5 Things You Shouldn’t Forget To Do Before Rhinoplasty

Like with any other plastic surgery procedure, you should be well-prepared and know what to expect in your rhinoplasty procedure. It can be very overwhelming deciding who to see what you should know with such a big decision. We wanted to make this process a little simpler—here are a few recommendations to help you decide on which plastic surgeon to choose for your surgery.

    

    

     1. Research several plastic surgeons

It’s always a good idea to research a few plastic surgeons that perform rhinoplasty in your area. This way you’re not limiting yourself to one surgeon. Plastic surgeons will all have a different level of experience and approaches to rhinoplasty.

Speaking to different surgeons allows you to understand a few things. You’ll know what to expect in your procedure and how your surgeon will approach your surgery. You’ll also see if they understand what your needs are and if you feel comfortable with them. There are cases where people rush into their procedures without doing much research. It often ends with regret and trips to other surgeons for revision surgery.

     2. Ask a lot of questions before committing to surgery

     When speaking to surgeons, ask them how often they perform rhinoplasty yearly. Ask them how long they’ve been performing nose jobs. Don’t be afraid to ask “tougher” questions either. Ask if they’ve experienced any complications and what they did to resolve them.

      3. Look at before and after photos

      It’d be strange if a surgeon didn’t have a website or photos to show their work on previous patients. Make sure to go through the surgeon’s galleries of before and after rhinoplasty photos. This will give you a clearer, visual idea of what kind of results they’re capable of. If possible, you can reach out to the surgeon’s past rhinoplasty patients and ask them about their experiences.

      4. Read online reviews

      Several online communities and rating websites can show you what other patients are saying about plastic surgeons and their work. Some of these websites include RateMD, RealSelf and Yelp. Of course, there’s always a chance that the review is biased, exaggerated or fabricated. In general, you can still get a sense of what to expect after reading everyone’s opinions about the surgeon, their experience and their professionalism.

      5. Get 3D imaging of your nose before the procedure

      If you want to see what your nose can look like after surgery, get your photos taken with the Vectra 3D imaging system. This computer imaging system takes pictures of your nose and face at different angles. This way, there won’t be any surprises. Seek a plastic surgeon that has this technology and can perform it during your consultation.

You’ll be more confident and prepared after doing extensive research. Having rhinoplasty is a major decision, so don’t be afraid to take your time during this process. 

Why Teens Want Plastic Surgery More Than Ever

Plastic surgery is already a controversial issue for some people. But, what do you think about teenagers getting cosmetic work done? It’s happening, and the numbers are increasing. In 2013, the total cosmetic procedures performed on teens from 13-19 years old were 219,564 according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Large portions of the cosmetic procedures were ear surgery and breast reduction in males. Other notable procedures were breast augmentation and eyelid surgery. As for minimally invasive procedures, popular treatments were Botox injections and laser hair removal.

Why Teens Want Plastic Surgery

Teens are deciding on plastic surgery based on their desire to “look normal”. Issues like bullying and low self-esteem influences young people to consider cosmetic procedures to fit in with their peers. Some teens also feel the need to conform to what is perceived as attractive by the media and in most cases these days, social media. In our world of image filters and extreme Photoshop editing of pictures, it’s easy to see why teens compare themselves to pictures of people who look so flawless with their wrinkles, curves, blemishes and whatever imperfections edited.

Ears that stick out too far, crooked features or breasts that are too small are all concerns of teenagers. In fact, ear surgery is performed on children as young as five years old. The Ontario medicare system covers the surgery for people under the age of 18. Parents initiate these procedures for their kids at young ages so the kids don’t have to endure teasing. As for teens that have surgeries before heading to university, it’s a perfect time to “start fresh” with a new look in a different environment. Considering that teens need parental consent for plastic surgery, their parents have to approve of this drastic decision before it happens.

