you were born with something you’re unhappy with. You’re not alone. Psychology Today magazine did a study which showed that lots of people feel Mother Nature could have done a better job.

60,000,000 don’t like their noses.
30,000,000 don’t like their chins.
6,000,000 don’t like their ears.
And 6,000,000 don’t like their eyes.

For thousands of years, matters of appearance were very simple. If there was something you didn’t like about the way you looked, there were only two things you could do. Try to hide it. Or, learn to live with it.

The good news is, those days are over. Medicine and technological breakthroughs have changed the rules. Plastic surgery now offers something we’ve never had before…choice. All over the world, more than 2,000,000 people make a change for the better through plastic surgery every year. So can you.


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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic surgery is not a miracle cure

Cosmetic surgery can help to improve one’s appearance as much as may be possible. However, it can do no more and it is not the answer to all of life’s problems. You may think that people will treat you differently or that you will be a happier person after your cosmetic surgery procedure. These are unrealistic expectations. Good results will help you increase your self-confidence but you won't necessarily look like your ideal. If one expects a transforming miracle, there will undoubtedly be disappointment.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic Surgery: It’s not just about vanity

Cosmetic surgery is about ordinary people with problems. Maybe it’s a nose that’s flat. Or small breasts. Or a fat waist. Or wrinkled, sagging skin that makes someone who feels young and alive look old and depressed. Whatever the cause, it’s a problem. Not so much because of the way it makes you look – but because of the way it makes you feel.

Fortunately, more and more people are discovering the truth about cosmetic surgery. And the truth is, it works. Today’s modern techniques and proven procedures can help you not only look better but feel better as well. Recovery is quicker and easier. Surgery fees are affordable. And patient satisfaction is high.

A little change on the outside that can lead to a big change on the inside.

Read more of these articles:
Looking Good
About Cosmetic Surgery

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Cleft Palate Surgery

One of the most fulfilling types of surgery for me as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon is the cleft palate surgery. In the Philippines, there are a lot of babies born with congenital deformities such as cleft palates. The benefits of a short two hour operation last a lifetime and makes a big difference in the way these babies will live their lives. Unfortunately, many of the families these babies are born to don't have adequate finances to cover expenses, even when plastic surgeons volunteer to do the operation for free. Fortunately, organizations such as the Rotary Club of Valenzuela (Rotary International District 3800) have projects to help finance these babies' operations. Their "Bagong Pangarap Project" which started this 2005 had Baby Angel Pinoy as their first cleft palate patient. Indeed, a plastic surgeon's work of healing and helping gives these babies new hope for the future.


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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

The difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery

Plastic surgery is a specialized branch of surgery that is concerned with correcting deformities that are congenital (in-born) or acquired from accidents or aging, in order to restore or enhance form and/or function.

The origins of plastic surgery are rooted in ancient history. Until the end of the nineteenth century, plastic surgery was essentially reconstructive. With the perfection of techniques, the correction of minor defects that were congenital in nature or due to aging came to be practiced, evolving into what is now popularly known as cosmetic or aesthetic plastic surgery.

Although plastic surgery can be categorized into either reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, there is no clear distinction between the two, since there is a cosmetic aspect in reconstructive surgery, and often a reconstructive aspect in cosmetic surgery. Pioneer plastic surgeon Sir Harold Gillies defined reconstructive surgery as an attempt to restore the individual to normal, while cosmetic surgery is an attempt to surpass the normal.


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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

When Plastic Surgery is "Trivialized"

As I mentioned before, media has a big part to play in the increased demand for cosmetic surgery these days. But media's coverage of cosmetic surgery also has a negative effect, as this BBC news article reports.


Leading doctors from the British Association of Plastic Surgeons say the obsession with cosmetic surgery is obscuring the real work plastic surgeons do and tends to trivialize what the specialty can do. They say some people even see them in a similar vein as hairdressers. But this perception means that some unsuitable and unqualified doctors are performing cosmetic surgery, leaving the qualified plastic surgeons to repair the damage. The doctors emphasized their work of healing and helping people, treating cancer patients burn and accident victims, and patients with congenital deformities such as cleft palates.


