A woman in Russia may have been saved by her large silicone breast implants, according to a recent ABC News blog post.
During a dispute, the woman was reportedly stabbed by her husband, but the weapon became lodged within her implant. She had undergone a breast augmentation just five years prior to the attack.
The Russian source of the story (Pravda.ru) reports:
“During the fight, the man stabbed his wife in the left breast. He was apparently trying to kill her since he was targeting the heart. However, the knife did not even reach the thorax because of the large breast implant.”
Silicone implants are known for their cohesive properties. Unlike saline breast implants, they do not immediately deflate, but maintain their shape if a rupture occurs. The implant “did not leak” but “preserved its original shape” Russian news reports said.
ABC spoke with NYU plastic surgeon Dr. Mihye Choi about the story. “It might have been leaking inside the capsule, but you don’t want to ignore leaking even if it is inside the capsule,” he said.
After receiving medical care for the stabbing, the victim returned to her plastic surgery clinic to have the implant replaced.
The winner will mix and match the cosmetic procedures of their choice until they reach the total prize amount of 25,000 dollars. Whoever lands this jackpot might choose to undergo cosmetic procedures like breast enhancement, tummy tuck, facelift or eyelid lift.
Kathleen McSweeney of Trump Entertainment told the Associated Press: “Many people have something they want to change; a nip and tuck here, a lift there, but the cost of these procedures can be quite costly; this promotion will allow the winner the opportunity to get the procedures of their choice.”
This casino promotion joins the growing list of recent contests that raise ethical questions about patient selection. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has stated in its code of ethics that their members cannot participate in any contest in which the prize is a surgical procedure (requiring an incision).
The winner can, however, choose the cash prize of $25,000 and skip any cosmetic procedures.
Anyone attempting to win this contest (or a contest like it) should ask questions like:
Who is performing the surgery?
Is that person board certified in plastic surgery?
Where is the surgery being performed?
Do I need to spend the full prize amount on cosmetic procedures? Is there a part cash/part surgery option?
Do you know the answers to these questions? Please leave a comment and tell us.
Americans had more than 220,000 bariatric surgery procedures last year. According to a new study to be presented at ASPS this weekend, 75 percent of them aren’t aware of their cosmetic surgery options.
Plastic surgeons know that people who experience massive weight loss are typically left with a large amount of loose skin, which leads to problems.
“Many massive weight loss patients suffer large amounts of loose, sagging skin as a result of their rapid weight loss that, if not removed, can cause rashes, wounds, infection, and limit comfortable mobility,” says Jason Spector M.D., lead study author.
Only 25 % Discussed Body Contouring After Weight Loss
Dr. Spector studied 284 patients who had bariatric sugery. He found that only 25 percent had discussed body contouring procedures before or after the operation. Only 14 percent were actually referred to a plastic surgeon for consultation about body contouring. If they had known about their options, almost 40 percent of the patients may have undergone a procedure, the study says.
This lack of awareness can be attributed to “insufficient counseling at the time of bariatric surgery” according to the authors.
Even when they are aware of plastic surgery options, insurance coverage frequently becomes an issue. Even though bariatric surgery such as the Lap Band can be covered by health insurance, post bariatric body contouring will not; it’s still considered elective and cosmetic – despite the fact that it helps to address rashes, infection and significant discomfort caused by loose folds of skin.
The study, titled, “Body Contouring Following Bariatric Surgery: How Much is Being Done,” is scheduled to be presented tomorrow in Denver at 2:45 p.m., during Plastic Surgery 11 THE Meeting.
Last week, USA TODAY ran a front-page story and series of articles that explored controversy about surgical complications and even deaths occurring among people who had cosmetic surgery at “low cost, high volume cosmetic surgery clinics.”
“While these clinics typically employ plastic surgeons who are either board-certified or up for certification, lawyers, victims and other plastic surgeons say these new-style surgery clinics are under so much sales pressure they often don’t sufficiently screen patients for medical problems, do inadequate follow-up and persuade patients to undergo procedures that are either unnecessary or unlikely to get good results. “
Are you putting yourself at risk if you choose one of these high volume, low cost cosmetic surgery clinics? We asked several respected plastic surgeons to respond to this question:
I definitely agree that people put themselves at risk at the high volume plastic surgery centers. The patient has no idea who their doctor is and what their credentials truly are. There is very little of the traditional doctor-patient relationship, which I feel is SO vital especially in the plastic surgery field.
I think people who really want a procedure but have limited money will find someone to do their surgery. They will overlook the negatives and only focus on the fact that what they want will be done. I think these “high volume” centers are dangerous and prey on this kind of patient.
