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Is Plastic Surgery the Ultimate Gift

Cameras, jewelry, iPods. These are things we expect to see on the wish lists of our friends and family. But, a face lift? Yep, it seems that cosmetic procedures have found their way into Santa’s sack.
With this trend, though, comes a warning. While giving someone a pricey surgery can be considered kind and loving, it can also come with problematic implications. Because the choice is such a personal one, gifting a plastic surgery procedure can be interpreted as meddling and insulting. If you’re thinking of bestowing a loved one with the gift of physical improvement this year, make sure it will be well-received.
Gift-Giver Beware
It wasn’t so long ago that plastic surgery was a hush-hush topic; something that people did but didn’t discuss. But with its rapid rise in popularity and the openness with which many celebrities discuss the work they’ve had, the stigma has been lifted. And with that lift, we’ve seen the fairly recent phenomenon of giving surgeries as gifts.
Presenting significant others and family members with cosmetic procedures has become increasingly common. And it’s not unusual for people to use the holiday season as an excuse to pay for a loved one’s surgery. This practice, however, can rub some people the wrong way.
Surprise Surgery
When it comes to buying someone else a surgery, the worst mistake is making it a surprise. For example, giving your girlfriend a gift certificate for a breast augmentation can cause offense if she didn’t ask for it. It would be like giving someone a membership for a weight loss program; it sends an obvious message that you’re unhappy with their appearance. What was meant to be a present is actually an insult.
There’s really no right way to offer someone a surgery unexpectedly. If you give a certificate for a specific procedure, it’s very clear that you’re critical of that particular part of their body. And if you give an open-ended certificate to a plastic surgeon’s office, it comes across as a general affront to their entire appearance. You might as well say, “I’d love you more if your body were different.”
The Right Way
Giving the gift of surgery is less problematic when it’s on the patient’s wish list. If someone expressly asks for a surgery, then the gift can be considered extremely generous and thoughtful. If the asker isn’t able to afford the procedure on their own, receiving it as a present can be a dream come true.
Before making a purchase, remember that the choice to have a plastic surgery is a very personal one that should be made without the influence of others’ desires for your appearance.
The best possible scenario goes as follows: You are absolutely certain that someone wants a specific procedure as a gift- and you give them a gift card. In a consultation, the surgeon will be able to fully inform the prospective patient about their options, the risks involved and the expected outcomes, as well as an accurate cost. Only after these preliminary steps, should the gift be considered.
There are certainly more conventional and less awkward gifts than that of a plastic surgery procedure. A present should never result in hurt feelings or compromise of one’s own desires. But, if you’re still thinking about wrapping up a surgery gift certificate, make sure it’s for the right reasons.

This note is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa


 

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New Evidence On What Women Can Expect After Breast Augmentation Surgery

Ninety-eight percent of women undergoing breast augmentation surgery say the results met or exceeded their expectations, according to a prospective outcome study published in the May issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Women also report improvements in self-esteem and quality of life after breast augmentation, according to the study by ASPS Member Surgeon Dr. Eric Swanson, a plastic surgeon in private practice in Leawood, Kan. The study adds high-quality information regarding expected outcomes after breast augmentation – including recovery time and psychological benefits.
98 Percent of Women Satisfied with Breast Augmentation Results
The survey study evaluated 225 consecutive women who returned for interviews at least one month after breast augmentation over a five-year period. Interviews included questions about the recovery, results, complications and psychological effects.
The average patient was 34 years old, and the majority of women received saline-filled breast implants placed under the muscle. The average implant volume was 390 cc.
On a 10-point scale, the women reported an average pain score during recovery of 5.9. On average, they used prescription pain medication for five days and were off work seven days. Patients felt they were “back to normal” about 25 days after surgery.
Eighty-five percent of women rated their new breast size “just right.” Thirteen percent would have preferred a larger size and less than two percent a smaller size. Only one percent expressed dissatisfaction with their scars, which were usually located in the crease under the breast. Seventy-five percent of women rated their breast firmness “just right.” When asked to rate the result, over half of the patients gave it a perfect 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. Almost all patients (98 percent) reported that the results met or exceeded their expectations.
Increased Self-Esteem and Other Psychological Benefits
Nearly 40 percent of the women surveyed experienced at least temporary nipple numbness after surgery. Persistent numbness was reported by only two percent. The complication rate reported by patients was 10 percent. When asked about psychological effects, 92 percent of women reported improved self-esteem after breast augmentation and 64 percent reported an improved quality of life. Before surgery, the majority of women (86 percent) were self-conscious about their breasts. After surgery, only 13 percent were self-conscious about them.
Breast augmentation is the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the United States – approximately 286,000 operations were performed in 2012, according to ASPS statistics. The study results provide new information for women considering breast augmentation, particularly in terms of their expectations of the recovery and results. “This study is valuable in providing information from the patient’s perspective, not the surgeon’s,” according to Dr. Swanson. “Patient satisfaction is the most important measure of surgical success.”
This news is brought to you courtest of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragone Plastic Surgery & Med Spa
Dr. Bishara, with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, TX- provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance. Please call our office for more information at (817) 473-2120.
 

