The Financial Times reports that Allergan’s sales have been booming in 2012. According to David Pyott, Allergan’s chief executive, the company generated double-digit growth in sales of breast implants in Europe from January through March, compared with the same period in 2011. Botox sales have also been performing strongly.

“In southern Europe, people spend a higher proportion of their income on appearance and lifestyle. They are happy to live in a modest apartment and look good facially and body-wise when they go out.”

? David Pyott

This reinforces the findings of the ISAPS, which revealed that breast augmentation surgery is the most popular cosmetic procedure in Greece. In Italy, Botox is the most popular procedure, while liposuction is the most sought-after surgery. Only South Koreans pursue plastic surgery with greater frequency than Greeks or Italians.

According to the Times report, Allergan’s revenues rose nearly 10 per cent to $1.39 billion when compared to the same period last year. This growth is significantly driven by Botox sales, which are increasingly being directed towards non-cosmetic purposes, such as migraine headache relief.

As for breast implant sales, Pyott says, much of Allergan’s success can be explained by the Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) breast implant scandal. More European plastic surgeons began buying Allergan’s breast implants amidst fears that European-manufactured breast implants might also have industrial silicone. As a result, the American company’s reputation for quality and safety has further secured its status as a world leader in cosmetic products.

The numbers are in for countries that use the most plastic surgery, but you may be surprised to learn that the United States is not on the top of the list. Statistics from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery indicate that South Korea is the top country in terms of proportion of population that uses plastic surgery. The United States is sixth on the list.

1. South Korea. Plastic surgery has swept Asia and the figures indicate that South Korea has “the continent’s biggest clientele.” Roughly one in five women from Seoul has undergone plastic surgery, with the most popular plastic surgeries being liposuction, nose jobs, and Asian eyelid surgery.

2. Greece. Despite its economic crisis, Greece came in second on the list, with breast augmentation surgery taking the top spot. Curiously, there were 592 penis enlargement procedures performed in 2010, which is ten times more than average for other countries on the list.

3. Italy. Botox is the most popular procedure in Italy, while liposuction is the most widely demanded surgery. Malcolm Z. Roth, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, surprised by the country’s placement over Brazil, expressed some skepticism about the numbers. He pointed out that the ISAPS received very few completed questionnaires during the course of the study. “I think clearly we have to take caution with this data, since we don’t know how accurate it is,” Roth told ABC News.

4. Brazil. Liposuction and breast implants were the most popular surgeries in Brazil, where plastic surgery is considered perfectly normal. “Culturally speaking, Brazilians have no problem with plastic surgery,” Roth told ABC News. “If anything, it’s seen as a status symbol to have had it.” This is especially the case in a country where tax deductions to support elective plastic surgery are available.

5. Colombia. Liposuction is very popular in this cosmetic tourism hotspot. While many Americans travel to Colombia to receive plastic surgery, Roth cautions against going abroad. “There are absolutely safe procedures being done in other countries, but you have to be very careful. If something goes wrong, a lot of things can go worse when you’re not in your own country with your own doctor.”

6. United States. Demand for plastic surgery in the US continues to rise during the economic recovery, reports ABC News. Liposuction is the most demanded procedure, while breast augmentation comes in second.

7. Taiwan. In 2010, wrinkle reducing treatments such as Botox were the most popular in the small island nation of Taiwan.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Exercise and physical activity are important components of many women’s everyday lives, and it’s important to consider how breast implants might affect everyday exercise routines. A recent article on the Digital Journal has highlighted some of the ways that breast augmentation can affect your exercise routine. In these cases, women may want to consider receiving small or moderate-sized implants, so that they can easily maintain their active lifestyle.

While most exercises aren’t affected by breast implants, there are some types of physical activity that may be affected:

Running. Breast implants can cause a shift in your center of balance. You will also likely notice the increased weight in your chest. It may take some time for you to adapt to your new center of balance.

Swimming. Breast implants have a different density than normal breast tissue and can cause changes in buoyancy. As well, with breast augmentation, your enhanced curves will mean that your body will be less streamlined. Competitive swimmers may experience a slight drop in their time because their breasts are causing increased drag in the water.

Golf and Tennis. Activities that require reaching across the chest can be affected by breast implants, which increase the projection of your chest. This can be noticed in sports such as golf or tennis, although you can adapt to this change by using your torso and chest muscles more.

These and similar concerns should be fully considered before committing to breast augmentation. If you’re an avid runner, swimmer, golfer, or tennis player, you can discuss your options with your plastic surgeon. Different implant shapes and sizes are suitable for a wide range of uses. By asking questions about exercise with breast implants, you can ensure that your active lifestyle can be continued with larger, more appealing breasts.

Fat grafting techniques are an increasingly popular alternative to implants, with surgeries such as the Brazilian butt lift and facial fat grafting offering dramatic results. According to a recent article in the Australian daily newspaper Herald Sun, it seems that the land Down Under may also soon experience the benefits of autologous fat grafting.