Safety is the primary concern with all surgery, especially cosmetic surgery which is not medically necessary. Likewise, the doctor-patient relationship is the foundation of our health care system. Patients should be wary of clinics where patient evaluations beyond basic intake and screening information are performed by non- physicians and the patients are unable to consult with the physician who will perform the surgery prior to making a financial commitment. It is unacceptable to not meet your surgeon prior to the day of surgery for an elective, cosmetic operation. How can a patient expect to get quality treatment without an evaluation by the person providing the treatment? Patients should worry if paying money seems to be more of a priority than providing information.
The key factor is that in these cases, medicine is becoming a commodity. The underlying problem is that the patients are choosing their plastic surgery based on cost alone. The physicians who work for these companies, in my opinion, are in violation of the Hippocratic Oath they took when they became physicians. Often the patient is not treated as a human being but rather as a source of income. It is disgraceful.
Dr. Richard Rand, a Seattle plastic surgeon, says he has seen the consequences of these clinics near his office in Bellevue, Washington.
To assume that you can get the same quality of result, safety, and personalized care from a surgeon at a discount “surgical factory” is naive at best and denies a basic understanding that no two surgeons are equal in talent, training, artistry, ethics, and commitment to care. I have seen many unfixable disasters from such places in my area and have also been aware of a death at a laser liposuction clinic directly across the street from my fully accredited surgery center. The law should step in and shut these places down but it does not. Consequently, even though the discounted prices may be tempting, patients choosing these facilities literally risk their health and maybe even their lives. This is clearly not intelligent and I sincerely hope the message is getting out exposing this growing danger.
Indiana plastic surgeon Dr. David Robinson agreed that corners will be cut at high volume clinics.
I do believe that high volume cosmetic surgery centers do come with increased risk. Their goal of high volume at reduced prices is a recipe for disaster. In order to keep prices low, they often have to cut corners. This can include employing less qualified staff such as non-board certified physicans, some of which are not even surgeons. Many of these individuals also have limited training in cosmetic surgery, often taking weekend courses or receiving training from non-accredited organizations. The facilities may also not be accredited which means they are not held to the rigorous standards put in place by states and the federal government.
Medicis, the pharmaceutical company behind Restylane, Perlane and Dysport, recently announced FDA approval for Liposonix.
Liposonix is a new treatment that uses high-intensity, focused ultrasound to eliminate fat that is just beneath the skin. The company reportedly received FDA approval for “non-invasive waist circumference reduction.”
Medicis doesn’t plan to launch the treatment in the United States. In a press release issued this morning, the company stated:
“Medicis is not planning to launch the LIPOSONIX system in the U.S., and would anticipate that plans for a U.S. launch will be announced by an acquiring company, if any, if and when such acquiring company deems appropriate.”
The treatment is available in Canada, Japan and Europe. Although the procedure is officially cleared for sale in the U.S., people interested in it may need to wait until another company acquires the rights to market Liposonix technology from Medicis.
Medicis is best known for providing high quality injectable products, including Restylane and Perlane, some of the world’s most popular wrinkle fillers; and Dysport, the injectable botulinum toxin medication that works in a similar manner to Botox Cosmetic.
WABC TV recently aired this segment about the ZELTIQ CoolSculpting procedure, a non-surgical fat removal procedure we offer here in Fairfax.
Dermatologist Eric Schweiger explains the procedure and then performs it on a patient. The doctor tells the news team about research leading up to the discovery of ZELTIQ “fat freezing technology.
“Schweiger says this technique came about after researchers noticed that kids who sucked more popsicles had more dimples. Based on this observation, researchers looked at the effect of cold on the skin. They found that by cooling the skin and keeping it at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, some of the fat could be destroyed, while the skin, muscle, and nerves survived Zetliq is not without side effects.”
More and more Chinese people are turning to cosmetic surgery, especially young people, according to Reuters News.
Some favorite procedures in China include facial plastic surgery such as double eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty, as well as body enhancement procedures.
In China, many younger people view cosmetic surgery as a way to get an advantage in the competitive job market. Up to 80 percent of cosmetic surgery patients in Beijing last summer were students, according to a study by the China Medical Treatment Orthopedics and Beauty Association.
“Parents want their daughters to be beautiful so they’ll have an easier time finding a job or a husband,” said Ding Xiaobang, a Beijing surgeon. “They’ll often bring the child to get surgery the summer before college or even high school.”
After graduation, Sandra Zheng, a director at a Chinese television station, said she got two injections of hyaluronic acid to raise the bridge of her nose. “I got it to improve my self-confidence,” the 23-year old explains.
Some Chinese are choosing double eyelid surgery to get double-fold eyelids, a procedure also known as “epicanthoplasty.” The procedure can make the eyes appear larger, but some criticize the procedure as a type of “Westernization.”
