Articles Index
What Are Gummy Bear Implants?
Gummy bear implants, also known as cohesive gel implants, are currently in clinical trials for FDA approval to be used in cosmetic breast augmentation surgery. The highly cohesive silicone gel breast implants are thought to decrease the risk of silicone gel bleed and migration, while providing a natural look and feel to surgically enhanced breasts.
Silicone Implants v. Saline Implants
There are many key differences between silicone and saline breast implants. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of silicone implants vs saline breast implants and choose the implants that are right for your breast augmentation surgery.
Chin Augmentation Surgery - How It's Done
Learn what happens during chin augmentation surgery with this step-by-step description of the chin augmentation procedure also known as mentoplasty or chin implant surgery.
Chin Augmentation Surgery - What You Need to Know
Chin augmentation surgery, also called mentoplasty, or chin implant surgery, can help to balance your facial features, improve your profile, and add definition to your jawline. Learn more about chin augmentation surgery.
What Happens During Cheek Augmentation Surgery
Cheek augmentation surgery can give you fuller, more youthful cheeks. Find out what happens during cheek augmentation surgery with cheek implants.
Fuller Cheeks With Cheek Augmentation Surgery
Cheek augmentation surgery with cheek implants made of silicone or other materials can help achieve the full-cheeked look of youth, or give you the look of those exotic super-model cheekbones you've dreamed about. But cheek implant surgery is not without risks. Learn more about cheek augmentation surgery with cheek implants.
Facial Reconstruction After Skin Cancer Surgery
After a battle with skin cancer (including successful surgery to remove the skin cancer, reconstructive surgery is often needed. This is especially true when cancerous lesions have been removed from as visible and important an area as the face. Learn more about facial reconstructive surgery after skin cancer removal.
What Happens During Post-Mohs Reconstructive Surgery
After having Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer, you may require post-Mohs reconstructive surgery. This type of reconstructive plastic surgery can performed immediately after any skin cancer lesions are removed using the Mohs surgery technique. Learn more about what happens during post-Mohs reconstructive surgery.
The Use of Flap Techniques in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
If you have suffered tissue loss as a result of a traumatic injury, skin cancer excision, or mastectomy, your doctor may recommend a flap technique to be used in your reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive plastic surgery employs many types of skin flaps to replace lost tissue. Learn more about the use of flap techniques in reconstructive surgery.
Herbal Supplements to Avoid Before Surgery
Did you know that taking some herbal supplements in the two weeks before or after having surgery can be dangerous? Most people don't think about the risks of mixing herbal supplements and surgery, but surgeons are trying now to make patients more aware of the dangers.
Cellulite Treatments That Work
Did you know that 85-95% of all adult women are at least somewhat affected by cellulite? There are hundreds of products, procedures, and treatments promising to get rid of cellulite. There are cellulite creams, cellulite massage treatments like Endermologie and Velasmooth, and even liposuction, Smart Lipo, and other forms of cellulite surgery. But do any of them actually work? Find out which cellulite treatments help, which ones don't, and which treatments are still unproven.
The Skinny on Cellulite
The majority of adult women are affected to some degree by cellulite. However, most people don't really understand what causes cellulite or what it really is.
The Emotional Aftermath of Plastic Surgery
Too many prospective plastic surgery patients fail to consider the emotional aspects of cosmetic surgery. There are positive emotional effects, to be sure, but most people tend to forget about the possible psychological ramifications of undergoing major surgery to improve one's looks. The phenomenon of post-op depression is real, but its effects can be minimized if patients are prepared for the possibility.
The Truth About Cellulite "Cures"
I'm sure you've seen the ads promising that you can "say goodbye to cellulite" by applying a cellulite creeam, taking a cellulite pill, or having a series of injections to "melt" the offending lumpy, dimpled fat on your thighs and buttocks. But do these treatments work? How safe and effective are treatments like mesotherapy, herbal cellulite supplements, and cellulite creams?
My Nose Job: A Guide's Story
Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular facial cosmetic procedures performed today, and was actually one of the first ever performed. Your About.com Guide to Plastic Surgery is no stranger to going under the knife. Here, I share my own experience and personal reflections on what my new and improved nose has meant to me over the past 18 years.
Bad Plastic Surgery: What to Do if It Happens to You
How do you know if you've been a victim of bad plastic surgery? And what should you do if it happens to you? There are steps you can take if you think you've been a victim of plastic surgery gone wrong.
Skin Grafts in Reconstructive Surgery
Skin grafts are a staple of reconstructive surgery for trauma survivors, burn victims, and patients who have undergone breast reconstruction or other cancer surgery.
The History of Plastic Surgery
In the broadest sense, plastic surgery has been a reality ever since the first primitive tribal tattoo, ritualistic body modification, or crude attempt at reconstruction to repair facial injuries. However, it wasn't until the late 1800s - early 1900s that the world began to see significant scientific advances in the ancient art of plastic surgery.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Body dysmorphic disorder is estimated to affect 1-2% of the world's population, and is unfortunately and inextricably tied to the psychological aspects of plastic surgery. Of those people who could be considered "plastic surgery addicts", it is likely that a large portion may be suffering from the psychological disorder known as BDD.
Ethics in Plastic Surgery
Like all doctors, plastic surgeons must take the Hippocratic Oath, and are bound by the same laws regarding patient consent, privacy, and the like. However, plastic surgery presents its own unique set of ethical issues that in large part have more to do with psychology than with surgery.
Unmet and Unrealistic Expectations
Your expectations have a lot to do with the "success" of your surgery. How realistic they are is one thing. Yet you should also consider how well prepared you are for the possibility of your expectations not being fully met, even if they were realistic to begin with.
What is Plastic Surgery?
Learn about the origin and meaning of the term "plastic surgery", including the definition, etymology, arguments for and against, and things to consider if you are deciding whether or not to undergo plastic surgery.
Red Flags
Okay, so the plastic surgeon you are seeing has great marketing and a plush office in a prestigious zip code. He's even been on TV a couple of times. He has to be wonderful, right? Not necessarily. Read on to find out about the "red flags" which may be your first clue to think twice and investigate further before you sign up for your turn on the operating table.
Patient Safety: Lifestyle Factors
How you take care of yourself can affect every area of your life, but it's especially important when you are considering undergoing plastic surgery. Read about how what lifestyle can mean to your safety on the operating table, your recovery time, and the outcome of your surgery.
Wanna Look Like a Star?
Stars are no strangers to plastic surgery, even though they are usually sporting looks very close to what the rest of us would like to see as our "after". Scores of regular people walk into plastic surgeons' offices clutching dog-eared copies of celebrity gossip magazines, asking the surgeon if he can give them the perky nose of this year's hottest starlet. Here are some things to consider before you start clipping out those celebrity photos.