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PLASTIC SURGERY NEWS, SURGERY NEWS, COSMETIC SURGERY NEWS Dcember 2004 NEWS  |
The plastic surgery urge
What you see on TV has been cosmetically altered to make procedures seem easy
So you've seen "The Swan," studied the before-and-after details on "Extreme Makeover" and you're glued to the TV every week for "Dr. 90210."
Now you're thinking you need a little work done.
Straighten the nose. Tighten the tush. Flatten the tummy.
Maybe some implants.
It all looks so easy on television: You go into the operating room looking like a normal person and come out looking like a movie star.
But be warned, doctors and patients say: Plastic surgery TV shows trade realism for ratings and can mislead viewers into thinking surgery is a pain-free, risk-free route to beauty.
"It's like anything else on television: It's sensationalized, naturally," says Debbie Perkins of Felicity. Perkins had a full face-lift and rhinoplasty after gastric bypass surgery.
"Those shows make people over to be so absolutely gorgeous, but from my own experience, it's not like that," she says. "It's just normal, working people who want to look not like movie stars, but just better."
Alternatives to surgery
If you're not ready for a face-lift but want to look younger and more "refreshed," there are several nonsurgical alternatives:
• Laser skin resurfacing: Damaged skin layers are removed using a laser. The procedure is usually used to minimize fine lines, but it's also effective to treat facial scars or uneven pigmentation.
• Injectable fillers: Fillers, such as collagen, restylane and fat can be used to "plump up" lines and creases in the skin.
• Microdermabrasion: The surgeon sprays tiny crystals across the face, then uses suction to remove dead skin cells. More than one treatment might be needed to reduce or remove fine wrinkles and unwanted pigmentation.
• Botox: A chemical is injected to temporarily paralyze the nerves controlling the muscles that cause frown lines, forehead creases and crow's feet. Repeat injections are needed every three to six months.
• Chemical peels: Alpha-hydroxy acids, phenol or trichloroacetic acid are applied to the skin to remove damaged outer layers. Chemical peels can make skin look younger, remove pre-cancerous skin growths, lessen acne scarring and control acne. Patients might need longer recovery time as swelling can be significant. Repeat treatments might be needed necessary to maintain results.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041205/LIFE/412050360
