Divorce, Antidepressants, or Weight Gain/Loss Can Add Years to Your Face
Your mother’s wrinkles or lack there of, may not be the best predictor of how you’ll age. In fact, a new study claims just the opposite. The study, involving identical twins, suggests that despite genetic make-up, certain environmental factors can add years to a person’s perceived age. Results just published on the web-based version of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), reveal that factors like divorce or the use of antidepressants are the real culprits that can wreak havoc on one’s face.
“A person’s heritage may initially dictate how they age – but if you introduce certain factors into your life, you will certainly age faster. Likewise, if you avoid those factors you can slow down the hands of time,” “In this study, we looked at identical twins because they are genetically programmed to age exactly the same, and in doing so we essentially discovered that, when it comes to your face, it is possible to cheat your biological clock.”
During the study, Dr. Guyuron and his colleagues obtained comprehensive questionnaires and digital images from 186 pairs of identical twins. The images were reviewed by an independent panel, which then recorded the perceived age difference between the siblings.
Results showed that twins who had been divorced appeared nearly 2 years older than their siblings who were married, single or even widowed. Antidepressant use was associated with a significantly older appearance and researchers also found that weight played a major factor too. In those sets of twins who were less than 40 years old, the heavier twin was perceived as being older, while in those groups over 40 years old, the heavier twin appeared younger.
“The presence of stress could be one of the common denominators in those twins who appeared older.” Additionally, researchers suspect that continued relaxation of the facial muscles due to antidepressant use, could account for sagging. And though they do not advocate gaining weight to look younger, researchers note that losing abnormal amounts of weight not only have harmful effects on a person’s health, but on their appearance, too.
“This research is important for two reasons,”. “First, we have discovered a number of new factors that contribute to aging and second, our findings put science behind the idea that volume replacement rejuvenates the face.”
Arlington Heights, Ill. – Tough economic times may have caused a decline in some areas of cosmetic surgery, but procedures among ethnic patients are up. According to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), ethnic cosmetic procedures increased 11 percent in 2008, with more than 3 million performed, while procedures among Caucasians dropped 2 percent. Cosmetic procedures among Hispanics, the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., experienced the greatest growth; up 18 percent.
“We’re seeing a rise in Hispanics opting for cosmetic procedures that coincides with the growth we’re seeing in the nation’s population,” said ASPS President John Canady, MD. “Less social stigma, as well as, advances in procedures allow patients to maintain their ethnic look. While the majority of patients continue to be Caucasian, the profile of the typical patient is changing.”
Mexican-American Raquel Laurent, 41, recently had an injectable filler and light laser skin resurfacing to refresh her appearance during these tough economic times. “I’ve always been interested in cosmetic procedures. And, like many people, I’m more willing to invest in something that lasts many months compared to say a vacation. How you look and feel is important, no matter what your ethnicity.”
It’s no coincidence Laurent opted for the benefits of cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures. In fact, overall, minimally-invasive procedures were up 5 percent in 2008, ASPS statistics show. Minimally-invasive procedures with the largest increases included injectable fillers and facial rejuvenation procedures.
“Laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels can provide tremendous results when done by a board-certified plastic surgeon familiar with ethnic skin,” cautions ASPS Member Surgeon Tripti Burt, MD, who performed Laurent’s procedures. “However, in the wrong hands, these procedures can lead to pigment irregularities and scarring.”
Hispanics comprised 10 percent of the 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in 2008, with nearly 1.3 million procedures; African Americans made up 8 percent with 910,000 procedures, up 10 percent; and Asians accounted for 7 percent with 866,000 procedures, up 5 percent.
The most commonly requested cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures for all ethnic groups were Botox®, injectable fillers, and chemical peel.
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What Influences Women’s Opinions On Their Breast Surgery?
The six major factors that affect how happy a woman feels with the outcome of her breast surgery have been uncovered. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Women’s Health have determined that, as well as final breast appearance, there are five other major concerns that influence surgical satisfaction.
