Vaginal Labiaplasty

Although there is a wide normal variation in size and shape of the inner labia, some women find it cosmetically unacceptable if the labia minora protrude past the labia majora. Enlarged or protruding labia minora can occasionally be an embarrassing problem, particularly in sexual situations, when wearing tight clothing or swimwear. Patients may also seek help for hygiene reasons.

Previously, the surgical treatment was simple excision of the protuberant tissue, which results in a scar along the free edge of the labia. In addition, the natural contour and colour of the labial edge is removed using this procedure. This technique of labial reduction is still widely practiced today.

In 1998, Dr Gary Alter, an American board certified plastic surgeon & urologist occasionally seen on the TV program “Dr 90210”, devised a more elegant operation to deal with this problem, and it is his technique ,and subsequent modifications thereof, that I now use. More recently, a team from Brasil published a modification of Dr Alter’s technique which has proven to be very effective in selected patients.

The operation is usually done under local anaesthetic with light, oral sedation. Should you want deeper sedation, an anaesthetist can be arranged for the procedure, but this is rarely necessary. It is generally very well tolerated, and the discomfort only minimal. The surgery takes about 1-1.5 hours, and all patients are discharged on the same day – I now do these exclusively at a nearby state-of-the-art, fully licensed, cosmetic day surgery facility. The surgery involves removing a triangular wedge of tissue from each labium, thus largely preserving the natural free border, and leaving an almost imperceptible short oblique scar on each inner labium. The surgery is done using 4.5 x loupe magnification, to ensure very precise repair of the labial edges. All patients are treated with Bioptron light exposure post op to try to minimize swelling and bruising. All the stitches are dissolving, and aside from some antibiotic gel that needs to be applied for a few days, no special post op care, other than perhaps bed rest for a few days, is needed. Abstinence from sexual activity for 6 weeks post op is advised, to allow the tissues adequate time to heal completely. Smoking is a potent cause of poor wound healing, especially in labial surgery, and you are strongly advised to quit for a month pre- and post op, if you are a smoker and considering this surgery.

Of note is that the sensory nerves to this region are well away from the operative site, and therefore no disturbance in erotic sensation will result from this operation, if done correctly.

I think it is also important to realise that not all “labiaplasties” are done this way. Still today, the most commonly performed technique involves some sort of amputation of the protuberant tissue along the free edge, whether by laser (“designer laser labiaplasty”), scalpel or scissors. I never do simple labial reductions, but instead have been using the techniques described above since 2003, and I am pleased to report that patient satisfaction has been very high indeed.

Source: Plastic Surgery Cape Town

Emotional Effects of Breast Implant Surgery

As you know, women across America are choosing to have breast implant surgery in record numbers. There are a number of reasons to have breast enhancement surgery. It may be because the breasts are is not shaped symmetrically. It could be that over time, the breast has lost its firmness or shape because of pregnancy or other age factors. Whatever the reason, having breast implant surgery can have a positive effect on a woman's body image.

After breast augmentation surgery, many women report on the phenomenally positive outlook on life they now have. You will be able to wear clothing that is a little bit more revealing and sexier than you could before. You will have a greater confidence about yourself that is brought on by a more confident body. When you have a part of your body that is not fitting to you, your psychological health can suffer. Having breast implant surgery will correct any physical issues to give you a greater self-esteem.

Many implant surgery patients say they love the look of their new body and feel so much better for having it done. Not only has their own inner confidence improved, their sex life has skyrocketed into a much better experience. They love showing off their new breasts. The quality of life has been heightened, and they are feeling much better about themselves.

If you are considering breast implants, you should begin the process. This means trying a sizing system to get the look and feel of different sizes. Trying out new sizes will provide you with a chance to see how you look and how it makes you feel before you spend the time and money on the surgery.

The next step is to carefully consider a board certified plastic surgeon who is reputable and can be trusted to give you top quality medical care. This is achieved by finding a surgeon that is known for good work. Honestly, it is best to go with the best surgeon, not to try to save money. However, the more expensive the doctor does not mean a better result. Make sure you talk to previous patients to get an idea of the procedure they offer and how they feel about their new breasts.

Make an appointment to talk with the surgeon and discuss the procedure. This will be the time for you to have any questions answered and your mind set at ease. They will measure your breasts and help you decide on the correct size implant to enhance your beautiful body. They will instruct you on all the procedures and try to match the breast size you want to your body size and shape.

Once your surgery is complete and the healing process is complete, you will be overwhelmed by the change in your life and body-image. You will be so confident that you will want to go out and buy new clothing to show off your new beautiful cleavage. Take the first steps to a new you and consider the benefits of breast implant surgery.

