Plastic surgery moves beyond rich and famous

A few years ago, Jasmine (who asked not to use her real name) gained about 50 pounds when she struggled with health issues. For the first time in her life, she considered plastic surgery.

"But I didn't want to go under the knife. I'm just not that brave," said the 43-year-old.
Instead of liposuction, Jasmine decided to try a new procedure called Lipo Dissolve, a nonsurgical process of injections that break down fat cells. She said it appealed to her because it had a quick recovery time -- she could get the injections during her lunch break and be back at work within an hour.


With the combination of injections and dieting, Jasmine has lost about 40 pounds.

"I had rolls of body fat on my back, and within four months, they were just about gone," she said.

                        
New Demographics

Jasmine, who is black, is part of a growing trend of minority patients who undergo plastic or cosmetic surgery.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of minority patients having plastic surgery increased 65 percent from 2000 to 2005. Hispanics were the largest minority client base, with 921,000 procedures performed in 2005. African-Americans were the second-largest minority, with 769,000 procedures. Asian-Americans received 437,000 nips and tucks in 2005.Dr. Shirley Madhere, a plastic surgeon in New York City, said the trend reflects a global phenomenon among middle-class consumers. She said the cost of various procedures has gone down as acceptance has gone up.
"The taboo traditionally associated with the practice has lessened. No longer is plastic surgery perceived as wanting to change one's ethnicity, but rather a lifestyle enhancement that transcends all definitions of beauty, irrespective of race," Madhere said.
Among blacks, Asian-Americans and Hispanics, the most requested minimally-invasive procedure in 2005 was Botox, an injection that temporarily removes wrinkles by paralyzing muscles. Nose reshaping was the most popular surgical procedure among blacks and Asian-Americans, and breast augmentation was the No. 1 among Hispanics, according to the ASPS.
 

Not Just For Women
The number of men seeking plastic surgery is also up, increasing 44 percent from 2000 to 2005, according to the ASPS. Botox injections experienced the biggest jump among male clients, with a 233 percent increase between 2004 and 2005.
Dr. Andrew Mark Klapper, a plastic surgeon in Manhattan, said men are feeling the same pressures women feel about their body image and appearance.
"They are less likely to talk about it among their friends, but will in my office, behind closed doors," Klapper said.
Dr. George Lefkovits, a plastic surgeon in New York City, has specific days set aside to see only male clients.
"This is a major draw for my patients because they feel more comfortable and accepting of their procedures when women are not present in the office," he said.
Statistics from the ASPS show that more men are opting for similar work as women, such as microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, chemical peels, liposuction, nose reshaping and eyelid surgery.
Overall, plastic surgeons said clients want procedures that are quick, less invasive and have a short recovery time.
"(Length of) post-op recuperation is usually one of the first questions asked," Lefkovits said.

As Seen On TV

Doctors said one of the main reasons why plastic surgery is becoming more popular is because of its exposure on TV, including shows such as "Extreme Makeover," "The Swan" and "Nip/Tuck."
"I think it is great for business, but there is a dark side to this -- it gives completely unrealistic expectations to the viewing public," Klapper said.
He said the TV shows rarely show medical complications, and the stories make it appear as if everyone's personal problems are solved just by having plastic surgery. Klapper said patients who watch the shows -- especially teenagers -- also become misguided about what surgeries are right for their body type.
"Teenagers are coming in with their parents asking for procedures they rarely asked for a decade ago, (such as) breast augmentations and liposuction," Klapper said. "I will not perform those operations unless the teenager can demonstrate they understand the reality of the complications of surgery."
Despite some of the misleading results on the TV shows, doctors agree that the popularization of plastic surgery will only increase demand in large cities and will extend to smaller communities across the country, said Dr. Gregory Buford, a plastic surgeon in Englewood, Colo.

