Sometimes, we find young adults who are perfectly healthy and who have a good body weight struggling with fat deposits and a thicker looking jowl and neck area. Often times, this is seen in patients who are quite young and are in their 20s or 30s. Some of these people have an inherited tendency towards a heavier and rounder jowl area and neck area. This rounder appearance is therefore genetic and has nothing to do with being overweight. Young people who are genetically predisposed to this condition will have a neck and chin area which is rounder and heavier than the rest of their body. This makes them look heavier than they really are. Looking at some of their parents, we would find the same trend of a fatty neck and chin.

Dr. James Grotting is the author of a major two-volume textbook in Plastic Surgery entitled Reoperative Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery which has helped plastic surgeons around the world learn the latest techniques in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. He is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Grotting is a member of the prestigious American Association of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Surgeons are always looking for better techniques which are minimally invasive and can leave as little scarring as possible through smaller incisions and smaller operations. Dr. Grotting explains that an exciting new treatment for improving the fatty neck and chin and the jowl area is through a procedure that may be referred to as Micro Liposuction including ultrasonic liposuction techniques. The procedure basically involves carefully controlled refined sculpting of the jowl and neck area. The most effective way to go about this treatment is with the use of ultrasound and tiny probes that are inserted at the base of the ear through small incisions. Through this set up, the surgeon can go in and slowly and systematically melt away the fat deposits. Most often it isn’t the amount of fat that is removed that is important but the area and exact location it is removed from. Removing it from the correct location would result in a more sculpted neck and jaw area and give the jowl area a more triangular appearance. This procedure can really improve the way the neck looks and make the patients look as if they have lost weight and also look aesthetically better.

Dr. Grotting also talks about an older group of patients that tend to have a lot of heavy fat and tissue around their neck and jowl area which contributes to a fatty neck and chin. This combined with the laxity of skin that comes with the normal aging process creates some concern for older individuals. Such patients would benefit from a combination of procedures. He recommends a micro liposuction procedure for sculpting and refinement of the fatty tissue around the jaw and neck area along with a lifting procedure. Most times, the removal of fat in the area allows the lifting procedure to be done through a shoulder incision which makes the recovery time faster.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to surgical improvements for a fatty neck and chin is that often times making the face look younger and slimmer isn’t just about pulling and lifting of the skin but most often it is about shaping the face and the precision involved in the same.

With plastic surgery procedures becoming more commonplace and the number of plastic surgeons providing such services increasing, it has become necessary to be aware of the qualifications and credentials of one’s surgeon before agreeing to go under the knife. Clients today, are no longer agreeable to going along with whatever the surgeon suggests and the increase in educational material and information available has made clients more knowledgeable about procedures and techniques.

As a result of the same knowledge, clients are now more careful about who they choose as their surgeon. Having access to public information and their doctor’s credentials gives clients an upper hand and helps them make a more informed decision.

Dr. Sanjay Grover, who is a board-certified plastic surgeon and a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, agrees that this trend is for the clients’ benefit and feels that in plastic surgery procedures, clients should try and seek out Board Certified surgeons and enlist their help. This makes a lot of difference in their techniques especially when it comes to delicate procedures such as facial rejuvenation.

Procedures such as Rhinoplasty, if done incorrectly, or if not done with adequate precision, can dramatically change the way one looks and can remove traces of ethnicity and genetics, which one might like to preserve. It is important to realize that a Board Certified surgeon may be one’s best bet to get the perfect nose job done while retaining the natural look of one’s face and features.

Board Certified surgeons are required to practice safe, ethical, efficacious plastic surgery techniques by maintaining high standards for education and examination. Certified surgeons have been tested and examined on their knowledge and techniques and require keeping their standards of care high in order to maintain their certification.

The monetary effect of last year’s continued economic downturn on America’s plastic surgery industry has yet to be determined, since sales figures aren’t final. But many plastic surgeons are certain that customers often ignored major operations and looked to less expensive treatment options to change their look.

“We thought we’d be insulated better,” Dr. Toby Mayer, a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon, told the Los Angeles Times. “But even though we have a large percentage base of Hollywood clients who are not affected by these economic conditions, for the large majority of our patients, the big procedures are out of the question for now.”

