The Different Attitudes Towards Plastic Surgery Around The World

Plenty of folks tend to get judgmental about people who get plastic surgery. Even though the cosmetic surgery industry is a billion dollar industry in North America, it’s still a topic that divides many. Those who are opposed to the concept of it see it as unnecessary or something that vain or insecure people would do. That’s just the very tip of generalizations. We all know we could go on and on about what some people say about plastic surgery.

It’s not all negative though. A lot people choose to keep the fact they had some work done to themselves, but there are other who are vocal about their own plastic surgery procedures. Take a look at Iggy Azalea. She’s been rather candid about her breast augmentation. In March, she told Vogue she got breast implants and it was something she thought about her entire life. “I love them so much I had to talk about them,” she then told E! Online.

In certain countries, the people are open about plastic surgery and embrace it. In fact, getting plastic surgery is seen as a status symbol or just a completely normal thing to do. These are the countries where the attitude towards cosmetic enhancements is more accepting. 

Brazil

Source: imagesgonerogue.com. Gisele Bundchen is a famous Brazilian fashion model

Brazil is often regarded as the country with insanely beautiful women—and it’s true. It’s also a country with a very liberal attitude towards plastic surgery. Even though Brazil makes up 3% of the world’s population, the country accounted for 13% of plastic surgeries performed in the world in 2013. 

Joao Carlos Sampaio Goés, a well known surgeon, says Brazilian people have a very open mentality compared to Europeans. They have a much greater ease in seeking plastic surgery. “It is a tropical country, where people enjoy exposing their bodies. This helps stimulate people to have surgery,” he said in this Guardian article.

Korea

Source: http://img.news.sina.com. An ad displaying before and after photos of jaw surgery in a metro station in Seoul, Korea.

Korea is the world capital of plastic surgery. It’s been dubbed this title since they have the most cosmetically enhanced people in the world. In fact, 1 in 5 women in Seoul have had at least one cosmetic procedure. When strolling around the city, it’s not uncommon to see ads and billboards of before and after photos of people who’ve had plastic surgery. With some of the best plastic surgeons in the world in Korea, both Koreans and foreigners from around the world are seeking treatments in Korea at high rates.

In this article, Kwon Seung-taik—a plastic surgeon in Korea—shares insight on the Korean mentality on beauty. He says Koreans believe beauty is something that can be attained through hard work, just like anything else. “Koreans see plastic surgery, and becoming prettier, as a challenge,” he says. He believes Koreans don’t see beauty as something to be envied, it’s something they can attain themselves if they truly want. With many Korean households with disposable incomes and districts that are fluttered with endless plastic surgery clinics, there’s simply a lot of choice and opportunity for plastic surgery.

The different perspectives and mentality on beauty and plastic surgery is fascinating. Here in Canada and the U.S, the media is fixated on speculating whether or not a celebrity's done plastic surgery—and they’re often met with backlash. That’s not to say that that doesn’t happen in other countries, but it seems like in Korea and Brazil, getting plastic surgery is simply a part of life.    

What do you think about the open attitude that Korea and Brazil have about plastic surgery?

Get $300 OFF Anti-Aging Packages at SpaMedica

We've all got little concerns on our skin that bothers us. Even if you're super careful with taking care of your skin with products and strict routines, sometimes that doesn't stop wrinkles and lines from creeping up.

Good thing we offer several treatments that reduce and eliminate wrinkles and lines. After you complete a series of treatments, you'll notice your skin looks brighter, tighter and smoother. Until August 15, get $300 or more off anti-aging packages! That's 20% off regular priced packages.

Some of the anti-aging packages we offer at SpaMedica

Fractora

This fractionated radiofrequency treatment stimulates the collagen to plump the under carpet of your skin and promotes cell renewal. All of this improves the look of wrinkles, skin tone and texture of your skin dramatically. After your treatments, you'll be sure to look youthful and radiant.

Watch Dr. Mulholland perform a Fractora treatment on this episode of Cityline.

Fractional Laser Treatments

These treatments differ from Fractora slightly as they use laser energy instead of radiofrequency. They do provide similar results, though. Fractional laser treatments help improve fine lines, scars and pigmentation problems after a series of treatments. The laser energy targets your dermis to improve these concerns and stimulate new collagen and elastin.

