Happy Valentine’s Day to Me

Dear Body,

It’s been a long time since I’ve gazed at your reflection and liked what I’ve seen. My constant need to criticize you causes me to hide you from the world by covering you in over-sized clothing.

When I get compliments, I always shrug them off as being because that person is trying to console me for being so ugly. Why can’t I ever be happy with how you look?

Does this dialogue sound familiar? If you’re like many women today, this dialogue, to some degree, may be spoken internally at least once a day. Negative thoughts about ourselves can literally brainwash us into believing that we are ugly, inadequate, and unworthy. This self-inflicted mental abuse can even cause us to push away the people we love most: our spouse, significant other, or family.

Is Society Causing Us to Torture Ourselves?

The stress and pressure put on women today is unreasonable on so many levels. “Be the youngest, thinnest, most beautiful woman or you’ll lose your man, your job, and your self-esteem.” Is this really true? Are we so misled to believe that advertisements in the media, TV, and magazines should be our measure of worth as women? Do we actually believe that looking like a celebrity, actress, or model is our key to happiness?

Strip away the facade and see these things for what they really are:

• Advertisements are crafted to appeal and influence us on a deep psychological level. They do not portray real life or how people actually react when placed in those situations.
• Photographs of models and celebrities are photo-shopped to make it look like they have a perfect body with no flaws.
• Many models and celebrities have “come out” recently with admissions of falling victim to their industry pressures to stay thin by using illegal drugs or developing an eating disorder.
• Magazines and other forms of photo-based media can contribute to Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a mental disorder in which the person cannot see their body in real terms.

Give Yourself the Gift of Positive Thinking

With Valentine’s Day upon us, it’s time to think about those we love. When it comes down to it, if you’re finding that you spend every day hating your body and covering it up, isn’t it time to fix that?

Fixing it involves several important steps to building self-worth and self-esteem:

• Stop looking at other women’s appearance and trying to “measure up” to them. Models and actresses (on TV or in photos) are either airbrushed, photo-shopped, or can even be pushed to the point of drug addiction and eating disorders to cope with pressures.
• Begin by looking in the mirror every morning with nothing on. Tell yourself one positive affirmation about your physical appearance every day – and smile when you say it!
• Start a journal to discuss and sort out why you feel unhappy with your appearance. Sometimes writing it out will reveal some deeper issues such as those that stem from childhood.
• Therapy may be a viable option for those who have been so negative that they are unable to rise out of the pit of self-defeat they are used to being in.

Happy Valentine’s Day to YOU

In our cosmetic surgery centers, we are very cautious with patients we choose to treat. For women who want plastic surgery in response to a divorce, eating disorder, mental disorder such as BDD, or to look like someone else, we discourage surgery. Each patient undergoes a thorough interview during the consultation process to find out their motivation for wanting surgery.

For patients who are desiring plastic surgery for the right reasons, we are happy to help them correct or enhance areas of the face and body that are causing them distress. Nose injuries, post-weight loss, after pregnancy, and many other situations can all be excellent reasons for getting cosmetic surgery.

If you’re ready to visit our centers, get ready to meet with some of the best cosmetic surgeons in NYC and Long Island! Dr. Emmanuel Asare, Dr. Theodore Diktaban, and Dr. Gordon Andan are well-known and well-loved by our patients for their expertise, beautiful results, and friendly bedside manner.

Give yourself the gift of a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or liposuction for Valentine’s Day and go from “I hate my body” to “I’m so glad I did this for myself”!

Is Facial Fat Transfer Right for You?

For one reason or another, some women may not be satisfied with the appearance of their face. This could be a result of the aging process, a sudden injury or accident, or a facial deformity they were born with.

For women who are seeking a more natural option to reconstructive or facial plastic surgery, a fat transfer to the face could be the best choice.

 

Facial Fat Transfers

A facial fat transfer, also known as facial fat grafting, is rising in popularity amongst the cosmetic surgery community. This type of plastic surgery is one of the best ways you can rejuvenate your face naturally and permanently, without the use of incisions.

