Nasal plastic surgery appears to improve nasal airway function in patients with severe nasal obstructions, according to a report in the September/October issue of

Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery

, one of the

JAMA/Archives

journals.

Obstruction of the nasal passages is one of the most common conditions treated by otolaryngologists and facial plastic surgeons, according to background information in the article. Common causes include septal deviation, which occurs when the wall separating the two nasal passages is crooked or off-center; valve insufficiency, caused by improper positioning or collapse of cartilage inside the nasal passages; and turbinate hypertrophy, when air flow is blocked by large or swollen turbinates, areas inside the nose covered by mucous membranes that help warm and filter incoming air. Surgical procedures to treat these types of conditions are collectively known as functional rhinoplasty.

Sam P. Most, M.D., formerly of the University of Washington School of Medicine, Cosmetic Surgery Center, Seattle, and now at Stanford University, Calif., evaluated 41 patients (27 men, 14 women, average age 41.5) with severe nasal obstruction for at least one year who subsequently underwent functional rhinoplasty at the center. Patients completed preoperative and postoperative evaluations, including questionnaires designed to assess the severity of their nasal obstruction and their quality of life. Patients were each given a score from zero to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe nasal obstructions.

The average score decreased significantly after surgery, from 58.4 to 15.7 after an average of 227 days. The researcher also examined groups of patients according to the specific procedure performed–including spreader grafting, septoplasty and turbinectomy–and found similar rates of improvement.

"Functional rhinoplasty techniques are effective in improving nasal airway function as measured by a patient-based, disease-specific, quality-of-life instrument," Dr. Most concludes. "The specific techniques considered to treat nasal obstruction can be tailored to address the areas of concern, including septal deviation, internal or external valve collapse and turbinate hypertrophy."

—————————-

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.

—————————-

(Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2006;8:306-309.)

Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Contact: Ruthann Richter

JAMA and Archives Journals

It has been proven that plastic surgery can improve self-esteem, but can it also act as a natural mood enhancer? A significant number of patients stopped taking antidepressant medication after undergoing plastic surgery, according to a study presented at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) Plastic Surgery 2006 conference in San Francisco.

"Plastic surgery patients are taking a proactive approach in making themselves happier by improving something that has truly bothered them," said Bruce Freedman, MD, ASPS Member Surgeon and study author. "While we are not saying that cosmetic plastic surgery alone is responsible for the drop in patients needing antidepressants, it surely is an important factor."

In the study, 362 patients had cosmetic plastic surgery - 17 percent or 61 patients were taking antidepressants. Six months after surgery, however, that number decreased 31 percent, down to 42 patients. In addition, 98 percent of patients said cosmetic plastic surgery had markedly improved their self-esteem.

All of the patients, who were primarily middle-aged women, had an invasive cosmetic plastic surgery procedure such as breast augmentation, tummy tuck or facelift. The authors did not identify any other major life changes that may have affected patients’ use of antidepressants.

"We have just begun to uncover the various physical and psychological benefits of plastic surgery," said Dr. Freedman. "By helping our patients take control over something they were unhappy about, we helped remove a self-imposed barrier and ultimately improved their self-esteem."

—————————-
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
—————————-

For referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery visit http://www.plasticsurgery.org/ where you can also learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Note: The study "Cosmetic Surgery and the Use of Antidepressant Medication" is being presented in electronic format, Sunday, Oct. 8 - Tuesday, Oct. 10, at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco.

Contact: LaSandra Cooper
American Society of Plastic Surgeons

Today, the largest multi-specialty organization of cosmetic surgeons in the world launched a new consumer education campaign called Be Wise About Beauty. The integrated, multi-faceted campaign will arm patients with the facts about cosmetic surgery, patient safety and the qualifications of practitioners to help consumers make informed decisions about cosmetic enhancement. The announcement was made at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery’s (AACS) Annual Scientific Meeting held in Phoenix, January 25 - 28, 2007.

"It’s time for patients to be wise about beauty," said Dr. Neil Sadick, president of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation, which is funding the educational campaign. "With this initiative, cosmetic surgeons hope to help separate myth from reality when it comes to cosmetic enhancement."

Campaign Addresses Confusion about Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is the surgery of appearance. It is elective and focuses on the aesthetics of beauty, something that is sought by an increasing number of people each year. Be Wise About Beauty launched in response to the flurry of information in the marketplace regarding the growing trend toward cosmetic surgery.

