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.

For the second year in a row, male breast reduction surgery is the fastest growing plastic surgery procedure in England, the BBC News reports. According to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, 581 Brits suited up for slimmer chests in 2009, an 80 percent increase the year before. Meanwhile, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates 18,000 men did the same in the U.S. in 2008, the last year for which data is available.

Some British surgeons speculate that men’s magazines flaunting male models with large pecs and six pack abs have inspired at least some individuals to undergo the procedure.

“Many men are feeling the pressure from men’s magazines that weren’t even being published five or six years ago,” London plastic surgeon Dr. Rajiv Grover told the BBC. “In addition, they are just realizing that they can get something done about it.”

The procedure itself generally utilizes liposuction technology, with a cut under the breast crease where fat is then suctioned out. In most cases the procedure only takes an hour with dissolvable stitches under general anesthesia. Patients may have to wear a compression vest to help shrink the skin for three weeks afterwards.

“Man boobs”, or “moobs” as they have recently been coined, are the result of gynecomastia, a condition marked by excess breast tissue in men. Causes range from obesity and weight gain to steroid and marijuana drug use, prescription drugs, and in rare cases, male breast cancer.

In many cases, there is nothing a man can do to reduce the size of his breasts on his own, because the condition is hereditary. “But if you’re a pot smoker and you are overweight, just changing your lifestyle may mean you wouldn’t need to have a breast reduction,” Dr. Sharon Rosenbaum-Smith, breast surgeon at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, told the NY Daily News.

New rejuvenation procedures may be effective in correcting frowning mouth deformity, according to a new study.

Currently available techniques only offer partial correction of the frowning mouth, the study authors noted. However, new surgical techniques involving lentiform excisions at the vermilion border (the exposed red portion of the lip) and at the marionette folds are effective at correcting frowning mouth deformities, a condition caused by sagging at the corners of the mouth.

The study followed 27 patients who went under the knife between 2000 and 2009 in an attempt to correct their frowning mouth deformity . The deformities and the methods of correction were divided into two separate types. In type I frowning mouth deformity, correction was performed by lentiform excisions at the vermilion border, and in type II deformity, lentiform excisions also included the marionette folds, which are the lines that radiate down from the corners of the mouth.

In some cases, patients opted to have a face lift in addition to the procedure to correct their frowning. The satisfaction in these patient’s results were the same. Correction of frowning mouth abnormalities, either as an isolated procedure or in addition to a face lift, resulted in satisfactory results for all 27 patients.

After undergoing the surgery, all patients were followed for a minimum of three months, and 88.9 percent were followed for a full year. Of the patients, 18.8 percent showed erythema (or redness of skin) and scar hypertrophy (which is a raised scar) at the sites of marionette fold removal during the early postoperative period. However, all scars improved over time, and doctors reported high patient satisfaction.

Researchers concluded that proper patient selection and counseling to deal with the temporary or possibly permanent noticeable scar formation are of utmost importance. When these measures are taken, the outcome is good and patients are satisfied with the end result.

Study results appear in the February 2010 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

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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.”

The increase in the number of vaginal rejuvenation operations stems from the variety of available techniques, experts say, but the statistics are still small compared to other plastic surgeries.

“Vaginal rejuvenation” is actually an umbrella term that can apply to several regions in female genitalia, since childbirth, age or even genetics can affect various areas in terms of appearance or sensation. Related procedures include:

•    Vaginoplasty. This operation tightens the vaginal canal by reducing the amount of internal vaginal mucosa. The adjustment increases vaginal muscle tone and strength, which affects pleasure during intercourse. Recovery time is generally four to six weeks.

•    Labiaplasty. This operation, which often employs laser surgery, reduces the size of the labia majora and minora, which can feel irritated when excess tissue protrudes. The surgery removes this excess tissue, which may have come about through childbirth, aging, or simple genetics. Recovery time is generally short.

•    Perineoplasty. This laser operation strengthens the perineal muscles, which are located between the vaginal opening and the anus. The damage can be caused by childbirth and can lead to reduced sensation during intercourse, as well as a “gaping” external appearance on the vagina. The surgery, which restores the perineum to its original size, reduces the size of the vaginal opening.

