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.”

arts@thedailycougar.com

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98% of women agree that a Mommy Makeover is worth it

The Mommy Makeover is becoming more and more popular. These procedures usually include Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck and possibly Labiaplasty (Vaginal Rejuvenation). Let our doctors help you decide which procedures would be right for you. They will make you feel safe and comfortable, but most importantly, get you back to the body you've been missing. Please visit our website for before and after photos. www.takeshape.info. And visit this link to read real stories about women who have undergone the Mommy Makeover http://www.realself.com/Mommy-makeover/reviews.

You can get these results and more from the doctors at Take Shape Plastic Surgery.

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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.

Good Reconstruction Outcomes after Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy

Nipple-sparing procedures are an increasingly popular alternative for women undergoing mastectomy. Using this technique, the surgeon preserves the nipple and surrounding tissues for use in immediate breast reconstruction. In patients being treated for breast cancer, nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed only if the nipple and surrounding tissues are completely free of cancer.

Between 2007 and 2012, Dr. Colwell and colleagues performed a total of 500 nipple-sparing mastectomies in 285 women, average age 46 years.  Fifty-four percent of the women underwent "risk-reducing" mastectomy because of high genetic risk of breast cancer.

Nearly all of the women underwent immediate breast reconstruction, usually with implants. In about 60 percent of patients, breast reconstruction with implants was completed at the same time as mastectomy.  Most of the remaining women underwent two-stage reconstruction, including tissue expansion to increase the amount of skin available for implant-based reconstruction.

The overall complication rate was about 12 percent.  The most common complications were tissue death (necrosis) of part of the nipple or skin used for reconstruction. Cancer involving the nipple area was discovered in another four percent of women. Even including these cases, the natural nipple was retained in the final reconstruction in more than 90 percent of cases.

Smoking, Radiation and Incision Type Affect Complication Rate

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The study identified several important risk factors for complications. The complication rate was more than three times higher for women who smoked. Women who had received radiation therapy were also at increased risk.

Complications were also more common when the incision was placed around the nipple (periareolar incision).  In contrast, the more commonly used incision under the breast fold (inframammary incision) was associated with a lower complication rate.  

Nipple-sparing mastectomy has been "gaining traction as a preferred surgical option" for breast cancer treatment and for preventive mastectomy in women at high risk of breast cancer. It offers effective control of breast cancer risk while preserving the patient's natural tissues for breast reconstruction. The new study is one of the first to detail the outcomes of breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy.

With current techniques, the risk of complications appears lower than in initial reports of nipple-sparing mastectomy. At Massachusetts General Hospital, cancer surgeons and plastic surgeons follow a team approach to effectively control breast cancer risk while maximizing reconstruction outcomes.

"We are performing an increasing number of nipple-sparing mastectomy procedures as more breast oncology surgeons become comfortable with the procedure and with expansion of our indications for nipple-sparing surgery," Dr. Colwell and coauthors write. They increasingly use the inframammary incision based on patient preference, as well as the lower complication rate. The researchers add that they now perform single-stage reconstruction in more than two-thirds of women undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery® is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

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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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Check out this Review for Dr. Christopher Low!

Dear Dr. Low,

It is so rare to find a doctor that truly cares! I can't thank you enough for all your help through my procedure and recovery! I have never had a doctor who personally called or texted to check on me. Needless to say give up a Sunday to git me in!
What more can I say. You have exceeded my expectation as a surgeon/doctor. I just wish I found you the first go around!

Thank you for Everything!

Happy New Year!

To the Best Doctor Ever! (Trust me I have had Several)

Thanks,
Michelle


Call 954.585.3800 to book a FREE Consultation with Dr. Christopher Low
www.taksehape.info

Take Shape Plastic Surgery offers 3D Imaging of Patients

When communicating with your Plastic Surgeon, you want to make sure that they understand the exact vision of yourself you want to see, especially when it comes to your final outcome. While many plastic surgeon's offices do their best to come close, Take Shape Plastic Surgery takes it a step further. We now do this, by 3D imaging each patients body or face. This allows for one of our skilled surgeons to edit with the patient their look on computer, and then bring their vision to life in the operating room.  

Take Shape uses the Axis Three, the gold standard is 3D patient Imaging. The Axis Three redefines the aesthetic consultation experience by providing precise, easy-to-use, 3D patient simulation tools that generate anatomically-accurate images.  While assisting surgeons in the planning process, ultimately, these tools enable patients to visualize in 3D, using their own bodies, how they will look after surgery. 

Axis Three products combine scientifically proven, Tissue Behavior Simulation (TBSTM) engine with patented Color Coded Triangulation (CCTTM), 3D imaging technology to deliver unprecedented patient confidence.  Take Shape Plastic Surgery is dedicated to understanding patient's needs and exceeding expectations.