Cosmetic surgeons view patient safety as their number one priority, and hope that this campaign will encourage all consumers to make smart, educated choices when it comes to beauty. Cosmetic surgeons’ strong knowledge base, high level of training and practical experience make them not only among the most qualified physicians to perform cosmetic procedures but also positions them to talk to their patients about cosmetic surgery and the options available to them.

Be Wise About Beauty is a broad educational campaign that will provide members of the Academy with new tools and materials to facilitate an ongoing dialogue with their patients regarding procedures and the important things to consider when choosing cosmetic surgery.

According to Sadick, "Patients need to have accurate information at their fingertips, and Be Wise About Beauty offers them a way to make educated choices about cosmetic enhancement."

New Web Site Offers Valuable Tools

The cornerstone of the campaign is a consumer friendly, interactive Web site at http://www.bewiseaboutbeauty.org. The site offers a suite of tools designed to educate patients and prospective patients about cosmetic surgery, including:

– Information about specific procedures

– Direction on what to look for when choosing a cosmetic surgeon

– Sample questions on what patients should ask a cosmetic surgeon — Myths and facts about cosmetic surgery

– An interactive ‘Beauty Monitor’ quiz that can help determine whether cosmetic surgery is the right choice for them

About Be Wise About Beauty

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) launched Be Wise About Beauty to arm patients with the facts about cosmetic surgery, patient safety and the qualifications of practitioners so they can make informed decisions about cosmetic enhancement.

About http://www.bewiseaboutbeauty.org

The first Web site of its kind, bewiseaboutbeauty.org is an educational Web portal exclusively designed to educate patients and prospective patients about cosmetic surgery. The site offers a suite of tools to educate patients on the benefits of choosing a cosmetic surgeon to help them define their personal vision of beauty — whatever that means to them.

About The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) is a professional medical society whose members are dedicated to the art of cosmetic surgery. The AACS offers fellowships and training opportunities that include live surgery workshops. The Academy is the largest multi-specialty organization of cosmetic surgeons in the world.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
http://www.cosmeticsurgery.org

Considering cosmetic surgery? An increasing number of women are opting for cosmetic surgery. In fact, in just 10 years’ time, cosmetic surgery increased by more than 700 percent.

A tummy tuck here. An eyebrow lift there. For women with realistic expectations, cosmetic surgery can enhance body satisfaction, says the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. The key word is realistic. Women who are happy with their overall appearance but who seek cosmetic surgery to alter just one aspect of their body often find that cosmetic surgery meets their physical and emotional needs.

Body image dissatisfaction is often associated with decreased self-esteem, self-confidence and psychological well-being. These emotional and psychological issues cause some women to turn to cosmetic surgery. If women feel they need a new face, a thinner waistline or bigger breasts to be likable and to feel good about themselves, cosmetic surgery may not be the answer. In fact, some studies show that extensive cosmetic surgery may make psychological issues worse.

Before surgery, consider the emotional and psychological reasons for wanting cosmetic surgery and talk with your cosmetic surgery team to make sure it’s right for you.

This is a highlight from the July issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource attribution is required. Also, you may reprint up to four articles annually without cost. More frequent reprinting is allowed for a fee. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Call toll free for subscription information, 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.

Mayo Clinic
200 First St. SW
Rochester, MN 55902
United States
http://www.mayo.edu/news

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is taking a Time Out to offer some suggestions to help prevent wrong-site surgery and other preventable surgical mistakes for people having aesthetic plastic surgery.

First established by the Joint Commission in 2004, today is the Annual National Time Out Day. In the operating room, Time Out is when the surgical team confirms the patient’s identity, the correct surgical site, and the procedure being performed to help make your surgery as safe as possible. For ASAPS, h onoring Time Out Day is part of the Aesthetic Society’s Campaign for Patient Safety, an ongoing initiative to raise awareness of the steps that plastic surgeons and their patients can take to make cosmetic surgery safer. The Society’s first campaign issue was focused on the prevention of venous thromboembolism (a disease process that stems from blood clots); the second initiative was about prevention of hypothermia during surgery.

The surgical time out, including active communication among the surgical team, final verification of the correct patient, and marking of the operative site, help your board certified plastic surgeon make your surgery as safe as possible. However, today patients can also "take time out" to do their part to ensure their safety and satisfaction.