•    Hymenoplasty. This is a lesser-known operation in which a surgeon restores a woman’s hymen to its “virginal” state, often for religious or cultural reasons. Recovery from this surgery generally takes six weeks.

•    G-spot amplification. This procedure involves injecting collagen into a woman’s vaginal G-spot as a way of temporarily enlarging it and possibly increasing sexual pleasure. It’s a relatively painless procedure that first employs anesthetic. The added collagen expands the area to the size of a quarter – enlarging the spot without making it large enough to be uncomfortable or disruptive in everyday life. The body absorbs the collagen within about four months.

•    Mons pubis rejuvenation. Childbirth and age can result in weight gain that adds bulge to the pubic mound. Surgeons can now “nip and tuck” this area, performing liposuction on the mound to remove excess fat, followed by a “lift” that removes sagging skin. Recovery period is short.

Despite the variety of procedures available, and the purpose they may serve, vaginal rejuvenation surgeries are still on the fringe. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported only around 1,000 rejuvenations performed in the United States in 2006, the most recent statistics available.

Tune into Plastic Surgery News for the details on all of these stories. Click the video player below to watch now.

The following organizations were mentioned in this episode:

• LoveYourLook.com (Memory Gel breast implants)
• McClennan County Sheriff’s Office
• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Orbix Medical
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
• Luxxery Cosmetic Medical Boutique
• C-SPAN

Botox has actually been connected to pain relief for several years, though it isn’t FDA-approved as a pain medication. But, this year’s American Society of Plastic Surgeons conference in Washington included a new study suggesting that Botox can alleviate some chronic pains on a long-term basis.

People usually treat chronic pain with medication, heat therapy, exercise or massage. But, in a recent experiment, eight patients with chronic pain received a monthly Botox injection for an average of nine months. After this, all eight patients reported significant pain relief that lasted up to 17 months.

Botox injections prevent the appearance of wrinkles by preventing facial muscles from contracting. So, it’s reasonable to imagine this drug can stop chronic pain in other parts of the body by relaxing the muscles there. Video plays below.

Watch this week’s Plastic Surgery News to learn about new statistics that show the increasing demand for younger-looking skin. Also, find out what your mother’s face can tell you about how you will age, and how to correct problem areas before they become a problem

Tune into Plastic Surgery News for the details on all of these stories. Click the video player below to watch now.

Organizations mentioned in this episode:

• The Science and Technology Heritage Exhibition in New Delhi
• Dermatologic Surgery
• Loma Linda University Medical Center
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Men Behaving Badly

Plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Baxter admits that liposuction has gone from convenient to confusing. Patients now have a variety of liposuction procedures and techniques to choose from –and the correct choice is not always clear.

True, some basics haven’t changed. During virtually all liposuction procedures, the surgeon is careful to numb the surgical site with an injection of a lidocaine-epinephrine mixture. This is known as the “tumescent” technique – it expands and firms the target area so that the patient is much less likely to experience bleeding during the operation.

But, as Dr. Baxter admits, the techniques have expanded to include methods beyond the basic suction style, and today’s customers could easily be seduced by marketing phrases.

“It used to be that there was liposuction, and now it’s brand-name liposuction in a whole variety of flavors,” Dr. Baxter says.

Article continues below video player.

He cites ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, laser-assisted liposuction and even a water-assisted method that is said to be gentler than the others.

“Just plain old liposuction is still a pretty viable way to go for most people,” he says. “You don’t really need to go for a brand name with it.”

But, whatever the patient chooses, a wise first step is to shop around and not be lured by the appeal of branding. Dr. Baxter advises consulting a surgeon who regularly performs liposuction. “I would suggest, go to a board certified plastic surgeon, because they’re going to be in a good position to know whether liposuction or even something else entirely is the way to go.”

Also, Dr. Baxter advises actually meeting the person who will be performing the surgery prior to an operation. This happens to be more uncommon than it sounds.

“We’re seeing a lot of clinics now where the model is, you’re meeting with basically a salesperson who is making a clinical decision about whether or not you’re a good liposuction candidate. And, of course, you’re always a good candidate for it if you’re the person in front of them.”