The Best Ways to See if Rhinoplasty is Right for You

It isn’t uncommon for patients to come into the office and show their plastic surgeon photos of their dream nose that belongs to a celebrity or another person. This helps the physicians to better understand what the patient likes and desires as their rhinoplasty results. However, attaining this dream nose isn’t always possible. That’s because every person has different facial features and proportions that balance each other out. Even though the particular features and look of a nose looks good on one celebrity, it won’t necessarily look good on somebody else’s face.

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5 Important Tips to Keep in Mind After Rhinoplasty

So you finally decided to take the plunge and go for it—you got a nose job! No longer will you have to deal with the insecurities you had with your nose. You finally got it dealt with. We wish we could say recovery will be no big deal, but that’s not usually the case. Recovering after nose surgery might not be the most comfortable period in your life, but think about the end results. It’ll be worth it.

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10 Rhinoplasty Facts You Should Know

Contemplating on rhinoplasty? Find out these 10 rhinoplasty facts you should know before your procedure.

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How Do Your Looks Affect Your Career?

We’ve talked about careers, looks and plastic surgery in the past. After doing some research, several studies showed that being perceived as attractive does matter when it comes to applying to jobs and getting raises and promotions. How you look and present yourself also affects the way colleagues view you.

RealSelf recently shared some results from a survey they conducted. In this survey, they asked 400 men and women to rate how trustworthy, creative, competitive, friendly and motivated a person appeared to be based on photos. RealSelf used before and after photos of individuals who had procedures such as rhinoplasty, chin implants, Botox and dermal fillers.

The Takeaways From This Survey Showed That:

• Women who had a chin implant, rhinoplasty and Voluma injectable filler scored higher in their after photos.
• Survey respondents rated these women in their after photos as more creative, motivated and trustworthy.
• Women with nose jobs were rated as more competitive, motivated and creative
•  Women with Voluma injections saw the highest increases in ratings in these categories

We found these results interesting because they provided images of the same people before and after their procedures—they were the same people, but they looked slightly different post-op. Each time, their “after” photo was rated higher than their “before” photos. It gets us thinking about how a person’s looks and facial structure can impact how other professionals view them personally and professionally. While skills and experience obviously matter in jobs, first impressions and perception is also critical.

People of All Ages Seek Plastic Surgery

As several media reports have shown lately, the age of plastic surgery patients has gotten younger. It’s not just professionals in their 40s and up who are seeking plastic surgery.  Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, says that the average age of Botox patients is now in their early 30s. Before, it was in the mid 40s.

Lawyers, bankers and actors have sought plastic surgery at SpaMedica in Toronto

Are There Particular Careers Where Professionals Seek Plastic Surgery?

Some careers force people to be in front of cameras and people on a daily basis. Take for example lawyers. They have to interact with clients and be in front of people all the time. Plastic surgeons will often see clients in these fields because presenting themselves well to the public and their colleagues is important in their jobs. Dr. Mulholland says he has treated numerous actors, bankers and lawyers in his practice. Some people simply feel compelled to look their best and stay competitive in the field.

In this Forbes article, Dr. Nahai talked about the different patients he’d normally see in his practice. “A very large number of my patients come in and say, ‘I sell homes, and I can’t compete with a woman in her 30s. I need to look young enough.’ I’ve had a lot of salesmen who say they’ve been told they look angry or tired, so they get a brow lift.”

This isn’t to say getting plastic surgery is necessary to secure jobs or promotions. Afterall, being good at what you do is what makes you a valued employee. But some people want to present themselves as the full package; they want to have the brains, skills and looks. 

5 Wrong Assumptions About Plastic Surgery

Like almost everything else in life, plastic surgery just happens to be one of the topics where people make assumptions. These assumptions tend to stem from word-of-mouth or just a lack of information. If you haven’t noticed, we’re all about talking about and debunking common plastic surgery myths here at SpaMedica. Below are a few widespread assumptions and comments that we hear about various procedures, so we wanted to share some insight and answers to them.

Assumption #1: Botox gives a frozen face

Botox has long had the reputation of giving people that frozen, startled look. A lot of people will think of celebrities who had not so great results after Botox injections like Nicole Kidman. That stems from overdoing the treatment which results in an unnatural appearance. Botox treatments shouldn’t erase all movement in your face—ideally, it’s meant to soften lines or wrinkles.

