Right time for plastic surgery

There is no other factor responsible for expediting aging than stress, worry, and pain/suffering. Can we avoid it altogether? Not really. But what we can do is to keep it at the minimal level by having a positive attitude and thinking of life as an adventure. (Related article: How to prevent aging?)

Let us take a look at Carol's case who went through several years of traumatic experiences all at the same time. Almost all of them related to a bad marriage. Now that the divorce is over, she wants to move on with her life and she is finding it difficult to do it. As I have been saying all along, divorce can be extremity hard on women (and children). Most men handle it fairly well, though.

Carol says, "I have been trying to find a job as a dental assistant and not having much luck. I would like to go to dental school later on and become a dentist, but because I have not been able to find a job as an assistant, I wonder if people think that I'm just too old or not very bright. Sometimes I feel ready to give up. I have also wondered if having some kind of plastic/cosmetic surgery would help me look younger and give me an edge to get into a career that I have a passion for. I am 46 years old. I was very sick for a number of years and a doctor put me on steroids. I have about 65 lbs. more to lose. Other than that I am in relatively good health. I also tend to look at the way that life has gone and think that perhaps I am not deserving of success. I think that is ridiculous as I write it, but that is something that I feel. Do you think that plastic surgery is something that would give me an edge? Do you think that I would feel better if I had it? Would it make a difference?"

Carol's question is very typical. A lot of women think that plastic surgery will somehow solve their problems. There is no doubt that plastic surgery can produce remarkable improvements in how your body looks and raise your self esteem and confidence, but in Carol's case, here are a few other things to consider before sitting down with a plastic surgeon for consultation:

1. When we are in a long-term, committed relationship, we often take it for granted. Remember how you took care of yourself to look your best when you were dating? The stress of kids, family (and in Carol's case, a divorce) can "age" you further very quickly, particularly if you do not take care of yourself. So before you consider plastic surgery, read this article on how to look younger after 40.
2. You may also want to watch two television programs that I like - "Ten Years Younger" (Discovery channel) and Mini Makeovers (part of the Extreme Makeovers program on ABC). What I am trying to say is that if you follow the advice in the article and learn a few tricks from the TV programs and make some minor changes, you will not only look better and younger, you will also feel good about yourself. (Related article: Makeovers for women after 40)
3. There is no substitute to exercising and dieting to lose weight. And 65 lbs is quite a lot of weight to lose, but if you take small steps, you will see the difference. Set small goals and don't stop till you are where you want to be. And have fun on the way to losing weight.
4. Once your weight is gone, you will have extra skin on your body. And that is a perfect time to evaluate if you should have plastic surgery, particularly a body contouring procedure. At that time, it is also a good idea to look at liposuction or tummy tuck as possible solutions to hard-to-get-rid-off fat on the tummy and thighs. In other words, first try to do your very best through diet and exercise and then look at plastic surgery. Not only will you get a better looking body at that time, you will also become a new person.
5. And to improve your self esteem and build a positive body image, read a few good books, join a support group, make some new friends, and smile more often.

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Latinas and Latinos love plastic surgery

The Latinas and Latinos like it too - plastic surgery that is. According to the latest statistics, Hispanics had nearly 553,000 cosmetic plastic surgery procedures in 2004, an increase of 49 percent from 2000 and a 7 percent increase from 2003. In fact Hispanics led all minority groups in the number of procedures performed, comprising 6 percent of the 9.2 million cosmetic surgery procedures performed in 2004, followed by African Americans with 5 percent (461,000 procedures), and Asians with 3 percent (276,000 procedures). This is simply an indication of the fact that Latin men and women are very image-conscious and spend greater portion of their income on style and fashion.

“This tremendous growth shows that Hispanics have adopted and adapted to many U.S. cultural norms,” said ASPS Past President James Wells, MD, a bi-lingual plastic surgeon. “Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in America and body image is increasingly important to them as they move up the socio-economic ladder.”

