What You Need to Know About Giving Cosmetic Surgery as a Gift

Are you sick and tired of giving the same, run-off-the-mill gifts to your spouse, parents, sibling, or friend during special occasions? You can only give so much material things that only take up space in the house. Well, fret no more. Happiness is the best gift anyone can give and here’s a gift idea that will bring a smile across their faces and yours as well – the chance to boost your confidence with your appearance with cosmetic surgery.

Increasing Popularity

It may be a strange gift to a loved one, but cosmetic surgery as a present is not a novel idea at all. In fact, over the past two years in the United States, plastic surgeons and dermatologists have noticed that more and more people have been giving plastic surgery as a gift, especially during the holiday season. Cosmetic surgery is a major splurge, making it an easy addition to a gift wish list. 

In fact, cosmetic surgery procedures are a common gift during Christmas time, not only because it is a great holiday gift, but also because the patients would have ample time to get the procedure and still have enough time to rest and recuperate. In the same vein, patients would be able to attend parties and get-togethers and welcome the new year with a new look.

And it may come as no surprise that rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery come out as two of the most popular of these cosmetic procedures. These two cosmetic procedures done on considerably minor parts of face can actually create a significant change in how a patient will look like even with just a minor tweak.

Advantages of Giving Cosmetic Surgery as a Gift

One advantage of giving such surgical procedures as a gift is that it can be claimed anytime, although it is also subject to the terms and conditions of the surgeon or the clinic which offers these surgical procedures. Therefore, clients will have the luxury of choosing when they are ready undergo the procedure.

Another advantage is that the recipient will always remember the gift you gave them. However, it is extremely vital that you only choose a reputable surgeon when you consider giving cosmetic surgery as a gift. After all, you only want to give the best to your loved ones. And for sure, your loved ones will love you more after the successful procedure.You would not want to be that person who gave a friend or a special someone a cosmetic procedure for a gift but with disastrous results, right?

Also, while it is a nice gift, it will still be up to the surgeon to assess whether the patient is qualified to undergo the surgery. Dr. Barry Weintraub of New York’s 5th Avenue Cosmetic Plastic Surgery says that regardless of who will foot the bill, he still needs to assess and evaluate the candidates before they undergo rhinoplasty or double eyelid surgery.

A Few Other Considerations

Apart from the ever important consideration of selecting a credible and board-certified cosmetic surgeon, here are a few things to consider prior to getting your family and friends a cosmetic surgery gift card.

1. Would the recipient appreciate your gesture or be offended by it?

Getting cosmetic surgery as a gift is a touchy matter. That is why it is important that you ensure that the person you are giving it to really wants to get the surgery done. Know beforehand whether the person desires to have his or her nose improved or upper eyelids enhanced.

2. Would this procedure be appropriate for the patient? Will it contradict with the present condition or medication currently taken by the patient?

Not everyone will immediately be considered a good candidate for cosmetic surgery. Certain conditions and medications may prevent some patients from getting the procedure done. While most can be addressed through interventions, this may take cause a delay in your loved one from getting procedure when they want it.

3. Is the recipient of legal age?

According to the 2013 Plastic Surgery Report of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 14% of rhinoplasty procedures were performed among patients in the 13-19 years old age range. However, it is important for you to understand that the nose and the eyelids will still continue to change in its structure until around 18 to 20 years old. Only then, procedures like rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery is recommended, unless when performed due to medical reasons and not because of cosmetic needs.

4. Do you and the patient understand the risks involved in the procedure?

While you might think that a rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery are relatively minor surgeries, the fact is that it is still a surgical procedure and highly invasive at that. This means that it involves serious risks, complications and side effects. Regardless of the expertise and experience of your chosen surgeon, you cannot discount this very nature of any surgical procedure. It is then very important that you consider the safety and well-being of your loved one by making sure that they understand everything that is involved with the procedure.

