Survey results

According to the survey, nearly 74 percent of respondents were unaware that skin cancer is currently the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Another 53 percent were unsure of how to examine their body for early signs of skin cancer. While 30 percent of respondents were unsure or did not know if skin cancer could be treated easily, if caught early.

SPOT Skin Cancer

In order to shine a public spotlight on the issue, the American Academy of Dermatology has initiated a new SPOT Skin Cancer public awareness program.

“Unlike other types of cancer that can’t be seen by the naked eye, skin cancer shows obvious signs on the surface of the skin that can be easily detected by properly examining it,” said board-certified dermatologist Daniel M. Siegel, MD, FAAD, president, American Academy of Dermatology. “The goal of SPOT Skin Cancer™ is to help save lives by educating the public on how to protect themselves from the sun and how to examine their skin for suspicious spots.”

Recognizing Skin Cancer

Warning signs of skin cancer can often be detected using the A-B-C-D-E method. If you notice any of the following irregularities, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your physician:

• Asymmetrical differences
• Border irregularities
• Color changes
• Diameter changes
• Evolution in size, shape or color

If you’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer, contact a plastic surgeon to learn more about treatment options. Find out more about skin cancer surgery in Kansas City.

Mary M. Mitchell, who has written several books on etiquette, recently wrote a Reuters story about what she views as proper etiquette regarding plastic surgery. If you know someone who is considering or has recently undergone plastic surgery, an appropriate reaction will make the situation more comfortable for everyone. Here are some suggestions from Mitchell:

1) Remain Neutral

If a coworker, friend or family member confesses to you that he or she is considering plastic surgery, resist trying to talk the person out of it. Plastic surgery is a very personal decision. It’s right for some and wrong for others. Either way, it’s important that you remain neutral and respect his or her final choice.

2) Don’t Say a Word

Though you may be tempted to ask, it’s simply bad manners to bring up a person’s recent cosmetic procedure. Unless he or she brings it up first, you have no business talking about it. If you feel compelled to comment, offering up a vague compliment like: “You look so great lately,” may open up the conversation door about the topic.

3) Avoid Judgment

If someone tells you about a recent plastic surgery procedure, remain diplomatic. Ask the person how he or she feels about the final results, but don’t offer up an opinion on them. The best way to respond to someone’s omission of dissatisfaction with a physical flaw is to say something like: “I see what you mean, but only after you pointed it out.”

Are you considering plastic surgery? Contact us!

Unfortunately there is no magic formula for determining which implant size is right for you, but considerations such as anatomy, cosmetic goals and lifestyle choices should all play a roll in your final decision. If you’re debating between one or more sizes, creating your own breast implant rice sizers is a great way to give you a more accurate idea of how your breasts will look and feel at varying implant sizes.

To make your own breast implant rice sizers at home, you will need the following materials:

• Pantyhose or tights
• Measuring cups
• Dry rice
• Scissors

Once you have your materials, begin by cutting each pantyhose leg off about halfway up from the bottom. Then stretch out each hose to make sure there is enough room for the rice. Using a measuring cup, you will then measure out your rice, making sure that you are filling the measuring cup completely. Sizes are as follows:

• 1 cup of rice = 250cc
• 1/2 cup of rice = 125cc
• 1/4 cup of rice = 75cc

Once you have filled each panty hose with the appropriate amount of rice, compress the rice at the bottom of the hose to round out the overall shape. Secure the rice by tying a knot directly above the rice filling. Cut off the remaining tail and you’re finished.

Wearing your new breast implant sizers underneath a sports will give you a realistic idea of how breast implants will look and feel under various clothing options. View the video below for a visual demonstration of creating your own breast implant sizers at home.

Find out more about breast augmentation in Kansas City.

Chin augmentation was equally popular among both men and women in 2011, with approximately 10,593 men and 10,087 women electing to undergo the procedure. Also referred to as mentoplasty, chin augmentation is a cosmetic procedure designed to reshape the chin. It is frequently sought out by those who are wishing to achieve a more harmonious balance of their facial features.