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South Africa Plastic Surgery

Why Do You Want Plastic Surgery?

The criticism of plastic surgery as pandering to the vanity of people is unfair. The desire for self improvement is a natural impulse, and typically people who seek plastic surgery are simply unhappy about an aspect of their appearance. They feel sufficiently displeased to pursue a solution to make themselves more content. In some cases, plastic surgery even opens the door to greater self confidence.

Perhaps you want to ease back the inevitable effects of age, repair the sagging legacy of childbearing, or augment or reduce your breasts. Employing plastic surgery as a means to improve physical traits is essentially the same as getting braces to straighten your teeth. No one would call you vain if you wanted straighter teeth. However, plastic surgery is generally more drastic than teeth straightening, which is why you should carefully examine your feelings for wanting plastic surgery. It is not a step to be taken lightly.

In 2005, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons

conducted a survey to study the motivations people had for plastic surgery and their demographics. You might be surprised to learn that the study indicated that plastic surgery is not limited to higher income people. Members of diverse socioeconomic classes have an interest in and even undergo plastic surgery procedures.

According to the ASPS study, a broad range of age groups seeks plastic surgery, from ages 18 on up. Certainly the younger surgery candidates are seeking cosmetic modifications, typically to the nose or breasts, as opposed to older surgery candidates who also take the effects of aging into their plastic surgery plans.

In depth interviews with a selection of survey participants in the ASPS study revealed that most people who were interested in plastic surgery were deeply bothered by a physical feature. They wanted plastic surgery because they believed it would provide emotional, psychological, or social improvements.

As a practicing California plastic surgeon, it is part of my job to help potential plastic surgery patients examine and understand their motivations. A patient with a healthy perspective will want to modify his or her body so as to overcome a physical trait that is personally unpleasant. The rest of the world may not be judging you as harshly as judge yourself, but your self-confidence comes from your self-judgment, which is at the heart of the matter.

If you are considering plastic surgery, you should make sure to do some soul searching about your physical dissatisfaction and compare that carefully to the costs and risks of surgery. Make sure that the plastic surgeon you meet with is attentive to your goals and motivations. A plastic surgeon should not promise you the moon. Plastic surgery is not going to turn you into a movie star. Plastic surgery may be able to improve your body, but it will not produce a new body. However, California plastic surgery can be a positive experience that frequently helps people gain greater satisfaction with their physical appearances.

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Plastic Surgery in Cape Town

Plastic Surgery - Know Its History

The plastic surgery specialty has evolved greatly since its beginnings in India and Egypt due to the dedication and talent of doctors, researches, and surgeons. The sufferings of many people due to outward deformities have been alleviated by these techniques.

Today, you can go to a plastic surgeon and have virtually any part of your body worked on or reconstructed with amazing results. This hasn't always been the case; the industry has been evolving thousands of years and many doctors and surgeons have dedicated their lives to improving and creating new procedures.

The earliest record of any reconstructive operation is found in India from around 2000 B.C. Sushruta, an Indian surgeon and researcher, made many contributions to the field and much of his work was compiled the Sushruta Samhita which was later translated into Arabic and eventually made its way to Europe.

There are also Egyptian papyrus describing ancient reconstructive surgeries on the lips, ears, and nose using skin grafts from the folds of the forehead and cheeks. The history of plastic surgery in Eastern medicine did however move very slowly for thousands of years.

The techniques used in the ancient Eastern world were rudimentary and often severely painful as anesthesia methods were not well developed. The patients were also prone to infection until the concepts of sterilization and disinfectants were introduced.

The development of antibiotics, namely sulfa drugs and penicillin also helped fight infection and make the reconstruction surgeries successful. In the United States, plastic surgery began with surgeon Peter Mettauer in 1827. He performed the first cleft palate surgery in North America using instruments he designed himself.

The industry exploded with the advent of modern war. The modern weapons used in World War I brought about so many new and severe deformities in the face and body. After seeing the intense impact the outer appearance had on these maimed soldiers and their success in life, many talented surgeons dedicated themselves fully to improve surgical treatments that would help the thousands of men that were burned and wounded by war.

By World War II, doctors and surgeons were much better prepared when they needed to relieve the suffering of soldiers through the reconstruction of their broken bodies and scarred flesh.

Dr. William Stewart Halstead founded the first general surgery training program in the United States and it wasn't long before the American surgeons surpassed the rest of the world when it came to specialization within surgery. Plastic Surgery didn't become a specialty until the early 20th century and it wasn't until 1946 that the first issue of The Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery came about.