5. Is the plastic surgeon from whom you will be seeking these services duly licensed, trained, and experienced?

Remember, you are giving this very serious gift to a loved one. You do not want to put them and their safety in the hands of an inexperienced and incompetent surgeon. Get the services of a cosmetic surgeon who has a wide experience specifically in performing rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery. Make sure that they have a long list of successful clientele and have a low revision surgery rate. It is best to choose the services of a surgeon who is board certified by either the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and The Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery.

6. Did you consider quality of work over discount prices?

Cosmetic surgery as a gift is not one that you skimp price on. Be wary of overly low cosmetic surgery packages, promos or discounts. Be cautious with advertising price cuts, as this can also mean a cut in the quality of work. Make sure that you get a reasonably priced service that is not too low from the other clinics. Instead, you can look out for clinics who offer financing options for you to choose from in the manner of your payment for the cosmetic surgery gift.

If you answered yes to most of these questions, then go ahead and give us a call today at Advance Beauty Cosmetic Surgery. Our specialist, Dr. Andrew Kim is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon who has had a wide experience in performing rhinoplasty and double eyeid surgery. We have clinics in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. If you are sold on giving cosmetic surgery as a gift to your loved one, call us now or fill-out our inquiry form today!

The Facts About Double Eyelid Revision

Over the recent years, double eyelid surgery has seen the rise in popularity and has even ranked as one of the top five most requested surgical cosmetic procedure according to many statistics. And when you go in a clinic for a double eyelid surgery consultation, there is definitely that ultimate end goal that you always keep in mind – and that is to come out feeling truly satisfied with the results after finally deciding to undergo a successful cosmetic procedure.

But as with any cosmetic surgery, the possibility of risks and complications can happen and should never be undermined. While extremely rare, a poor double eyelid surgery result can happen, especially if you approached a cosmetic surgeon who lacks the extensive professional experience to perform the procedure. 

And an independent study has revealed that one in five cosmetic surgery patients are unhappy with their cosmetic surgery results without it necessarily being a botched procedure. Major plastic surgery associations do not keep data of redo’s or revisions. However, if you are one of the few unfortunate ones who belong to the unaccounted statistics, there is a way to correct a poor double eyelid surgery outcome. And that is with a double eyelid surgery revision.

What is Double Eyelid Surgery?

Double eyelid surgery revision is a cosmetic procedure that involves correcting a previously performed double eyelid surgery that has resulted in a poor aesthetic outcome. This is typically requested because of insufficient evaluation during consultation with the patient, poor use of technique and poor execution during the first procedure. Sometimes, poor tissue healing can be a factor in an unsatisfactory result, which can lead to a revision procedure.

While some would consider that double eyelid surgery is a very simple cosmetic procedure because it only involves operating on a very “minor” body part, it actually requires aesthetic finesse and technical expertise on the part of the surgeon to create a natural-looking and balanced outcome.

At the onset, when you seek to get your first double eyelid surgery done, it is important that you openly discuss with your doctor the healing and recovery process that is involved in your treatment. It is important to note that it takes about ten months to a year before you will be able to see the final results. However, after the swelling has subsided after two weeks from your date of operation, you will be able to see a noticeable degree of the surgery outcome.

That is why it is important that you allow your eyelids enough time to properly hear before deciding on getting a revision surgery done. It is even suggested that you wait until after six months from your date of surgery. This is because minor flaws will gradually improve and disappear as your eyelids heal.

Aesthetic Issues that Require Revision

However, there are some serious imbalances that may require a double eyelid surgery revision. Here are some of the most common problems that may require a revision procedure.  

1. Unsatisfactory height of the eyelid folds

A common reason for getting a double eyelid surgery revision done is that the eyelid folds are either too high or too low.

Changing a double eyelid fold that is too low to make it higher is a relatively easy procedure to perform. This is usually corrected with a non-incision technique by creating a new fold. The former lower fold will become negligible as the new higher fold becomes dominant.

However in the case of too high eyelids and making lower, it involves a much more sophisticated approach that require great surgical expertise. If you still have excess skin on your eyelid, your surgeon will need to excise the excess skin and create a new fold that is lower. On the other hand, if there is no excess skin, it involves a more elaborate technique of undoing the previous crease and buffering the eyelid with fat before a new crease is created.

