NHS foots the bill for complications after cosmetic surgery abroad

Research published today by The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) revealed almost a quarter of plastic surgeons treated patients with complications caused by cosmetic surgery performed outside the UK.

In 2007, plastic surgeons in the UK saw at least 208 patients with complications after cosmetic surgery abroad. Approximately three quarters of those patients had complications that required treatment. Of these:

26% of patients had to have emergency surgery

31% opted to have elective surgery to rectify the problem

33% had non-surgical treatment as an out-patient

8% of patients had non-surgical treatment as an in-patient

Complications following surgery were most frequently seen in breast augmentation,(29%), abdominoplasty (24%), breast reductions (15%) and 10% following a face or neck lift.

BAPRAS warned that it may prove costly to both patient’s health and the NHS if UK citizens choose to have cosmetic surgery abroad. It urged people considering going overseas to have cosmetic surgery to undertake plenty of research before doing so.

In the UK, the responsibility for surgery aftercare for cosmetic surgery carried out privately, lies with the plastic surgeon who performed the procedure. However, for surgery carried out abroad, this is often not the case.

Patients returning from cosmetic surgery outside Britain often look to the NHS to provide aftercare, which inevitably takes resources away from other patients.

This is a trend which is expected to rise in the future, due to the increase in 'cosmetic tourism' and may affect NHS waiting times for other plastic surgery procedures in cancer, trauma and elective surgery.

Anthony Armstrong, a consultant plastic surgeon and chair of BAPRAS’ clinical effectiveness committee said: “Cosmetic operations involve major surgery. Anyone considering cosmetic surgery abroad must make sure they are fully aware of the potential complications that can occur and consider how these will be dealt with. They should not assume that the NHS will pick up the pieces and, they may find themselves having to pay privately for follow-up surgery here.”

All surgery carries the risk of complications. However, BAPRAS warned that patients travelling by plane too soon after surgery, put themselves at an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Facial Gymnastics: Complete Facelift In 7 Days Without Surgery. Stopping The Clock Of Aging And Banishing Wrinkles On The Face Forever Right In Your Living Room

Jamie Lynn Spears Had Plastic Surgery While Pregnant ?

Ok this can’t be a good thing! Star is reporting that after noticing she’d gained a few pounds Jamie Lynn Spears had plastic surgery not knowing she was pregnant.

“She didn’t know she was pregnant when she filled out the health questionnaire prior to the procedure,” a second source reveals. “Her mom approved the injections and went through tons of red tape to get the clinic to administer them to an underage patient.”

Facial Gymnastics: Complete Facelift In 7 Days Without Surgery. Stopping The Clock Of Aging And Banishing Wrinkles On The Face Forever Right In Your Living Room

FLORIDA: Plastic surgery billboard on MLK to be replaced

Destin Plastic Surgery says it will revise the ad to comply with military protocol

Robbyn Brooks

Daily News

FORT WALTON BEACH - The billboard advertisement on Martin Luther King Boulevard showing a plastic surgery patient's new curves against an American flag backdrop will be taken down.

"Despite overwhelming support from the public on the billboard, we do not wish to offend anyone or create controversy over an ad that was intended to celebrate our freedoms and entertain our troops," said Dr. William Burden of Destin Plastic Surgery.

The ad was replaced earlier in two military publications serving Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field after Eglin officials disapproved of the use of the flag in the Eglin Dispatch. Freedom Communications replaced that ad as well as an identical one in the Hurlburt Warrior.

Burden said Destin Plastic Surgery will revise the billboard to comply with military protocol at the request from billboard owner Lamar Advertising following a statement from Eglin.

"We realize this is not an argument over freedom of expression and speech, but recognition of military etiquette and a respect for the military administration," Burden said.

Burden said earlier that Destin Plastic Surgery thought the billboard would be a great way to show its support for the military and its clients who serve in the armed forces.

"The American flag is a symbol that we all love and respect as Americans," said Dr. Scott Ennis with Destin Plastic Surgery. "The military is an integral part of our community and we have a special respect for them as they are fighting for our freedom here at home."

Sagging Economy Not Stopping Los Angeles Cosmetic Surgery Patients

In the Plastic Surgery Capital of the U.S. a.k.a. Los Angeles, harsh economic times are not deterring many a Los Angeles cosmetic surgery patient from getting their fix. Even if many more costly procedures like tummy tuck, facelift, or liposuction seem out of reach, Los Angeles plastic surgery patients are begging, borrowing, stealing, doing anything they can to get the look they want.

Although instead of more invasive and costly plastic surgery procedures, minimally invasive cosmetic procedures like Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, and other wrinkle filling injections have increased dramatically in the last year. Botox and wrinkle fillers helped boost cosmetic-enhancement spending 7.8 percent to $12.4 billion, for a total of 11.8 million procedures.