Chin augmentation also has undeniable anti-aging benefits, which may have contributed to its surge in popularity, especially among those over 40 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

“The chin and jawline are among the first areas to show signs of aging. People are considering chin augmentation as a way to restore their youthful look just like a facelift or eyelid surgery,” said ASPS President Malcolm Roth.

The digital age of video-chatting may also be a contributing factor. Men and women who are connecting with other people both socially and professionally on Skype and other popular video-chatting technologies are seeing themselves more often and in a more animated manner.

“We also know that as more people see themselves on video chat technology, they may notice that their jawline is not as sharp as they want it to be. Chin implants can make a dramatic difference.”

The increased interest in chin augmentation follows a more gradual growth in the plastic surgery industry. Cosmetic procedures saw roughly a 5 percent increase across the board in 2011.

Sources: Fox News and the ASPS

“Men are often initially introduced when they come in with their wives, who are looking at having this or that done. When the husband is in there, he sees some of the information, and then he sort of gets interested. Then, when the wife comes in for a post-operation appointment, we’ll talk about his eyes or neck,” said Dr. Richard Chaffoo, a board-certified plastic surgeon in California.

Liposuction Ranks Top Plastic Surgery Procedure

Liposuction in particular, has grown immensely in popularity over the past few years among both men and women.  In 2011, over 300,000 liposuction procedures were performed in the U.S., exceeding the number of breast augmentations for the first time since 2008, according to recent statistics released by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).

In addition to liposuction, the most popular anti-aging procedures for women in the past year included tummy tucks and eyelid procedures. For men, eyelid surgery was also at the top of the list, as well as male breast reduction, according to the ASAPS.

Though couples plastic surgery is not a trend that been recognized by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, most plastic surgeons who have noticed this trend between couples agree that their patients are typically between their late 30s and early 60s.

Find out more about liposuction in Kansas City.

Source: LA Times

Of the patients of evaluated, approximately 60 percent elected to undergo liposuction alone, while 35 percent underwent a combination of liposuction and abdominoplasty. The remaining 5 percent underwent abdominoplasty alone.

Lead researcher, Eric Swanson, MD, found that patients who elected a combination surgery of both liposuction and abdominoplasty, felt the most satisfied with their results. Over 99 percent of these patients expressed satisfaction with the outcome of their procedure, with an average score of 9 out of 10, compared to 8 out of 10 for liposuction only patients. Additionally, when asked if they would undergo their surgery again, 98 percent of those who underwent combination surgery said yes.

Overall, 86 percent of the 360 patients surveyed stated they felt improved self-esteem following their procedure, while 70 percent also felt their quality of life had improved. This was especially true for individuals who underwent combination surgery.

Few studies have been able to capture the satisfaction rates of patients following liposuction and abdominoplasty, alone or in combination. Through additional research, Dr. Swanson hopes that doctors will be able to more effectively communicate post-surgical expectations to patients undergoing widely performed cosmetic surgery procedures.

Learn more about tummy tucks and liposuction in Kansas City.

Researchers led by Dr. Hazim Sadideen at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford analyzed data from 96 patients undergoing emergency as well as planned reconstructive plastic surgery requiring only local anesthetic, meaning they were conscious during the surgical process.

The study participants were split up into two groups. The first group listened to music during their operation, while the second group underwent surgery in a typical operating environment. During surgery, patient anxiety levels were measured based on self-reported anxiety and respiratory rates. Both measurements were taken immediately before and after surgery, while the patient was still lying on the operating table.

The results, which were recently published in the Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons, revealed that patients who listened to music during surgery experienced nearly 29% less self-reported anxiety than those who did not listen to music. Additionally, those listening to music also had an average of 11 breaths per minute verses 13 breaths for the second group.

While the results of this study are promising, Sadideen indicates that more research is needed to truly establish a correlation between music and reduced anxiety levels for these patients. And furthermore to establish any potential healing benefits that may result from reduced patient anxiety levels.