Official statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) differ, but both indicate a significant dip in revenue. The number of cosmetic surgeries in 2008 was lower than 2007 by 9 percent, according to the ASPS, while ASAPS says they dropped by 15 percent. The statistics for 2009 aren’t expected until around March. But according to the Los Angeles Times, some plastic surgeons cite a 20 percent decrease from 2008.

Still, the cosmetic surgery industry will likely endure, even in tough times. Dr. Mayer noted that people still want to improve how they look – and some feel a little nip and tuck may be necessary to compete in a tight job market. Mindful of peoples’ financial constraints, surgeons have found a way to compromise by offering patients less expensive ways to alter their looks. Botox injections replace the more expensive face lift, and topical skin treatment replace the more expensive Botox. Surgeons are also offering payment plans or reduced fees to accommodate their customer base.

“We all want immediate gratification — more so now, when times are distressing,” Dr. Debra Luftman, a dermatologist, told the Times reporter. “I like to make a plan with my patients, look at treatments over a period of time and budget everything. We’re doing incentives and packages to make it easier for them. They don’t even have to ask me.”

Some plastic surgeons are taking the rhinoplasty process one step further by using injectable fillers after the initial surgery.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that rhinoplasty continues to be a high-demand procedure, with 152,434 performed in 2008. But an article in the November/December 2009 issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal explained the need, in many cases, for surgeons to inject soft tissue fillers into a patient’s nose to smooth out what the nose job couldn’t quite fix. Filler uses include correcting deformities, or adding volume to make the final result more closely resemble the intended design.

“Injectable fillers allow surgeons to correct post-surgical imperfections without the expense, anesthetic risk, or recovery downtime involved with additional surgery,” a press release quoted Steven Dayan, MD, co-author of the Journal‘s article.

Doctors are using injectable fillers such as liquid silicone, hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxylapatite gel – though silicone, because  of complications, is ill-advised. Doctors tend to use these fillers on the top and sides of the nose while avoiding the nose or tip. A “less is more” technique prevents blood vessel or soft tissue damage or “bumpy” appearance that an excessive injection of filler can cause.

Fillers are becoming a common sidekick surgery due to the pressure on surgeons to “get it right the first time” and not have additional procedures.

Fillers are no substitute for excellent surgical results,” he said. “Rhinoplasty surgeons must continue to strive for perfection in the operating room.”

Dr. Gryskiewicz also describes the technology behind a revolutionary microchip that can detect leaks in silicone implants. The device, although still experimental, promises to offer a less expensive alternative to MRIs, which are recommended every two years for women with silicone breast implants beginning three years after their breast augmentation procedure.

Click the video player below to watch this exclusive interview from the 2009 Aesthetic Meeting in Las Vegas.

What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to the tools used in cosmetic surgery, it seems the brand itself has become more important than ever. More and more healthcare providers are offering branded tools and services – specifically cosmetic surgery offices that purchase laser-assisted liposuction machines with zippy names, like SmartLipo, Vaser, Zerona and AccuSculpt. The idea behind the popular purchases is to make the surgery offices stand out to prospective customers already familiar with these brands.

The manufacturers of these machines often provide extensive marketing resources – plus incentives– to the doctors who agree to use their products. The result is that, as in many other industries, some machines have become more popular and widely sought than ones that may be safer and easier to use.

Still, some experts are skeptical of the branding wave. Dr. Robert Singer, past president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the Aesthetic Society Education and Research Foundation, noted that there is no scientific data to support many of the claims made manufacturers that laser liposuction is any more effective than other liposuction technologies already in use.

Despite the lack of data, more and more patients may be looking to brand names for laser liposuction. Although the American Society of Plastic Surgery recently reported that liposuction surgeries are down 19 percent since the beginning of the economic recession in 2008, office-based cosmetic procedures have increased by 13 percent. And so, in time, the popularity of brand name treatments and the convenience of in-office procedures may drive more people to get liposuction, and offset the downward trend.