Although even minimally invasive cosmetic procedure patients are cutting back a bit. Madeline Vaccare, a dental hygienist in West Los Angeles, said she waits six months between Botox shots with her Los Angeles cosmetic surgeon instead of four months. Botox, made from the botulinum toxin, smoothes wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles.

“I am not cutting it out completely -- no way,” said Vaccare, 47. “I'll figure out a way. I'll skip dinner.”

And for the more costly plastic surgery procedures, many patients are turning to financing programs. Many Los Angeles plastic surgeon offices offer their own financing or through programs like Care Credit, Reliance Medical Finance, or SurgeryLoans.com. The bottom line is, where there is a will there is a way. Nowadays people of every walk of life can afford cosmetic surgery, even if it means skipping out on other expenses.

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Cosmetic surgery boom in Gulf Countries

By Ourouba Hussein

Kaldari ... slams financially-motivated surgeons

A PLASTIC surgeon says he is fully booked until February 2010 – with nose jobs being the procedure most favoured by Qatar residents.

In an interview with Gulf Times, Saed Kaldari, a certified consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, also revealed that although most of his clients were women, an increasing number of men were going under the knife in order to enhance their looks.

Although the majority of men opted for nose-reshaping – like 80% of his clients – there was a growing trend among figure-conscious males for liposuction procedures that create ‘six-pack’ abdomens and pectoral implants that give a more masculine appearance. Chin, cheek and jaw line augmentation were also on a number of surgery wish-lists.

Kaldari, who holds a Swedish Board certificate in plastic and reconstructive surgery with facial reconstructive surgery as a subspecialty, says huge developments in techniques, along with faster recovery times, have heightened interest in the field.

He explained: “Facial skin tightening adapted in the past has become a complete rejuvenation and augmentation, with operation recovery time incredibly reduced.”

In Qatar, the government provides free plastic and reconstructive surgery for Qatari nationals and discounts for residents. However, priority is given to those in need of reconstructive work.

“Reconstructive surgery patients are indisputably and immediately given priority because their defections are a cause of accidents or health issues that could develop into something very dangerous,” Kaldari explained.

A grease lump, for instance, situated in the neck might look unsightly, but it could also develop into a cancerous tumour if neglected.

However, it is in the field of cosmetic surgery that attitudes have dramatically changed.
Where once Qatari women would have recovered from procedures out of sight at home, these days many have no qualms about showing the plasters and casts that will soon reveal a stunning new nose. Although not all female clients are easy to satisfy.

With many women being motivated to change their appearance by glossy magazines showcasing celebrity beauty, many assume that surgery will bestow upon them the same flawless attributes. Kaldari explained that even though he could give an approximation of what the end result would look using computer software, there was sometimes an unreal expectation of what he could do.

“People are not aware that filtering and photo-shopping is applied on the photographs of showbiz personalities – the people they wish to look like.”

Kaldari blamed today’s fast-food generation for unrealistic expectations, causing some clients to demand immediate surgery and short recovery times.

The consultant said some women suffered from Body Dysmorphic Syndrome, a condition that causes them to see flaws that are not there. Kaldari said these particular women had expectations far exceeding what plastic surgery could actually achieve. The surgeon added that he refused to operate on such cases.

Kaldari expressed concern about operating on surgery-obsessed, teenagers, children and those suffering from depression. He said procedures on such clients should only be undertaken in very rare and difficult cases.
As an experienced surgeon, who takes a highly ethical stance within his profession, Kaldari slammed financially-motivated surgeons who take the cash without thinking of the client’s greater wellbeing. He cited the pop singer Michael Jackson as an example of when plastic surgery can go horribly wrong.
Speaking of the singer’s surgeon, Kaldari said: “He should have known better; a nose cannot be operated on more than three or four times, rarely five.”

Kaldari said that with the increase in popularity of cosmetic procedures, some surgeons were carrying out operations despite not specialising in the field.

The consultant explained that it was imperative that a plastic surgeon possessed an “aesthetic eye”. He said: “Furthermore, ordinary surgeons are not able to perform the sometimes very intricate work needed for such surgery.”

Kaldari is currently working on a study of nose operations, looking at techniques to reduce bruising and speed up recovery times for impatient patients.

Ivana Trump’s Plastic Surgery Divorce

by Ruby Marr

As notorious ex-wife of billionaire Donald Trump, Ivana, prepares to divorce hubby #4, Make Me Heal investigates the nearly legendary blonde’s plastic surgery past and present.

