When it comes to trying to improve your appearance, it can be tempting to try to save money and time by doing it yourself by buying and applying products sold at a store or online. Well, according to a recent article by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, you should be warned of health risks of do-it-yourself treatments. Here’s a bit from the article:

CBS Pittsburgh reports that plastic surgeons and cosmetic dermatologists are seeing an increase in individuals who have had to endure pain and long-term skin damage due to some at-home treatments.

 

“We’ve had patients come in the day before their daughter’s wedding and done an at-home chemical peel and come in with second degree burns,” a Pennsylvania-based cosmetic dermatologist told the news provider.

 

Experts say that although prescription-strength acids used for chemical peels can be found online and obtained without a prescription, consumers should avoid them.

 

“If you stumble upon a website selling prescription-strength retinoid, that should be a red flag and [you should] seek professional help first … because there are certain reactions that can happen and certain products you don’t want to mix together with those,” the dermatologist told CBS Pittsburgh.

 

Caution also needs to be used when trying a do-it-yourself laser hair removal, as misuse can cause burning, redness and scarring. In-office treatments are also likely to be much more successful.

 

» Read the full article: “Doctors warn against do-it-yourself treatments”

Save yourself a trip to the emergency room. Don’t do something you’re going to regret for a long time. Get the medical opinion from a trusted and board-certified physician before you attempt any do-it-yourself cosmetic treatment.

If you live in the Colorado Springs area, you’re highly encouraged to reach out to a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Greg Leibscher, who can discuss your treatment options and explain important safety considerations with you.

» More about: Dr. Greb Liebscher, Colorado Springs Plastic Surgeon

According to a blog post from the The American Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery blog, more people are electing to have plastic surgery procedures at later ages. Of course, the success and safety of plastic surgery at later ages depends upon the individual’s overall health.

Here’s a bit from the article:

Americans are living longer than ever. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average life expectancy for Americans is now 78.5 years. And with this increased rate comes new questions concerning lifestyle, fitness and beauty.

“The most noteworthy aspect about all this is not just that people are living longer but living better,” Dr. Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center, told the New York Times. “At the same time, people are living a longer active lifespan. Seniors are healthier, more active and economically better off than they ever have been.”

The fact that people are living longer may mean more seniors are opting for plastic surgery procedures in order to maintain a youthful appearance. Doctors say that there isn’t a magic number on how old is too old for various cosmetic procedures. Some people choose to improve their appearance in their 70s and 80s, according to KESQ-TV News. However, patients who wish to undergo surgical procedures in which general anesthesia is necessary must get medical clearance first.

Read the full article here: “No Age Limit for Plastic Surgery?”

If you’re older and are considering plastic surgery living in Colorado Springs, be sure to consult with a board-certified Colorado Springs plastic surgeon. Your doctor will discuss the benefits and risks of your procedure in great detail. In most cases, consultations are provided free of charge.

Dr. Greg Liebscher, of Colorado Springs, is a board-certified and Mayo Clinic-trained plastic surgeon. You can contact Dr. Liebscher’s office to schedule a complimentary and private in-person consultation. Procedures may include facelift, breast augmentation, liposuction, forehead lift, eyelid lift, and more.

» More about: Dr. Greg Liebscher, Colorado Springs Plastic Surgeon

Colorado Springs Facelift Candidate: Facelift is another name for rhytidectomy, which is the procedure which involves surgical removal of excessive facial skin, thereby eliminating the sagging look and giving the recipient of the surgery a much more youthful look. Facelift is considered to be part of cosmetic surgery and as per recent surveys, is the sixth most popular cosmetic surgery people choose from. The benefit of this procedure is allowing the elimination of extra skin folds and help in bringing down the laxity of facial tissues.