According to the statistics, some of the most commonly requested surgical cosmetic procedures for Hispanics in 2004 were nose reshaping and liposuction. The most commonly requested minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures for Hispanics were Botox, microdermabrasion, injectable wrinkle fillers, and chemical peel. In addition, commonly requested surgical procedures for African Americans in 2004 were nose reshaping and liposuction. Commonly requested surgical procedures for Asians were nose reshaping and eyelid surgery. The most commonly requested minimally-invasive procedures for both ethnic groups were Botox, injectable wrinkle fillers, chemical peel, and microdermabrasion. Both African Americans and Asians had a 24 percent increase in cosmetic surgery procedures from 2000.

Reality TV shows are also creating a greater public awareness for cosmetic surgery in the Hispanic community. “Hispanics are getting more exposure to cosmetic surgery through TV programming shown in South America, Central America, and in the United States,” said Florida Society of Plastic Surgeons President Onelio Garcia, MD, who estimates 50 percent of his patients are Hispanic. “These shows are helping Hispanic patients become more comfortable with cosmetic surgery by discussing procedural options and showing Hispanic patients and plastic surgeons.” In a program like Doctor 90210 that is based in California, many plastic surgery clients are Hispanic women. (Related article: Plastic surgery in Mexico)

With the number of Hispanics opting for cosmetic surgery increasing, it is ever important for patients to learn what to look for when choosing a plastic surgeon and operating facility. “Hispanic patients need to be aware of the importance of choosing an ASPS Member Surgeon to ensure quality, training and board-certification in plastic surgery,” said Dr. James Wells. “There are physicians and non-physicians who may prey on Hispanic patients because of language barriers – building a false sense of trust with the patient simply because they too speak Spanish. Little ‘clínicas’ and ‘boutiques’ are not the best places to have cosmetic surgery.” There was a recent report from Dateline NBC on how some Hispanic and African American patients received unacceptable treatment when they went to The Dominican Republic for plastic surgery.

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Source: ASPS

Plastic surgery goes mainstream

The fact that Robert Blake has been acquitted has led to speculation that many jurors used the high standards that they see on television programs like & Law Order or CSI in their analysis of his guilt. When they could not find incontrovertible evidence against him, he was let go. In other words, reality television is changing the way we behave.

The same thing is happening with plastic surgery. Programs like Extreme Makeover, The Swan, Plastic Surgery Before & After, Nip & Tuck, Doctor 90210, I Want A Famous Face, etc. are definitely telling us more about the procedures, the costs, process, problems/complications, and of course, how you look later. Another positive side of these reality programs is that they bring out the human side of the story. So watching these programs is far more useful than, say, attending a science lesson in plastic surgery. (Related article: Plastic surgery safety)

Reality TV shows are may also attribute to the growth in procedures as more and more people get curious about cosmetic surgery. However, these shows have not caused a rampant increase, as some had feared initially. The number of cosmetic plastic surgery procedures increased just 5 percent in 2004, with more than 9.2 million procedures performed - a growth rate steady with that of the U.S. economy, according to statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). New five-year trending data shows cosmetic procedures are up 24 percent from 2000, reports the ASPS. These numbers, while good for plastic surgeons, do not in any way indicate that Americans are going crazy with plastic surgery. (Related article: Latest plastic surgery procedures)

Surgical cosmetic procedures actually remained relatively stable in 2004, with more than 1.7 million procedures performed - down 2 percent from 2003. The top five surgical cosmetic procedures were liposuction (325,000), nose reshaping (305,000), eyelid surgery (233,000), and facelift (114,000).

Minimally-invasive procedures increased 7 percent to nearly 7.5 million procedures performed in 2004. The top five minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures were Botox (3 million), chemical peel (1.1 million), microdermabrasion (859,000), laser hair removal (574,000), and sclerotherapy (545,000). If you did not know what sclerotherapy was, it is a procedure to treat Venulectasia or those ugly thread veins that women have on their legs but these are smaller than varicose veins.