With your plastic surgeon, you’ll decide where you want to see improvements on your face. By injecting just enough units of Botox in your areas of concern, your end results should look natural and not frozen. And if your treatments are done well, no one should even know that you had anything done.

Assumption #2: I can use my friend or family member’s fat to transfer to my own body

Procedures that involve fat transfer like Brazilian butt lifts or fat grafting to the breasts require taking fat from one area and then transferring it to the butt or breasts. You can’t use someone else’s fat in these procedures. Your immune system simply can’t recognize another person’s fat and would reject their fat if this was attempted. Even if you have an identical twin, there’s still a possibility that the fat would be rejected. Another risk of using someone else’s fat is disease transmission.

Assumption #3: Men don’t get plastic surgery

Women are the ones who are always pegged as the ones who are most concerned with their appearance. With this mindset, the assumption is that women are the people who undergo plastic surgery. According to recent statistics from a RealSelf survey, men have been increasingly seeking plastic surgery procedures. 73% of doctors say their male patients have increased in the last year. 

These men are most interested in:

1. Botox and fillers
2. Eyelid surgery
3. Body contouring procedures
4. Male breast reduction

Men are now more open about wanting to maintain their appearance and will undergo treatments if they feel compelled to.

Assumption #4: Liposuction will help me achieve my target weight

Liposuction is often seen as a method to lose a lot of weight. That’s easy to assume, but it’s simply not the case. Liposuction is a body contouring procedure that removes fat from specific areas on the body for a slimmer looking physique. The procedure is ideal for patients who are at their ideal weight but still have some problem areas like love handles.

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after rhinoplasty at SpaMedica.

Assumption #5: I’ll see my final results right after my plastic surgery procedure

For many plastic surgery procedures, your final results won’t be seen immediately. That’s because there’s a recovery period where there’s swelling or bruising. Take for example rhinoplasty. This is a procedure where patients are required to take at least a week off from work to recover. Rhinoplasty patients should be aware that there’ll be ongoing improvements with their nose that can take up to 1 year to settle. The nose changes greatly over the course of 2-12 months, especially in the nasal tip area. After that, patients can see their final results.

What are some other assumptions you’ve heard about plastic surgery? Let us know and maybe we can address it!

Celebrity Plastic Surgery: 8 Stars Open Up About Their Transformations

Hollywood has always been dubbed as the place where “everyone gets plastic surgery” but nobody wants to talk about it. A lot of celebrities shy away from admitting they had plastic surgery done. Whether it’s Botox and fillers (ahem Kylie Kenner) or a major surgical procedure, celebrities tend to deny rumors or stay quiet about the topic. This could be out of embarrassment or fear of backlash.

But then there are the really open people who are candid about their decisions on getting some work done. These 8 celebrities below talked about their plastic surgery experiences in interviews with the media. See what they have to say below.

Source: zimbio.com. Ariel Winter had a breast reduction surgery this year.

1. “The feeling of not having so much there was such a relief! Once the surgery was completed, I can’t even explain the feeling. [A week later], I was buying clothes and crying as I put them on, I was so happy. You just feel so relieved and excited. You feel like a new person. You feel like this is how I was supposed to be.”- Ariel Winter on having breast reduction surgery

2. “I definitely believe in plastic surgery. I don't want to be an old hag. There's no fun in that.” - Scarlett Johansson

3. “Why not? I mean, not yet, but maybe my under-eye bags in my 50s. We’ll see what I need, but I’m not saying no!” - Sofia Vergara

4. "It's one of the best things I've ever done. I love them. I'm super happy. I would do it again in a heart beat." - Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting on having breast implants

Source: idolator.com. Iggy Azalea opens up about the plastic surgery procedures she's gotten.

5. “I love them so much I had to talk about them…I’d feel better not to have some secret. It’s much freer to say it and then you don’t have to worry someone will dig it up.” - Iggy azalea on having breast implants

6. “I had my nose done when I was 16 years old. And I’ll be honest, it did change my life.” – Jillian Michaels

7. “I did it the summer before going to a new school. That was a good, good, good change.” – Lisa Kudrow on having rhinoplasty

Source: hotnewhiphop.com. Kelly Rowland opens up about her breast augmentation.