Under normal circumstances, a facelift candidate is a person with a tighter, smoother facial skin which will help them achieve a more youthful look. A facelift will enable people to have the laugh lines, lines around nose, multiple skin folds around neck, worry lines and loosened skin along the jaw line removed. In order to be considered an ideal facelift candidate, it is essential that the person is relatively in good health condition and is aware of the procedure as well as the inherent risks and complications associated with it. In addition, it is essential that the candidate ensures that they keep themselves free of habits such as smoking in order to ensure maximum success. It is a point to be noted that the success rate of the surgery increases when maximizing the patient’s skin elasticity.

According to plasticsurgery.com, an important point a facelift candidate should keep in mind is that this cosmetic surgery only guarantees an improvement in the appearance and is not a shortcut to achieve perfection. Additionally, they should also keep themselves aware of the side effects and associated risks. The different side effects connected to a facelift surgery are bleeding, bruising, infection or injury to facial nerves.

The decision to get a facelift should be a well informed one in order to ensure that the candidate is aware of both the pros and cons of the procedure.

For your Colorado Springs facelift surgery procedure, insist on getting your care from a board-certified plastic surgeon who has significant and specific training in the field of facial plastic surgery.

Dr. Greg Liebscher is a American Society of Plastic Surgery Member and a Mayo Clinic-trained Colorado Springs plastic surgeon. To schedule a personal and private consultation with Dr. Leibscher, call 719-634-2503 or visit the website:

» Go to: Colorado Springs Plastic Surgery

In this video, Colorado Springs plastic surgeon, Greg Liebscher, MD, FACS, explains facelift procedures and the associated risks and likely outcomes:

About Dr. Greg Liebscher, Colorado Springs Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Greg Liebscher is a Mayo Clinic-trained and board-certified Colorado Springs plastic surgeon. Plastic and reconstructive procedures include breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, tummy tuck, liposuction, eyelid lift, forehead lift.

» More about: Facelift

» More about: Colorado Springs Plastic Surgeon – Greg Liebscher, MD, FACS

If you suffer from sagging ear lobes, it could be the result of wearing heavy earrings over time. Plastic surgery could help. Here’s a snippet of a recent article on the subject:

When you examine yourself in the mirror for signs of ageing, I bet it’s not your ears you’re looking at. 

Yet the earlobe is finding itself in the anti-ageing spotlight as it emerges that more and more cosmetic surgeons are doing a quick bit of work on the ears — often in conjunction with a facelift, but sometimes just on their own. 

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (BAAPS) even featured a presentation on earlobe correction at their recent conference.

Beware big earrings: Heavy jewellery could stretch your ear lobes (posed by model)

The first question that springs to mind is: ‘Why bother?’ But, apparently, saggy earlobes are as much of a giveaway of ageing as a turkey neck.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2069911/Rise-ear-job-Ears-sagging-heavy-earrings-age-say-surgeons-offering-cosmetic-fixes.html#ixzz1fiIEOkkV

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Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS, is a Mayo Clinic-trained and board-certified plastic surgeon in Colorado Springs, CO. Procedures include plastic and reconstructive surgery for breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, facelift, body lift, ear lift, and more.

» More about: Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS, Plastic Surgeon

Important Message: When considering plastic surgery, cosmetic or reconstructive, there is no substitute for an ASPS Member plastic surgeon.

»More about: Dr. Greg Liebscher, ASPS Member Plastic Surgeon
»More about procedures for: Breasts • Body • Facial

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Why Is an ASPS Member Surgeon the Best Choice for Me?

Members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons:

• are certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery® or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada®.
• have at least six years or surgical training and experience, with at least three years in plastic surgery.
• operate only in accredited medical facilities.
• adhere to a strict code of ethics.
• fulfill continuing medical education requirements, including standards and innovations in patient safety
• are your partners in cosmetic plastic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery.

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Form and Function

Plastic surgery is about a lot more than vanity. In reconstructive cases, ASPS Member Surgeons help people get their lives back and feel more comfortable with themselves. ASPS Member Surgeons are trained in the following reconstructive procedures: burn; wound and trauma repair; tumor removal and cancer reconstruction; correction of birth defects and acquired deformities; hand surgery; maxillofacial and craniofacial surgery; and microsurgical reconstruction.

