Avoiding “Buyer’s Remorse” after Cosmetic Surgery
September 4, 2010 - Rhys Branman, MD
Reality TV star Heidi Montag, who earlier this year had 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day, including a breast augmentation that gave her a G cup, is looking to get a breast reduction, reports ABC News. Is "buyer's remorse" becoming more common among cosmetic surgery patients? The plastic surgeons contacted by ABC News were divided. Dr. Julius Few, a Chicago plastic surgeon, feels it is increasing. "I think in part it's increasing because of the drop in reimbursement by insurance companies, which is driving doctors in other specialties into the plastic surgery market," he said. Dr. Timothy Miller, chief... 
A recent article published in the academic journal Body Image reported that teenagers who watch cosmetic surgery reality shows, such as Extreme Makeover, are more likely to opt for cosmetic surgery themselves. The researchers, Charlotte Markey, an associate professor of psychology at Rutgers–Camden, and her husband Patrick Markey of Villanova University, surveyed 170 participants (59% female) with an average age of 19.77 assessing their impression of reality television shows featuring cosmetic surgery, appearance satisfaction, self-esteem, and their interest in cosmetic surgery. According to the abstract, the results showed that “participants who reported favorable impressions of reality television shows featuring cosmetic... 
More cosmetic surgeons are performing an operation that reverses gauging, a procedure where one's earlobes are deliberately stretched and widened. The surgery is being requested by individuals who have regrets about having their lobes stretched, reports msnbc.com. Ear surgery, also known as otoplasty, is often requested by people going on a job interview, says Dr. Angelo Cuzalina, a cosmetic surgeon in Tulsa, Oklahoma and president-elect of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Cuzalina says, "It’s almost becoming a fad. People have the gauging procedure where they gradually stretch out their lobe so it has a giant hole that’s larger... 
The maker of the wrinkle treatment Dysport® announced that over 100,000 people have registered for the Dysport® Challenge. The challenge, which began in March, allows patients to save $75 when they try Dysport®. If they “love it," patients may receive $75 off their next Dysport® treatment; if they don’t, patients receive a $75 rebate off another botulinum toxin type A product, such as BOTOX®. Between March 1 and May 9, 2010, 91.2 percent of 22,416 patients who made a selection chose "Love It," according to Medicis, the maker of Dysport®. So far, only 2.6 percent of all registered patients have... 
Actress Claire Danes, the latest celebrity spokesperson for Latisse®, shows off her new longer lashes in a before and after photo gallery posted on latisse.com. Latisse® is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA to grow lashes longer, fuller and darker. Since its approval by the FDA in December 2008, about 1.5 million kits of Latisse® have been sold. Brooke Shields was the first celebrity spokesperson to use and promote Allergan's eyelash product. With photos at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of product use, the before and after gallery illustrates the product's effectiveness on Danes's... 