2. Loosening folds

This can be caused by either the inability of the fatty eyelid skin to support the sutures or the sutures are not tightly set in place to create the crease. In this case, your surgeon will simply recreate or reapply the suture with or without the need to remove the previous sutures.

3. Mismatched double eyelids

Asymmetry is major concern when getting a double eyelid surgery done. But before considering revision, you need to observe the eyelids first one to two months after the surgery. However, when a noticeable difference is still observed after six months, that is the time to get a consultation done for a revision. For the case of mismatched double eyelids, your doctor will properly assess the appropriate course of action, which may involve altering the height of either of the eyelids.

It is important to take note, though, that seeking for perfectly symmetrical eyelids is unrealistic. Your doctor will assess the natural shape of your eyes and will work his best at achieving a balanced outcome, rather than strive for perfection.

4. Formation of multiple creases

An absence of a defined crease coupled with multiple folds is also one common reason to get a revision done. This can be caused due to inadequate deep fixation, excessive fat removal and/ or possible damage to the levator muscle complex. Correcting this involves making an incision on the existing scar and retrieving the remaining orbital fat from the eyelid to eliminate infolding of the underlying skin. This will create that one defined eyelid crease.

5. No noticeable crease after surgery

This can result when there is no adequate fat that extends forward from the socket, which creates the formation of multiple creases, as mentioned earlier. This occurrence can make the eyelid seem aged. This can be corrected by performing the same technique as in correcting multiple creases.

6. Ptosis

One of the more serious results of poor double eyelid surgery is when ptosis has developed. This usually occurs for patients who have a borderline ptosis condition that was not accounted for during consultation. This can result to droopy upper eyelid, covering the crease created. This can be corrected by performing a ptosis surgery instead, which involves tightening the eye elevating muscles and excising the excess skin that droops over the crease.

It usually takes a year or more from your date of surgery to be able to see the final results. The healing and recovery involved is generally the same as that with your first double eyelid surgery.

Who to Approach?

When getting a revision done, you can still approach the same surgeon who performed your first surgery if you are still confident with his expertise and credentials. Otherwise, you can seek the advice of another cosmetic surgeon who is more competent and has the extensive experience in performing revision surgery.

A double eyelid surgery revision is doubly complex and delicate as with double eyelid surgery. It is important that you are able to thoroughly discuss the process, techniques and healing process involved with your double eyelid surgery revision. This way you are equipped with the proper information that will help assure you of a satisfied result. Also, always keep in mind a realistic expectation with your surgery.

If you looking for a qualified double eyelid surgery doctor to enhance your facial features, you can trust that Dr. Andrew Kim of Advance Beauty Cosmetic Surgery will provide you with a comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment. Dr. Kim is renowned cosmetic surgeon Australia who specializes on performing double eyelid surgery. Call us now to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Kim today!

What You Need to Know About Anesthesia

If there is one thing that is most associated with rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery, or any surgical cosmetic procedure for that matter, is that it involves pain. That is why anesthesia plays a huge part in performing such procedures. It is one of the main considerations that is taken into account even during the consultation process. But, anesthesia is always placed at the backseat and rarely do patients think about it. And that may also be the case for you. So before you head out to a cosmetic surgeon’s clinic, here are some of the important things that you should know about anesthesia.

What is Anesthesia?

In its truest sense, anesthesia is the state where a patient is temporarily placed in a condition of unconsciousness, muscle relaxation and loss of pain. The term is often confused with the medicine used to induce this state, which is more appropriately called as anesthetics. Anesthesia is a distinct medical intervention that allows a doctor to effectively perform another medical procedure by relieving pain and sensation during surgery.

There are several forms of anesthesia, which uses one or more types of drugs or anesthetics to achieve the goal of inducing the loss of sensation. This is generally classified into three different types. These are usually administered in various ways, either through injection or gas or vapor inhalation, and affect the nervous system differently in blocking the nerve impulses, which results in the reduction of pain. And as with most people, it can get a little confusing how each one works. So here is a simple and definitive guide for you to know.

