Plastic Surgery - Where's The "Plastic"?

Don't be looking for the Dupont Company sales rep the next time you visit a Plastic Surgeon's office because, despite popular belief, there's no "Plastic" in Plastic Surgery. The name is taken from the Greek word "plastikos" which means to "mold or shape."

Initially plastic surgery procedures were limited to facial and body reconstruction caused by accidents, trauma, illness or birth defects. As people began to see the purely cosmetic possibilities, many surgeons expanded their services to include facelifts, rhinoplasty (nose jobs), breast augmentation and liposuction.

It's important to know the difference between plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery, especially if you're planning on having your insurance company foot the bill for your procedure.

Cosmetic surgery is performed solely to improve a person's outward physical appearance and self-esteem by correcting naturally occuring conditions that the patient is unhappy with. Cosmetic surgery may be performed by either a Plastic Surgeon or a Cosmetic Surgeon. Cosmetic surgery is generally not covered by health insurance.

Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed to correct or reduce the effects of congenital defects, accidental trauma injury, infections, tumors, and other health-related conditions. It's primary purpose is rarely to simply improve appearance except for extreme cases involving major facial or bodily damage resulting from automobile accidents, etc. Plastic Surgery may only be performed by a Plastic Surgeon.

In most cases insurance does pay for plastic surgery although there are some cases where your claim may be reduced or denied completely. That's why it is always important to coordinate the planned procedure with your health insurance provider BEFORE you get the procedure.

Often times the difference between whether or not your insurance company will cover the bill is the REASON for the procedure. If, for example, you are having your nose reshaped because you're unhappy with your profile -- no deal. You're on your own. However, get that same nose job because your doctor has diagnosed a chronic breathing problem that results in the potentially dangerous condition known as "Sleep Apnea" and you could end up with a new nose courtesy of your health insurance provider!

If you are planning to visit a Plastic Surgeon, keep the following items in mind:

Your plastic surgeon should be "Board Certified" by the American Board of Plastic Surgery;

If your doctor will be using anesthesia then make sure that only a licensed Anesthesiologist administers the medicine and make sure that the facility where the procedure is being performed is accredited by at least one of the following organizations:

American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities(AAAASF)

Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC)

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)

Although making sure that all of these certifications are present is no guarantee of a trouble-free experience, NOT having these certifications means that both the doctor performing plastic surgery, as well as the people who run the facility, have a serious lack of regard for your health and well being! You should NEVER use an uncertified plastic surgeon or facility. The risk is simply not worth it.

Credit: Mike Jones of http://www.bodyfaq.com the health, body & beauty information site. Click here for related information on Cosmetic Surgery: http://www.bodyfaq.com/cosmetic-surgery.html

No, it's Not eBay but You Can Bid for Plastic Surgery

Desperate people can do desperate things when consumers become more savvy and sophisticated as they shop around for the very best deals offered on websites promoting surgical procedures.

That's right folks; you can offer a bid for that eye lift or tummy tuck on Bidforsurgery.com, just like you would bid on a piece of jewelry or camera equipment on eBay. If you select to pursue a bid, you are entitled to a free in-person consultation with the physician of your choice. This forum is designed to save the consumer time, money and effort thus saving the doctors administrative and marketing costs.

Insurance companies do not typically reimburse plastic surgery fees leaving the consumer to fend for the best deal with their hard earned cash. Prudent consumers can be thrifty and conservative when spending after tax dollars for a temporary face lift or other risky procedure that will undoubtedly need repeating in a few short years.

Another new wrinkle ? no pun intended ? was developed for the jet setting consumer who believes that they can enjoy a quiet surgical tweak in a foreign clinic where their dollar may go further because of low-cost, high-quality procedures. Sites like MedRetreat.com and PlanetHospital.com will book your appointment with a doctor then take care of the travel requirements such as passport and visas, airline tickets and hotel.

Life altering choices coupled with risk is a high price to pay for beauty especially when unrealistic claims and unqualified practitioners induce patients to make uneducated decisions. Even certain medical professionals are policing themselves and re-thinking their position on cutting into a healthy face for the sake of beauty.

Safety needs to be highly regarded for every surgical procedure and The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons has published a checklist for those considering plastic surgery; it is the acronym entitled 'S.U.R.E.' We have seen similar admonitions from our US health officials and these are reminders of those warnings:

S: Surgeon's credentials and qualifications.
U: Understand fully the procedure, risk, location, downtime and care requirements.
R: Recovery process, how long, implications, after care options
E: Expectations can be over the top so be informed about what actually can be achieved.

All in all, warnings such as these are not needed when you use natural means to correct the cause of aging.

Some aging in the face is from outside influences such as over exposure to the sun and elements, smoking, drinking, poor eating habits, lack of water in the diet, too many adult beverages night after night, and the list can go on and on.

Some aging presents itself like sagging and this is caused because the muscles underneath your skin are elongating due to atrophy/disuse. The facial muscles, although small compared to say muscles in the forearm or leg, can cause noticeable aging when they begin to lose those their shape and tone so by the time you reach 40, apparent aging has begun in your face.

Rather than opt for risky, temporary procedures such as injections and surgical treatments that tax your wallet, why not consider facial exercise to lift your face? You won't have to book an expensive trip or run the risk of contracting Montezuma's revenge or interview countless physicians hoping one of them can work with your budget and health constraints.

Exercises that use resistance and isometrics work for your body and the same principles can be applied to the face. It makes sense. Imagine seeing the face you had years ago returning day by day when you exercise your face.

The key to a younger, healthier looking face is prevention using a natural, safe method such as facial exercise to lift the sagging, droopy muscles without injections, harmful chemicals or cutting. Start now for a better looking face almost instantly!
Cynthia Rowland is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness with over thirty years experience in health & beauty related fields. She has appeared on The View, Fit TV, HGTV and other popular shows. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children?s inheritance. Cynthia Rowland ?I Save Faces? http://www.cynthiarowland.com

LOOK PERFECT FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY - PLASTIC SURGERY OPTIONS IN NEWPORT BEACH

P. James Voloshin, M.D., and his team at Newport Surgery Institute in Orange County are dedicated to the needs of their patients. Your experience will be satisfying at the Institute, which boasts a staff directed by excellence, trust and skill. The Institute does all the top surgical procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty.

The term "plastic surgery" is derived from the Greek word, <em>plastikos</em>, which means to form or mold. Cosmetic surgery is done to redesign normal structures on the body in order to improve the patient's looks and self-confidence. Reconstructive surgery is done on atypical structures of the body caused by obesity, congenital imperfections, developmental defects, trauma, disease, or growths.

Why do people submit themselves to cosmetic plastic surgery? That depends. It may be that you have a once in a lifetime event coming up (such as your wedding day) and you want to look perfect. It may also depend on your gender. Fifty-seven percent of women tell their plastic surgeons they just want to look younger. Only 45% of men make the same assertion. One in four men - but only one in ten women - see plastic surgeons for what they call work-related reasons.

Making the decision to get cosmetic surgery can be a colossal, life-changing choice. Check your plastic surgeon out: does the American Board of Plastic Surgery certify him/her? What school/s did he/she attend? Where did he/she do residency training? After narrowing your list to board-certified and well-trained surgeons, visit their websites to get a general feel of their practice, and to see before and after pictures if available.

To aid recovery after your procedure:

-- Apply ice packs or compresses to minimize swelling -- Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications -- Do not smoke or be exposed to secondary smoke during recovery -- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight -- Use sun block to protect your skin -- Go to follow-up appointments to reduce complications

Americans watch shows such as "Extreme Makeover" and "Dr. 90210" to gape at plastic surgery done from head to toe. The pop culture exposure has brought more acceptance of cosmetic surgery, but also created fear of drastic results. With this in mind, Newport Beach marketing firm "The Professional Image," recently sponsored a media briefing where a group of prominent plastic surgeons gathered to discuss the latest trends in cosmetic surgery and anti-aging.

Article by: Adam O'Connor, Los Angeles Cosmetic Surgery

Advice Columnist