Take Time Out to Check Board-Certification: A doctor’s board-certification is the best indicator of his or her training in a particular medical or surgical specialty. Look for certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only Board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) to certify doctors in the specialty of plastic surgery.

Take Time Out to: Check Facility Accreditation: Cosmetic surgery can safely be performed in a hospital, a surgicenter or an office-based surgical facility: Current published data show that accredited office-based facilities have a safety record comparable to that of hospital ambulatory surgery settings. However, the majority of office-based surgical facilities are not accredited. Another advantage of selecting an ASAPS member is that all ASAPS surgeons operate in accredited, state-licensed or Medicare-certified facilities.

Take Time Out to have a Thorough Informed Consent : The consultation is an important opportunity for questions to be asked and answered. It should include a candid discussion of risks as well as benefits of the surgery. A thorough consultation also involves a review of medical history including any existing medical conditions. All these factors assist the surgeon in custom-tailoring each operation to best meet the needs of individual patients.

Take Time Out to Get Marked Up: Ask to have the surgical site marked with a permanent marker and to be involved in marking the site. This means that the site cannot be easily overlooked or confused (for example, surgery on the stomach instead of the breasts).

Take Time Out to Check on Follow-up Care: Good surgical care does not end with the surgery. Patients should inquire about follow-up visits and about the doctor’s policies should surgical revisions be necessary.

About ASAPS

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery is the leading organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery. ASAPS active-member plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

www.surgery.org The 2400-member American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) is the only plastic surgery organization devoted entirely to the advancement of cosmetic surgery. ASAPS is recognized throughout the world as the authoritative source for cosmetic surgery education. U.S. members are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Canadian members are certified in plastic surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Toll-free referral line: 888.ASAPS.11 (272.7711).

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

More than 55 million cosmetic surgery procedures will be performed in 2015, predicts a recent study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). This more than quadruples the number of procedures performed in 2005, the study noted. Pushing this growth is increasing consumer awareness, direct-to-consumer marketing and advertising, as well as technological advances in non-surgical options, according to the study.

"While today’s economy reflects a slow-down in plastic surgery procedures, the specialty will weather the current decline in economic growth just as it has previous declines, such as the stock market correction after the 2001 Internet bubble," said ASPS President Richard D’Amico, MD. "This prediction for 2015 is exciting.

While the study’s findings are, of course, great news for the plastic surgery industry, ASPS suggests caution to current and future patients. While cosmetic procedures seem lower risk than ever and are easy to access, they are not a cure-all for many patients, and choosing an ASPS Member Surgeon with the training to perform all procedures, from non-invasive therapies to surgery, can mean the difference between achieving desired results and requiring more procedures down the road.

"Our concern is that with predicted growth and interest in the broad spectrum of cosmetic procedures, patients will look to the closest, easiest solution," said D’Amico. "Potential patients, however, need to know that board-certified plastic surgeons are uniquely qualified with an in-depth medical knowledge of the entire human body. They have the training necessary to accurately assess your individual needs and map health and beauty goals for your entire lifetime."

In the study, the authors analyzed annual ASPS National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery statistics from 1992 - 2005. They also analyzed the ability of economic and non-economic variables to predict cosmetic surgery procedure volume. Finally, they used growth rate analyses to construct models with which to predict the future growth of cosmetic surgery.

The study found the next decade of growth in cosmetic surgery will continue to be driven by the growth of non-surgical procedures. Between 1992 and 2005, the compound annual growth rate was 7.5 percent for surgical procedures and 27.9 for non-surgical procedures, the study noted. In 2005, 34 percent of procedures performed by ASPS Member Surgeons were surgical procedures and 66 percent were non-surgical. In 2005, for non-ASPS members 9.5 percent of their procedures were surgical, while 90.5 percent were non-surgical.

For ASPS members, 12 percent of the procedures they perform will be surgical and 88 percent will be non-surgical in 2015. For non ASPS physicians surgical procedures will make up only 3 percent of their total procedures, while 97 percent will be non-surgical in 2015, the study forecasts.

—————————-
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
—————————-

Visit http://www.plasticsurgery.org/ for referrals to ASPS Member Surgeons and to learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. Visit www.beautyforlife.com. to take the Beauty Plan Quiz and to view the wide spectrum of surgical and non-surgical procedures performed by board-certified plastic surgeons.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. Representing more than 6,700 physician members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Source: ASPS Media Relations
American Society of Plastic Surgeons