General Anesthesia

This is the type of anesthesia that is the most commonly known and one that a majority of people thinks of when anesthesia is referred to. General anesthesia suppresses the activity of the central nervous system and affects the entire body. You will be completely unconscious during the entire medical procedure as though you are asleep. Because of this, you will feel the following when under general anesthesia.

• You do not feel any pain.
• You will remember your surgery.
• You are not aware of what is going on.
• Your reflexes, specifically your heart rate, slow down and muscles relax.

It is often inhaled through a breathing tube or mask or through the vein. Usually, the effects are immediate with the patient being unconscious within one minute after the induction. You will then regain consciousness in the recovery room. This is usually done for rhinoplasty procedures.

Local Anesthesia

Another type of anesthesia is local anesthesia, where it only affects a small area of the body or patch of skin insensitive from pain . This is the form of anesthesia that is commonly used in dental procedures, minimally invasive skin treatments and minor cosmetic procedures, like double eyelid surgery. It blocks specific nerve pathways that cause reversible paralysis and analgesia or reduced sensation. With local anesthesia, you will be completely awake and aware during the entire procedure and may still feel pressure. It comes in the form of creams, gels and sprays, but may also be administered through injection.

Regional Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia is most often confused and interchanged with local anesthesia. However, regional anesthesia affects a large part of the body, such a limb or a wider region of the body. It blocks single nerve or a group of nerves. Most of the time, you will be awake during the entire procedure to allow the doctor to still converse with the patient throughout the operation. However, a sedative may be administered to help you feel relaxed. Regional anesthesia is commonly used for labor and childbirth. It may be given in a single injection, intravenously or through a catheter. The common types are epidural anesthetic or spinal anesthetic.

Procedural Sedation

Lastly, Procedural sedation, or commonly referred to as twilight anesthesia, is a type of anesthesia that is most often performed in minor cosmetic surgeries. You will remain completely awake and will be able to respond to your doctor. However, you may feel groggy and sleepy during the entire session. It can be given orally, inhaled, injected or the combination of three.

What Happens During the Procedure

The preoperative instructions that will be given by your cosmetic surgeon is essential not only to ensure the safety of the operation and healing after the procedure, but also for the anesthesia to take its action effectively. Your cosmetic surgeon will thoroughly assess your medical history and may require you to undergo several laboratory tests. These will be shared with the anesthesiologist who will administer the anesthesia for your cosmetic procedure.

These important consultation information will help your doctor and anesthesiologist to determine the appropriate type of anesthesia that will be used for your specific case. It is very important for you to be completely honest in providing medical information and in answering questions during your consultation prior to your surgery.

During the operation day, your rhinoplasty or double eyelid surgery will begin with the anesthesiologist introducing the drug. For entire duration of the procedure, your anesthesiologist, along with his team, will be responsible for ensuring your comfort and well being by monitoring your vital body functions.

After the procedure, a post-anesthesia care will need to be put in place to ensure your safe recovery and vital functions are observed closely. This is to help make sure that side effects and risks are kept at a minimum or completely eliminated, which may include minor risks of nausea or vomiting. However, according to a WebMD article, errors in anesthesia is relatively uncommon and is even deemed to be one of the safest areas in health care.

Your Anesthesiologist

While this may be the case, it is still best to approach a cosmetic surgeon who is affiliated with an equally credible and experienced anesthesiologist. It is important that you remember that an anesthesiologist is responsible for your safety and overall comfort during your surgical cosmetic procedure. Not only will they provide you with pain control, but they also ensure that your vital functions are at its proper working condition during your operation.

Seek a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon who has a good working relationship with an anesthesiologist, as their close coordination is integral in making sure that you get the safest treatment possible.

If you are looking for a rhinoplasty or double eyelid surgery doctor in Australia, Dr. Ahnsup Andrew Kim of the Advance Beauty Cosmetic Surgery is the one to approach. Dr. Kim works with the best in field of anesthesiology in Australia in performing your aesthetic enhancement. They have clinics in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

To schedule your free consultation with Dr. Kim, call us now to book your schedule today!