With this technique, which uses the patient’s unwanted fat to fill out other parts of the body, plastic surgeons can offer more natural results without the risks associated with implants. Liposuction or a large needle is used to extract fat from the tummy, thigh, or other body part. The fat is treated before being injected into the target site.

While fat grafting is performed in the US and Europe, it is not widely available in Australia, since most insurers refuse to cover the procedure under their policies. However, after the recent PIP silicone breast implants scandal, many patients are hesitant to use implants. The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is now in talks with insurers over the technique.

Fat grafting has the potential to become “one of the main techniques for both cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgeries,”  Dr. Graham Sellars, a leading Sydney plastic surgeon, told the Herald Sun. “People will prefer to have their own tissue to something synthetic if it gives comparable results.

“You’re going to get a more predictable result with a silicone implant, but there’s now an alternative for people who don’t want implants…. A silicone implant will wear out. But it’s possible to have this kind of enlargement for life.”

Australian insurers may be covering the procedure within a year as talks continue.

A recent study published in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery indicates that patients undergoing liposuction or abdominoplasty experience “significant improvements in self-esteem and quality of life.” These benefits were greatly enhanced when the procedures were combined.

Abdominoplasty, more widely known as the tummy tuck, is a popular surgery that removes excess skin from the lower abdomen. Liposuction removes excess fatty deposits through the use of a suction device. These surgeries enhance the appearance of the body by tightening curves and smoothing body contours.

This new study, the first of its kind, examined quality-of-life and other outcomes in 360 patients who were undergoing plastic surgery. Roughly 60 percent of patients received liposuction, 5 percent received abdominoplasty, and 35 percent received both techniques in a single procedure. As well, 30 percent of the patients underwent another plastic surgery, such as facelift or breast augmentation.

As one might expect, the patients who only underwent liposuction had shorter recovery times: 6 days off work compared with 16 for those undergoing tummy tuck surgery. The liposuction patients also experienced less discomfort in the aftermath of the procedure.

However, despite these higher recovery times and pain scores among the abdominoplasty group, the study found that  patients undergoing abdominoplasty rated their outcomes higher than others. On average, liposuction garnered a score of 80 percent and abdominoplasty 90 percent. When the procedures were combined, they resulted in a whopping satisfaction rate – over 99 percent – with no increase in pain compared to abdominoplasty alone.

Enhanced Quality of Life with Plastic Surgery

• 86 percent of patients reported an improved sense of self-esteem
• 70 percent reported an improved quality of life (which was more common among the combined-procedure group)

Dr. Eric Swanson, who wrote the study, hopes that his work will contribute to the growing understanding of post-operative quality-of-life for plastic surgery patients.

A new study has indicated that autologous fat grafting is more effective when using a platelet-rich fibrin matrix such as Selphyl – a discovery that could advance the ongoing development of fat grafting for plastic surgery.

Autologous fat grafting, which uses the patient’s own unwanted fat to enhance other bodily features, is one of the most exciting recent developments in the field of plastic surgery. Liposuction can be used to extract fat from one part of the body, such as the tummy or thigh, and the fat is treated before being injected into the target site. This technique is used during procedures such as the Brazilian buttocks lift and facial fat grafts.

However, fat grafting does have some shortcomings, including the fact that much of the fatty tissue fails to survive the grafting process. This results from insufficient blood supply at the target site. As a result, fat grafting has limited applications for surgeries such as breast augmentation, and numerous studies have been performed in search of alternative methods.

This latest study, published in the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, examined the results of a37-year-old woman who had fat from her outer thighs injected into her lower tummy, in the area often known as the “fanny pack.” Two separate injections were used: one with fat along and the other with a mixture of fat and Selphyl.

The patient’s tissues were examined 8 weeks later and it was found that the Selphyl had produced more blood vessels. Richard Goldfarb and Aaron Shapiro, the MDs who wrote the study, concluded that Selphyl offered better results because of increased neovascularization, which in turn enhances the chances of long-term fat survival. “The result of this case study indicates that fat mixed with Selphyl may improve graft survival by increasing both neovascularization and total cell number,” the authors wrote.

Body contouring surgeries and procedures are wildly popular nowadays, with thousands of Americans pursuing liposuction, tummy tucks, and butt lifts. Unfortunately, the success of one industry often gives rise to shadowy alternatives, which can be extremely dangerous when people’s bodies are concerned. In Philadelphia, a woman who has been accused of administering illegal butt injections, has had her bail reduced but continues to face legal troubles.

Arrested last February after allegedly performing an injection on an exotic dancer, 42-year-old Padge Windslowe has been charged with a variety of crimes stemming from years of activity. She has been implicated in at least one death but has managed to avoid charges. The police are investigating “pumping parties” that took place at different hotels. It seems that Windslowe was charging $2,000 for the procedure. If released on bail, Windslowe will be required to stay away from needles and glue, reports Fox News.