On the eve of turning 60, Ivana Trump still looks pretty good for her age, likely to keep up with the young men she dates and marries. As she prepares to divorce her fourth husband, 36-year old Italian actor Rossano Rubicondi, after less than a year of marriage, Make Me Heal spots more than just a youthful life outlook keeping Ivana in bikinis.

Although Ivana has gained some weight since she was married to The Donald, she has likely had quite a few plastic surgeries over the years to maintain her signature good looks, including a facelift and eyelid lift. In addition, she almost certainly has dabbled in facial fillers, like Restylane and wrinkle treatments, like Botox in both her face and lips.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Jennifer Walden tells Make Me Heal, “Ivana is all about maintaining a youthful look given the age of her boyfriends. Cheers to her! She may have undergone a facelift, eyelid lift, and soft tissue fillers to the laugh lines and lips. Botox also can help keep one’s forehead and crow’s feet around the eyes smooth.”

Paul S. Nassif, a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Rhinoplasty Specialist in Beverly Hills, California agrees with Dr. Walden’s summation and also offers the soon-to-be some advice for continuing to look good. Dr. Nassif says, “Obviously, Ivana Trump’s lips look as if they are over-inflated with a filler, probably Restylane. She has possibly had cheek implants and a previous facelift.

“She does look natural, but it’s time for another lift, her neck, platysma muscle bands, are separated. Most likely, she would need a brow lift and upper blepharoplasty as well. I would need a profile for her nose, but I think she’s had a rhinoplasty to reduce her nasal hump. Overall, she looks pretty good.”

Ivana Trump does look good, and it seems she has passed her love for plastic surgery on to her daughter, Ivanka Trump as well (See Make Me Heal’s story on Ivanka Trump’s plastic surgery).

After retiring from her mother’s runway to her father’s boardroom, Ivanka became the center of attention for having a multitude of plastic surgeries, from a certain breast augmentation to a less certain nose job (rhinoplasty) and even a chin augmentation.

Make Me Heal wishes both good-looking Trumps better luck in love.

Read the complete celebrity plastic surgeyr profile of Ivana Trump on Plasticopedia and Ivanka Trump on Plasticopedia, the largest celebrity plastic surgery encyclopedia

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Police: Woman blew $3M on limos, plastic surgery

Terry Jean Kohlman lived what police called "an extravagant lifestyle" with money she embezzled from the Palm Beach Medical Group, a Palm Beach County institution for six decades, where records show she was president for administration and management.

Police and Kohlman's lawyer say she abruptly quit in February 2007 and checked herself in to an Atlanta-area mental health center for four months for rehabilitation.

Only with her desk empty did doctors discover what she'd done, leading West Palm Beach police to charge her with fraud.

Now her Jupiter home is in foreclosure, she rents a Delray Beach apartment, and she doesn't even have the wherewithal to post the 10 percent on a $30,000 bail set when she was booked Thursday afternoon into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of grand theft, organized fraud and forging checks, her lawyer says.

Judge William Bollinger Friday was unsympathetic, ordering she be held in lieu of $500,000 bail.

The embezzlement case is the biggest one West Palm Beach police have investigated since Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau controller Donna Duffer stole $1.5 million over a year and a half until she was caught in 2006, Lt. Chuck Reed said Friday.

The medical group Friday declined to comment.

According to a police report, Kohlman, 54, had worked for the medical group since 1997.

Police found that Kohlman wrote herself 343 checks on corporate accounts and forged another 152 checks using the name of a doctor that had left the group.

The grand total, according to the report: $3,188,177 - and 4 cents.

The medical group's chairman, Dr. Jeffrey Dressner, alerted police Aug. 21, 2007.

Reed said investigators spent the next year sifting through hundreds of checks from both the medical group's books and Kohlman's personal accounts.

"The defendant vacationed at expensive resorts and frequently traveled by hiring a limousine service," the report states.

By ELIOT KLEINBERG

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, December 05, 2008

The manager of a local medical group lived it up with trips, limousines, even plastic surgery, with the more than $3 million she systematically stole over eight years, police say.

In fact, her lawyer says, she blew it all.

"The defendant also made numerous purchases of jewelry and furniture. It is also believed that stolen funds were used by her for plastic surgery."

Friday in court, Assistant State Attorney Martin Epstein asked for $1 million bail.

Kohlman's lawyer, Donnie Murrell, begged for the single mother be freed on house arrest so she can care for her 17-year-old son.

Murrell said he'd gone to the medical group on behalf of Kohlman and "we told them everything that happened. The offer was not, 'We'll pay you restitution in lieu of criminal prosecution.' The offer was, 'We will do everything in our power to make restitution and you do whatever you need to do criminally.''"

Kohlman, Murrell said, "has never denied it," and she's willing to face the consequences."