5 Reasons Breast Augmentation is The Most Popular Plastic Surgery Procedure

For the past seven years, breast augmentation has dominated the charts as the number one cosmetic procedure since 2006 and has averaged around 300,000 patients each year. How does the procedure continue to be this popular each and every year?

Reason #1 Breast Augmentation Satisfaction Ratings Are Through the Roof

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recently published a study in which 98% of women surveyed had said that their augmentation results met or exceeded their expectations. Another 90% of the women surveyed also reported an increase in their self-esteem. This trend has been consistent with other surveys as breast augmentation continues to achieve high patient reviews. The procedure has even been linked to other benefits including an improved sex life. All of these positive results and reviews continue to spark new interest in other women.

Reason #2 The Procedure Does Not Take Long or Require a Lengthy Recovery

A breast augmentation usually takes just a couple hours and does not require an overnight stay at the hospital. There is little interference with daily life and depending on their occupation, most women return to work after just a few days spent recovering.

Reason #3 The Implants Have Been FDA Approved For Safety

Both saline and silicone gel implants have been approved by the FDA for breast augmentation after extensive studies on each. Because saline implants are filled with a sterile saltwater solution, they are safe in case an implant ruptures. The new silicone gel implants have been created to not leak into the body if there is a rupture. Neither silicone nor saline implants have been tied to any major disease or breast cancer.

Reason #4 Breast Augmentation Results Last Long

Though implants are not intended to be lifelong, the results last for decades. There is typically no need to replace or adjust the implants at regular intervals and the implants have proven extremely durable.

Reason #5 A Woman Can Achieve the Results She Desires

With the wide variety of implants available, and now the addition of the new MemoryShape silicone gel implants, women are better able to achieve the personalized results that she desires. There are currently seven implants and three manufacturers that have been approved for use in the United States. Each implant then breaks down into several different sizes, shapes, and profiles. The diverse group of implants allows women to better customize the look that they want.

If Something Seems Too Good to be True....

The truth is that if something is too good to be true then it usually is. Don't be fooled by cheap plastic surgery " Centers." Here are 5 reasons to stay away from these bargain basement cneters.

1. In a private practive, like Take Shape Plastic Surgery all decisions are made by Dr. Russell Sassani, Dr. Christopher Low, or Dr. George Dreszer. At the typical center decisions are made by business professionals who only care for the bottom line. Who would you trust with you health?

2. Centers often employ inexperienced surgeons who want the opportunity to 'practice' on patients in order to build up their required quota of surgical cases that they need to become board certified. These surgeons will perform surgery at barely any cost just to get the experience. Do you really want to be someone's guinea pig with your body?

3. Centers are infamous for retail-like hours of operation. Unfortunately  emergencies don't only occur between 9 am to 5 pm. That is why  Dr. Russell Sassani, Dr. Christopher Low, and Dr. George Dreszer are always available to their patients.

4. Many centers sell you their cheap surgery only for you find out on the day of srugery that you will have to undergo the procedure AWAKE! This REALLY happens. There are horror stories of patients screaming so loudly in pain that everyone in the building can hear including their loved ones. Isn't anesthesia worth the cost?

5. Centers usually pump out anywhere from 6-10 surgical cases a day, somewhat like a factory. Quality over quantity is the rule at Take Shape Plastic Surgery, PA!

Call us and we will make sure you are taken care of from beginning to end. As always we over a FREE CONSULTATION.   954.585.3800

How Many Women Get Breast Implants Each Year?

If you're a woman looking into getting a breast augmentation, one of your reservations about the procedure may be the idea that relatively few women go for it these days. An admirably cautious notion that happens to be far from the truth.  

Have you ever wondered exactly how many women get breast implants each year in the United States? After all, it seems like a lot of Hollywood celebrities have perfect breasts and the woman in your yoga class is just too flawlessly shapely to be natural, right? Well, the answer is a lot more women than people think are undergoing breast augmentation each year.

Breast augmentation was the #1 procedure in the country in 2011 with 307,000 women getting implants. This is a 4 percent increase from the previous year and a 45 percent increase from 2000.  These statistics show that breast augmentation is one of the fastest growing procedures in the industry because women want to feel confident about their bodies and their breasts. You have the right to feel beautiful, and if that means enhancing your breasts so you can feel comfortable in a top or bathing suit, that's okay.

The dramatic increase in breast implant surgery does not necessarily reflect a similarly dramatic increase in the number of women with breast implants, however. Many women who undergo surgery are replacing old implants that have broken or caused problems; some women report as many as ten or more surgeries as their implants are replaced over the years.

The important thing to remember is that breast enhancement is for yourself. It's not about what a man thinks or even what your friend thinks, it's about doing what can help you feel beautiful. More and more women are realizing this and that's why thousands of breast augmentations are performed in the United States each year.