LOOK GREAT NAKED Thanks to these fuzz-busting, body-buffing, cellulite-blasting tips, you're going to feel sexier than ever in your skin

BANISH BODY HAIR
These new products and techniques make removing hair at home practically foolproof
Shaving
For certain areas, nothing beats a razor. "It's fast, cheap, and effective for legs, underarms, and the bikini line," says Ranella Hirsh, M.D., a dermatologist in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Besides a sharp blade, you need a handle with a good grip so you're less likely to drop it. Try Gillette Venus Breeze ($11, drugstore.com). "Every time your razor hits the shower floor, the blade gets dinged and can nick your skin next time you use it," Hirsh says. To help prevent razor burn, shave with an anti­bacterial cleanser, such as Dial Antibacterial Moisturizing Body Wash ($5, drugstore.com).
Depilatories
Use these creams for removing the fine hair on your arms, upper lip, and tummy, because they help hair grow back soft, not stubbly.
Find a formula that comes with a plastic scraper (like Veet spray-on hair-removal cream ($9, veet.us for stores) for effective and mess-free removal, says Cindy Barshop, owner of Completely Bare Spas in New York City.
Waxing
For results that last up to two weeks, wax is still the best bet. New kits with strips in different shapes and sizes help you target specific areas of your body. For hair on small spots like nipples and toes, try a cold wax like Sally Hansen Naturally Bare Waxing Strips for Faces and Little Spaces ($6, at drugstores).
Bikini lines call for a hot wax like Completely Bare Ouch-Less strip wax ($22, completelybare.com). Heat makes wax stickier—better for yanking out coarse hair. You melt the wax on your stove, spread it over the hair, layer on a removal strip, and swiftly rip it off. Fifteen minutes prior to waxing, dull the sting with a numbing agent like PFB Numb-It Gel ($25, pfbvanish.com). Liana Mitrita, head aesthetician at Kimara Ahnert studio in New York City, has this advice: Lightly dust your skin with baby powder to absorb sweat or oil. Wax clings best to dry hair, meaning fewer do-overs and less irritation. When you pull off the strip, peel it backward: Yanking up to the ceiling traumatizes the hair follicles and can cause an uncomfortable rash, Mitrita says.

BIKINI WAXING: THE SCARY TRUTH Simple body hair removal can go from sexy beauty habit to scary sickness faster than you can say 'yowza!'

All Jennifer (not her real name) wanted was a smooth bikini line. But within 24 hours of getting a bikini wax at a reputable New York City salon, an infection crept in. She developed a fever of 102, chills, and pain in her left thigh. "I thought I'd caught a cold, "she says, "but after five days, the pain was worse."
Her doctor diagnosed her with cellulitis, a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection of the skin and the underlying tissue. Jennifer spent the next 15 days in the hospital hooked up to an IV that pumped her full of antibiotics and heavy-duty painkillers. She also had surgery to drain the infection. "One doctor said I could have lost my leg!" she recalls. "It took me months to recover physically and emotionally from the whole ordeal—a steep price to pay for a little vanity."
While there are no reliable stats on body wax related complications, Jennifer's experience wasn't unique. Recently, the state of New Jersey nearly banned Brazilian bikini waxes after two women landed in the hospital as a result of them (one of the women filed a lawsuit against the state cosmetology board). And in 2007, an Australian woman with type 1 diabetes almost died of a bacterial infection she got after a bare-it-all wax.

DIY Nail Art Made Simple

As a self-proclaimed nail polish junkie, I’ll admit I was skeptical when I started seeing commercials about Sally Hansen’s new line of nail polish strips. For years I’ve battled stressful days by breaking out the bottle (of nail polish!) and I’ve never been a fan of press-on nails or nail salons, so any DIY tricks are great for me. But after seeing the lace and leopard patterned kits, I broke down and bought the “Skinny Jeans” strips (the others were sold out—a good sign?).
They’re a little pricey at $10 a box, but it’s still far less than you’d be paying at a salon for a similar effect. Plus, you get a cuticle stick and a mini nail file to help with the process. Here are a few tips to ensure a perfectly printed nail:

1. Before beginning the process, I recommend pushing cuticles back and doing any other necessary nail grooming, but don’t clip them too short (see step 5).
2. In the package you’ll find two separate sealed containers with eight nail strips each. I was a little perturbed at seeing this as I, like most other women, have 10 fingers. They are long enough, however, that a couple of the strips can be used twice.
3. Be sure to use the wooden stick to smooth them down completely!
4. After filing them down, I gave the ends of my nails a little snip with my fingernail clippers for a nice smooth edge (the nail file roughed them up a bit).
5. Lastly, do all your nails in one go. You’ll have to pitch the nail strips that are opened and unused—unfortunately, they can’t be used again.