To this, Dr. Singer, who helped establish the Emerging Trends Hot Topics Task Force to examine developing trends in the field of plastic surgery more closely, noted that anyone can purchase one of the devices. To minimizse the risk of complications, patients should only seek treatment from a board certified plastic surgeon.

Most people would probably admit they would like to be beautiful, but we’re all growing older. Now, a recent survey shows that the older we get, we still have strong ideas about what beautiful means and how we can stay that way.

The consumer survey was conducted on the BeautyforLife website – a joint venture of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.  Visitors were asked a variety of questions concerning physical appearance – for example, what part of their body were they most concerned about, and what aspect of physical beauty do they find most appealing in another person?

The findings were surprising. Participants in their thirties seemed most concerned about their stomach and hips, while respondents in every other age range were more focused on their face.

As for what they find appealing in other people, participants in their 20s, 30s and 40s liked people who appeared physically fit, *while those who were older seemed more concerned with healthy-looking skin.

Interestingly, when asked about the most important reason to maintain one’s physical appearance, *all age groups agreed that self-confidence was key. But what may have been most telling was the participants’ comments about what they think is the most important method of maintaining appearance.

One out of every five people said that in the fifth and sixth decades of life, a cosmetic procedure is most effective.

You can find out more about the results of the survey at www.beautyforlife.com.

According to data recently released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, approximately 4100 girls ages 18 and younger got breast implants in 2008. The figure was a little less than 50 percent of the augmentations done in 2007.

If those figures are disturbing, keep in mind that some of these young women experienced micromastia, or underdeveloped breasts, and some had breasts that developed asymmetrically. For instance, one breast might be an A or B cup, while the other a C or D cup.

Of course, some teens simply wanted implants to enhance their appearance. Regardless of the reason, choosing to get breast implants can be a bigger decision than it seems at first glance.

Breast augmentation can require additional surgery within 10 to 15 years, which could mean several trips under the knife for a patient whose first augmentation is during her teens.

Although the FDA has approved breast implants only for women ages 18 and older, there are no legal restrictions on the procedure. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has an official position against breast augmentation for most teens younger than 18, but there’s no enforcement.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has no official position regarding augmentation for teenagers.

When plastic surgery is the best decision for a teen, parental guidance is always crucial. When teens have surgery for the right reasons, often for congenital breast deformities, the positive benefit in terms of self esteem and quality of life is often profound.

Before and after pictures can be persuasive, but it’s more important to select a board certified plastic surgeon whose first priority is the patient’s long-term health.

More and more Americans are seeking cosmetic surgery in hopes of improving the rest of their lives, but there has been a growing trend in patients who want work done to improve only one day – their wedding day.

Surgeons from Georgia to California are admitting that many patients, men and women, are undergoing procedures to look more attractive as brides and grooms.

Interestingly, many of these requests aren’t necessarily made with the long term in mind. Dr. Foad Nahai, past president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, pointed out during an interview with another media outlet that often people seek cosmetic surgery to simply improve how they look in their wedding photos and how they will look on the beach during those tropical honeymoons.

He said, patients ask for everything from Botox injections to facelifts, eyelid surgeries, liposuction, tummy tucks and even full body lifts. Brides-to-be are requesting breast augmentations, and both genders are demanding laser skin therapies.

Most of these procedures, of course, require weeks or months of preparation prior to the big day, since the patient needs ample recovery time so they don’t walk down the aisle bandaged and bruised.

“Timing of your surgery prior to a major event like a wedding is very crucial,” said San Diego plastic surgeon Brian Reagan. “It’s important that you give yourself time to seek out multiple consultations, and to give yourself not only plenty of time to heal when things go as planned, but…you need to give yourself time to do a revision, if that’s necessary.”

Dr. Reagan noted that some patients will start planning their cosmetic surgery up to a year prior to a wedding to get the look they want.

And, he made another alarming revelation: These pre-wedding surgeries aren’t always just limited to the bride and groom, but also their parents, aunts, uncles and even long-time family friends.

Who knows? It might not be too long before couples start adding Botox and lipo to their wedding registries.