FotoFacials

The FotoFacial is designed to reduce and eliminate your sun damage, brown spots, redness and broken blood vessels on your face. These treatments use intense pulsed light, infrared and laser energy all in one pulse. Fun fact: the original FotoFacial was developed by Dr. Mulholland and Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr.!

  

*Coupon valid towards non physician, medspa services. Cannot be used in conjunction with any offer and has no cash value. SpaMedica reserves the right to cancel this offer at any time. Minimum $1500 purchase. Expiry Aug 15, 2015. Book your appointment now.

Minor Plastic Surgery Procedures That Make a Big Impact on Your Looks

You don’t have to do a drastic plastic surgery procedure to improve your looks. In fact, sometimes quick and minor plastic surgery procedures can make a big difference in how you look. If your goal is to look younger or refreshed, it’s all possible with these procedures below. And the beauty is that 4 out of 5 of them are non-surgical treatments, a total plus for those who are hesitant about going under the knife.

5 minute nose job

Ever wanted to do something about your nose but got scared off from the thought of surgery? Well, you’re in luck. You can reshape and change your nose’s appearance, all with the use of dermal fillers within minutes. It’s called the 5 minute nose job. The results aren’t permanent—they last for about 1 to 2 years—but you’ll get a good sense of how your nose looks like if you ever decided to undergo surgical rhinoplasty.

Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers and Botox may sound like they’re the same thing, but they’re not. Dermal fillers like Juvederm and Restylane add volume to the face and hands. Botox, on the other hand, reduces the appearance of wrinkles by temporarily weakening the muscles that control facial animation.

You can enhance and improve your looks in a few ways with dermal fillers. Are you bothered by sunken cheeks? Fillers can restore volume for a fuller and softer look. Do you have gaunt hands that look like they need to be plumped up? Again, fillers can solve the problem. The results will last anywhere from 1-2 years.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had lip augmentation.

Lip augmentation

Sometimes a minor tweak is all it takes to really change your looks. (Example: Kyle Jenner’s enhanced lips that sparked a huge trend on emulating her full lips). So how do you get it yourself? Lip augmentation is usually performed through the use of dermal fillers and sometimes the use of a patient’s own fat. A lip augmentation is a fairly quick procedure—it’s over in a couple of minutes.  

Fat grafting

Fat grafting allows you to have fat from one area of your body which can be transferred to a preferred site for more volume and shape. The fat can be transplanted to several areas like the breasts, butt or face. The major advantage of this procedure is that it allows you to remove unwanted fat from one area and have it in an area where you want volume.

VolumaLift

The Volumalift can give you results similar to that of a facelift, but without the need of surgery. This procedure involves the use of various soft tissue fillers which are injected to different areas of the face. The Volumalift helps restore volume for patients who see loss of volume in their face due to age, weight loss and other factors. This non-surgical procedure can be completed in 30 minutes.

Promotion: Get a Volumalift with up to 4 syringes of filler and up to 60 units of Botox for $1,999. The actual value is $3,500. Book your appointment online or call us at 1-877-695-2835. 

A Quick Guide on Beating Signs of Ageing

Most people tend to freak out about getting older and developing signs of ageing. They don’t want to wake up one day and look in the mirror…and bam. They see a face that looks completely different from how they picture themselves. Instead of waiting until they’re in their older years, plenty of men and women are seeking non-surgical and surgical treatments in their 30s, 40s and 50s to put a halt to signs of ageing.

Dr. Zel Krajden, a Toronto cosmetic plastic surgeon, talks about what treatments women can do as they approach different age milestones in their lives. Of course, not everyone ages at the same rate or the same way. But this is a general guide on what types of treatments are available to treat the most common ageing signs women see in various stages of their lives.

Treatments to consider in your 30s

Normally, signs of facial ageing like pigment changes and fine lines start when women enter their 30s. Dr. Krajden says this usually happens due to sun damage or weight fluctuations. Make sure to wear sunscreen regularly, avoid smoking and eat a healthy diet if you’re keen on preventing these signs from appearing.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had a FotoFacial.