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'Globalization' of Cosmetic Surgery- by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD

Would you consider traveling to Mexico or India for a less-expensive rhinoplasty or breast augmentation procedure? Would you consider traveling to Texas for a Robotic Hair Transplant procedure?  Many Americans are doing just that-and the trend is having an impact on the market for cosmetic plastic surgery.
The paper, by ASPS Member Surgeon Dr. Kevin C. Chung and Lauren E. Franzblau of the University of Michigan, discusses “the rise and transformation of the medical tourism industry, foreign and domestic forces that influence cosmetic surgical tourism, and the pros and cons for all involved parties.” Chung and Franzblau write, “The rapid globalization of the industry also marks a fundamental shift in the world’s perception of elective procedures: patients are becoming consumers and these medical services are being viewed as commodities.”
At the office of Dr. Mark Bishara, with offices in Mansfield and Southlake, TX- we have patients traveling from all over the world for Robotic Hair Transplants.  We perform the surgery in both of our locations, making it even easier for patients to access the closest office for them.
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More ‘Medical Tourists’ Are Traveling for Cosmetic Surgery
Traveling for medical care is nothing new-but in the past, people were more likely to travel from poor countries to obtain higher-quality care in wealthier countries. Today, prompted by the ease and relatively low costs of travel, more patients from the United States and other western countries are traveling to the developing world to access less-costly medical and surgical procedures. Because cosmetic plastic surgery procedures aren’t covered by insurance, they make up a major part of the burgeoning medical tourism market.
Figures vary, but there’s a consensus that medical tourism is growing rapidly: India alone may have more than one million medical tourists per year. Other countries with growing medical tourism industries include Mexico, Dubai, South Africa, Thailand and Singapore.
In many countries, governments are working actively to foster their medical tourism industry. Some destinations even market procedures performed in resort-like settings, encouraging patients to combine a vacation with cosmetic surgery. Traveling abroad also lets patients recuperate privately, without anyone at home knowing that they’ve had plastic surgery.
Raising Potential Concerns Over Safety and Quality
The growth of medical tourism may have a significant impact on the cosmetic surgery market in the U.S., but also raises concerns over physical safety and legal protection. Although destination countries promote the quality and safety of their procedures and facilities, there is often little evidence to support these claims.
“Because the practice of medical travel does not appear to be going away in the foreseeable future, plastic surgeons must understand the international market and learn to compete in it,” Chung and Franzblau write. Since U.S. surgeons may find it hard to compete on price, effective strategies may include emphasizing superior quality and safety of care, or developing “niche markets” of procedures that can be profitably performed at home.
The authors emphasize that medical tourism “is not purely good or bad”-neither for patients nor the countries involved. Patients may be drawn by lower costs, but must consider the potential risks of undergoing surgery in a foreign country, as well as traveling after surgery. ASPS provides information for patients considering travel abroad for cosmetic surgery, including risks and follow-up care.
For the U.S. and other developed countries, medical tourism means fewer patients and less revenue-but may also bring increased opportunities for collaboration with rapidly modernizing countries in other parts of the world. Chung and Franzblau conclude, “To retain patients and be competitive in a global market, U.S. plastic surgery must be vigilant of the changes in medical tourism and must adapt accordingly.”
This news is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and
The Paragon Surgery & Med Spa
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Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures by Age-by Dr. Mark Bishara, MD

Plastic surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States and the transformative power compels thousands of men and women to go under the knife every year. Unlike most surgeries, cosmetic procedures are not medically necessary which can make it hard to analyze the demographics. While each individual’s needs and wants differ when it comes to choosing a procedure, the most popular cosmetic surgeries can be broken down by age group. While trends in plastic surgery vary from year to year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2012 statistics report shows that some procedures are consistently popular with certain age groups. Here’s why.