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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Are looks really that important?

So are looks really that important? No. And Yes!

Most people would agree that what is inside a person is more important than what is outside. But increasingly, we’re learning that how you look is very important too because it can have a direct effect on how you feel about yourself. When there’s something you don’t like about the way you look, it can make you feel self-conscious, unconfident and unhappy. That’s the real story behind today’s cosmetic surgery. Helping people feel better about themselves. Helping them to look the way they feel inside.

Read more of these articles:
About Cosmetic Surgery
Are Looks Really that Important?

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic surgery to improve the quality of life

Some may say cosmetic surgery is unnecessary, but who's to say what is necessary or unnecessary for someone else? It is impossible to measure human suffering. A flat nose may be unimportant to one individual; however, in another it can produce emotional discomfort. If your teeth are crooked, are braces necessary? What if you are constantly being teased about how your ears stick out? Cosmetic surgery can truly satisfy many needs. There are various life-enhancing cosmetic surgery procedures which can restore or enhance your features. Often, the benefits of an operation which will take an hour will last a lifetime because it can make you look and feel years younger, refreshed, and rejuvenated, and it can provide the extra measure of inner confidence which may otherwise be difficult to achieve.

Read more of these articles:
About Cosmetic Surgery
Are looks really that important?

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic surgery comes out of the closet

Here's an interesting article about how times have changed from the days when having cosmetic surgery was a dark secret. Today, cosmetic surgery has become increasingly common among mainstream Americans.

Last year, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) conducted a nationwide survey of 1,000 adults which showed that 54 percent of respondents approved of cosmetic surgery and 24 percent (30 percent of women and 18 percent of men) said they would consider it for themselves. About 75 percent of men and women said they wouldn’t be embarrassed if others knew they had cosmetic surgery.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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Cosmetic Surgery Boom & the Medical Profession

Another factor in the rise in cosmetic surgery procedures that are performed is that the general medical profession has become better educated about cosmetic surgery and has accepted the fact that it is safe.

Also, there is a growing awareness that the role of modern medicine should not be limited only to the treatment of diseases but that it should alleviate human suffering in all its forms. Survival is no longer the only principal effort; improvement of the quality of life is also important.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

The Cosmetic Surgery Boom & Media

Several factors are responsible for the boom in cosmetic surgery today. First of all, the public has been continuously bombarded by the communications media and are much more aware of the options available to them.

For thousands of years, matters of appearance were very simple. If there was you didn’t like about the way you looked, there were only two things you could do. Try to hide it. Or, learn to live with it.

Those days are over. Medicine and technological breakthroughs have changed the rules. Plastic surgery now offers something we’ve never had before…choice. Media has greatly influenced people's consciousness about their choices.

All over the world, people from all walks of life have made a change for the better through plastic surgery. Media has changed how cosmetic surgery is perceived. Once exclusive to the rich and famous, cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more acceptable to ordinary people. Those who have undergone cosmetic surgery procedures are also more open about them.

The emphasis on physical beauty and body consciousness encouraged by media has influenced the way women see themselves. Studies show that many people equate self-worth and the worth of others with the attainment of attractiveness. TV, movies, and magazines influence standards of beauty and pressure people to aspire to reach these often unrealistic standards.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic surgery today

Cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is a very popular subject these days. Make a search on the internet for cosmetic or plastic surgery and you will get millions of results - web sites of plastic surgeons of different nationalities, various procedures available, before and after photos, celebrity patients, clinics and surgery travel packages for various countries, news from around the world, etc. etc. etc.

There is an increasing number of individuals from all walks of life who undergo cosmetic surgery each year. What is cosmetic surgery and why are so many people interested in it? Cosmetic surgery is a highly sophisticated surgical specialty that is dedicated not only to the return of the face and body to normal but to improvements that actually surpass the normal. Well, is it simply that more people nowadays want to "surpass the normal" or be above average in appearance than before?

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About Cosmetic Plastic Surgery
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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The Science and Art of Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic plastic surgery is both a science and an art...

