Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

Increase of 165% on non-invasive treatments over the Summer according to The Private Clinic

2009-10-09T12:00:00.003+01:00

There has been a surge in the number of people having cosmetic procedures to treat unsightly veins, according to figures released today by The Private Clinic of Harley Street.

The clinic has seen a 165% increase in the number of patients coming through its doors to have their varicose, spider or thread veins treated over the summer period.

Managing Director of The Private Clinic Group (which has two clinics in London and branches nationwide), Valentina Petrone, says that the rise is down to new developments in the industry, and an increasing awareness of the new non-invasive treatments available.

“We saw a huge increase in the number of patients being treated over the summer. People who had normally hidden their legs away all-year round were coming to us because of the new treatment options available to them.

“Summer is the time when people tend to be more conscious about their bodies, and the time when they are more likely to have their legs on show, and we experienced a huge surge in patients because of that.

“We also have employed three of the top vascular surgeons in the country, and so when people do their research about where to have the treatment, they know they are in the safest of hands at The Private Clinic.”

One of the vascular consultants at the clinic, Dr Constantinos Kyriakides, says that the recent developments in the industry have undoubtedly contributed to the increase in patient numbers this year; “Previously, the only treatment available for varicose veins was a procedure called ‘Stripping’ which involved an operation under general anaesthetic and a significant amount of downtime.

“The new varicose vein procedure is called Endovenous Laser Treatment, or EVLT. It is a minimally invasive method, which is performed under local anaesthetic and is completed in about 45 minutes. This means that patients can return to normal activity almost straight away, and experience far less comfort and disruption, than with more traditional treatment methods”
The other procedures available at The Private Clinic for the treatment of veins include Scelotherapy and the CoolGlide laser.

Established in 1983 in Harley Street, The Private Clinic is widely recognised as one of the leading names in the field of cosmetic medicine, treating thousands of patients to successfully tackle a wide range of problems.

For more information on the clinic and the treatments available please visit www.theprivateclinic.co.uk.

Plastic Surgery Predictions For This Year

2009-05-03T14:12:00.005+01:00

Sometimes it is hard to keep up with all the new news coming out of the US pertaining to Cosmetic Surgery. The lovely people over at The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) certainly have been keeping us busy of late with all of their new studies, they take some getting through but we like nothing more here at UCompare Towers.

ASAPS predictions for this year are a result of their interviewing many of the worlds top cosmetic surgeons to find out what developments they are seeing coming through at their own practices.

For starters any regulars to this blog will know that there has been a amazing increase in the diversity of patients considering undertaking cosmetic surgery over the last ten years. This trend is expected to continue apace as new procedures are developed to appeal to an ever widening audience within an ever increasing population.

The continued entry into the market of new providers of cosmetic fillers is likely to continue the desire for procedures involving cosmetic fillers such as Juvederm. As a relatively simple procedure, cosmetic filler applications are certainly on the increase.

We already know there is a much heightened awareness of the health implications of obesity, pleasingly this has led to increasing numbers of people making a concerted effort to loss weight, often considerable amounts. Inevitably where this is occurring there is an inevitable increase in procedures being undertaken to assist with realigning the body's contours post weight lose. Cosmetic surgery procedures such as lower body lifts, arm lifts, and abdominoplasty are likely to rise over the coming year.

There is a good chance that Reloxin, which is a form of botulinum, will gain approval from the Food & Drug Administration this year. If this does occur then it will compete directly with Botox. Botox has been by some margin the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure for the last half decade. Given the size of the market that Botox currently has all to itself it is likely that further products of a similar nature will also enter pre-market clinical trials over the coming year. All in all there is likely to be quite a scrap for market share in this category of cosmetic surgery, which could well lead to downward pressure on the current pricing of Botox procedures.....again time will tell.

Pop back tomorrow for more predictions for the coming year at your favourite cosmetic surgery blog from the good people at UCompare Cosmetic Surgery.

More Females Visit Cosmetic Surgeons

2009-05-02T13:54:00.002+01:00

So a little more on the recent AACS study that we mentioned yesterday. It appears that whilst two percent fewer males visited cosmetic surgeons in 2008 there was an increase in female visits to the tune of a whopping twenty nine percent. So whilst it appears males have been cutting back on cosmetic surgery procedures in the States their female counterparts most certainly have not.