Some U.S. surgeons are performing this type of eyelid surgery. The technique either creates a fold on the upper eyelids if there isn’t one, or adjusts the height of the existing fold to a higher position.
“Creating a double eyelid fold is a very precise procedure and requires careful pre-operative planning, says facial cosmetic surgeon Dr. Ioannis Glavas. “It is critical to work with an experienced cosmetic surgeon familiar with the procedures and the particularities of the Asian anatomy and skin due to the tendency to hyper pigment, the increased risk of keloids or hypertrophic scars,” “Communication with your doctor is the key factor to success,” he adds.
Check out this video/slideshow featuring before and after photos of the CoolSculpting by ZELTIQ procedure. The video was posted to YouTube by Dr. Young Cho, a plastic surgeon in Houston.
A recent clinical study says that certain patients report high rates of satisfaction when using products from the Obagi skin care line.
The study, published in the July issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal analyzed results of patients who combined their BOTOX treatment with Obagi, versus a control group who used Botox combined with a placebo/standard skincare program.
A recent press release specifically reports that Obagi’s Condition and Enhance line “provides greater improvement in overall facial appearance, as well as increased patient satisfaction vs. Botox treatments with a placebo.” The Condition and Enhance line of Obagi products, also marketed as Obagi Nu-Derm, uses a combination of 4 percent hydroquinone and tretinoin.
About the Study
The 120 day study was a multi-center, randomized, investigator-masked, parallel-group study with 61 Botox patients. Patients were randomly prescribed either a hydroquinone system (cleanser, toner, 4% hydroquinone, exfoliant, and sunscreen) combined with 0.05% tretinoin cream, or a “standard skin care regimen” with cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
Results Found With Obagi
Patients in the Obagi group reported a significant improvement in fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. Lead investigator Joel Schlessinger MD said: “This data clearly highlights the fact that by adding Condition & Enhance to injectable patients’ treatment regimen, patients are addressing multiple aspects of aging skin for optimal results.”
Investigators and patients alike were asked to evaluate the results. They found “significantly milder fine lines/wrinkles and hyperpigmentation at days 30, 90, and 120″ in the combination group and patient surveys showed “superior overall ratings.”
Here’s a breakdown of the Obagi results and standard group’s results:
89 percent of the combined group was satisfied or extremely satisfied with their results.
93 percent of the Obagi group was satisfied or extremely satisfied with the treatment regimen.
100 percent of the Obagi Condition and Enhance group wished to continue treatment after the study.
12 percent of the “standard skincare group” was satisfied or extremely satisfied with their results and their treatment regimen.
According to ASAPS, “Patients using the hydroquinone system plus tretinoin believed that their study treatment had further enhanced the improvements attained with botulinum toxin type A compared to those using the standard skin care regimen (86% vs. 8%).”
How can a cosmetic procedure make you happier? Recent discussions in the media and the medical community have brought this question into focus.
It’s a good question for patients to ask, according to a new book written by plastic surgeon Robin Yuan, MD. Behind the Mask, Beneath the Glitter, explores the psychological decisions of cosmetic surgery patients. Dr Yuan says that before a procedure, patients should “know the truth about themselves in the broadest sense.”
By knowing oneself, a patient will be more able to partake in a successful doctor-patient relationship – one in which she is able to articulate her own personal motivating factors for cosmetic surgery. The doctor then becomes more able to focus on specific goals that will make her happy with the result.
Patients who have psychological problems might pursue cosmetic surgery for the wrong reasons, and are therefore unlikely to find increased happiness from a procedure. That’s the commonsense view in the medical community: that cosmetic surgery – enhancement of beauty – can’t cure any serious psychological problem.
A radically opposed view is held by Brazilian plastic surgeon Dr. Ivo Pitanguy. A recent editorial in The New York Times explains his philosophy. Pitanguy argues that beauty and mental health are linked, so the real goal in surgery is to heal the mind.
But a new study seems to contradict his argument with empirical evidence. “Psychosocial changes after cosmetic surgery: a Five-Year Follow-up Study” was designed to find a link between certain “pre-existing patient characteristics” and “poor psychosocial outcomes.” Currently an abstract “sneak peak,” it will be included in the September 2011 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
With questionnaires from 130 female cosmetic surgery patients, the authors measured characteristics like self-esteem, appearance satisfaction, psychological problems, and self-evaluation of the surgical results. Five years after cosmetic surgery, patients generally showed more satisfaction with their appearance and more satisfaction with the operated body part. They also reported “a small increase in self-esteem.”
However, patients in the study who had psychological problems or low self-esteem were less likely to be satisfied with their results.