“This small scale work is the first time an attempt has been made to measure the impact music has in this specific group of patients and hints at the need for bigger multi-centre research to establish whether this should become part of standard practice.”

Learn more about reconstructive plastic surgery in Kansas City.

Source: The Independent

Sientra Inc.’s silicone breast implants have been approved by

Sientra’s silicone breast implants have been approved for breast augmentation in women 22 years of age and older, as well as for breast reconstruction in women of all ages. Sientra plans to offer implants in numerous shapes and sizes, in addition to the traditional round implants offered by Allergan Inc. and Johnson & Johnson.

FDA approval of Sientra’s silicone implants was a long time coming after years of controversy surrounding the long term safety of silicone implants. Initially banned in 1992 amid speculation that silicone implants may cause cancer and other harmful diseases, silicone implants have been deemed safe and on the market since 2006.

“Data on these and other approved silicone gel-filled breast implants continue to demonstrate a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness,” said William Maisel, deputy director for science at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Per the FDA, Sientra has agreed to conduct post-market clinical studies to determine the long term safety and effectiveness of their silicone breast implants. The risk of rare diseases and illness will also be recorded in these post-market studies.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), more than 307,000 breast augmentation procedures were performed last year, making the saline verses silicone debate an even more relevant concern for the FDA.

If you are considering breast augmentation, it is important to weight factors such as cost, incision size, consistency and the ability to detect rupture, when deciding on saline or silicone breast implants. Your plastic surgeon will be able to aid you in the decision-making process during your consultation.

Learn more about silicone breast implants in Kansas City.

Source: fda.gov

In an effort to raise awareness, Vancouver, Wash., plans to launch a day dedicated specifically to breast reconstruction advocacy according to Mayor Tim Leavitt. The event, deemed Breast Reconstruction Advocacy Victory Event (BRAVE) Day, is the first of its kind, but many, including American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) member Allen Gabriel, MD, hope that it will catch on in cities across the country.

“We would like all ASPS members to wear pink on March 21 to help us celebrate BRAVE Day,” he says. “Our goal is to bring attention to the advocacy efforts that are needed to counteract the lack of meaningful legislation targeting breast reconstruction rights.”

To show their support, Alaska Airlines employees will wear pink BRAVE Day bracelets all day on March 21^st. Alaska Airlines also plans to display banners at hubs across the U.S. to bring national attention to this important event.

A nationwide event for Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) is also being launched by the ASPS. The observance is planned for October 17^th, during Breast Cancer Awareness month. Events organized by the ASPS will be launched across the U.S., Canada and 20 other countries.

You can learn more about local and national breast reconstruction awareness events by visiting myreconstructionrights.org.

Find a breast reconstructive surgeon in Kansas City.

Source: Plastic Surgery News Extra

Regular mammograms are the most effective way to detect instances of breast cancer in women. You should never have to sacrifice your health for beauty, which means women may need to take additional steps when seeking out regular mammograms after breast augmentation.

Mammograms must be performed in a special way for women after breast augmentation in order to see the breast tissue effectively. If performed incorrectly, it is possible for mammogram screenings to provide inaccurate results for these women. Factors such as implant placement, type of mammogram technique utilized and technician training and expertise can all affect the results of the mammogram.

According to ImplantInfo.com, women who have undergone breast augmentation should take certain precautions when seeking out mammograms. If you have breast implants, you can assure more accurate breast cancer screenings by following the steps below:

• Ask your plastic surgeon if he or she can give you a referral for your mammogram
• Verify that the staff is properly trained and certified to give mammograms
• Explain to the staff, prior to your appointment, that you have had breast augmentation
• If possible, request to work with a technician that has experience with breast implants
• Remind your technician that you have breast implants prior to your mammogram

In addition to regular mammograms, women with breast augmentation should follow the same breast care guidelines as women who do not have implants. Monthly self-examinations should be implemented, and mammograms should be performed at the recommended intervals – initiating at age 35 and then continuing annually after age 40.

Learn more about mammograms after breast augmentation in Kansas City.

Source: Times Union