The growth in minimally-invasive procedures can be attributed, in part, to new injectable wrinkle fighters entering the market. More consumers are considering injectables to prolong or avoid facelifts, forehead lifts and eyelid surgeries. In fact, the demand for hyaluronic acid injectable fillers like Restylane and Hylaform jumped 927 percent in 2004. Botox injections growth rate also stabilized with just 4 percent growth in 2004 but a 280 percent growth since 2000. In other words, most early adopters have already attended a Botox party. Now they are inviting their few friends left.

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Plastic surgery decisions are not easy

Decisions about plastic surgery are not easy and are highly personal. On one hand is an argument that if you are not happy with something, if you can afford to have plastic surgery, then why wait? Just do it as soon as you can so that you have many more years to enjoy your beautiful body. On the other hand, a lot of people struggle with the superficiality of it all. Plastic surgery merely changes how you look and might improve your image and self esteem but that is such a small part of you. The bigger you is inside you and that does not change with cosmetic surgery.

Martha, who is only 20, and lives in the capital of plastic surgery Los Angeles, writes, "I have been fighting self happiness versus media perfection for years now. I have a small cup size (34A). The images we see on television and the people surrounding us tell us that we must have a certain body type to be beautiful. Men and women tell me I'm gorgeous, yet because I lack the perfect 36C cup size, I feel ugly. For years I've been secretly dealing with my issues. Until one day, I snapped and poured out my emotions to both my mom and boyfriend. After making their jaws drop, I added I wanted plastic surgery to "correct" my "problem." My boyfriend of 4 years gave me the best reaction I could have asked for. He cried. I realized then that his words were true. He loves me and wouldn't change me for anything. I always thought all guys were the same. Bigger is better. He is the one thing that has kept me from turning to surgery. He assures me that if I ever got any procedures done to change myself, he'd leave me. So although I still battle every so often with my appearance and am tempted by plastic surgery, I remember his words and how stupid it really is to change yourself to satisfy society. I am a good looking woman with or without fat in all the right places. I hope other girls and women will look at myself, and many other women like me, and realize that you can be beautiful on the outside as well as inside even if you don't have everything perfect about your body." (Related article: Women must make their own decisions about plastic surgery)

Ashley couldn't agree more. She is also a teenager and does not think that plastic surgery is the solution to more fundamental problems in a woman's personality. "I honestly think, being a teenager myself, that having plastic surgery at this young age is just not right. People who desire to change their bodies to fit society's image of the ideal human body, really need to take a look in the mirror and realize, that they are indeed beautiful as they are. It's best to be who you are, than to turn yourself into a plastic doll, i.e. Barbie. And to anyone who is under the age of twenty desiring plastic surgery, rethink it. If it's only to attract a guy, think about this, "Does he alter his appearance to appeal to you?" NO! I may not look like a Paris Hilton, but you know what, she's plastic as well. Just look at her pictures from a few years ago. You cannot go from dark roots, brown eyes, and a different face to what she is now. There is no possible way for that to happen in nature."

So what should young people do if they are tempted to have plastic surgery?

• It is good to wait, at least till you are 18, or maybe even 21. And I am talking only of elective surgery here; not reconstructive surgery for which your doctor is the best person to listen to.
• Try to get to the root of the problem. Are you sure that plastic surgery will make a fundamental difference in your life? Will you be truly happy?
• Is it not a good idea to workout, eat right, and deal with your personality issues first before jumping on the surgery table.

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Plastic surgery in Mexico is safe if you do your homework

Last week Dateline NBC did a story on what is sometimes referred to as plastic surgery tourism or lipo-tourism. In other words, what I have talked about in the past as plastic surgery overseas. While the program did reconfirm some of the things that I have mentioned in my previous article (Caution when having plastic surgery overseas), Victoria Corderi tried to make a big story out of stories of essentially four women who got bad plastic surgery from just one doctor in the Dominican Republic.