8. “I wanted to get breast implants when I was 18, but my mom and Beyonce’s mom told me to really think about it first. I took their advice and waited 10 years.” - Kelly Rowland on her decision to get breast implants

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. 

Rhinoplasty: The Most Typical Concerns People Have With Their Noses

Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose job, is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure that’s meant to change the nose’s structure, shape and form. People choose to get rhinoplasty for various reasons—patients may dislike the appearance of their nose and want to change it, or, they experience breathing problems and need to improve the nose’s structure. It’s a complex procedure, but a very commonly performed one. In fact, rhinoplasty was the fifth most performed procedure in the world in 2013 according to International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery statistics.

Advanced technology and techniques in cosmetic surgery allow surgeons to perform rhinoplasty safely. Even better, there’s now 3D computer imaging and simulation that can show patients how their noses will look like before the actual procedure. This is offered during a patient’s consultation to let them actually see what their results could look like.

Plastic surgeons will always try to deliver you the best results, but you won’t see the final results right after your surgery. There’s a recovery period where casts are placed on the nose. Patients are also recommended not to do physical activity like sports until six weeks after the procedure. Swelling is totally normal after rhinoplasty and is considered as part of recovery. Swelling can last a few months or up to two years. That means you can determine the end results of your nose once swelling subsides.

Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto cosmetic surgeon who has been performing rhinoplasty for the last 20 years, talks about the different types of noses he treats regularly.  He describes what they are and what steps he usually takes to treat them.

Source: SpaMedica. These are some common nose concerns patients have.

Nose bridge bump

Bridge bumps are usually present due to hereditary overgrowth of the bones and cartilages on the nose’s bridge. Sometimes, nose injuries or fractures can cause overgrowth of the tissue which results in bridge bumps. Patients with this look often dislike their three-quarter and profile views. Your surgeon will file down the nasal bones to reduce this bump.

Bulbous tip

Bulbous tips are typically caused by excessive overgrowth of lower lateral cartilages. It’s often hereditary but sometimes bulbous tips appear after trauma. To treat this, external rhinoplasty would be the go-to option. The lower lateral cartilages will be reduced or contoured to leave the tip looking thinner and sleek.

Crooked noses

Crooked noses come from the deviation of the internal partition of the nose called the septum. Irregular septums can make noses look like they’re lopsided. To improve the appearance, a septoplasty would be performed which involves removing part of the septum. Then, the nose bridge would be restructured (usually with the material taken from the removed septum) to create support and a straighter appearance of the nose.

Wide nostrils

Patients with wide nostrils can have their nostrils reduced by having a portion of the nostrils removed. The incision would be hidden under the nostril’s base.

Book your rhinoplasty appointment

Want to know more about your rhinoplasty options? Book an appointment online or call 1-877-695-2835 to find out what you can do about your nose. 

Celebrities Who Are Totally Against Plastic Surgery

When we talk about plastic surgery, there’s always polarizing debates about it. Some people are for it, others are completely against it. People who are for it would generally say if it’s your body, you could do whatever you want with it.

As for those who are against plastic surgery, it’s not unusual to hear accusations that people must be insecure to stoop so low to get surgery. Without a doubt, plastic surgery—even though it’s commonly performed on millions of people in North America—still remains a touchy issue to talk about.

Talking about it in everyday life may not be as easy for most of us, but that’s not the case in Hollywood. The lifestyle and the pressures of looking young and attractive are real in the entertainment world. Naturally, Hollywood stars are often asked questions about plastic surgery.

Certain celebrities are rather open about their approval of plastic surgery, like the late Joan Rivers or Scarlett Johansson. Some stars are strongly opposed to it and have made sure their stance is well-known.

Kristen Stewart recently made headlines for some critical comments she had on plastic surgery and women who choose to have it. She’s not the first celebrity to share her opposition to it, either. She’s probably the bluntest about her opinion though. Find out which other celebrities are also opposed to plastic surgery.