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Looking Good, Feeling Great

The popularity of plastic surgery is soaring and more and more doctors are trying to meet the demand for this specialty that has become an integral part of mainstream medicine. Any licensed physician can call himself or herself a cosmetic surgeon, so the importance of finding a properly trained and certified provider is paramount.

Choosing a doctor who’s a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) is the first step. Founded in 1931, ASPS is the largest plastic surgery organization in the world. ASPS Member Surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery®, which is the only board dedicated to plastic surgery of the face and entire body. Unlike other specialty organizations, ASPS requires each member surgeon to have a minimum of six years of surgical training, with at least three years of those years specifically in plastic surgery.

Breast enhancement, body contouring, liposuction, facial contouring and nose surgery are among the most popular procedures performed by ASPS Member Surgeons. Plastic surgery procedures like breast reduction and breast reconstruction can improve quality of life by positively impacting self-image and self-esteem. ASPS Member Surgeons also use reconstructive procedures to restore a more natural look and function in cases where the patient has been compromised by disease, accident or disfigurement. Regardless of the reason or motivation for undergoing plastic surgery, ASPS Member Surgeons are your partners in looking and feeling great.

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Did You Know?

Plastic surgery can slow the aging process and improve the visible signs of aging. ASPS Member Surgeons are trained in cosmetic procedures of the face and all areas of the body to help you look naturally younger.

Among the procedures used to turn back the effects of time:

• surgical rejuvenation of the aging face
• injectable therapies
• laser and light-based rejuvenation
• breast lifts and body lifts

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What Can I Expect?

Before you have plastic surgery, you meet with your ASPS Member Surgeon® for a consultation. During the consultation, you will want to discuss your goals. Your surgeon will examine you and advise the best procedure to achieve your desired goals

Your Plastic Surgeon Should:

• should answer all of your questions thoroughly and clearly.
• ask about your thoughts to recommended treatment
• offer alternatives, where appropriate, without pressuring you to consider unneeded or additional procedures.
• welcome questions about your procedure and his or her professional qualifications, experience, costs and payment policies.
• make clear the risks of surgery and possible outcomes.
• give you information about the procedure you want.
• leave the final decision to you.

Step 1: Questions to Ask When Choosing a Plastic Surgeon

1. Are you an ASPS Member Surgeon? (If he or she answers “yes,” you can rest assured that your surgeon is board-certified in plastic surgery, has hospital privileges and only performs surgery in accredited facilities.)
2. Are you board-certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada?
3. Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
4. Is the surgical facility accredited?
5. How many procedures of this type have you performed?

Step 2: Questions to Ask Your ASPS Member Surgeon

It’s important to talk to your ASPS Member Surgeon about your goals and your treatment. Feel confident asking about your doctor’s credentials, experience, outcomes or safety record. It is your body, your safety and your life.

1. Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
2. What will be expected of me to get optimal results?
3. What are the risks involved with my procedure?
4. How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?

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»More about: Dr. Greg Liebscher, ASPS Member Plastic Surgeon
»More about procedures for: Breasts • Body • Facial

[Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons®]

The success and safety of your facial plastic surgery procedure (eyelid, forehead, nose, face, reconstruction) depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation.

You’ll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

» More about: Dr. Greg Liebscher, ASPS Member Plastic Surgeon
» More about procedures for: Facial

Be prapared to discuss:

• why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcomes
• medical conditions, drug allergies and previous medical treatments
• use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
• previous surgeries

Your surgeon may also:

• evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• take photographs for your medical record
• discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
• discuss likely outcomes of facial plastic surgery and any risks or potential complications

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»More about: Dr. Greg Liebscher, ASPS Member Plastic Surgeon
»More about procedures for: Facial

[Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons]