VIDEO: Plastic Surgery Film Sheds Light on Hollywood

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Staff Writer

A new documentary from HBO seeks to shed some light on why patients choose plastic surgery, according to styleite.com.

The plastic surgery film, which is titled About Face, focuses on the importance of youth in today’s society and specifically discusses plastic surgery in the modeling industry and Hollywood.

In the first clip for the plastic surgery film, which is to be released on HBO this summer, several noted models and actresses talk briefly about their views on plastic surgery and aging, both good and bad.

American model Carmen Dell’Orifice seems to have a “why not?” perspective on plastic surgery.

“If you had the ceiling falling down in your living room, would you not go and have a repair,” Dell’Orifice asks in the plastic surgery film.

On the other hand, Italian actress and model Isabella Rossellini may have not chosen plastic surgery as Dell’Orifice has as she ages, but she has seen how growing older in Hollywood has changed her life.

Rossellini shares in the plastic surgery film that while her daughter receives invites to Hollywood A-list parties, she herself no longer does. While Rossellini may feel somewhat shunned by young Hollywood, she is still able to laugh about aging in About Face, adding, “As you grow old, you don’t count any more!”

Other actresses and models are profiled in the plastic surgery film and give their wide-ranging views on getting older and trying to stay youthful and healthy in today’s society.

To find out more about plastic surgery in Paramus, please email plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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VIDEO: Jane Fonda’s Plastic Surgery on TODAY

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Staff Writer

Actress and fitness guru Jane Fonda has spoken out about her decision to get plastic surgery.

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Though Fonda said in the past she had no desire to get plastic surgery, she recently decided to undergo facial rejuvenation. Known for her physical health and activism, Fonda says she wanted to look as vibrant as she feels in her early 70s. After seeing a reflection of herself in a store window, Fonda settled on cosmetic improvements.

Fonda admitted on TODAY that she underwent plastic surgery on her lower eyelids, chin and neck.

Patients often choose eyelid surgery to remove small pockets of fat under the eyes, which can give the appearance of advanced age and tiredness.

Procedures of the lower face and neck, like a neck lift, work to smooth the skin and minimize the appearance of bands on the neck. Like fat beneath the eyes, these neck bands and deep lines can make a patient appear older.

Although Fonda visited TODAY to speak about her new fitness DVDs for seniors and the topic of aging and health took center stage.

While she believes exercise is “the number one ingredient for successful aging,” Fonda also shared that her choice to have plastic surgery on her face bought herself some time.

Her dedication to fitness throughout her life has helped her to feel great and rested, she said, and now the face Fonda presents to the public better reflects that.

To learn more about plastic surgery, even later in life, email Paramus plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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Benefits of a Chemical Peel Extend Beyond Ease of Use and Results

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Staff Writer

benefits of a chemical peelChemical peels remain a treatment of choice for plastic surgeons helping patients rid their faces of lines and damaged skin, according to ModernMedicine.

A chemical peel, which is a solution that can be applied to your face in your plastic surgeon’s practice, works to restore youth to the skin and remove surface impurities. By sloughing away dead and damaged surface skin cells, the chemical peel kick-starts your skin’s own rejuvenative processes. This allows fresh, clear skin cells to emerge.

What Are the Benefits of a Chemical Peel?

The many benefits of a chemical peel can apply to patients of varying ages and skin types. Patients most often choose chemical peel treatments for:

  • Facial lines and wrinkles
  • Uneven skin tone and texture
  • Acne or blemishes
  • Facial scarring

On top of these cosmetic benefits, chemical peels have added bonuses. The benefits of a chemical peel also extend to its cost-effectiveness. While injectable fillers can also be used to fill lines or depressed scars on the face, they must be retreated every six to 12 months. Meanwhile, the benefits of a chemical peel can last years on average.

Patients and surgeons understand the benefits of a chemical peel, like their ease of use. Because of the positive perception of chemical peels, they are a highly popular cosmetic treatment, following Botox and injectable fillers.

Chemical peels are prepared using different components and in varying strengths. Thus, chemical peels can be customized to meet the needs of many patients.

Unlike some other treatments, the healing time for chemical peels can be minimized, as needed. Though some other treatments may require several months of recovery, a patient can heal from a light chemical peel within a matter of several days. Medium or deep chemical peels, like those with phenol, may have healing times of several weeks.

To learn more about the benefits of a chemical peel in Paramus, please email plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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New Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler Approved

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Staff Writer

hyaluronic acid dermal fillerMerz Aesthetics has announced the FDA approval of a new dermal filler for facial lines and wrinkles, according to empr.com.

The new hyaluronic acid dermal filler, which is called Belotero Balance, has been approved to treat moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. This includes nasolabial folds, the lines that run from your nose to the edges of your mouth.

Belotero Balance joins Merz Aesthetics family of non-surgical injectables, including Radiesse. Radiesse is a popular filler comprised of calcium-based microspheres in a water gel that works to restore lost volume in the face. Though its uses are similar to Belotero Balance, the new hyaluronic acid dermal filler works differently.