Kristen Stewart

Photo source: blogs.indiewire.com

Kristen Stewart let her strong opinion against plastic surgery be known in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. When asked if she would consider getting work done she said: “No, never. Never. I am so freaked out by the idea of doing anything. And maybe that’s completely arrogant but I don’t want to change anything about myself. I think the women who do are losing their minds. It’s vandalism.”

Julianne Moore

Photo source: nme.com

When asked in an interview with Allure magazine, Julianne said she isn’t a fan of cosmetic surgery.

“I don’t believe it makes people look better. I think it just makes them look like they had something done to their face, and I don’t think we find that instinctually appealing,” she said. Julianne’s been asked about the topic many times over the years. She’s also said that “with few exceptions, people always look like they've had plastic surgery. They don’t look any younger. Age is about lifespan, about the journey we take.”

Jennifer Aniston

Photo source: blogcdn.com

Jennifer Aniston had rhinoplasty in the 90s to correct a deviated septum—she says she hasn't done any other surgical work though. Jennifer says she has to stop herself from begging her friends to quit visiting their plastic surgeons.

'I am grateful to learn from their mistakes, because I am not injecting s— into my face. I see them and my heart breaks. I think, ‘Oh God, if you only know how much older you look.’ They are trying to stop the clock and all you can see is an insecure person who won’t let themselves just age. I also have a fiancé who will put a gun to my head if I touch my face in any way.'

Julia Roberts

Photo source: knote.com

In Elle Magazine, Julia Roberts talked about women’s fears of ageing and looking older. 'It's unfortunate that we live in such a panicked, dysmorphic society where women don't even give themselves a chance to see what they'll look like as older persons. I want to have some idea of what I'll look like before I start cleaning the slates. I want my kids to know when I'm pissed, when I'm happy and when I'm confounded. Your face tells a story... and it shouldn't be a story about your drive to the doctor's office.'

What’s your take on plastic surgery? How do feel about people who choose to change their looks surgically or non-surgically?

What You Should Know About Plastic Surgery and Gender Transitioning

If you’ve been keeping up with celebrity news, then you’ve definitely heard about Bruce Jenner’s confirmation that he’s transitioning to life as a woman. Coming out and talking about his personal life is a huge deal, especially considering that trans issues and voices are often under-addressed in the media and public sphere. Jenner’s candidness has put the common struggles transgender people face on a daily basis in the spotlight—it also draws attention to what the process of transitioning and plastic surgery can look like for some transgender people.

The Process of Transitioning

In order to be eligible for gender reassignment surgery, a person has to first be diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) by a mental health professional. After diagnosis, the person can begin hormone therapy. Biological females transitioning to male are given androgens. Biological males transitioning to female take estrogen, progesterone and testosterone-blocking agents. These hormones can be taken orally, by injections or through a patch.

The individual must live their life as their preferred gender for a period of time. This is called the Real-Life Experience. One of the purposes of the RLE is to confirm that the person wants to live the rest of their life as their preferred gender.

After one year of hormone therapy, Real-Life Experience and two letters of recommendation from health professionals, the individual is eligible for genital surgery. Not everyone decides to have surgery though; some people are content with the results they get from hormone therapy. For those who do want to pursue surgery, they can have procedures like liposuction, rhinoplasty or vocal cord surgery as part of their transition.

Source: Jezebel.com. A photograph of Bruce Jenner

During Jenner’s widely watched interview with Diane Sawyer, he said he plans to get cosmetic surgery to his face and breasts. He also said that he had been taking hormones for a year and a half. Wondering what other plastic surgery procedures transwomen can do? Below are just some of them.

Liposuction

Liposuction can help define areas such as the waist and abdomen. The targeted fat is removed to create a slimmer and more refined hourglass appearance. Non-surgical and surgical liposuction techniques are available.

Rhinoplasty

Cosmetic concerns like bumps, bulbous tips or crooked noses can be addressed through a nose job—this procedure can enhance a person’s overall appearance and facial features. Depending on the case, certain characteristics of the nose can be changed to look more feminine by narrowing the nasal bones and nostrils.

Hair transplants

Hairlines can be moved forward or have a rounded shape through a hair transplantation. If there are areas of thin hair, a hair transplant can be performed to add more density.