Parents Would Allow Their Teens to Have Plastic Surgery

Many people say they would approve their kids having plastic surgery. RealSelf, a large online community for sharing and learning about cosmetic surgeries and treatments, conducted a survey of more than 650 people. The poll asked if they would allow their child to undergo a procedure to decrease or prevent bullying. The results showed that 68% of those surveyed said yes, while 32% said no.

Still, when it comes to teens and plastic surgery, plastic surgeons are on the fence with this topic. “Performing cosmetic procedures in teenagers is something I try to avoid. I find it is difficult to come to terms with a confident sense of self during teenage years without complicating it with cosmetic plastic surgery, either surgical or non-surgical,” says Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon.

Going about this subject is really tricky when teens are still mentally and physically developing. It’s incredibly common, and perhaps expected, that teens would feel insecure about certain aspects of themselves. It’s a phase that can pass, and that’s why some doctors would rather not perform surgery until the patient is older and has a better sense of self. But the reality is that although one doctor could refuse to perform surgery on teens, it’s not difficult to move on and find a doctor who will.

5 Essential Tips about Laser Hair Removal

 Dr. Stephen Mulholland Performing Laser Hair Removal on a Patient in his Toronto Med Spa SpaMedica

Hot, summer days are long gone (unless you’re heading on vacation…lucky you!) and showing bare skin is no longer an option. Even if you don’t want to admit it, ladies aren’t shaving their legs as often anymore because they’re hidden in pants or leggings in the winter. But imagine if you don’t have to bother buying razors and shaving unwanted hair a few times a week once the summer hits? Laser hair removal in Toronto gives you that option.

It’s affordable, faster and better than ever. It spares you the time of constantly grooming and worrying about stubble showing on your legs. So, here are our 5 essential laser hair removal tips for you to know before you book your treatments:

1.  Lasers remove body hair faster than before

Better and faster lasers are now available so that body hair removal is much faster. Even men with hairy backs can have their hair removed in 20 minutes. The Vectus laser at SpaMedica is fast enough to get rid of a man’s chest and back hair in 20 minutes. Clients see 80% of their hair removed after 4-5 treatments. Permanent hair removal is possible in just a few treatments.

2.  Different lasers are used for different skin types

In the past, laser hair removal for dark skin types was considered risky. Lack of training and availability of the right techniques and lasers for dark skin types was the problem. Since dark skin has more melanin, there's higher risk of scarring or blistering if the treatment isn’t performed well. Now, lasers and trained professionals are able to target and treat hairs on dark skin safely. Longer wavelengths and a variety of lasers are used for Asian, black and olive skin types.

   

Picture Source - Spamedica website

3.  Men are big consumers of laser hair removal

It’s always assumed that men just don’t do cosmetic procedures. That’s not the case, especially when it comes to laser hair removal in Toronto. Men typically drop in for sessions to remove unwanted hair from their chests and backs. It’s a super common treatment for men—a report from 2013 shows that 190,546 procedures were performed on men. Facial hair may be in, but body hair? Not so much.

4.  Licensed individuals should perform laser hair removal for safest results

 It seems like you can get this treatment done in just about any corner in the city. Many businesses and even nail salons offer laser hair removal in Toronto. Prices may be cheap or these places offer Groupons or promotional values—that doesn’t mean you’ll get the best results. There should be licensed staff or doctors present at a proper medi-spa. That’s often not the case when visiting businesses that falsely advertise themselves as medi-spas. The person who’s handling powerful and scorching lasers could be unlicensed or inexperienced. Not a good thought to have, in our opinion.

5.  Have treatment at a clinic to access multiple lasers for efficient hair removal

 Avoid booking your laser hair removal Toronto sessions at an obscure place. Do your research and visit a medi-spa or clinic that has board licensed doctors or dermatologists. You’ll have more confidence that these people know what they’re doing. If there was a chance of complication, they’re experienced and trained enough to advise you on your next steps. Properly equipped facilities will also have several lasers to treat different skin types and hairs. 

 

Take these tips and consider them when you’re researching where to have your treatments done. Don’t be afraid to ask the practitioner questions because the more you know, the better you’ll be prepared.