What if you already have fine lines or sun damage? Then Dr. Krajden recommends getting a FotoFacial. “A FotoFacial is a light-based treatment that improves things like irregular pigmentation,” he says. FotoFacials help reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark spots and large pores on the face. These treatments can be performed within one hour. For the best results, five treatments are recommended.

Treatments to consider in your 40s

Once people hit their 40s, more dramatic signs of ageing occur in their looks. Dr. Krajden says the most common changes are descent, deflation and skin deterioration of the face. That’s because when we age, we lose fat on our faces which tends to keep us looking youthful.

To correct these issues, Botox injections would be the best bet. “You can treat several problems with just Botox alone,” says Dr. Krajden. Dermal fillers are another option to restore volume and structure in the face. Juvederm Voluma injections can reshape the cheekbones and jawline area. The results from Botox last up to 6 months. Dermal filler results, on the other hand, can last anywhere from 1 to 2 years.

Treatments to consider in your 50s

Source: SpaMedica. This patient had a non-surgical facelift.

Once people are in their 50s, the skin on the face descends even more. Non-surgical and surgical options are available to address any concerns with the face or skin. One non-surgical option to tighten the skin on the face is called FaceTite. This heat-based technique tightens the skin around the lower eyelids and the marionette lines. Dermal fillers are another option to restore facial volume. Non-surgical facelifts—a combination of laser and energy devices—can shave years off the face without going under the knife.

They won’t provide you with the same results as a surgical facelift, but you’ll still see dramatic skin tightening and rejuvenation.

Book your appointment

Are you ready to come in for a treatment? Book your appointment online now or call us at 1-877-712-8367 so we can help you get started on looking how you want to.

Fat Grafting: 3 Body Parts You Can Enhance With Your Fat

Not everyone is on board with having implants in their breasts or butt. While we’re used to hearing about breast and butt implants, there are other ways to increase the size of these regions and it’s through the use of your own fat. The same thing goes for butts—butt implants are still used to enhance butts, but Brazilian butt lifts are increasingly popular and the preferred method of surgeons.

Fat grafting (also known as fat transplantation) creates a win-win situation for patients. If you’ve got fat somewhere you don’t want, like on your stomach or thighs, you can have it removed through liposuction. That fat is then purified and transferred to other areas of your body where you do want volume.

Curious about how fat grafting works? Learn more about the process and where on your body you can transfer your fat to.

Source: SpaMedica. Fat cells have been purified and transferred to syringes. These will be used for fat grafting.

Fat grafting to the breasts

When you have fat grafting done to your breasts, you’ll see a modest increase in size in your breasts. Unlike breast implants, your final results are dependent on how much donor fat you have available. The fat can come from your abdomen, hips, arms or thighs. After choosing where the fat will come from, your surgeon will administer local anesthesia in this region. They will perform Vaser liposuction to separate your fat cells. These fat cells are then suctioned, transferred and prepped for breast augmentation.

Fat grafting to the butt

The same process happens during Brazilian butt lifts. Since fat grafting to the butt is considered as a large zone, that means a large amount of fat is needed to shape and provide volume to the butt. It isn’t unusual to inject between 200-400 cc of purified fat into each butt cheek. Because of this, fat needs to be harvested from several areas. So while the butt becomes bigger, the rest of the body becomes slimmer and contoured. The whole procedure should take about 1.5 hours to complete.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had facial fat grafting

Fat grafting to the face

If you find that your face isn’t as full as you want it to be, you can change that without the need for dermal fillers. Some patients find that parts of their faces have lost volume whether it’s from age or trauma. Common areas where you may lose facial fat include: around the eyes and mouth, jawline, temples and cheeks.  A small amount of donor site fat is required for this procedure—usually about 20-30 cc of purified fat is needed. In areas that are non-mobile like the temple, bridge of the nose and jawline, the grafts can last from 3-5 years. Fat grafts around the lip areas can last from 1-2 years.

A little excess fat isn’t bad after all. If you’ve been thinking about removing excess fat through liposuction, now you know you can actually use that fat to transfer it to certain parts of your body for more shape and volume. Book your appointment online or call us at 1-877-695-2835 for more information.

Treat These Summertime Problems: Sweat, Cellulite and Brown Spots

Now that summer has rolled in, there’s a whole bunch of (totally) normal weather-related things to factor in your daily routines. You’ve got to be more consistent with shaving, moisturizing and keeping frizzy hair tamed. That’s just a couple of things on the list. Below are some typical concerns people have when the warmer weather is here. But fear not, we’ve listed a few solutions and treatments on how to deal with them.