Cheek implants

Females tend to have fuller cheeks than males. To achieve this look, cheek implants can be inserted. Fat grafting is another way to enhance cheeks. Fat grafting involves removing fat from an area of the body which is then transferred to the cheeks.

Lip fillers

Fuller, pouty lips are typically considered feminine and attractive. Soft tissue fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane are injected to plump up lips. Fat grafting to the lips is another method of lip enhancement.  

We’re glad to hear that Bruce says he’s never been as happy as he is now. It took a lot of courage to be open about his life, especially in front of millions of people and his family. Hopefully Bruce’s story will continue to encourage more conversation about transgender people and issues. Not everyone will support Bruce, but his honesty and voice at the very least puts these issues on the table to get people thinking. Sometimes just talking about issues is what’s needed to start change.

3 Habits You Shouldn’t Indulge In Right After Plastic Surgery

We’ve all got our vices. Maybe you like to unwind after work with a glass of wine or a pint of cold, crisp beer. Or you sneak in a cigarette here and there (there’s no judgment here at all!) But if you’re fresh out of a plastic surgery procedure like a rhinoplasty or tummy tuck, you’re going to have to cut out these habits for at least a few weeks. That’s because these habits can prolong your recovery and increase your chances of complications which is something you and your plastic surgeon don’t want.

It might be tempting to cave in and enjoy a drink after surgery, but you'll have to wait a few weeks.

Drinking

After a successful procedure, perhaps you want to celebrate with a glass of bubbly but unfortunately, you really shouldn’t. Drinking alcohol is known to cause problems when you’re recovering after a procedure. First off, you’ll be dehydrated after surgery. Alcohol is known to cause dehydration, and if you drink, you’ll just lose more fluid from organs that need it.

Drinking alcohol also increases your risks of swelling because your blood vessels widen. If your cheeks or nose tend to get red and flushed after drinking—and you just had rhinoplasty—you could be susceptible to swelling if you drink after your operation. You might be seeking a buzz or craving to let loose, but drinking after rhinoplasty will only cause pain and prolong your recovery time.

So when can you drink again? That all depends on what procedure you had, your medical history and what your plastic surgeon recommends.

Plastic surgeons often tell their patients to stop smoking several weeks before and after surgery.

Smoking

Many plastic surgeons will tell their patients to quit smoking at least a month before and after certain procedures. These common but complex procedures where surgeons would tell you to stop smoking beforehand include: breast lifts, breast reductions, tummy tucks and facelifts. This is because skin and tissue is moved around, thus changing the blood supply of the tissues. When performing these procedures, surgeons have to ensure there’s enough blood flow through blood vessels—cigarette smoke negatively affects blood flow.

The nicotine in cigarettes causes blood vessels to constrict, which affects your blood flow. Nicotine can also cause blood clots which all factors into a decrease of blood supply to tissues, poorly healed wounds and serious complications.

Smoking before your surgery has many known side effects like dealing with a longer recovery time and worsened scars.

Avoid vigorous exercising like running and heavy weight lifting after surgery.

Exercising

You probably didn’t expect to see this habit after reading the first two. Even a “good” habit could be a hindrance to your procedure results and recovery period. You might be anxious to start hitting the gym, but that will have to wait for a few weeks. Intense exercise soon after surgery can cause serious complications like swelling, inflammation, infection or post-operative scarring.

Depending on the procedure you had, most plastic surgeons will recommend that patients wait at least six weeks before getting back into their regular exercise routines. You don’t have to quit exercising altogether though; light exercise such as short walks during the day is fine. Over the weeks, you can ease into your regular routine and increase the intensity of your workouts once you’ve hit the sixth week after surgery.

It might be hard to resist that drink or cigarette when there are different parties and occasions happening, but it’s just not worth risking your health or results. 

5 Minute Nose Job: How You Can Transform Your Nose In Minutes

Just like committing to a relationship or making a large purchase, deciding on changing your physical appearance takes a lot of thought and commitment.

Maybe that’s why temporary procedures are appealing to a lot of people. They give people an altered appearance, but only for a certain time period. If a person likes what they see, they can decide on a surgical procedure for permanent results. If not, then there’s no big deal—the results disappear overtime.

