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Best
Magazine, Readers' Cosmetic Surgery Stories
2nd
September 2008 |
Case
studies were provided to Best Magazine who gave permission for the article
to be reproduced on Linda Briggs web site.
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We
have become a nation obsessed with our looks. Last year,there were 100,000 cosmetic surgery operations carried out in the UK, with almost the same
again going abroad for a nip and tuck. It's the most common reason given
by women, after property, when applying for a bank loan.
Huge
price reductions and a shift in attitude has made surgery more accessible
than ever.
"Women who had work done used to be considered vain,"says plastic surgeon Alex Karidis."Now it's OK to want to look the best you can and surgery is seen
as a good investment."
But before you take drastic action, make sure you read our helpful
guide...
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| Cosmetic
Surgery - the basics... |
FINDING
A SURGEON Your GP is a good place to start,as they'll know the
specialists in your area. Visit a few surgeons before deciding
who to go with - its worth it to find the right one for you. Be warned: in
some clinics it's usual to be seen by a 'counsellor' (a sales person)
first. Don't be swayed by a hard sell, and never agree to any op without
Consultation with a surgeon. The General Medical Council lists all
fully-trained plastic surgeons in the UK (see the contacts box on the last
page).
THE CONSULTATION Do your homework before you go,and
ask a friend to go with you to take notes. Here are four key questions you must
ask:
1. How many of these ops do you do every week? There's no
point choosing someone who mainly does boob jobs if you want your face
fixed.
2. What result can I honestly expect? You may want to be a DD cup, but
is that really feasible?
3. Can I see examples of your work? This will give you an idea of
their personal taste.
4. How much will it cost? Don't compromise on price and always
ask about aftercare.
PREPARING
FOR YOUR OP Good surgeons will be booked weeks in advance,so be
suspicious of any who can fit you in the next day. Give at least two weeks
'thinking time' between consultation and any op. If you smoke, now's the time to quit, smokers can bleed more and take longer to heal. Stop taking
multi-vitamins for 10 days prior to your op as they can compromise your
results. The herbal remedy Arnica can reduce
swelling and bruising and the bromelain in fresh pineapple juice can ease
inflammation.
KNOW
THE RISKS Even in the best of hands,things can go wrong. As with all
surgery, there are risks of scarring, nerve damage and paralysis.
WHEN
THINGS DONT GO TO PLAN If you're unhappy with the result, go back to
your surgeon and ask his or her opinion. If you're still dissatisfied,be sure to get second
opinion. |
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'With
my flat chest I looked like a little girl in her
mum's swimming costume'
Jackie,
41,from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, had a breast uplift and implants because she
hated her body
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I'd
always had a decent bust, but breastfeeding four children had taken its
toll. By the time my youngest was a year old. I barely filled an A cup.
My
breasts were empty sacks and when I went swimming, they'd shrivel up like
prunes. I really hated my body. But it wasn't until I
went shopping for a bikini last summer that I decided to do something.
I'm 5ft 5in and
size 8 - and with my flat chest I looked like a little girl in her mum's
swimming costume.
I found a website advising women on how to find a
reputable surgeon and made a booking with a surgeon in London's Harley
Street. He told me I had enough breast tissue to pad me out to a C
or D cup, then sent me home with different-sized implants to slip into my
bra and see which worked best. A week later I had the £4350 op.
The surgeon gave me an uplift, as well as implants, to reverse the saggy effects caused by my
pregnancies. I've gone from a 34A to a D and feel so much more feminine.
I'm really happy and my only regret is that I didn't have it done sooner.
*
For more info about having surgery in London visit www.lindabriggs.co.uk
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So just what are the six most popular plastic surgery operations in the
UK, how much are they and what do they really involve? |
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No 1. Breast
enlargement |
Squashy
pads of gel (silicone)or salt water (saline) are slipped into a small
pocket created by an incision under the breast,in the armpit or around the
nipple. The procedure is sometimes combined with a
breast uplift (Mastopexy) to raise and firm the breasts.
Cost Around
£4000 for implants and £6000 including an uplift. The
ouch factor Performed
under general anaesthetic -Sore and tender for about 10 days. Scars Incisions
made in the armpit and underneath the breast are less visible than those
made around the nipple. Lasts Silicone
lasts 10 years, saline around seven.
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Blepharoplasty removes excess skin, fat and muscle
from around the eyes for a more youthful appearance.
Cost Around
£4000 for
upper and lower lids.
The
ouch factor There'll
be some discomfort from swollen, watery eyes, which may last up to a
month.
Scars Tiny
scars hidden along the natural crease of your lids.
Lasts Around 10 years, although you can expect to get away with a 'touch up' procedure after that rather than having the full
procedure done again.
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The procedure removes
fat from problem areas such as your hips or tummy, and redefines your
shape
Cost From
£2800-£3400 depending on the area Ouch
factor Quite
painful. The swelling and
bruising can take several weeks to go down. Scars Tiny puncture wounds that are not
obvious. Lasts
Removes
fat cells forever, so the results are permanent.
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During
a face/neck lift, the
skin is separated from the underlying muscles, which are then tightened. The
skin is re-draped, with any excess trimmed away.
Cost
From £5600-£7400. The
ouch factor Can be
painful for the first 48 hours. Scars Hidden
along the hairline and behind the ears. Lasts Seven to
10 years.
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With
a 'closed' rhinoplasty, cuts made inside the nostrils to reshape the bone
and cartilage. The skin over the nose is untouched and shrinks down to the
new shape. With an 'open'
rhinoplasty the skin between the nostrils is cut and pulled back for a
more precise remodeling.
Cost
Around
£4000. The ouch
factor Surprisingly
little. But because of the nose 'pack, your nose will feel blocked, like
you have a heavy cold. Scars
There
are no scars with the closed op. With the open, patients are left with a
tiny scar that hardly shows. Lasts Forever.
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Abdominoplasty
removes loose skin and tightens the tummy muscles.
Cost Around £5800. The
Ouch factor. The procedure can be painful. It doesn't hurt as
much as a Caesarean because the tummy muscles are tightened,rather than
cut but expect to be tender for about a week. Scars Patients
will be left with a curved 'smile' bikini line scar from hipbone to
hipbone. Lasts Forever,if
you watch what you eat and exercise regularly.
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THE
FACTS ABOUT FIGURES...
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According to the British Association Of
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), last year there were 6497 boob jobs, 5706
eye lifts, 4572 liposuction ops, 3402 breast reductions, 3021 nose jobs and
2799 tummy tucks carried out in the UK. Facelifts saw the biggest rise, with
4468 procedures - but since many surgeons are not members of BAAPS, experts
agree that trebling those figures would give a more accurate picture of the
number of people opting for plastic surgery.
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