8 Common Pre Operative Testing for Cosmetic Surgery

It is quite normal for most people to think that getting a cosmetic surgery, like a rhinoplasty or double eyelid surgery, involves just getting in to the doctor’s clinic, get the procedure and reap the results after the recovery period. But little do people know that surgical cosmetic procedure involves more than that. There is, of course, the ever-crucial consultation process, which may not necessarily involve just one session. This part of the cosmetic surgery is indeed as important as the surgical day itself for the doctor to really give you the desirable and realistic results that you are seeking for.

However, in certain cases, your doctor may require you to undergo pre operative lab work and tests prior to your cosmetic surgery. While there are no hard and fast rules regarding the specific tests to be conducted, these will help your surgeon assess any health factors that could possibly affect the procedure and/ or your healing after the surgery has been done. This is to also help minimize any risks that may occur during the operation. Simply, pre operative testing will help your doctor determine whether you are healthy enough to undergo your surgical cosmetic procedure.

The type of tests that will be requested by your doctor will vary depending on the initial consultation session, your medical history, as well as the type of surgical cosmetic procedure to be performed. It is even important to note that your surgeon may not even require you to undergo any of the tests indicated below, especially if you are considered healthy during your assessment and consultation.

Blood Work

The blood work is one of the most common pre operative tests conducted. In most cases, the Complete Blood Count or CBC may need to be in order. This will include count for your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelet, among others, to determine whether you are anemic, have a blood clot disorder or other diseases that can affect the procedure and healing.

Ensuring that your blood health is in tip top condition is important, especially because any type of cosmetic surgery no matter how minor it is will involve incisions and some degree of blood loss. Blood work will point out any blood disorders that could result in uncontrolled bleeding. This will also help your doctor determine whether you have anemia. In this case, iron supplementation will be prescribed to reverse the condition.

The blood work will also let the doctor see if you have any infection in your body should your white blood cell count show too low or too high of the normal range. This consideration is certainly important, especially when the procedure involves the insertion of an implant like in the case of a rhinoplasty.

Any abnormality in any of your blood count could mean postponement of your procedure until the reasons are determined.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

Essentially, the ECG is a medical test that tells if your heart is in good condition through detecting any heart abnormalities by measuring the electrical activity of the heart when it contracts. Cosmetic surgery basically causes tremendous stress on the body, with the heart being one of the most important organs when it comes to stress response. That is why it is crucial for the doctor to assess whether your heart can endure the trauma during the operation. While the ECG may not be able to predict future heart attacks, it can indicate whether you have experienced any attack in the past without you knowing it. Mainly, your heart should be able to endure and strong enough to survive the stress of cosmetic surgery to your body.

The ECG can also check the heart condition or diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or cigarette. All of these can have a great in effect in performing the procedure and the healing period. In most cases, patients over the age of 40 are usually required to undergo this test.

Chest X-Ray

The Chest X-Ray is also one of the tests that may be required for your procedure. This is usually carried out to check the condition of your lungs and see whether you have breathing difficulties when you are put in anesthesia. This test is especially requested if you are a smoker or have a history of smoking. Signs of pneumonia or any breathing disorder may result to the postponement or cancellation of your surgery.

Urinalysis

While it may be less likely that you will need to undergo urinalysis, the test will help the doctor identify abnormalities or infection. Urinalysis can help detect urinary tract infection or UTI, diabetes and hypertension.

Chemical Panel Test

Apart from the Complete Blood Count (CBC), your surgeon may also require you to undergo Chemical Panel Test or also known as Blood Chemical Test. This test includes a comprehensive assessment of your blood sugar, uric acid, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, protein, iron and lipid profile, among many others. This will allow the doctor to check for any chemical imbalance, which can signify an abnormality of any of the major organs, like the liver and kidney.

Also, this will help the doctor prescribe the necessary medication or supplementation needed to normalize the levels of chemicals in your body. This will help ensure a smooth operation and speedy recovery.