The 5 minute nose job is one of the most popular procedures that provide you with short-term results. It’s a non-surgical procedure that essentially lets people alter their nose within minutes. If you’ve got a bulbous nose or crooked nose, that could be changed through 5 minute nose jobs without the need for surgical rhinoplasty or downtime.

How Was The 5 Minute Nose Job Created?

Source: SpaMedica. Before and after photo of a patient who had a 5 minute nose job.

Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, created the 5 minute nose job. He initially used saline to show rhinoplasty patients how they could look like after surgery. He then realized he could use the same injectables he was using to build up the chins and cheeks of other patients for longer-lasting results for the nose. Dr. Mulholland also developed this procedure because he saw several patients who didn’t want invasive surgery or having to deal with recovery time.

Thinking of Larger Breasts? You Can Test Drive That, Too.

It’s not only your nose that you can change temporarily. Back in November, news outlets reported that a New York plastic surgeon developed the “insta breast” that would give patients the look of breast implants for 24 hours through a saline injection.

It was reported the surgeon was developing a method that would allow women to have larger breasts through injections that would last for 2-3 weeks. This procedure is referred to as “vacation breasts” as the surgeon said it was ideal for special occasions like weddings or vacations.  He said the procedure will give women a better opportunity to see what it’s like to live with larger breasts. He hopes the procedure will be ready in about two years.

How Does a 5 Minute Nose Job Work?

Source: SpaMedica. Dr. Mulholland and the 5 minute nose job was featured on Global News. 

Your nose’s appearance is changed all through injections of long-lasting gel fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma or Perlane. They’re either used alone or in combination.

Different areas of concern of the nose can be corrected or improved through 5 minute nose jobs. Bulbous tips, crooked noses, elongated noses, indentations and weak nose bridges are just some common things Dr. Mulholland sees and treats on a regular basis.

There’s no need for anaesthesia. Local anesthetic is built right into the gel, which helps in minimizing discomfort.  You won’t have any scarring and you don’t have to take time off work to recover. You literally can just leave the clinic with a brand new nose and carry on with your regular life. There will be some swelling and a small risk of bruising, but these symptoms disappear within a few days.

These results can last from one to two years. So, if you like what you see and feel, you always have the option of getting rhinoplasty for permanent results. 

Leave us a comment if you have any questions or book your appointment online now. 

The Ugly Truth About Cosmetic Surgery Addiction

We’ve all seen people who look like they’ve had a bit too cosmetic surgery done, and it doesn’t take an expert to spot it. Whether it’s on TV or in the real world, some people walk around with faces that look like caricatures or bodies that look obviously unnatural. Cosmetic surgery addicts exist—taking a look at celebrities, I can name a few names off the bat. Example: Heidi Montag, who seems to be best known for having 10 procedures in one day which included breast augmentation, liposuction, rhinoplasty, and a brow lift all in the same day.

Lots of people may laugh or gawk at cosmetic surgery addicts, but the thing is, it’s a serious addiction that could be detrimental.

What is cosmetic surgery addiction?

Cosmetic surgery addiction is classified as a behavioural addiction. When someone has a behavioural addiction (it could be to video games, shopping or gambling), it means they are compelled to repeat a specific behaviour regardless of physical, mental, social or financial consequences. Behavioural addictions start out with a person associating the behaviour with pleasure, but then once it becomes more frequent, the behaviour becomes a major part of the person’s life. While indulging in the behaviour provides the person with relief, it’s also used as a way to deal with stress or other underlying issues.

A cosmetic surgery addict can be willing to shell out thousands of dollars and alienate themselves from loved ones to get the procedures they want.

Source: Zimbio.com. Heidi Montag underwent 10 cosmetic procedures in one day. Some procedures include breast augmentation, brow lift and liposuction

Body image and psychological issues can also influence someone’s choices for multiple cosmetic procedures. David B. Sarwer and Alisson L. Infield discussed in their book Breast Augmentation that several studies from around the world show between 7-15% of cosmetic surgery and dermatology patients have some form of body dysmorphic disorder. Those with BDD are preoccupied with small or imagined defects in their appearance. This preoccupation can wreak havoc in their work and social lives.

