Historical plastic surgery becomes modern beauty

by Maritza Rodriguez 

Wake Forest University professor David Lubin discussed reconstructive surgery from World War I and modern-day cosmetic surgery. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A distinguished visual scholar visited the University and lectured on the development of reconstructive plastic surgery during World War I and its impact on public standards and perceptions of beauty in a classroom packed with students, colleagues, and faculty members.

“The Great War was the first and last major conflict in which trench warfare played a defining role,” said Wake Forest University Charlotte C. Weber Professor of Art David M. Lubin.

While the trenches protected men’s bodies, their heads were left exposed.

“A sniper’s bullet could shear off the jaw or tear away the nose of any man who had the misfortune to raise his head at the wrong moment,” Lubin said. “Advances in battlefield medicine and transport services were vital in saving the lives of people who, in previous wars, would have died immediately or within days.”

I have seen survivors without faces, Lubin said, quoting a British WWI nurse.

It was in the aftermath of this war that reconstructive plastic surgery truly began. Military surgeons often did operations in extreme conditions, and they developed this line of surgery as a result of those men without faces, Lubin said.

Eventually, he said, the public started to see cosmetic surgery as acceptable as reconstructive plastic surgery.

“Cosmetic surgery, loftily renamed aesthetic surgery, was a subset of plastic surgery,” Lubin said. “As cosmetic surgery gained credibility, so too did the use of cosmetic makeup.”

Previously, makeup was associated with dishonesty, and women who wore makeup were called “painted women,” Lubin said.

“It was socially wrong for a woman to appear in public with makeup,” Lubin said. “After WWI, it was socially inappropriate for a woman to appear in public without makeup.”

People’s new acceptance of cosmetics was associated with their acceptance of the mask aesthetic, which permeated everyday life. When a woman applies mascara, she’s putting on a mask, Lubin said.

“That’s the Italian word for mask,” Lubin said, referring to mascara.

After WWI, the “mask aesthetic” was relevant to those disfigured men as well. The Red Cross set up a studio in Paris run by Anna Coleman Ladd, an American sculptor. She and her team made masks for disfigured soldiers; they sought to make their creations as lifelike as possible, to accomplish what surgery could not and restore their old faces.

“Previously, when these broken-faced men had gone on supervised forays into the city accompanied by their nurses, onlookers gawked at them and sometimes even fainted,” Lubin said. “The men called this the ‘Medusa effect.’ Supplied now with tin and copper masks, they could, in theory at least, walk down the Parisian boulevard without eliciting stares.”

Ladd thought these masks would help them slip back into society and find happiness.

“I can’t help but wonder if she was overly optimistic about their chances for physical reintegration,” Lubin said.

Throughout the lecture, he mentioned Greta Garbo, an actress who was considered one of the most beautiful women in world. Her face, he said, was seen as unattainable perfection, a lovely mask.

“Garbo’s exceptional beauty, it should be noted, was carefully constructed at the behest of her studio, MGM,” Lubin said. “Her appearance was manufactured; she secretly had numerous cosmetic surgeries. Garbo was brought into line with the existing ideal of beauty. In and of itself, the First World War was not the cause of the modern beauty revolution — that was already underway when it began — but the war accelerated the transformation.”

At the conclusion of the event, Lubin was loudly applauded by his audience members.

“It was really interesting,” English sophomore Kathryn Weems said. “It opened up a lot of new ideas about WWI for me.”

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Stats Show Growth of Breast Lifts Outpacing Breast Implants 2-to-1

New plastic surgery statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that breast lift procedures are growing at twice the rate of breast implant surgeries. Since 2000, breast lifts have grown by 70 percent, outpacing implants two-to-one. Breast implants are still by far the most performed cosmetic surgery in women, but lifts are steadily gaining. In 2013, more than 90,000 breast lift procedures were performed by ASPS member surgeons.

“Many women are looking for a youthful breast by using the tissue they already have,” said ASPS President Robert X. Murphy, Jr., MD.