Pregnancy Test

This test is reserved for women who are considering undergoing cosmetic surgery and suspect that they are pregnant. It is important to take note that cosmetic surgeons will not operate on pregnant women, unless absolutely necessary. However, since most cosmetic surgery are non-vital, it is best to postpone the procedure after giving birth. It may even be wise that you do a pregnancy test even before going for a consultation schedule.

Mammogram

The mammogram is typically required for women who want to get breast augmentation or breast lift done. This is to help detect signs of breast cancer.

Psychological Screening

Undergoing a cosmetic surgery is not just about preparing your body for the procedure, but patients also need to be mentally prepared, as well. According to an inquiry posted in the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), a certain Dr. Gary R. Culbertson said that, “No, psychological evaluation are not a requirement for plastic surgery. However, certain practitioners find them very useful in patients they consider may have psychological or psychiatric issues. Some examples would be a patient that appears to have an exaggerated concern over a minor or nonexistent problem or a patient that has undergone repeated surgical procedures by other surgeons/ physicians. The concern is over what is called Body DysmorphicSyndrome.  Often the reason why these surgeons are performing these psychological evaluations is in the best interest of their patients. Body Dysmorphic Syndrome is most appropriately treated by medical treatment not surgical intervention.”

This is statement supported by a few other board-certified plastic surgeon-members of the organization. That is why there is a great importance and emphasis of always having realistic expectations of your results. A credible cosmetic surgeon will objectively discuss with you recommendations based from your expectations and at the same time consider that overall harmony and balance of your other features. In the case of rhinoplasty, the new and enhanced nose should not overpower the face, but complements the entire face instead.

If you are looking for an excellent rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery surgeon in Australia, you can trust that Dr. Ahnsup Andrew Kim of the Advance Beauty Cosmetic Surgery will be thorough in his evaluation during your consultation. Dr. Kim is known for his attentiveness in his patients, so make sure that you disclose any medical conditions so that the proper pre operative tests will be recommended to ensure a safe procedure and speedy recovery.

Call us now and schedule your free consultation with Dr. Kim now!

Trending Selfies and the Rise in Cosmetic Surgery

“Selfie” – a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website. (Oxford Dictionary)

It is undeniable, we are now living in the generation of selfies – where self-love, admiration and vanity is revered. And we do not need statistics to prove that the selfie craze is unquestionably on the rise. All you need is to look at your favorite Hollywood celebrity or friend’s social media accounts, even yours, chances are you are bound to find at least one selfie. And who could ever forget the star-studdedOscar selfie, which got a reported 2.4 million retweets and 32.8 million view just hours after it was posted online.

Image source: http://nydailynews.com/

Selfies Sparks Cosmetic Surgery Requests

But what is astounding is that the selfie trend has made a significant in the cosmetic surgery industry. In a press release of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) last March 2014, they conducted a study among its 2,700 members, which revealed that “one in three facial plastic surgeons surveyed saw an increase in requests for procedures due to patients being more self aware of looks in social media.” This observation also revealed that the top procedures requested are rhinoplasty and Botox.

Dr. Edward Farrior, President of the AAFPRS, said that, “Social platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and the iPhone app Selfie.im, which are solely image based, force patients to hold a microscope up to their own image and often look at it with a more self-critical eye than ever before.” This trend has reflected a 10% increase in rhinoplasty, 7% increase in hair transplants and 6% in double eyelid surgery in 2013.

Women, Men and the Young Generation

Also in the said study, it reflected a remarkable difference in the preference of the procedures requested between women and men. Without a doubt, facial plastic surgery is still dominated by women accounting for 81% of the total procedures in 2013. And in a surprising data, mothers make-up about two-thirds of the number of women getting a surgical or non-surgical procedure.

Image source: http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/

It has been observed that most women request for facelifts, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty or double eyelid surgery and ablative skin resurfacing. Men, on the other hand, mostly requested for Botox, dermal fillers, hair transplant and rhinoplasty.

Interestingly, the study revealed that the selfie trend has resulted to an increase in facial cosmetic procedures among the younger generation. This is shown in the 2013 data that 58% of the surveyed facial plastic surgeon observed an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectibles among patients under the age of 30. The study also associated the role of social media in a teen’s life and self-esteem.