Sweating

Sweating is inevitable when it’s sweltering hot. You could take refuge in the shade or shed off a few layers of clothing to stop sweating. But if you find that you sweat excessively—even when it’s not summer—you might have to consider other options to stop it.

How to stop sweating

You can try miraDry or Botox to disable your sweat glands in certain areas of your body. To permanently stop underarm sweating, miraDry is your solution. It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses controlled energy to eliminate underarm sweat glands. Once they’re removed, they won’t grow back. Results are permanent. And as an added bonus, miraDry treatments also remove underarm hair permanently.

Botox injections, on the other hand, provide temporary results. If you find that you tend to sweat a lot on your armpits, hands or feet, Botox injections helps this problem. Once an injection is made to the problem areas, the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands get blocked. Within 10 minutes, you won’t have to worry about sweating for up to 6 months.

Cellulite

Souce: SpaMedica. From left to right: mild cellulite, moderate cellulite and severe cellulite.

Does your cellulite make you hesitant to wear certain clothing or swimwear? You’re definitely not alone. In fact, cellulite is seen in up to 95% of women of all shapes and sizes. Cellulite is influenced by both genetic and lifestyle factors. Diet does matter when it comes to cellulite. Consider bulking up on food that’s rich in vitamin C as they’re known to boost collagen levels in the skin.

How to get rid of cellulite

Sometimes you want to see more immediate results. Look into cellulite removal treatments like Venus Freeze. Your technician moves the radiofrequency applicator back on forth over your problem area. Once the electrical current heats the skin and soft tissue, this helps stimulate collagen production. It also reduces fat cell content. Each treatment takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. Without the need for recovery time, you can get back to work or regular activities after Venus Freeze treatments.  

Brown spots

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photos of a patient who had laser brown spot removal on her hands.

Make it a habit to wear sunscreen or limit time in the sun if you don’t want to increase your chances of developing brown spots. Sun exposure and ultraviolet light exposure are some factors that may cause brown spots (also known as age spots). Areas that are more likely to develop brown spots are the ones that are most exposed to the sun such as: the face, back of hands, forearms and shoulders. While brown spots aren’t harmful, some people simply dislike the appearance of them and decide to remove them.

How to treat brown spots on skin

There are several laser brown spot removal and intense pulsed light treatments available to fade your brown spots within minutes. If you decide to get IPL treatments, the brown spot darkens first and the lesion then fades over the course of 3-6 weeks. With laser treatments, the area where your brown spot used to be becomes crusted. This area is covered with ointment and bandage until it falls off after 7-10 days.  

Interested in any of these treatments? Book your appointment online with us today.

A Quick Guide on Choosing The Right Breast Implants

With several varieties of sizes, shapes and textures of breast implants, I wouldn’t blame anyone for feeling puzzled when choosing which breast implants would look best on their body. When choosing breast implants, you should ask yourself a few questions and think about a few factors. You have to think about what suits your body type and what results you want to see. So, here’s a quick guide on what implants you can choose from when you’re in the decision-making process.

What are silicone and saline breast implants?

Silicone Breast Implants

Silicone implants are pre-filled with silicone gel. The gel feels similar to natural breast tissue and human fat. Most women feel that silicone breast implants look and feel more like natural breast tissue. While rippling in silicone implants is less common, there’s still a risk that it can happen. Thin women with very little breast tissue benefit from silicone breast implants as they look and feel more natural on their body types. Women who are 22 years old and above can have silicone breast implants.

Breasts continue to develop until a woman reaches her late teens or 20s so that’s why there’s an age requirement for this procedure.

Saline Breast Implants

Saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. The implants are empty until they’re about to implanted. They’re filled with the fluid once they’re in place. This allows your plastic surgeon to adjust the volume of the implants to suit your body just right. The scar is slightly smaller than what you would get from silicone breast implants.

If the implant shell were to leak, the saline implant collapses, and the saline will be absorbed and the body naturally expels it. Women who are 18 and older can get saline breast implants and they’re available to women of all ages for breast reconstruction.