Like similar hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, Restylane and Juvederm, Belotero Balance works to restore lost volume to your skin by increasing its hydration. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring hydrating component in your skin and these dermal fillers work to mimic it. When injected into the skin beneath the site of a wrinkle, a hyaluronic acid dermal filler provides a sort of scaffolding for depressed areas of skin, supporting them and improving the appearance of youth on the face.

To test the effectiveness of Belotero Balance, it was compared in a split-face study with a collagen-based filler. Using a scale that rates wrinkle severity, Belotero Balance was shown to provide a greater reduction in the appearance of nasolabial folds over 24 weeks. In fact, at the six-month mark, Belotero Balance still showed a greater correction of the wrinkles than its counterpart.

To learn more about your hyaluronic acid dermal filler options in Paramus, please email plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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Minimize Neck Fat with Double Chin Treatment

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Staff Writer

Patients are learning about the benefits of neck liposuction as a double chin treatment, according to ABC News.

The double chin treatment can be completed in a relatively short amount of time, usually in under an hour, and can be done without the need for a general anesthetic. By inserting a thin tube called a cannula, your plastic surgeon is able to use delicate liposculpture techniques to tone the lower face, minimizing the look of a double chin.

Patients who choose neck liposuction as a double chin treatment should have adequate skin elasticity, however, to ensure a toned result. If you lack skin elasticity, a neck lift, combined with liposculpture may be more appropriate.

After undergoing her successful neck liposculpture treatment, Terry says she likes the look of her face. While before she complained of a “long, sort of fat part” her jawline is now more defined. A more clearly defined jaw can help a patient’s face appear thinner.

As long as patients maintain a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise, the results from neck liposculpture as a double chin treatment can be long lasting.

If you would like to learn more about facial rejuvenation surgery in Paramus, please email or call plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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Plastic Surgeons Join to Ensure Safe Cosmetic Surgery for Patients

Posted on November 14, 2011 by Staff Writer

safe cosmetic surgerySafe cosmetic surgery options are at the forefront of the minds of plastic surgeons around the world, according to International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Because some patients choose to go overseas for surgeries that may be cheaper, plastic surgeons in the US and internationally are also seeing “alarming” rates of patients who experience complications. Due to lax and inconsistent safeguards and guidelines used by some international plastic surgeons, patients do not always receive the care they should when traveling for plastic surgery.

For example, patients from the UK who went abroad for plastic surgery reported a 20% complication rate, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS).

As a remedy to this issue, the president of the ISAPS proposed a checklist to ensure safe cosmetic surgery. This proposed checklist covers four key factors for safe cosmetic surgery as follows:

  • The patient should be a good candidate for the requested surgery.
  • The surgeon must be properly trained and credentialed.
  • The procedure should be appropriate for the patient.
  • The surgical facility should be an accredited and proven safe venue with properly trained staff and emergency preparedness.

The World Health Organization also champions patient safety. A safe cosmetic surgery checklist it promoted in 2008, with the support of ISAPS, has shown to greatly improve patient safety when used properly, In fact, under the use of the checklist, patient complications were reduced by more than one third and patient deaths decreased by nearly 50%.

The ISAPS stresses that patients understand that just because a doctor has a medical degree does not mean they are qualified to perform any surgery. In order to undergo a safe cosmetic surgery, patients should ensure that their surgeon is trained and credentialed in the procedure/field and that surgery will be performed in an accredited, safe facility.

The ISAPS says it has seen an increase in patients contacting its offices to verify their surgeon’s credentials. This, coupled with appropriate local research, can help patients choose a plastic surgeon who is ideal for performing their safe cosmetic surgery.

To learn more about choosing safe cosmetic surgery options, please join the mailing list of Paramus plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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Study Compares Varicose Vein Treatment Options

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Staff Writer

varicose vein treatment optionsA study of varicose vein treatment options yielded some similarities among the results, according to The Washington Post.

These veins can often appear (in women more often than men) when a valve in the leg malfunctions, preventing blood from returning to the heart. While enlarged veins are often a cosmetic issue, varicose vein treatment options are sometimes medically necessary to treat pain and discomfort.

The two most common varicose vein treatment options include removing the enlarged vein through surgery, or closing it with a cosmetic laser.

Patients who underwent the more traditional stripping surgery saw a 23% recurrence of an enlarged vein, while those who had one of the varicose vein treatment options with a laser saw only a 16% recurrence rate.

The laser patients, however, were more likely to experience some pooling of blood on the legs near the site of the veins. Still, the cosmetic improvement from the laser treatment was rated higher.

As far as recovery, both varicose vein treatment options yielded similar healing times. Patients resumed many of their normal activities after a few days and were able to return to work after a week and a half.

To find out more about varicose vein treatment options in Paramus, please join the mailing list of plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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Restylane Lip Augmentation Earns FDA Stamp of Approval

Posted on October 24, 2011 by Staff Writer

restylane lip augmentationRestylane, the popular injectable filler, has gained FDA approval for lip augmentation treatments, according to its manufacturer Medicis.