There's no reason to feel insecure about your body now, or even your decision to get implants. It's time to focus on what will make you a more comfortable and empowered woman. If that's getting a breast augmentation, schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon today. You have the right to look and feel your absolute best!

Breast Augmentation: Q&A

What is the ideal breast size?

Picking the right size of the breast implant is absolutely one of the most important decisions in the breast augmentation and implant process. This being the case, good surgeons will discuss several approaches to help the patient make the best decision based on the following:

• anatomy
• personal preferences
• aesthetic appearance patient wishes to achieve 

Some surgeons may even request that the patient wears a bra with the augment inside to see the possible appearance.

In general, attractive breast augmentation should be in proportion to the woman’s overall body shape. An implant too large for a small frame is usually an obvious give away that a patient has undergone a breast augmentation procedure. Women wanting to go from a small A cup to a full D cup also need to understand the stretch limitations of breast skin.

What are the exercise restrictions in the post-operative period?

In the post-operative period, it is necessary to avoid any types of exercise which requires vigorous raising of the arms above the level of the head for at least 10 days after surgery. The majority of patients find it possible to return to work and drive in about 7 days. However, if their occupation requires particularly strenuous movements and lifting then they should not return to work for around 2-3 weeks.

Power walking can commence within 7 days, light jogging within about 3 weeks. Full gym and pilates regimes may start after 4-6 weeks. Most people may begin upper body weights after 6-9 weeks, with contact sports, martial arts, boxing, and football (soccer) allow 12 weeks. Make sure you consult with your surgeon about your own individual needs before and after the surgery.

Is breast feeding possible after breast augmentation?

Breast feeding is certainly possible after a breast augmentation procedure. The majority of implants are placed behind the muscle and the implant is not inserted through the nipple-areolar complex. Preformed this way the procedure in no way effects the milk ducts.

If you are hoping to continue prolonged breast feeding, however, you need to be aware that this can create the possibility of stretch marks on the breasts and certainly accelerate breast droopiness.

Should you become pregnant following your breast augmentation procedure, then your existing breast tissue will be subjected to the normal hormonal influences of a natural gestation period.

During this time it is perfectly natural for your breasts to enlarge and the skin to stretch accordingly.
Once a pregnancy and breast feeding ceases, your breast tissue will naturally shrink down. It is impossible to predict to what degree these natural changes will occur, however the breast implant volume will remain the same throughout this time.

What is capsular hardening and how is it treated?

This is the most serious complication of a breast augmentation procedure. The latest implants are covered in material which has greatly reduced the incidence of capsular contraction formation. A “capsule” or capsule formation is a layer of scar tissue that normally forms around any artificial material placed in the body. It is important to realize that this is the natural response of the body to foreign material.

In the majority of cases, this capsule is so soft that it is virtually undetectable, not affecting the breast implant in any way. Capsular hardening occurs when this layer of scar tissue shrinks around the breast implant, squeezing it so that it starts to feel firm, or in some cases, quite hard. If this is going to occur ,it is mainly in the first three years after implantation. It is not a health concern and implants are only removed if the shape has become distorted or the patient is experiencing pain.

Contact Take Shape today for questions, planning and preparing for your breast augmentation surgery.

Give your Bust a Boost

Chest exercising isn't just for men. Developing your chest muscles and working your "pecs" (aka pectoral muscles) is smart and beneficial for women.

A treasure chest of benefits 

It's important to strengthen your chest for a number of reasons. For starters, it helps keep your upper-body muscles in balance, which improves your posture. These two things decrease stress and tension on your muscles and bones. That makes you less injury-prone.

A strong chest helps you do the things you need to do every day, because those pec muscles add power to your shoulders and arms. It takes more than biceps to push up a heavy garage door, heft a heavy grocery bag or mow your lawn. You need the kind of upper-body strength that comes from powerful chest muscles.

If you're looking to add a little bulk to your bosom, it helps to build up those pec muscles, says NASM Elite Trainer Ann Scritsmier.

How to pump it up 

Two exercises are traditional ones: the dumbbell bench press (do it on the floor if you don't have a bench) and the good old push-up.

How to preform the dumbbell bench press:
Lie on your back on a flat bench with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Point your feet straight and make sure they are shoulder-width apart. Hold a dumbbell in each hand at chest level and place them slightly outside your body with your elbows flexed. Press both dumbbells up and together, fully extending your arms and hold this position. Return the dumbbells to the starting position and repeat.

How to do do push-ups:
Begin in push-up position with your feet together and toes on the floor and your hands placed slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Draw-in your navel and contract your glutes. With your back flat, slowly lower your body toward the floor, lowering and contracting your shoulder blades. Push back up to starting position being careful not to jut your head forward.