With its own medical journal and the birth of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the accompanying board certification, this discipline became recognized as a respected medical specialty. Modern plastic surgery as we know it today really began in the 1960's and 70's.

And now the specialty welcomes cases both reconstructive as well as those that are truly elective and aesthetic. This medical field now encompasses many procedures, including everything from rhinoplasty (nose job), breast augmentation, and eyelid surgery to abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), liposuction, and total face transplants.

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For More Teenage Girls, Adult Plastic Surgery

Plastic Surgeon Cape Town

Rise in Breast Implants, Other Procedures Raises Doubts About Long-Term Effects

By Sandra G. Boodman

Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 26, 2004; Page A01

Nicole Casto was unhappy with the way she looked and determined to do something about it. A year of breast-feeding had taken a toll, she said, so after her tax refund check arrived in June, the 19-year-old single mother underwent breast implant surgery performed by plastic surgeon Barry J. Cohen in his Rockville office.

"My family was upset that I was so young," said Casto, who lives in Woodstock, Va., and works as a waitress. "But I explained to them that it was about being confident," said Casto, who said she is "very pleased" with the surgery.

For decades, plastic surgery for teenage girls meant one thing -- a nose job, frequently performed during the summer between high school and college. While rhinoplasty remains the most common cosmetic operation for teenagers, doctors are performing an increasing number of procedures such as breast implants, liposuction and tummy tucks on young women like Casto and even girls as young as 14.

The enormous popularity of reality TV shows such as "Extreme Makeover," "The Swan" and MTV's "I Want a Famous Face," as well as an explosion of Web sites that extol the virtues of cosmetic medicine, has fueled the desire of adolescent girls to alter their bodies permanently, and they are finding more surgeons willing to oblige them. Breast implants and liposuction are now bestowed by parents as graduation or birthday gifts. Some doctors say they have performed breast augmentations on baby-boomer mothers and their teenage daughters.

Critics say that teenage girls, who tend to be both obsessed and dissatisfied with their looks, are too young and shortsighted to understand the implications of surgery, particularly the risks that implants may pose and the long-term maintenance they require. Among them are the possibility of rupture or permanent scarring, the need for periodic operations to replace or remove the devices, potential interference with breast-feeding and mammography, and unresolved questions about their long-term safety.

"Having cleavage may be the most important thing when you're 18, but it's not when you're 25," said Diana Zuckerman, president of the National Research Center for Women and Families, a nonprofit Washington think tank.

A Recent Boom 

In the past few months, several physicians groups have warned teenagers and their parents against resorting to major surgery as a quick fix for popularity or self-esteem.

From 2002 to 2003, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of girls 18 and younger who got breast implants nearly tripled, from 3,872 to 11,326. Among all age groups, cosmetic implants have skyrocketed in popularity, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Last year, according to the ASPS, about 247,000 women got implants for augmentation, compared with 32,000 in 1992.

Although cosmetic surgery remains most popular in other cities -- especially Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York -- eight plastic surgeons who practice in the medically conservative Washington area say they are seeing more teenagers than ever.

"I've seen a huge rise in the number of girls" seeking implants, said McLean plastic surgeon Csaba L. Magassy, who has been in practice for 30 years. In the past year, Magassy estimates, he has given breast implants to about 25 teenagers, most of them 18 or 19, a fourfold increase over a few years ago.

Despite the growing popularity of implants, most teenagers who undergo the surgery are reluctant to talk about a procedure that is easily stigmatized as self-indulgent. A few teenagers who have talked about their decision to get implants have received wide attention.

Several teenage girls who had cosmetic surgery in the past year requested that their names be withheld from this story. One of Magassy's recent patients, a 19-year-old student at Salisbury University in Maryland, said she had been seriously considering implants since she was 15. Unhappy with her 34A bra size, she said she did not like the way her clothes fit.

"My mother and I talked about it, I had money saved, and I just wanted to do it," said the student, whose family lives near Annapolis. She said her parents paid part of the $6,700 fee as a reward because she received college scholarships. "I'm just a lot happier" wearing a 36C bra, she added. "I think a lot of girls think about plastic surgery."

Some of Magassy's patients undergo multiple operations, acquiring smaller noses and bigger breasts at the same time. "That's a popular combination," he said. Stephen Greenberg, a New York surgeon, said that of the 100 teenage girls to whom he has given implants in the past year, about 20 had an accompanying tummy tuck or liposuction.

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