Let me first restate what the program talked about if you want to take advantage of extremely lower prices for plastic surgery overseas:

1. Like anything else, "Buyers beware." This is true overseas, for plastic surgery, and it is equally true for even the United States. The stories of horrible plastic surgeons and the damage that they have done to plastic surgery patients here in the US are heartbreaking. So do your research prior to picking a surgeon whether in the US or overseas.
2. Remember that plastic surgery is surgery. It is a medical procedure in which an anaestheologist will administer anaesthesia and a surgeon will literally open your body. Anything can go wrong at any point of time.
3. Low cost comes at a price. While most of the costs overseas are lower because the cost of doing business is low and doctors in many countries do not spend as much money on insurance as Americans doctors do (and pass on these savings to patients), hygiene and safety may also be compromised by some unscrupulous surgeons. Surgeons may reuse things that should be thrown away. They may not have/use all the sophisticated equipment available. In many cases, they are not even aware of the latest technologies and procedures.
4. The reason most American surgeons do a good job is that we have a legal system in place. The surgeons are afraid of being sued. No wonder it raises the cost of healthcare in the US, but it also keeps them under check. I have often seen American women pushing the doctors to take out more fat during liposuction or tummy tuck procedure and the doctor saying no simply because it is too risky. A doctor overseas may agree to your request since he wants the money and is not afraid of being sued. The legal system in many countries is broken.

But is plastic surgery overseas really that bad?

Not really. Dateline NBC reported that just 1,000 Americans have surgery there each year and that is a very small percentage (9.2 million cosmetic surgery and 1.7 million surgical procedures were performed in 2004 in the US). As Stone Phillips said, most people do just fine even if they go overseas. But the media needs a story and that is what Dateline did. They took four cases and made it appear as if the world was coming to an end because some women got hurt in the Dominican Republic.

While I am myself skeptical of third-world countries for medical procedures and I would not go unless I could trust the doctor/surgeon, there are other options for low-cost surgery overseas. As I said in the past, you can go to Mexico or Canada where the clinics are located purely for strategic reasons (lower cost of doing business). All of these doctors could very well be in the US but choose to be in Mexico or Canada to increase their cost competitiveness. You can also go to developed countries like Spain where the cost is not as low as Mexico but still much lower than that in the US. In a developed country, you are guaranteed a higher level of patient care, comparable or even better sometimes than what you receive here at home.

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Caution when having plastic surgery outside the USA

My previous article on having plastic surgery overseas (say in Mexico or Brazil or Thailand or many other countries that are offering a low-cost alternative to surgery in the US) has generated a long list of questions. It is important to understand that there are some risks of having surgery outside the US. But Dr. Michael Bruck of the Juva Medical Spa in New York City, in an interview with Lindisima.com says, that he has seen many good surgeries from Latin America and he does not think the incidence of bad surgeries is much higher than that in the USA. However, he still recommends having the surgery closer to home. If some thing goes wrong, you can always return to the doctor, he says. I agree, but if the cost difference is huge then you need to decide if you are willing to bear some risk while saving some money. (Related article: How to finance plastic surgery?)

Another important point to consider is your option when something does go wrong. We all know what we do in the US - call a lawyer, sue everyone we can, collect the settlement, and move on. The laws protecting the patients and the high standards of patient care in the USA are not always there in other countries. However, there are crooks everywhere, including the Mecca of plastic surgery, the United States. Wherever you have the surgery, you have to make sure the doctor has experience and accreditations. (Related article: Plastic surgery safety)

It is more difficult to find information on doctor’s accreditations outside the US. In countries with high number of surgeries, such as Brazil and Mexico, it is much easier to find more information. Also, some American doctors are conducting surgeries outside the US because many procedures already available in Europe and other countries are not yet legal in the US.
Although Brazil, Mexico and Thailand attract many Americans for plastic surgery, Canada is also a country to consider. Spain and other European Union countries are also good destinations since laws are strict and often enforced.

If you decide to have surgery outside the USA you should not go alone. If possible you must go with friend(s) or a family member(s).