A science because it requires a solid foundation of medical and surgical knowledge to be able to achieve the best results with the least risk. To be able to gain this understanding of the complex intricacies of the craft of cosmetic surgery, a qualified plastic surgeon needs to have years of training in all aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery...

He should complete an accredited 5-year residency program in plastic surgery. He may even choose to extend his formal education beyond these basic requirements, with post-graduate fellowship training. But technical skill and years ofexperience are not enough. A cosmetic plastic surgeon needs to be an artist. He has to have a sense of what is beautiful,what is pleasing to the eye. He must have creativity, imagination, meticulous attention to detail, and a sense of harmony and balance. His aesthetic judgement and ability to visualize the end result sets him apart from other surgeons. As an artist, the plastic surgeon is able to transform his given materials into something beautiful. Just like a painter uses his brush to create works of beauty on canvas, a cosmetic surgeon uses his scalpel and utilizes the most refined surgical techniques to transform flesh and achieve results that are pleasing to the eye of the beholder.

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Breast Augmentation: Is the Price Right?

When canvassing fees for breast augmentation, the uninformed patient often wonders why fees vary significantly from one surgeon to another. They often assume that it is only the professional fees of the surgeons that vary. Actually, there are a number of variables to consider when evaluating breast augmentation surgery package fees.

First of all, what kind of implant will the plastic surgeon use? There are many different kinds of implants available with corresponding prices, so make sure you aren't getting the basic, most affordable kind if you are paying a relatively high price. Most popular in the Philippines are the silicone gel implants (these are not silicone gel injections which I wrote about in a previous blog). Most of the breast implants available in the Philippines come from 3 countries: China, France, and Ireland. The most affordable implants come from China. These implants are of good quality and have been chosen by many of my patients who have limited budgets.

In the middle of the price range are the cohesive-gel implants made by McGhan corporation in Ireland and another European company, the Eurosilicone company from France. Top of the line anatomical cohesive-gel implants with multi-layered silicone shells, also made by the McGhan are on the high end of breast implant prices. So for implants alone, there is already wide range of costs.

Then, find out if the package fees include, aside from the professional fee of the surgeon, the professional fee of the anesthesiologist, cost of implants, medications and operating room expenses for either outpatient or hospital based surgery. When on a budget, you can save on operating room expenses by choosing to have your surgery done in a well equipped outpatient clinic. But for your safety and to ensure the success of your surgery, make sure you don't scrimp on the essentials: a skilled and experienced surgeon with an equally experienced anesthesiologist.

More on Breast Augmentation
How much will the surgery cost and will I be able to afford it?

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Augmentation Rhinoplasty

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures for Asians in augmentation rhinoplasty. Many Filipinos, especially those who reside in countries like the United States, the U.K., and countries in Europe, where nose bridges are commonly very high, get a boost of self-confidence and feel more attractive when they have their noses surgically enhanced. Indeed, since the nose occupies the prominent central area of the face, it determines to a major extent whether the face is considered attractive or not, and a higher nose bridge makes a big difference in the overall balance and appearance of the face.

A big difference, yes, but unfortunately, not always a positive difference. Augmentation rhinoplasty is a deceptively simple operation. Thus, many doctors who have not had special training in plastic surgery think they can easily do it well. After all, what could be so difficult about placing an implant to increase the bridge of the nose?

As any well trained and experienced plastic surgeon can explain, rhinoplasty is one of the most delicate plastic surgery operations. Everyone has a different nose and the plastic surgeon should evaluate the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, your skin, and your age since these factors influence his decisions about what techniques to use for the surgery to get the desired result.

Although rhinoplasty usually takes only an hour or two, this operation is difficult to learn and difficult to perform well. A skillful surgeon knows where to make incisions so that they will be practically invisible after healing. With proper technique, scar tissue doesn't interfere with achieving the desired results. A skillful surgeon also knows where to make incisions to minimize the amount of bleeding during the operation. The surgeon can have better results when there is less bleeding because he can clearly see what needs to be done. An experienced surgeon also knows how to minimize intraoperative swelling. Swelling can make it hard for the surgeon to see what the nose's final shape will be and what needs to be done during surgery.