According to the new statistics, women between the ages of 30-54 made up nearly 70 percent of the breast lift procedures performed in 2013.

“The breast lift procedure is way up in my practice,” said Anne Taylor, MD, an ASPS-member plastic surgeon in Columbus, Ohio. “More women are coming to us who’ve had children, whose breast volume has decreased and who are experiencing considerable sagging,” she said. “For many of them, we are able to get rid of excess skin and lift the breasts back up where they’re supposed to be.”

Kim Beckman of Casstown, Ohio is one of the women who went to Dr. Taylor.

“Childbirth, breastfeeding and aging takes a toll on the body,” she said. “I finally decided one morning that I was going to lose weight and get healthy.”

Beckman started eating right and exercising and, even though she lost more than 75 pounds, she still wasn’t completely satisfied.

“From the waist down, I was happy with what I saw. But from the waist up, I knew that there was still something I needed to do in the chest area.”

Like many women, Beckman had lost volume in her breast over the years, and after losing weight, had considerable sagging. “In those situations, there’s really no other way to get the breast lifted back up without the breast lift surgery,” said Dr. Taylor.

“The ideal candidate for a breast lift is a woman who has a good amount of breast tissue left, who doesn’t necessarily want to have implants,” said Dr. Murphy. “Many women aren’t sure if they are a candidate for this type of surgery, but a simple pencil test can tell them if they are,” he said.

To perform the pencil test, a woman simply places a pencil under her breast.

“If the breast tissue holds the pencil in place against the chest, that implies that there’s a hanging nature to the breast that can be fixed with a lift.” said Dr. Murphy.

Though she eventually opted for implants, too, the idea of starting with a surgery that only used her natural tissue appealed to Kim Beckman.

“I’m a nurse myself,” said Beckman, “so I put a lot of consideration into anything medical, especially when it comes to surgical intervention.”

“Now that I’ve had the procedure, I feel confident. I’m wearing clothes that I never really thought that I would wear. I’ve worn a bikini on the beach and I’m comfortable. I didn’t feel the need to cover up in a towel or throw on a t-shirt to walk down the beach with my husband. I feel good.” she said.

According to the latest statistics from ASPS, fewer than 53,000 breast lifts were performed in 2000. Last year there were 90,006, an increase of 70 percent since 2000, marking the first time that number has eclipsed 90,000.

Breast augmentation remains the most popular plastic surgery procedure for women. In 2013, there were 290,224 breast augmentation surgeries performed by ASPS member surgeons. That represents a growth of 37% since 2000, just under half the rate of breast lifts.

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About ASPS

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery.

Improving augmentation results with a breast lift

By Dr. Glenn M. Davis

For the majority of women, the ultimate appearance goal for breast augmentation surgery is fuller, shapelier breasts with attractive cleavage. However, adding volume alone may not be enough to achieve the desired look, especially in women with drooping breasts. By combining augmentation with a breast lift, an enhanced breast size, shape and position is possible.

Evaluating Breast Sagging
Women whose breasts are already naturally uplifted can increase volume with breast implants while maintaining their existing youthful profiles. However, for women who notice visible sagging in their breasts, a breast lift may be indicated.

The primary deciding factor is how much sagging is present. Breast sagging naturally occurs over time, though women who have been pregnant often notice a greater degree of sagging following their pregnancies, and women who have lost a substantial amount of weight also will commonly see sagging breast tissue.

When you talk with a plastic surgeon about the appearance of your breasts, he or she will "grade" the degree of sagging, which influences the type of procedure that may be recommended. There are three grades of breast sagging.

• Grade I: The central point of the nipple is at the height of the inframammary crease (the fold where the bottom of the breast connects to the chest wall). If you are in this category, a breast augmentation only may provide a satisfying outcome.

• Grade II: If the central point of the nipple falls between 1 - 3 centimeters below the inframammary crease, a lift still may not be necessary. However, if only an augmentation is performed, the implant placement may add volume lower within the breast than is desired.