While the nail strips still have the acetone-y smell of bottled nail polish, they didn’t require any dry time. And with the unavoidable exception of a couple of tiny bumps due to my curved nails (hardly visible with the denim pattern) they didn’t mess up at all. It took me about 10 minutes to apply the strips to both hands, and they’re still looking great a week later.
I’ll never be able to give up the bottle, but the nail strips were undoubtedly a success.
Would you ever consider wearing Sally Hansen Real Nail Polish Strips? If so, in what shade/pattern?

Cheat Day | Four Rules For a Healthy Dessert

Melina Jampolis, M.D., an internist and board certified physician nutrition specialist, was asked to come up with four rules for a healthy dessert. Then, we put Johnny Iuzzini, a pastry whiz who you might recognize as the host of Bravo’s Top Chef Just Desserts, to make a delicious dessert while abiding by Dr. Jampolis’ rules. The result? A balanced, pillow-y parfait.
Dr. Jampolis’ 4 Dessert Rules:
1. Limit your calories to 100 to 150 for an everyday dessert (though dessert shouldn’t be an everyday affair). For a splurge dessert, keep to 250 to 300 calories.
2. Substitute whole grains whenever you can—even if it’s only for a quarter of the total grains, every little bit adds up to better health since they’re a great source of fiber and anti-oxidants.
3. Add in healthy fats like nuts or seeds (or avocados!). Not only do they boost the fiber and nutrient content, healthy fats help lower the glycemic index of sugary desserts, which can help prevent you from craving even more sugar an hour later.
4. To really boost the nutritional value, add in deeply colored fruits like berries or cherries. These fruits are loaded with potent disease-fighting phytonutrients called polyphenols. (Dark chocolate is also a great source of polyphenols as long as it contains about 70 percent cacao.)
Johnny Iuzzini’s Healthy Parfait
Makes 4 servings
What You’ll Need:
4 single servings of plain or vanilla yogurt (Iuzzini recommends Dannon Activia)

For the berry mixture:
¼ cup fresh raspberries, halved
¼ cup fresh blackberries, halved
¼ cup fresh blueberries
¼ cup fresh cherries, halved and pitted
½ lemon, juiced
1 Tbsp grade B maple syrup
How to make it:
1. Combine the fruit, lemon juice, and maple syrup 30 minutes before assembling the parfait and chill.
For the trail mix:
1/4 cup raw flax seeds
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup raw slivered almonds
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
3 Tbsp pure grade B maple syrup
1/4 cup dried cherries (look for omega 3 enhanced dried fruit)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (look for omega 3 enhanced dried fruit)
½ tsp coarse salt
How to make it:
1. Preheat oven to 300 F, line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together all the seeds and nuts with the maple syrup and salt until coated evenly. Spread the mix evenly in a single layer on each lined baking sheet and place in the pre-heated oven.
3. Stirring occasionally, bake the trail mix until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Allow it to cool and break it up into a loose mixture. Toss with the dried fruit.
To assemble the parfait
In the bottom of each 6 oz parfait glasses (or a regular drinking glass or bowl will work), place ¼ cup of trail mix. Next, pour in half of the yogurt and add 1/8 cup of the berry mixture. Repeat each of the layers once more and serve.
Nutrition Facts per serving: 240 calories, 10 g fat (1 g saturated fat), 7 g fiber, 6 g protein

Work Out at Home No gym? No problem. For this total-body workout, all you need to get super-fit is your own body--it provides enough resistance to sculpt a lean, sexy physique

The secret to scoring a slim and sexy body with a home workout? Engage as many muscles as possible while quickly moving from one exercise to the next to keep your heart rate high. In this body-weight circuit created by Raphael Verela, owner of the Circuit Works studios in Venice and Brentwood, California, you'll do a resistance exercise followed immediately by a high-energy cardio move that works the same muscle group.

"We call it the zigzag method," he says. "It effectively increases lean muscle mass and decreases body fat by engaging more muscle fibers and burning tons of calories in a short amount of time."

These no-gym-required fat burners—paired in supersets (two moves done back-to-back without resting in between)—will get you into killer condition fast. Do this total-body routine on three nonconsecutive days a week: Start with move 1 and do as many reps as you can in 60 seconds. Then do move 2 (the second part of the superset)—again, as many reps as you can do in 60 seconds. Move on to move 3 and continue this pattern until you've finished all eight moves. That's one circuit. Rest for a minute or two (or challenge yourself by taking a shorter break), then repeat for a total of two or three circuits.