Not only does the plastic surgeon need to be an expert on the "science" of this operation, he must also be an artist. There is so much artistry involved in the planning and execution of this operation. The best plastic surgeons carve an implant especially for each patient in the right size and shape to create a new nose that will look natural. Your surgeon must have a fine aesthetic sense such that the surgical results of your nose operation will appear natural and unnoticeable. The new nose should look like it "fits" together with the rest of your features.

With this need for surgical skills, aesthetic judgement, sense of beauty, and an ability to visualize the end result, untrained doctors find out that augmentation rhinoplasty isn't so easy after all.

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If You are Considering Rhinoplasty
How much will the surgery cost and will I be able to afford it?

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Cheap Plastic Surgery, Anyone?

Type "cheap plastic surgery" in Google Suggest's search box and you'll see that so many people are searching for plastic surgery that is CHEAP. Price is definitely a factor when considering elective surgery and deciding to have cosmetic surgery is not the same as having "no choice" surgeries like appendectomies.

But any surgery is still surgery and has some uncertainty and risk involved, no matter what a "cheap" plastic surgeon says. When price is the primary factor for choosing a plastic surgeon, risks increase. Like most things in life, quality doesn't come cheaply. The success of your surgery is largely dependent on your choice of surgeon and professional qualifications and experience should be your main consideration in selecting your plastic surgeon. Even when you go to popular clinics where a number of surgeons practice as a group, take a look at the qualifications of the particular surgeon who will be handling your case.

Good plastic surgeons may charge relatively affordable fees, especially if they practice in Asian countries like the Philippines, where cost of living expenses are low and if they can keep overhead costs low by having modest outpatient surgery clinics. But think twice if the surgeon you're considering charges much lower than other plastic surgeons in the same country. Especially if the procedure to be done is in the face, like a rhinoplasty (nose surgery), blepharoplasty (eye surgery) or rhytidectomy (face lift), you could end up having to stare at your cheap plastic surgeon's mistakes in the mirror every day. No wonder there are also so many searches made for "awful plastic surgery".

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How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cosmetic Surgery Vacation Tips

Patients who are considering cosmetic surgery vacations should know the following:

1. In order to maximize their vacation time, patients should have their blood tests done in their respective countries prior to their departure and must communicate the results to their prospective surgeon.

2. If you are 40 years old and above, it is best to have your cardiologist or internist examine you and issue a written cardiovascular clearance that you are physically fit to undergo cosmetic surgery.

3. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure.

4. Allot a minimum of 7 days for your recovery period. Cosmetic surgery is still surgery, so it must not be considered lightly.

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

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Silicone oil injections for non-surgical breast augmentation and noselift : a practice that should be stopped!

Have you ever held a bag of marbles in your hand? Believe it or not, this was how my patient's breasts felt like. She had multiple lumps all over her breasts, the result of multiple injections of silicone oil given one year ago. She felt insecure about her small breasts and she wanted them to be enlarged. Someone told her of a method that was fast and cheap. Nobody told her she was going to end up this way.

I have seen a number of patients who have been victimized by glib-talking people extolling the virtues of silicone oil injections. The primary attraction is the cost: "only" P40,000 for breast enlargement, which is less than half of the average cost for breast augmentation with medical-grade silicone gel implants. For those desiring a noselift, the cost is from P7,000 to P14,000. Victims are often "fast-talked" into undergoing the procedure; they are not given the time to consult with their doctor.

Noselifts and breast augmentations are two of the most commonly requested cosmetic surgeries, but there are many who find the expense quite prohibitive. Thus the lure of low-cost injections is hard to resist. When the complications arise, these victims end up spending more.

Those whose noses are injected with silicone oil end up with noses looking like the noses of lions - as the silicone oil spreads through the tissues with time, the bridge of the nose flattens out and becomes wider. The skin is often reddish, a result of chronic inflammation of the tissues.

The people who perform silicone oil injections are hard to catch. They do not have any permanent offices. They go from one beauty parlor to another; they transfer from house to house, going wherever there is someone gullible enough to fall for their sales pitch.

I hope that with articles like this, people will become aware of the dangers of silicone oil injections so that they can avoid its consequences.

Are Breast Implants Safe?

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Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
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