“Patient satisfaction with breast appearance was without doubt the key theme and is a salient factor in determining the success of breast surgery. However, other themes were also identified that related to the broadened notion of quality of life, including concepts such as physical, psychological and sexual well-being”.
The authors found that breast conditions and breast surgery impact women in the following six main areas: satisfaction with breasts; satisfaction with overall outcome; psychosocial well-being; sexual well-being; physical well-being; and satisfaction with the process of care. Although these six themes were common to women in all three groups, the importance ascribed to each was seen to vary by surgical group. According to Pusic, “While physical well-being was of only limited importance to breast augmentation patients (only a few reported pain and discomfort post-operatively), it was often the main motivation behind breast reduction surgery (patients reported substantial pain and activity limitations pre-operatively), and was often an issue for women following breast reconstruction”.
The evolution of liposuction will be discussed by leading experts at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), being held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Convention Center May 2-7, 2009. “Liposuction 20 Years Later: Precision in Shaping, Prevention and Correction of Contour Irregularities”
In the early 1970s, “suction-assisted lipectomy” (SAL), or lipoplasty (liposuction), first appeared in the peer-reviewed literature. Originally used to remove lipomas (fatty tumors) and fatty deposits in various reconstructive procedures, the procedure was soon found to have a much wider application as a cosmetic surgery technique. In 1989, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified suction lipoplasty systems for use in aesthetic body contouring.
Since that time, the demand for liposuction has grown significantly and, according to ASAPS statistics, it was the second most popular surgical cosmetic procedure in 2008, with 341,144 procedures performed. With such popularity, however, comes greater responsibility to patients in terms of safety and cosmetic outcomes.
The panel will discuss liposuction technologies that have appeared over the years, including ultrasound-assisted, laser-assisted, power-assisted, and VASER®-assisted liposuction methods, the POLICE (Pre & Post Liposuction Contour Equalization) technique, fat grafting for the correction of deformities, and others.
In addition, which technologies yield the best outcomes will be debated. Some plastic surgeons feel that the best liposuction results are obtained without the use of the latest technologies – particularly those technologies that aim to thermally or otherwise damage fat cells.
There is more to successful body contouring than advanced technology or surgical technique. An understanding of aesthetic body proportions can mean the difference between a svelte, womanly figure and a “boxy”, man-like appearance. And thorough documentation and analysis of deformities, for example – particularly through the patient’s perspective via refined photographic techniques – is instrumental in ensuring predictable and pleasing results.
Whatever advances lie ahead and debates that remain, it is important to note that, just as when the first lipoplasty systems for aesthetic contouring were approved twenty years ago, today’s lipoplasty technology is still secondary to the skill of the surgeon. Every surgery has risks, but selecting a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon helps to ensure both patient safety and satisfaction.
For this technique the surgeon creates a surgical field and the surgery is performed using small instruments and a high-definition camera to provide magnified images on a monitor.
An inert mesh is used in the affected area to reinfoce the adominal wall without generating tension. The surgery can thus be performed with three incisions of 3 to 5 mm each, and the detailed, magnified images allow the suregon to perform the surgery with great confidence, minimizing complications.
How is the surgery performed?
On the Day of Surgery:
Typically, the patient is admitted to the hospital during the morning and after the surgery, the patient stays under supervision in the recovery room until he/she is fully awake. After a variable period of observation, the patient is discharged on the day of the surgery or the following day.
After the Surgery:
You will be able to perform normal activities having to avoid big efforts. Physical activities can be resumed within 15 to 20 days after the surgery.
Benefits of this type of surgery:
Less pain: Faster healing time and less pain.
Maximum comfort: quicker return to normal activities.
Aesthetic: Less noticeable scars (2 to 4 mm).
Shorter Hospital Stay: Hospital discharge within 12 to 36 hours.
Procedures performed using the minimally invasive technique:
General Surgery: Inguinal Hernia, Vesicle, Appendix, Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease, Small and Large Intestine Diseases, and so on.
Endocrine Surgery: Thyroid, Parathyroid, and Suprarenal Glands, and so on.
Other Specialties: Gynecology, Urology, Traumatology, and so on.
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