Nose reshaping is widespread among 13-19 year-old patients, simply because the nose you were born with is the nose you will have for life. While other parts of the body can change given time or lifestyle habits, the shape and structure of your nose changes the least. The skin does thicken and the cartilage can lose its support, but for the most part, the defining features remain constant throughout life. Adolescents who are approaching adulthood oftentimes turn to rhinoplasty to get a new start or a fresh look as they embark on milestones such as high school graduation or the start of college.
On the other hand, breast augmentation is a popular procedure for those who have gone through puberty: 20-29 year-olds. The breasts are typically fully formed by that age, and the size and shape are at a fixed point. Shifts in weight, pregnancy and lifestyle (bra usage) may alter breast size and shape but in an unpredictable way. This is a time when image is very important to women, so they seek larger breasts in order to boost their self-confidence and balance the proportions of their new adult figures.
Once men and women reach their 30’s, their metabolism begins to slow down. They notice a change in the way their bodies deposit fat even if their exercise pattern and diet have remained the same. Certain body parts store stubborn fat that is hard to lose even with healthy eating and exercise. Liposuction has traditionally been the remedy to this problem. We have seen an increase in the popularity of newer technologies that provide less invasive options for fat reduction. However, liposuction remains time honored and consistent in providing the most predictable results. A variety of techniques are available to safely remove fat and sculpt curves.
The 40’s are a time when the aging process really begins to set in. We typically start to see the earlier signs of aging around the eyes and forehead. The skin around the eye is prone to wrinkle and show redundancy. The upper eyelids and forehead can begin to droop and give a tired or sad appearance. Thus it’s no surprise that patients between the ages of 40-54 are likely to undergo an eyelid and/or brow lifting surgery in order to minimize these changes. The lower eyelids are treated by removing or tightening skin as well as treating fat pockets.
Finally, the facelift is an extremely popular procedure for those 55 and older. At this point, there are multiple parts of the face that need rejuvenating. The cheeks typically fall or deflate, the corners of the mouth turn down, jowls appear, the jawline loses its contour and the neck becomes loose and droopy at times, showing bands under the chin. A facelift helps restore a youthful appearance by addressing these parts that have aged including the eyelids, sagging of the neck and volume loss in the cheeks. Combinations of procedures can lift the brow, the mid face or cheek area and tighten the jaw line while treating jowls and reshaping the neck.
Of course everyone ages differently and each person’s goals are different, but these tend to be the most popular procedures by age group. Do any of these surprise you? What procedure have you been thinking about?
Dr. Mark Bishara provides a wide range of cosmetic procedures to help patients look and feel their best. These procedures are designed to improve the appearance of the face and body through minimally invasive techniques that provide highly effective results. Many of these procedures can be combined in order to achieve your desired appearance. Please call our office at (817) 473-2120 for more information.

 

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Highlight of Services at Dr. Mark Bishara's Offices in Mansfield & Southlake

Dr. Mark A. Bishara, is an experienced cosmetic surgeon that specializes in a wide range of hair restoration treatments, as well as face and body plastic surgery procedures. Dr. Bishara’s main focus is to help patients restore or achieve their ideal appearance in order to feel confident about the way they look.
Dr. Bishara’s unique treatments offer patients hair restoration, cosmetic surgery procedures that help sculpt the appearance of the face and body to help patients look and feel their best. Facelift, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are just some of the many procedures Dr. Bishara offers.

Brow/Eyelid Lift

Brow/Eyelid lifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired. Using either traditional or minimally invasive methods, the muscles above the eyes are altered to smooth lines and raise the eyebrows for a more youthful appearance. This procedure is often combined with others to improve the look of the eyes.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation helps women with small or unevenly-sized breasts achieve a fuller, firmer and better-proportioned look through the placement of breast implants. Women may elect to undergo this procedure for many different reasons, including balancing breast size and compensating for reduced breast mass after pregnancy or surgery

Body Contouring

The aim of body contouring is to excise the skin for both cosmetic and functional purposes. Although it is possible to perform a full body lift in one lengthy session, most doctors prefer to break up body contouring surgeries for the safety and comfort of the patient. Combined procedures can be performed assuming a slightly higher increased risk in blood transfusion. The body contouring procedures are split up into a few of the most common areas operated on:

Most of these surgeries result in lengthy scars. The incisions are situated in normally covered areas of the body, such as under the arms or below the waist line. All post bariatric body contouring consultations are performed by our master surgeon, Dr. Mark Bishara.
The ARTAS System- Robotic Hair Transplants
The ARTAS SystemFor the very latest technology in hair restoration, Dr. Bishara is now using the ARTAS System. This interactive, computer assisted equipment employs image guidance to enhance the quality of hair follicle harvesting. ARTAS is the first hair transplant robot to improve the most challenging aspects of Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). It received clearance from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in April 2011.
robotic hair transplants

Minimally Invasive Procedures

More and more patients are now seeking treatment to reduce or eliminate the signs of aging on their face, hands and body. Minimally invasive procedures offer patients the results they desire without the hassle and lengthy downtime often associated with cosmetic surgery procedures. These treatments are designed to provide subtle enhancements that can improve your targeted problem areas, while allowing you to return to work and your regular activities the very same day.
Dr. Bishara is proud to offer a wide range of dermal fillers and other enhancing, minimally invasive procedures such as chemical peels and laser liposuction.  We offer Botox, Xeomin, Juvederm, and Radiesse

Our Paragon Med Spa Services

Laser Hair Removal, Laser Tattoo Removal, IPL Fotofoacial, Skin Tightening, Skin Resurfacing and Laser 360. We also offer many different types of peels and microdermabrasion.
At the office of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Med Spa, we have many more services that we offer.  Please contact a member of our staff to find out more information at (817) 473-2120.
 

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