While plastic surgeons in the past had largely used Restylane for its previous FDA approved treatment of lines and wrinkles, this new approval opens up the doors for Restylane lip augmentation. Previously, though it was not FDA approved, plastic surgeons could use the injectable for Restylane lip augmentation, as an off-label treatment.

This announcement comes after the release of findings from a recent study of Restylane lip augmentation treatments. In the study conducted by 12 doctors, it was found that Restylane was “well tolerated and highly effective for lip augmentation for up to six months.”

When measured on several points, researchers found Restylane lip augmentation to be effective and long lasting. The effects of the treatment are said to least up to six months for many patients. Those patients who participated in the study were so pleased with the results of their Restylane lip augmentation, in fact, that 80% of them chose to undergo another treatment after six months.

Restylane is an injectable gel comprised of hyaluronic acid, a key hydrating component of your skin. When injected beneath the surface of your skin at the site of a wrinkle, Restylane provides immediate correction. During a treatment for thin lips, your plastic surgeon will inject a specific amount of the product into your upper and sometimes lower lip. This form of Restylane lip augmentation will provide immediate volume to your lips, creating a larger kissable area.

If you struggle with thin lips, we encourage you to learn more about Restylane lip augmentation in Paramus. Please join the mailing list of plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone to find out about specials on Restylane and other non-surgical treatments.

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New Plastic Surgery Tax in the UK?

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Staff Writer

plastic surgery taxUK plastic surgeons worry that the government plans to review its tax laws and possibly begin adding a VAT tax to cosmetic procedures, according to WebMD.

Currently in the UK, a plastic surgery tax only exists on non-surgical treatments like Botox, fillers and laser treatments, a fact that plastic surgeons take no issue with. (In the UK, a VAT tax  or “Value Added Tax” is somewhat similar to sales tax in the US in that consumers must pay it on top of the price for a good or elective service.)

Lawmakers in the UK, though, may soon examining whether a plastic surgery tax should apply to elective cosmetic surgeries, like breast augmentation. In the US, patients already pay sales tax on elective plastic surgeries, but not medically-necessary procedures, which are often billed through insurance.

Some plastic surgeons in the UK are beginning to speak out against a possible review in the application of VAT, which may cause patients to have to pay a plastic surgery tax when they previously did not need to.

Current laws regarding VAT tax stipulate that procedures are tax exempt when the “protection, maintenance or restoration” of health is the main goal. A handful of plastic surgeons argue that changing any of these tax laws could put many patient’s surgical desires in a gray area.

Former president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. Douglas McGeorge says the common image of plastic surgery is mega-celebrities casually undergoing elective procedures. Rather, he argues, it is members of the general public who choose plastic surgery to improve small aspects of themselves for a positive result.

McGeorge uses the image of an older worker undergoing facial rejuvenation to help make themselves more competitive in the workplace. He sees the difficulty in distinguishing between what is a functional improvement and what is purely cosmetic.

In response to the worry of some plastic surgeons regarding a new plastic surgery tax, the UK government says they currently have no plans to revise the VAT for cosmetic surgeries.

“Medical treatment for purely aesthetic reasons has been, and continues to be, liable to VAT at the standard rate,” it said in a statement.

To learn more about options for financing your plastic surgery in Paramus, please contact plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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Functional Blepharoplasty Improves Vision and Aesthetics

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Staff Writer

fuctional blepharoplastyOlder patients may choose to undergo plastic surgery for cosmetic correction, but improvements in function can also be benefits of popular procedures, according to TampaBay.com.

When 74-year-old Mary Lou began experiencing vision issues from droopy eyelids, her daughter suggested seeing a plastic surgeon for a functional blepharoplasty. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is a facial procedure in which excess skin is removed from around the eyes to open them up. While it can be cosmetic, for patients like Mary Lou who experience vision issues, it can also improve function.

When she first thought about plastic surgery, Mary Lou was apprehensive about any procedure. She says she always thought she would age gracefully. But after some gentle encouragement from her daughter, she realized the benefits she would gain from functional blepharoplasty were too great to pass up.

In her consultation with her plastic surgeon, Mary Lou learned that the cost of her functional blepharoplasty would be covered by Medicare since it was deemed medically necessary. During her consultation, Mary Lou also decided to undergo a laser procedure to improve the look of puffiness under her eyes. This procedure is considered cosmetic, so Mary Lou paid out of pocket.

After her successful functional blepharoplasty and laser eye treatment, people say Mary Lou looks 10 and sometimes 20 years younger, she shares. Mary Lou says this sort of procedure can help women look better and feel better about themselves.

Mary Lou is not alone in choosing plastic surgery later in life. According to the ASPS, nearly 85,000 plastic surgery procedures were performed on patients over 65 in 2010, a number that continues to grow.

And though some may worry that being older puts a patient at a higher risk for complications from surgery, research shows this to not be true. A report published last spring in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found patients over 65 were at no higher risk than younger patients.

We encourage you to learn more about how plastic surgery options can improve your function, self-confidence and way of life. Please join the mailing list of Paramus plastic surgeon Dr. Cozzone.

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