A study found that breast surgery patients spent less time at the surgery facility when they had their operation at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) vs. a hospital. The study, published in the American Journal of Surgery, found  that on average the total time was 69 minutes shorter at the ASC; most significant was the [...]

A new special report called the “The Beauty Advantage” on Newsweek.com says that the quest to look good isn’t just “a vain pursuit” and that beauty can affect your career and life. In today’s economy looking good is something that can’t be dismissed as frivolous, according to the article. “Economists have long recognized what’s been [...]

Last week Botox was approved for use as a tool for preventing chronic migraine headaches in the U.K. The country’s drug regulator became the first in the world to approve Botox for this use, Allergan announced last week. While it’s best known as a cosmetic wrinkle treatment, Botox can now be used on migraine patients [...]

Project Beauty, a new website  by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, launched today and its aim is to help consumers “cut through the clutter” and help them answer beauty-related questions,  including: “What treatments work? Which don’t? How can we tell if a product is legitimate or just marketing hype?” The new consumer website [...]

Beware if you’re looking for discounted plastic surgery—there is usually a catch, according to a recent posting on AOL’s Stylelist website. The article warns consumers of bargain plastic surgery, citing everything from billboards advertising “bargain boob jobs” in California to an ad near Clearwater, Florida touting “$8 Botox” injections. While some are just marketing ploys [...]

The U.S. injectables market now offers lidocaine-containing versions of popular hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, reports Cosmetic Surgery Times in its July 2010 issue. Lidocaine, a local anesthetic that is injected directly into the body, decreases pain by temporarily numbing the injection area, according to WebMD. Three injectables received FDA approval in February 2010 for lidocaine [...]

The demand for plastic surgery among teens has grown in recent years and has even become a popular graduation present, according to a recent Crain’s New York Business article. Over 8,000 U.S. teenagers aged 18 and 19 had breast enlargements last year—more than triple the number in 2001, according to the American Society of Plastic [...]

This mother’s day, we found more than a few stories about moms influencing daughters to change their appearance.  Ideally, the mother-daughter relationship is one in which you can find support and make the right decision about a cosmetic procedure. If your mother had a successful rhinoplasty, would you do the same?  One young woman gives [...]

FDA warnings were issued to several medical spas on April 7th (although none were located in the Seattle area) regarding claims made about the safety and effectiveness of lipodissolve. With an injection of certain chemicals ((phosphatidylcholine, deoxycholate, and others) lipodissolve is said to remove areas of persistent fat.  Consumers should be cautious about lipodissolve says [...]

The latest news stories about plastic surgery seem to follow a do-it-on-a-budget trend, which is understandable given the economic landscape.  However, safety should always be number one priority  – another lesson in the news that seems to repeat itself. Patients are learning to prioritize their treatments, while surgeons are offering financing and even money back [...]