Plastic surgery: ‘Wild West’ of medicine

(CNN) — Martha* had decided to undergo a breast augmentation. She researched doctors and found one she thought was well-qualified; ads in magazines touted him as board-certified and a top plastic surgeon in the area.

Martha met with him for a consultation and underwent the procedure in his office several weeks later. But at home that night, she discovered a shocking sight:

Her breast implants were lodged in her armpits.

The next morning, she rushed back to her doctor's office. He inspected her chest and, with a quizzical look on his face, declared, "I have never seen this before."

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Biofilms Cause Havoc for Breast Implants

Recent statistics show as many as 60-thousand patients a year  experience capsular contracture in the United States alone. It’s the most common complication of aesthetic and reconstructive breast implant surgery. The nearly 20 percent of  patients who develop capsular contracture *(see note below) will see signs of breast firmness, shape distortion, and sometimes pain within the first two years of breast implant surgery.

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Buyer beware of cosmetic procedures at spas

As more spas and salons offer cosmetic procedures, experts warn potential patients to beware. “Something as simple as an injectable, a patient can have an allergic reaction, and if a med spa isn’t equipped to handle that, a simple trip to a med spa can be disastrous,” said plastic surgeon Leo McCafferty, president of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The Miami Herald Cosmetic procedures are on the rise, resulting in an ever-growing onslaught of youth- and beauty-enhancing practitioners.

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Social media maybe influencing women to consider plastic surgery

CINCINNATI – Could social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn be leading more people to get plastic surgery? The answer is yes.

All of the social media sharing is driving some people like Kathy Grogan who wanted to improve her appearance to the plastic surgeon's office. Before getting plastic surgery, Grogan says she was not comfortable in front of the camera and she had the pictures to prove it.

"Now, I find myself posting them myself and they're candid, not still shots," Grogan said. "But it's like at the Reds game last week, they took a picture of me and I posted it on Facebook because it looked so good. And I was very excited that I looked that good."

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BRA Day USA Leads Charge to Close Loop on Breast Cancer with Oct. 17 Kickoff

Arlington Heights, Ill. (October 10, 2012) — On October 17, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF) will launch the first-ever Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day USA, leading the charge to promote education, awareness and access to breast reconstruction following mastectomy or lumpectomy.

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Plastic Surgeons warn of trade’s dark side

SARASOTA – It’s a lucrative, cash-up-front business serving wealthy older people with money to spare. Small wonder doctors — both genuine and ersatz — are performing cosmetic surgery in Sarasota, a city known for active people with the means to keep aging at bay.

The results can be abysmal, says a new consortium of local plastic surgeons who sometimes must repair the damage.

Cosmetic surgery is big business. The ASPS estimates 18.8 million procedures will be done this year in the United States at a cost of $10.4 billion.

Twelve surgeons have formed the Plastic Surgeons of Sarasota Educational Cooperative to help inform potential patients about the serious risks involved in “getting a little work done.”

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More young people unhappy with looks; considering plastic surgery

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Kelsy Catalo, 20, heard every kind of insult directed to her and her nose when she was in grade school.

“I got teased a lot,” she said. “I thought that my nose looked like a witch’s nose, and everyone called me big-beak. It really did hurt my self-esteem to the point that whenever I met someone I thought they were looking at my nose and judging me.”

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When does plastic surgery become too plastic?

CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV)— Attention ladies!  Have you ever had that uneasy feeling, right before you look in the mirror?

The little pit in your stomach that reminds you of how much you DON’T like the way your body looks?

That dreaded thought of actually having to put on a bathing suit at the pool party?  Or after you’ve had your kids thinking, “Wow, where did that body go I used to have?”

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