Cosmetic surgery addicts will seek multiple procedures at whatever cost

There is nothing to stop a person from seeking consecutive cosmetic procedures. Even if someone has had liposuction two times before, there are no real regulations or laws in Canada to prevent them from having a third or fourth procedure. That’s where the role of plastic surgeon is important—they may be the ones doing all the magic work, but they should be spending a lot of time talking to and evaluating their patients during consultation. This is the point where they understand if the patient is seeking surgery with realistic expectations and the right mindset.

Dr. Mulholland, a Toronto plastic surgeon, says he turns down over half of the people who approach him for surgery. He says he spends a lot of time during interviews to find out the person’s motivations for surgery and their expectations. “Cosmetic surgery should be used to enhance your life, not compensate for a failed relationship or other set-backs,” says Dr. Mulholland.

It all goes back to the ethics of a plastic surgeon. They can refuse to perform surgery on patients who they find unsuitable. If the patient wants breast augmentation because she thinks it will help her win back an ex-lover, that reason won’t fly with an ethical doctor who has the patient's well-being in mind during consultation. But the sad thing is, there are surgeons who will do what the patient wants—regardless of their mental state and motivations.

Botox: 3 Problems You Didn’t Realize It Can Treat

Source: SpaMedica. This patient received Botox injections to her crow's feet.

With selfies practically engrained in our culture now, plastic surgeons have seen an increase in patients coming in for non-surgical and surgical procedures over the past year. A study by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery revealed that 1 in 3 plastic surgeons saw an increase in requests for procedures due to patients being more self-aware of their looks on social media. Keeping these observations in mind, the surgeons also noted an increase in rhinoplasty, hair transplants and eyelid surgery.

People want to look good—for selfies or to just maintain their youth—and they will do what it takes to achieve it. The latest statistics on plastic surgery trends shows that three quarters of all procedures performed in 2013 were minimally invasive. Unsurprisingly, Botox was the most popular non-surgical procedure performed. While most of these injections were most likely for cosmetic reasons, Botox can treat 3 other common problems millions of people deal with.

Botox Treats Migraines

If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know that they’re not fun or pleasant at all. Migraines differ from regular headaches in that the pain is much more intense and can involve nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to sound and light. Migraine episodes can last for a few hours.

The FDA approved Botox as a treatment option for chronic migraines in 2010. According to Healthline, injections can be made to specific points along the nose bridge, temples, neck, forehead and the back of the head. It can take from 10-14 days after the treatments to feel relief. Usually, Botox treatments for migraines are performed once every 3 months.  

Botox Controls Overactive Bladders

Some people have urinary incontinence, which is the loss of bladder control. This problem could be minor or severe. You could cough or let out a sneeze and that triggers urine to come out. Or, you could have a really strong urge to urinate without getting to the washroom in time. Things like childbirth, pregnancy and menopause can cause urinary incontinence. All this means that women are more likely to experience this problem more than men.

Urinary incontinence could be so problematic and embarrassing for some people that treatment is required. Botox injections to the bladder muscle temporarily treat these overactive bladder symptoms. Results last for about 9 months.

Source: YouTube. Dr. Mulholland talks about Botox and performs it on a patient in this clip.

Botox Reduces Your Excessive Sweating

Most of us sweat more than we would want to when it’s summertime. For some people, though, sweating excessively is a problem regardless of the season or weather. This condition is called hyperhidrosis—about 3% of the world’s population lives with this common condition.

Those who sweat excessively can see sweat in multiple areas of their body such as the armpits, hands, feet or forehead. To temporarily treat the sweating, an injection of Botox is inserted to the problem area. By doing this, chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate sweat glands are blocked. This 10-minute treatment can leave you sweat-free in that area for up to 6 months.

Get Free Botox

Botox isn’t just for pretty faces after all. Sure, it can temporarily erase some wrinkles here and there but there are tons of other things Botox can do for you. If you’ve been thinking about getting treatments, now is the perfect time to do it. 

We’re offering free Botox at SpaMedica. Buy any package (they're all 30% off) and receive 30 units of free Botox. This promotion runs until February 15, 2015 so book your appointment now.