This is accomplished through a mini-liposuction procedure where fat from another area of the body, usually the abdomen or hips, is removed through a tiny cannula so that the liquefied fat can be used for the fat grafting procedure. The fat that was harvested from the body is specially purified before it is injected.

During the fat injection phase, patients use their own body fat to plump up emaciated or sunken areas of their face (cheeks, eyes, lips, or chin) to attain a more youthful and radiant appearance. Since the patient’s own fat is used in the procedure, there are no risks of allergic reactions or rejection.

Ideal Candidates

Ideal candidates for this procedure include patients who have wrinkles, creases, thinning lips, furrows and hollows in their face or individuals who have depressions or scars. Once the face has been injected with fat, there will be a small amount of volume loss where the injections were placed due to fat reabsorption into the body.

Are Results Permanent?

About 25% of the injected fat will be reabsorbed. To arrive at the very best results, the facial plastic surgeon will inject about 25% more fat into the areas than needed so that just the right amount will remain permanently. This is very different from dermal fillers, which need to be re-touched every 6-12 months, depending upon the materials used in the the face.

Get a Free Consultation to Learn More

For the very best in fat transfer to the face, make an appointment with one of our facial plastic surgeons. With decades of experience, Double Board Certification, and hundreds of happy patients, Advanced Cosmetic Surgery of New York offers the highest-quality procedures by the best facial plastic surgeon in NYC and Long Island. Call us today at 212.206.0023 or 631.499.1831.

Why King Tut Couldn’t Get Rid of Man Boobs

King Tut’s death has always been shrouded in mystery. Since the discovery of his tomb in 1922, historians, scientists, and medical professionals have come up with a wide range of theories about why the young king met such an early demise–at age 18 or 19.

Theories About Tut’s Man Boobs

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Most of these theories involve accidental circumstances or foul play. Some say the young king died of disease, snakebite, murder, or a fall. However, a recent theory by Hutan Ashrafian, a surgeon and lecturer at Imperial College London, suggests that the young king may have died from an incident caused by temporal lobe epilepsy, a genetic condition.

Temporal lobe epilepsy has been linked to feminine features in the body, including gynecomastia, or man boobs. Through studying statues of Tut and his family members, as well as the medical evidence from Tut’s mummy, Ashrafian presents a theory that the teenage king died from a fall caused by his epilepsy.

Many of the statues depicting Tut and his ancestors show “prominent gynecomastia” and larger hips than most other statues of the time period. Revealingly, many of his family members died prematurely as well, under similar mysterious circumstances. These deaths could easily be explained by accidents or other theories, but taken with the other evidence Ashrafian has presented, the idea of a genetic disorder becomes compelling, though it cannot be definitively proved.

If Ashrafian’s theory is correct, then is gynecomastia often linked to a serious medical condition? Should man boobs be a cause for alarm?

In most cases, no. However, a consultation with a doctor is advised to help determine the cause of the gynecomastia. The following medical conditions are sometimes causes of gynecomastia, though the cause is not always related to a disease or disorder. Some associations are extremely rare.

• Kidney failure
• Liver cirrhosis or liver disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Low testosterone
• Klinefelter’s Syndrome
• Male breast cancer

Even if gynecomastia is not associated with a condition that could cause physical harm, enlarged male breastscan cause a great deal of mental distress and a huge loss of confidence. Tutankhamen didn’t have access to gynecomastia surgery in 1322 BCE, but today, no man should have to live with the shame and embarrassment that man boobs cause.

Male breast reduction is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure at our gynecomastia New York offices. If you are suffering from gynecomastia, consider setting up a free consultation with our expert Long Island or NYC gynecomastia surgeons.