• Grade III: At a distance of 3 centimeters or more from inframammary crease to nipple, it is generally a good idea to combine breast augmentation with a breast lift. The areola and nipple will typically be resized and recentered during the procedure as well.

In addition to these three grades, there is also the possibility that the breasts will appear droopy even though the nipple remains higher than the inframammary fold. Patients may wish for a combined breast lift and augmentation even if not technically necessary to improve the aesthetic appearance of the breast shape and placement after augmentation.

Combining Procedures
While performing a breast lift and augmentation can be staged in completely separate procedures, there are a number of benefits to scheduling one surgery that incorporates both at the same time. Patients largely prefer the option of a single surgery, as the convenience factor is higher and the overall cost is lower. Both breast augmentation and a breast lift are straightforward procedures, and both have low immediate and long-term complication rates.

While in the past some surgeons believed that combining cosmetic surgery procedures could increase the risk of complications, it is now generally accepted that many common plastic surgery combinations such as breast augmentation/lift and tummy tuck/liposuction have very similar complication rates and revision rates compared to performing the procedures separately.

That said, surgeons still need to pay careful attention to the technical considerations that need to be addressed in order to achieve an optimal outcome. For instance, beginning a combined augmentation/lift with the augmentation piece allows for more accurate evaluation of the amount of skin and tissue that will be necessary to cover the additional volume before proceeding to lifting, shaping and excision.

The ideal final results of combined breast augmentation and breast lift surgery are firmer, higher breasts that have more volume as well. As with any cosmetic procedure, surgical skill and experience are integral to achieving this superior augmentation outcome for women with drooping breasts.

- information provided by www.smartbeautyguide.com

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5 Anti-Aging Procedures Worth The Money

According to Shape Magazine the wrinkles on our skin suggest some of us have been folded a little too long. The aging process is sneaky. One day you’re a fresh-faced teenager who forgot to apply sunscreen during a long weekend at the beach and the next, you’re looking back at a reflection that reveals years of sun damage and general wear and tear. You can’t stop the clock, but, thanks to plastic surgery, you can certainly keep it at bay and look as young as you feel. If you’re interested in plastic surgery, here are five procedures that are worth the investment.

Facelift – As the face ages, elasticity and muscle tone are lost, creating sagging skin, jowls, creases from the nose to the mouth, and even the dreaded double chin. A facelift (rhytidectomy) improves these conditions by repositioning and trimming away excess skin. The underlying foundation of connective tissue is tightened as well to produce a naturally lifted look. Incisions are typically made at the temples, ear and lower scalp. Your plastic surgeon may suggest a neck lift procedure in conjunction with the facelift. This is recommended because it improves sagging skin and wrinkles at the chin and neckline.

Eyelid Surgery – They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, but as the years go by, those windows are going to need a little TLC. Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) can be performed on the upper eyelid, lower, or both, depending upon your desired outcome.  Eyelid surgery can improve droopy upper eyelids, sagging lower eyelids, and in general, create a more well-rested and alert appearance.  

Browlift – Also called a forehead lift, this procedure aims to correct a droopy brow line and helps to smooth creases in the skin that often make a person look worried or angry. Incisions are well hidden in the frontal hairline. When complete, the browlift helps to achieve an overall smooth appearance of the face, particularly when combined with blepharoplasty of the eyelids.

Lip Augmentation – Ladies, think plump, healthy, robust lips. The lips of your youth, not the lips of a certain former soap opera star. To achieve a full, natural look, your plastic surgeon may use a safe injectable filler (popular brands like Juvederm or Restylane), or choose to use your own fat, harvested from the thighs or buttocks.

Facial Implants – Sophia Loren may have been blessed with the high cheek bones of a model well in to her retirement years, but the rest of us probably won’t be so lucky. Thankfully, chin, cheek and jaw implants can be used to create a smooth contour and improve a recessed chin or flattened cheek area.

Together, you and your surgeon will determine the type of procedures needed to achieve your desired results. As with any procedure, prices will vary and insurance does not cover the cost - so do your homework, get referrals, and always choose a board-certified plastic surgeon.

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Source: www.shape.com