Sadly, Windslowe isn’t the first back-alley butt injector, nor is it likely that she will be the last. An article on Digital Journal recently pointed out that other incidents have occurred over the past couple of years as buttocks augmentation becomes more popular. In 2011, Florida woman Oneal Ron Morris was accused of illegally injecting toxic substances into women’s buttocks. These substances included flat-tire sealant, glue, cement, Super Glue, and mineral oil. She faces new charges as more victims have come forward.

Many people want to have larger buttocks to complement their figures, and it’s understandable that some would like to seek less expensive alternatives. However, no cosmetic enhancement is worth risking your life by consulting an unqualified provider. If you’re considering butt augmentation or other cosmetic procedures, make sure that your provider is a board-certified plastic surgeon.

There are several reasons why autologous fat transfer is an appealing breast augmentation alternative. Unlike implants, fat transfer employs the patient’s own tissues. While implants are not lifetime devices, fatty deposits can last many years, and don’t need to be removed.

However, the procedure is not without its drawbacks, as the body usually absorbs much of the fat. There is a risk that the transplanted tissue will not survive the procedure, usually due to a lack of proper blood supply. As a result, breast implants have remained by far the most widely practiced breast augmentation technique, while fat grafts are largely reserved for breast reconstruction.

This new study involved a six-year examination of 81 women, aged 17–63, who underwent autologous fat injection after several weeks of using a bra-like vacuum-based external tissue expander. This device worked to stretch the breast tissues and prepare them to expand with the injection of fat. While the abstract doesn’t specify where the fat was extracted from, it was likely removed via liposuction from the tummy or buttocks, where women often have deposits of unwanted fat. The fat was injected into the breasts at 10–14 needle puncture sites.

The study found that the tissue expansion device significantly improved the surgical results with:

• significantly larger breast augmentations,
• more fat graft placement,
• higher graft survival rates,
• minimal graft necrosis or complications, and
• 16% incidence of fat necrosis after a year.

The researchers conclude that autologous fat grafting is highly safe and effective, and call for more research into the technique.

Breast Reduction Can Alleviate Back Problems

Large breasts can often contribute to serious back problems, as their weight can cause an imbalance that strains the spine over many years. This can lead to slipped discs, nerve damage, and even curvature of the spine. As the Daily Mail article points out, breast reduction patients often find it much easier to exercise after their surgery. Studies have shown that these patients are more physically active and less likely to develop conditions such as diabetes.

Liposuction Can Help Prevent Heart Troubles

Contrary to popular myth, liposuction is not a weight-loss method, but studies have revealed that the surgery has a number of health benefits. Excess fat in the abdomen, thighs, and upper arms can secrete enzymes that cause inflammation in the blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease. As well, reducing the body’s fatty deposits reduces the strain on the pancreas.

Tummy Tuck Surgery Assists Exercise and Relieves Back Pain

Abdominoplasty, more widely known as tummy tuck surgery, can repair muscles that have been separated by the changes associated with pregnancy. Many women find that this procedure stops back pain, makes exercise easier, and helps them lose weight.

People have body contouring surgeries for a number of reasons. While cosmetic and personal reasons are often at the top of the list, it’s worth bearing in mind that these procedures can sometimes offer a wealth of other benefits.

Phyllis Jackson, a black woman who attended a Beverly Hills dinner party where patients lined up for Botox injections, said that she received her injection despite pressure from her peers. “There’s a pressure from the community that, you know, ‘African-American women don’t need to have beauty enhancements,’” she told ABC.

“I think African-American women are still in the closet about having plastic surgery…[but] I think we’re doing it a lot more,” Linda Caradine-Poinsett, another black woman, told ABC. She pursued body contouring surgery to augment her breasts and shrink her waist.

Blacks remain the slowest-growing ethnic group in the world of cosmetic surgery. While part of the reason is due to the stigma, another stems from the beneficial properties of darker skin. “Darker skin has natural protective factors against sun,” Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Julius Few told ABC. “So we don’t see the same wrinkling, because sun exposure typically will cause weathering or cracking or folding of the skin.”

Few also said that black skin has more oil and tends to be much more resilient against wrinkling:

“A lot of people think oil in the skin is bad. The reality is oil in your skin is good. It’s kind of like folding a piece of paper. The more you fold the piece of paper, the more you’re likely to get a wrinkle in it. Well, if the skin is a bit oiler, has better moisture to it, it will tend not to get a heavy crease in it.”

Nonetheless, black skin can be subject to sun damage and wrinkling, and women like Phyllis and Linda seek cosmetic procedures to reverse some of the effects of aging and gravity. But it’s not just the traditional procedures that are capturing the imagination of today’s black women. Butt lifts, which enhance and reshape the buttocks, have become very popular.

“I’ve wanted my backside larger all my life,” one black woman, who asked not to be identified, told ABC. “One day I just woke up and everybody was talking about butt, butt, butt. They’d had this surgery and that surgery… The first question I asked [my plastic surgeon] was, How big can you make my butt?”