Sources:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/09/14/mystery-of-king-tuts-death-solved/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2202342/Curse-pharaohs-man-boobs-Tutankhamens-death-blamed-inherited-disorder-led-unusually-large-breasts.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21528812.400-tutankhamuns-death-and-the-birth-of-monotheism.html

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Plastic Surgery for All the Wrong Reasons

When I glanced through the news just now, a story caught my eye and I just had to blog about it. You might think it is a story about a fake doctor or provider trying to do plastic surgery with tragic consequences. You’d be wrong. Actually, that saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” applies to what I read. Scenes from that Twilight Zone episode are dancing through my head. Something is wrong here. Very wrong, indeed.

This news story is about a Chinese woman who recently was divorced by her husband for “misleading” him into thinking that she was beautiful when in fact she was not. She allegedly spent around $100K to beautify her face and body to “fix” her looks in order to feel that she qualified to get married. When the woman had their baby girl, the cat was out of the bag (or should I say the stitches were busted wide open). Sorry, a little medical humor there…

The woman was accused of having an affair after the baby girl was less than beautiful. When she revealed the reason why their daughter did not share her good looks, the husband decided he’d been defrauded and filed for divorce soon afterward. He sued…and won over $120K in his settlement! See this story for the full details.

Weighing In on Why This is Wrong

As if anyone needed to say this…but here goes. This is wrong on several levels. First, what does it matter if the wife had plastic surgery to look a certain way? A way that she felt would better prepare her physically to find a husband? Secondly, why are we so wrapped up as a culture in defining our looks as who we are on the inside?

People in general need to focus more on inner beauty and winning someone over with their heart and not their face or body. This is why her shallow husband didn’t work out – he was simply attracted to his wife for her looks. It went only skin deep.

To my patients out there thinking of a facelift, a body procedure, or any other type of plastic surgery: define your worth by who you are, not by how you look!

To Better Living from the Inside Out,

Dr. Asare

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Plastic Surgery for Men: Top 5 Procedures

While plastic surgery used to be exclusively for movie stars and women, it has now become widely accepted in today’s society for men to go under the knife.

According to data collected by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, out of the 1.5 million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States, 200,000 of them were performed on male patients last year.

Here is a list of the top 5 most popular plastic surgery procedures for men.

Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia, also known as man boobs, can be permanently treated with surgery to remove excess fat and glands from the male breasts.

About one fourth of the male population currently suffers from this condition and the only proven and permanent treatment is through surgery. Last year, 19,766 men were able to get rid of man boobs with this life-changing surgery.

Rhinoplasty

Whether it’s for aesthetic reasons or a medical condition, the amount of men receiving nose job surgery is on the rise.

Many men get rhinoplasty to fix a deviated septum so that they snore less and can breathe easier. Still more want to repair a nose injury they may have received from a fight, facial trauma, or sports-related injury.

Liposuction

The most popular plastic surgery among women is also one of the top procedures with men. Liposuction removes unwanted pockets of fat from multiple areas of the body, including the dreaded “beer gut”, “love handles”, “muffin top”, and other areas such as the thighs, arms, legs and buttocks.

Non-Surgical Procedures

In addition to traditional plastic surgery, many men are also opting for non-surgical treatments including “Bro-tox”, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, and dermal filler or fat injections to the face.

These procedures are generally more affordable than invasive surgeries. Patients generally undergo several treatments to see lasting results.

Hair Transplants

One of the biggest concerns for men is losing their hair. Many men feel that their self-confidence plummets along with their receding hairline.

In order to avoid shaving their heads or wearing a toupee, many men are opting to instead receive hair implants. According to the ASPS, the number of men who received hair transplants reached 13,000 in 2011.

If you are a man who is contemplating a procedure, consider visiting our New York facial plastic surgeon or gynecomastia surgeon today.

Dr. Asare and Dr. Diktaban have been named some of the best plastic and cosmetic surgeons in New York by many publications and in the media. Their elite reputation shows through in the superior results they give their patients.

If you’re ready to change your life and appearance for the better, our Long Island and NYC cosmetic surgery team is looking forward to hearing from you.

Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

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Two for One: Natural Breast Augmentations with Fat

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Many women feel that they have curves in all the wrong places. Instead of having full breasts and buttocks, they carry weight in their abdominal region, the thighs, or the buttocks. If you want to enhance the curves of your breasts but prefer a more natural method, a breast augmentation using fat may be perfect for you.

What is a Fat Transfer?

A fat transfer is a type of surgical procedure that increases the size and contour of one area of your body while reducing others through the use of your own fat cells. It’s a two-for-one surgery because unwanted fat can be removed from one part and then injected into another. So you’ll be able to have a more voluptuous bust AND fit into that sexy dress that’s been hiding at the back of your closet!

Fat transfers have fewer repercussions then other plastic surgery methods because your body will not reject its own fat cells. Plus, after the fat cells are transferred to the new area, they will start growing and produce permanent results.

Fat Transfer Side Effects

So you might be thinking, “This sounds too good to be true.” And you’re right. Despite being very rare, there are some side effects to fat transfers. Some of these include:

-          Fat atrophy or loss

-          Scarring on a mammogram if the fat does not survive and creates internal shadows

-          Lumpiness

-          Fat cells dying and a second fat transfer needed

Looking Great in Two Areas at Once

Fat transfers are perfect for people who want to fix two problem areas at once. If you want to tone up your buttocks and increase a cup size at the same time, then this surgery method is perfect for you!

Some women don’t want to insert a foreign object, such as a breast implant, into their body to achieve great results. This procedure is amazing because it is as natural as you can get.

Meet Our Team

The team of doctors at our fat grafting New York and butt augmentation NYC offices has been hailed by many publications as the best surgeons in New York. They are committed to using only the most advanced surgical procedures and offering them at a price that fits within anybody’s budget. If you want to check out this two for one surgery, give us a call today at 212.206.0023 or 631.499.1831.

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How to Lose Belly Fat: Abdominal Liposuction Gives Patients Hope

How to Lose Belly Fat: Hope for our Laser Lipo New York and Smart Lipo New York City Patients

Whether you refer to it as your spare tire, muffin top or pot belly, the tummy and waist are often very difficult to tone. Unfortunately, that excess weight around your middle is not just a cosmetic concern but a health concern too as it poses an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even some types of cancers.

The good news is that for our laser lipo New York patients considering treatment at our Smart Lipo New York City and Long Island centers, liposuction can potentially lower their risk of serious health concerns, making laser lipo cost well worth the combined cosmetic and medical benefits.

Smart Lipo New York City Patients Enjoy Cosmetic & Health Benefits

For years it’s been known that those who have a beer belly or an apple-shaped figure are at greater risk for certain health concerns like heart attacks and strokes. Even in individuals of normal or average weight, male or female, that excess weight around the middle can be dangerous.

But a new study has shown that abdominal liposuction can be very beneficial for these types of individuals. In a study of 322 patients undergoing liposuction and/or tummy tuck – 71% who had liposuction alone – patients showed a dramatic reduction in triglyceride levels and white blood cell counts.

Because high triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, this may equate to a decreased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes in these patients. This study found an average reduction of 43% in triglyceride levels after surgery in patients who had high, at-risk levels before surgery; triglyceride levels were unchanged in those with normal levels prior to surgery.

This is very exciting news for our laser lipo New York patients considering treatment at our Smart Lipo New York City and Long Island centers. Our patients find the laser lipo cost to be very affordable and well worth the aesthetic, and now health benefits as well.

Contact our Laser Lipo New York Experts for a Free Consultation

With this new study, it’s clear that liposuction can not only improve the way you look, but it can improve your health as well.

According to one online poster:

“Successful liposuction of upper and lower abdomen completely changed my appearance… Overall the surgery has had an extreme impact on my life.”

To learn more about laser fat removal or to schedule a consultation with our laser lipo New York specialists at our Smart Lipo New York City or Long Island office, contact Advanced Cosmetic Surgery of New York today.

Our specialists will go into detail about the procedure during your free consultation and will answer any questions you have regarding the procedure, laser lipo cost, or about liposuction recovery.

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