Be careful thinking that you will have a vacation while having plastic surgery. Most procedures have down time and you will be in pain and be swollen for days. It will take weeks before you can go back to regular activities and it may take months to fully recover from surgery. I mention this because some plastic surgery clinics overseas position the surgery package as a way to have some fun while going under the knife. That is why apart from airfare and hotel, they also throw in spa services and sightseeing. My recommendation is that you get the plastic surgery done right in one trip and think about a pleasure trip some other time.

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Can I have plastic surgery safely?

This is a very commonly asked question by women. Of course, if you can afford to pay for it, anyone can have plastic surgery. But there are other considerations too. According to most doctors, a woman in good health (emotional and physical) is generally a good candidate for plastic surgery. The doctor will further review yours and your family’s clinical history to determine if you are a good candidate. Diagnostic tests may also be done to check if you are ready to go under the knife. (Related article: Having plastic surgery overseas can reduce the cost)

Mental health is another important consideration prior to deciding on plastic surgery. Some people may have very unrealistic expectations of what they can get out of a cosmetic surgery procedure. Most plastic or elective surgeries tend to raise people’s self-esteem and make them feel better about themselves. In interviews with women who have had plastic surgery, we have learned that they feel more confident about themselves, tend to dress better, and feel more enthusiastic about their personal and professional lives. But by itself, plastic surgery alone will not make you happier, wealthier, or stop a divorce or a breakup. If plastic surgery were to do that, most of these Hollywood celebrities will be happy.

Who is not a good candidate for plastic surgery?

Women who do not have perfect health, who have problems that may aggravate the risk from anesthesia or healing are often not good candidates. But remember that the doctor has the last word and this is only a general guideline.

One other aspect to consider is how your body heals. If you have a history of developing scars, you may develop larger than normal scars with plastic surgery. Your doctor will evaluate the situation and recommend accordingly.

Smoking and plastic surgery don't go very well together either. Smoking raises several risks during surgeries. Any surgery, not just cosmetic surgery. You have to inform your doctor if you smoke and you will be required to stop smoking some time before the surgery. This is not a joke; you can die if you do not obey your doctor’s orders. (Related article: How to quit smoking?)

If you are nor willing to or cannot stop smoking, you should be honest with your doctor and let him or her evaluate the situation. Do not think that you can fool the doctor and you will be OK. You may think that you may be able to fool the doctor, but during the surgery, when complication arises, it is your life and you are the one going to face the consequences.

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Skincare for sun damaged skin

Hyperpigmentation is a major problem in some countries where people do not fully understand the dangers of sun on the skin. Over-exposure to sun can not only cause hyper-pigmentation, it may also lead to skin cancer.

Meena writes, "My mother is of Indian (South Asian) descent and she is suffering from hyperpigmentation in all areas usually exposed to the sun, that is, around the neck, arms/hands and some areas on her face. She has consulted numerous dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons. Because of her dark skin, all doctors she has consulted to date have been reluctant to try laser for skincare. Could you please advise us as to whether there is any solution to this problem?" (Related article: What is your skin type?)

In countries like India, it is very common for people to not protect themselves against the sun. Since most homes do not have central heating, sun is the only source of warmth during cold winter months. Infants are often left all day under direct sun to keep them warm. And use of sunblock is practically unknown in India and other countries along the tropics. No wonder the instances of sun damage are extremely high. (Related article: Skin care using natural products)

While extensive sun damage, like in the case of Meena's mother, is generally incurable and/or expensive, a few things can be done to prevent further damage and to rejuvenate the skin. Laser treatment is generally not used on people with darker skins since the technology is still new and its effect on dark skinned people is not fully understood yet. Only a few dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons that have experience with ethnic skins are willing to try it. In the meantime, here are few things she can do to protect your skin:

1. Protect yourself from sun. While dark skin is relatively less susceptible to skin cancer, it is still a good idea to not expose yourself to the sun.
2. Cover your body as much as possible when going out into the sun and carry an umbrella.
3. Always wear a sunblock when going out (with the highest possible SPF that you can find).
   Take good care of her skin. Use basic skincare procedures like regular cleansing and facials at home.