The constant desire to look better in the selfie has somehow contributed and encouraged younger generation to change their looks. In fact, in its detailed report, patients under the age of 21 consist 22% of the total patients who got rhinoplasty in 2013. That is almost one-fourth of the total data.

Image source: www.huffingtonpost.com

A Global Phenomenon

And certainly, this effect of the selfie craze is a global phenomenon. Marco Pacifico of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons said in a MetroUK article that, “The trend was equally noticeable here, where the young people felt under ‘incessant pressure’ to be perfect, comparing themselves to digitally enhanced photos of others.” Also Dr. Leah Totton, The Apprentice winner, also validated this by saying that, “Due to increased social networking, we now have unlimited access to the appearance of other, including celebrities.”

This latest reveal has sparked controversies and even concern among cosmetic surgery experts. This is because it creates unrealistic expectations and interpretation of beauty. Cosmetic surgery strives to achieve balance and harmony of the entire facial features and is not about achieving perfection or copying somebody else’s unique features.

The Perfect Selfie

There is a running gag that for every one good selfie, there are 47 other failed ones. If you are a selfie-addict, you will know that it takes the right angle, lighting and even a couple of editing and image filters to get that right self-portrait. But there are some who gone out of their to look good in any angle and lighting without the need for digital touch-ups by getting a couple of nip and tuck done.

This is exactly what Los Angeles talent manager Triana Lavey did. In 2012, Lavey spent a total of $50,000 on cosmetic procedures to achieve the perfect Instagram selfie. Her obsession with her appearance prompted when she showed dissatisfaction on how she looked in her Facebook and Instagram photos, and further saying that it is her “weak chin” that is her main concern. When social media sites were not yet popular, she did not care with how she looked. She had a chin implant, nose job, Botox and fat-defining cheek implants.

Image source: http://gistville.com/

With deep satisfaction, she related in an interview with ABCs Nightline that, “I now have the face that I always thought that I had. I look like myself, but Photoshopped.”

And this selfie-obsessed woman is making a name in the business of helping social media stars make tons of money by incorporating big brand names in their self-portraits. She is part of a public relations firm that focuses on representing, developing and managing social media personalities, especially in Youtube, named uFluencer Group. In an E!News article, Lavey said that, “Today, this business is moving at the speed of the Internet. Your selfie is your headshot so you can reinvent yourself everyday with your iPhone. It is a legitimate form of promoting yourself.”

Image source: http://onlystuff.eu/

She said that all of her clients have already perfected how to pose for that ideal and flawless selfie. She even shared that the ideal pose is to achieve for a pose that is fun and organic that exudes and shows their unique personality. And for her talents, this should be completed with the sincere expression of looking interested in the product that they are promoting.

Among the clients include Youtube celebrities like Alphacat, ItsJudyTime, Sam Pottoroff, NGuerriero19 and EleventhGorgeous. All of which have already garnered more than a million subscribers.

However, Lavey said that she does not believe that others should also undergo cosmetic surgery just to look good in selfies even if she had done it herself. She further said that all it needs is for them to feel confident in front of the camera.

She shared that she will not be getting any more surgical cosmetic procedures. However, she is still getting regular Botox injections to make sure that she looks her best. She even went on to say that, “Not everyone is born beautiful. And if you can get a little help from a nip-tuck, then more power to you.”

Choosing the Right Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery can certainly make a significant impact in giving a boost in confidence by enhancing your natural appearance. But, you should never forget to make certain that you have realistic expectations. This greatly helps in achieving desirable results that are successful and natural-looking.

Choosing a credible and experienced cosmetic surgeon can even further boost your desired results. If you are in Australia, you can trust Dr. Ahnsup Andrew Kim of Advance Beauty Cosmetic Surgery will guide you throughout the process to give you really amazing results. Dr. Kim specializes in rhinoplasty and doubleeyelid surgery and is known for his impeccable eye for aesthetic detail and proven technical skills.

To schedule your free consultation with Dr. Kim, call us now!