Source: SpaMedica. Illustrations of a round gel implant vs. tear drop gel implant.

What are gummy bear and round breast implants?

Gummy Bear Breast Implants (aka Teardrop Cohesive Gel breast implants)

These implants are called gummy bear breast implants because they maintain their shape even if the implant shell breaks. The silicone gel inside the implant is thicker and more cohesive than regular silicone gel implants. Because of their firmness, these implants are believed to be less likely to break.

Gummy bear implants are shapely, like a teardrop shape. There’s more projection at the bottom and the implant tapers towards the top. Since the silicone is firmer than traditional silicone, the implants can be felt more easily compared to round-shaped implants in thin women. Another thing to consider about shaped implants is that if they were to rotate, the breast may look lopsided because of the shape.

Round Breast Implants

Round shaped breast implants are used the most in breast augmentation. Women tend to choose this shape because it gives breasts plenty of cleavage, lift and fullness. Since the shape is round, there’s no risk of the breasts looking irregular if the implants were to shift and move around. While some women prefer the volume and shape these implants provide, others want a more natural looking breast implant shape such as the teardrop shape.

Remember to see a plastic surgeon who has Vectra 3D imaging available at their practice. This technology allows patients to see what breast size and shape looks best on them before the actual procedure. This complimentary service is usually offered during your consultation before surgery. This takes majority of the guessing work out of how your new breasts will look.

Call us at 1-877-695-2835 or book your appointment online so we can get you started on your breast augmentation. 

The 5 Most Asked Questions About Botox

You’re bound to have endless questions about Botox if you’ve been thinking about getting it. Just know that you’re not the only curious inquirer about the treatment. Below are some of the most commonly asked questions people and patients tend to ask us.

What are some common areas to get Botox?

If there’s anywhere on the face that has wrinkles or lines that you don’t want, it can be treated with Botox injections. Botox is most commonly injected in these areas: forehead, between the eyebrows, the corners of the eyes and corners of the lips.

How much does Botox cost?

The cost of Botox injections varies from clinic to clinic and who’s injecting it. The prices that nurses and doctors charge vary—at SpaMedica, registered nurses charge $12 per unit. The doctor’s rate starts at $18 per unit for the first 60 units. After that, the price drops significantly.

If you haven’t visited us for Botox yet, we have a promotion for first-time clients. It’s just $8 per unit. Get this promotion now.

Source: healthline.com. You don't always have to rely on medication for your migraines. Botox injections also treat migraines.

Can Botox be used to treat other concerns aside from wrinkles?

Botox is well-known for treating lines and wrinkles, but it also has other uses. Botox injections also treat issues like migraines, excessive sweating and overactive bladders. Botox was approved by the FDA in 2010 as a treatment option for chronic migraines. When injected in specific points like the temples, forehead and nose bridge, Botox can provide relief for migraine sufferers.

If you tend to sweat a lot, Botox injections temporarily stop the sweat from happening. Injections can be made to the armpits, hands, feet and forehead. You’ll be sweat-free for up to 6 months.

How old do you have to be to get Botox?

The demographics of patients who are visiting clinics for Botox are changing. Patients who want Botox are getting younger—they’re generally in their 20s and early 30s. In 2013, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that people between ages 20-29 accounted for 556,558 non-invasive procedures in 2013. Botox was the second most performed treatment after laser hair removal. Part of the reason is that young adults are taking preventative measures. Instead of getting treatments done when wrinkles appear, patients are now preventing them from happening in the first place with Botox.

Does Botox have any side effects? Is it dangerous?

Botox injections are safe when performed by an experienced nurse or doctor. Some common side effects like swelling or bruising can occur. You might experience symptoms similar to when you have a headache or flu.

Another important point to consider is where you’re getting these treatments done. Low prices for Botox injections may look tempting, but you have to think about how much experience your provider has and if they know how to deal with problems or concerns should they arise. Avoid any “fake” or black market Botox products—you want to use only FDA-approved Botox. Not only is the quality of these black market products unknown and unregulated, you’re also putting yourself at risk for complications.  

Learn more about Botox

Find out more about Botox on our website. You can also browse through our before and after photo gallery. Ask us questions by leaving a comment below or booking an appointment online on the sidebar or our website.