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Women must make own plastic surgery decisions

Decisions about most plastic surgery procedures are not easy. Apart from being fairly expensive (Related article: How to finance plastic surgery?), it is surgery after all, with all the risks associated with any medical procedure. Thus, a woman has to decide carefully if she wants plastic surgery. Another important consideration is the role that husband or boyfriend can play in helping you make the decision. When it comes to augmentation, many women report that their decision for plastic surgery was influenced by the man in their lives.

Most men claim they can easily figure out natural from artificial ones. Some even say that the artificial ones always stay in place and they do not have a natural movement. Natural ones do not stay up like two melons while you are lying down, but implants do. Despite this, men love a larger size and often push their women to get plastic surgery.

Should you listen to a man while deciding about plastic surgery?

In general, you will get scars from plastic surgery. The scars are not so big and they become smaller as time goes by. Depending on which procedure is used, the type of scars will vary. The umbilical or armpit surgery leaves smaller, almost invisible scars. The most visible scars are left by the traditional plastic surgery that makes a cut right in your chest. However, this surgery happens to be the most precise. In some cases, this surgery is the only one available option to some patients. Will he find you equally attractive even with the scars?

You will be putting extra weight on your body. It is not a lot of weight, but the larger the implants, the higher the weight. What does it mean for your desired weight?

You will also have the option to choose the amount of cleavage you want and if you want them rounder or more natural looking. Are you ready for the extra, but sometimes unwanted, attention?

Either natural or with implants, you will suffer the effects of gravity, motherhood, natural aging process, and weight loss like any other. Therefore, you may need more than one surgery in your lifetime even when you are happy with the result of the first surgery. Also, the implants may sometimes move and get out of place, so another plastic surgery procedure is often needed to relocate them.

How large should you go?

Your plastic surgeon and you will determine what is the best size for you. Many men and women wish very large sizes, but there are limitations on what the plastic surgeon can accomplish. The amount of skin available can limit the freedom the surgeon has. Some aspects to consider are:

Your lifestyle. Some women might work as dancers or models and large size may give you an advantage. But if you are a regular, busy mom, smaller sizes may be better. Same applies to a sporty person - too large may be an obstacle sometimes.

Your personality. It is a long-term commitment, so you have to think of what you really want. This is your body, not your boyfriend's or your plastic surgeon's. This is going to be with you 24x7x365; in other words, all the time. You will be the one buying bras and modeling your clothes. Since this is your body, pick the size that you are most comfortable with.

Peer pressure. The size is somehow affected by fashion. In the 80s and 90s, large sizes were in vogue than it is now. So be careful not to go only with fashion standards of the time, because they change very often.

Is it a life long commitment?

Yes and no. If you undergo surgery you are literally risking your life. So you are not going to risk your life, if you are not convinced you really want them. You can always take the implants out at any point of time, but the stretched skin and potential damage to the surrounding tissues are not going to look good. If you selected the wrong size, you can change it, but it will take another surgery.

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How to finance plastic surgery procedures?

Almost all cosmetic surgery procedures are not covered by health insurance. Only reconstructive surgery is covered by some insurance policies, and that too requires a lot of paperwork and back and forth with the insurance company and the hospital. Sometimes, the term "elective surgery" is also used. What it means that when a person elects to have surgery as opposed to being advised by a doctor for medical reasons. (Related article: Having plastic surgery overseas can reduce your cost)

The fact that you will need to pay yourself for plastic surgery is something that most people understand, there are other issues to deal with if your surgery develops unexpected complications. Your health insurance premiums may increase, coverage may be dropped altogether or future coverage may be denied once the insurance company finds out. Treatments as a result of plastic surgery complications (which might have been covered otherwise, for instance, infections or pain) may also not be covered either. Consult with your health insurance carrier about the conditions in your policy. And also discuss with your plastic surgeon on how to deal with your insurance company.

