The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has released statistics for sugical and non-surgical procedures in 2011, and 2011’s winner for top surgical procedure is……………Liposuction! Liposuction defeated Breast Augmentation for the first time in three years, regaining its old crown! Toronto cosmetic surgery statistics generally match the American numbers, although Toronto breast implant numbers have been relatively steady as we have had access to cohesive gel breast implants for several years longer than Americans, and so the surge in Toronto breast augmentation surgery was spread over and longer time frame. Other procedures seeing increased popularity are the body contour surgeries (tummy tuck, breast lift, arm lift/brachioplasty), likely a reflection of successful…

Despite what your mamma told you, it’s also what’s outside that counts. Looking your best helps you to feel your best. It also helps you to make the most of your opportunities both socially and at work. Diet, exercise, and ‘choosing the right parents’ are important contributors to achieving good health and appearance, and many people also include cosmetic surgery in their formula for success. The increasing popularity of cosmetic surgery has predictably provoked some negativity, and it’s worth reflecting on the justification of this criticism. Does cosmetic surgery ‘raise the bar’, so that average-looking people lose out to those artificially enhanced by surgery? Yes, but why should naturally-attractive people…

We have long been impressed by the enthusiasm some patients have for botox injections, despite the modest (by surgical standards) cosmetic effect of the treatment. A recent study of the effect of Botox injections into the ‘frown muscles’ of patients with Chronic Depression indicates a powerful improvement in the symptoms of depression. If it is true that smiling makes you feel happy, perhaps not frowning makes you feel less sad!

Whether a mommy make-over or full rehab for a major weight-loss patient, body contour surgery is the most powerful tool for removing or lifting excess skin and fat on the abdomen (abdominoplaty/tummy tuck), breasts (breast lift/mastopexy), thighs (thigh lift), arms(arm lift/brachioplasty) and back/buttocks. Many consultations in our practice are focused on how much surgery to do in one operation. Some procedures go together very well, like liposuction hips with a tummy tuck, or tummy tuck and breast lift together. Advantages of combination procedures include: 1. single recovery period 2. lower cost- if procedures are compatible, once you are in the operating room it is cheaper to keep operating than to…

A recent patient was raving about the results of her arm lift (brachioplasty), and wondered why it was so hard to find an expert in a big city like Toronto. Brachioplasty is a procedure that often gets plastic surgeons in trouble. It isn’t a very common procedure, and so an inexperienced plastic surgeon may try to approach it like a ‘tummy tuck for arms’. This approach is certain to damage the many small nerves and lymphatics in the arm and will result in wound healing problems. If you see a surgeon to tighten up your arms, reduce excess fat, or both, make sure the surgeon has good experience with arm…