How to pay for plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery is undoubtedly expensive, and no doctor can estimate the costs beforehand if post-surgery complications develop, particularly if you need to be admitted to a regular hospital. These are some important questions to ask your plastic surgeon before your surgery. It is also important to understand who will pay for post-surgery complications and get that in writing.

So you should plan on paying for the procedure and also have a cushion for any complications. The payment option offered varies by doctor, but in most cases, you need to leave a deposit when you book the surgery, and pay the rest right before the surgery. Many people pay right out of their wallets in cash and if you can afford it, that is the best option.

Should you put it on you credit cards?

Only if you have an airline credit card and you have the money to pay the balance in full as soon as you receive your next statement (there is nothing wrong with that because you pay no interest at all and can collect the miles). I am, however, strongly opposed to carrying credit card debt that came from an elective surgery.

There are special loans to pay for plastic surgery and some of them are arranged by plastic surgeons or their associate companies. As with any other loan, be careful before you sign on the dotted line. Make sure you understand how much you are borrowing, what is the interest rate, and what happens if you are late in making payments. Consult with a financial advisor to make sure that you do not commit mistakes in paying for the surgery. The sums are huge and these loaning companies know that most plastic surgery candidates are "rich," and therefore, easier to take advantage of.

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Latest plastic surgery procedures

Popularity of plastic surgery to improve appearance and to look younger is growing rapidly not only in the United States but on a global basis. The patients eager to correct everything possible are forcing doctors to come out with new procedures. Here is a list of some not yet popular procedures, but likely to become available soon:

Brachioplasty: It is a plastic surgery procedure, also called arm lift, to remove excess skin from the arms and some fat deposits. It is becoming more popular because of the rising popularity of the gastic bypass surgery to lose weight. These patients are left with a lot of excess skin after losing a lot of weight. Aging can also cause the skin in this area to become saggy. Many a times the surgeon will recommend liposuction in the arm area in addition to the arm lift. This surgery can leave big, visible scars. They can extend from the armpit to the elbow. Therefore, only those people who have excess skin, really benefit from this surgery. The cost will vary widely by location, but generally it costs between $5,000 to $7,000.

Voice lift or voice modification surgery: This surgery has been practiced for a while, but not many people are aware of it. Think about it like this. You meet someone who looks 45 years old, but sounds like a 70-year-old woman. You will see an immediate disconnect. The solution is plastic surgery or a surgery called voice lift. It consists of lifting of the vocal cords. The surgery gives a clearer, younger-sounding voice. It can also be used by people who need their voice to sound like singers, actors, or even politicians. It was originally developed to help people with health problems or who had suffered accidents involving the vocal cords. According to information from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the problem with the surgery is that the surgeon cannot fine tune your voice as he does the surgery, because the patient is under anesthesia, and therefore, he or she is unable to talk. It can help singers improve their voice but there are no guarantees of the results. It is said that Julie Andrews had the surgery and it actually damaged her famous voice. The cost varies by location from $3,500 to $7,000. (Related article: Hot trends in plastic surgery)

Hand lift: Also called hand rejuvenation or fat grafting in the hands. The hands show our age more than our faces. For many years women who had facelifts were left with hands to prove their real ages. Now we have a plastic surgery procedure called hand lift to correct aged hands. Hand rejuvenation consists of injection of fats in the hand. The surgeon extracts fat from another part, such as the abdomen, and re-injects it into the hands to fill any depressions. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, patients may have a second treatment 7 to 10 years after initial surgery. It can cost form $2,000 to $ 5,000.

Underarm Botox: We all know how Botox works: it paralyses the muscle, therefore, the skin looks tighter and younger. The expression lines and wrinkles look better after a Botox treatment. Botox can also help people who suffer excessive perspiration. Botox stops the release of chemicals that stimulate the secretion of sweat. The FDA approved Botox to combat excessive sweating in 2004. It has only a few adverse side effects in about 10% of the users. As with other Botox application, it requires regular treatments.

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Useful links:
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
FDA