The report highlights that ladies have been undergoing less invasive procedures, possibly because they cost less and have a quicker recovery time. Procedures that fit into these categories include Botox and resurfacing via laser. Laser resurfacing has also benefited from a considerable decrease in price to the tune of $460 since 2001.

The report goes on to point out that over the last 3 years there has been a significant increase in both males and females undergoing cosmetic surgery procedures. Male patients have increased by a massive four hundred and sixty percent whilst female patients have increased by two hundred and fifteen percent. Plainly whilst the market for male procedures may be cooling off slightly at the moment, over a longer time frame the increases remain very impressive. No doubt the industry for male cosmetic surgery procedures will continue to improve apace once the economy starts recovering again......when that will be.......who knows.

Male cosmetic surgery numbers down in 2008

2009-05-01T09:14:00.002+01:00

Those lovely people over at The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery (AACS) have conducted another of their annual procedure surveys and the lovely people at UCompare Cosmetic Surgery have been taking a closer look. Over the next few days we will be bringing you some of the latest reports highlights.

So first off it would appear that men underwent less cosmetic surgery procedures in 2008 in the USA. The survey highlighted that throughout 2008 surgery practices had seen a full two percent decrease in male clients. This is particularly surprising given that last year was stellar in the increase of female client numbers (More of that to follow). Over recent years there have been rather similar percentage gains between the two sexes.

Liposuction remains a key procedure for males whilst laser resurfacing continues to increase in popularity, particularly as the prices has reduced by around four hundred and fifty dollars over the last seven years.

Back to Cosmetic Surgery

2009-04-29T08:36:00.002+01:00

Well after a rather long absence we are back again having finally solved our technical difficulties. Losing your blog is not much fun, especially when you rather enjoy writing it up whenever time permits.

The world of cosmetic surgery continued to spin nicely on its axis whilst we were gone, it seems inevitable that the downturn would have some effect on the number of smart lipo procedures being undertaken, but from what we are hearing there is still a great deal of procedures going ahead for the moment. Lets see how we fare going forward.

So add us back onto your daily reading list to keep up to date on all the latest news about rhinoplasty, liposuction and all things cosmetic surgery procedures. You love reading it and we can't wait to get back to writing it for you.

What Price Laser Eye Surgery?

2009-01-22T22:05:00.000Z

What price indeed. laser eye surgery has become pretty popular over the last few years with around seventy five thousand people thought to undertaking the surgery each year in the UK. However with ten million short sighted people in the UK, this represents a fairly small percentage of the overall potential market.

Laser eye surgery involves the permanently changing the cornea of each eye so that the patient no longer requires glasses or contact lenses for perfect vision. The procedure itself takes very little time, in fact only a few minutes. Local anaesthetic, usually in the form of eye drops is required, otherwise very little preparation is required prior to undertaking laser eye surgery.

So why the limited take up of laser eye surgery? Well one likely factor is the confusing pricing that cannot be helping consumers decide to go ahead with laser eye procedure. A brief look around on google uncovered one clinic in the north east charging just shy of four thousand pounds for surgery on both eyes. Whilst for average shortsightedness, most clinics seem to be pricing laser eye surgery in the £295 to £2,300 per eye.

It is worth shopping around, as more clinics enter the market there certainly seems to be a fair amount of downward pressure on pricing for laser eye surgery, we'll keep a close eye on things and report back if we see prices falling. As ever safety is paramount so do your research before choosing a clinic.

If you are interested in laser eye surgery why not surf over to UCompare for a bit more information.

Working Hard to Fund Cosmetic Surgery

2009-01-21T20:32:00.000Z

Our friends over at Harley Medical Group, currently the biggest cosmetic surgery provider in Britain have taken a good look at how people are paying for their cosmetic surgery procedures and have discovered that many are working over time to pay for their cosmetic procedures. Patients are apparently taking on a 2nd job or working increased hours in order pay for their surgery in the present economy.

Harley Medical found that over its twenty three surgeries across Britain a full twenty two percent of its patients had undertaken extra work in order to pay for their procedure. A similar survey six months prior to this one found that only eleven percent of patients had undertaken extra work in order to fund their procedures.

It would seem that of those patients that undertook extra work most did so for between six and twelve months in order to help pay for their cosmetic procedure. As well as undertaking the further work patients are apparently willing to dip into savings and consider putting off other expenses such as home decorations in order to undertake their procedures. Harley Medical also commented that they are find that amongst females breast augmentation is their current most requested procedure. Liposuction followed breast augmentation as the currently most requested procedure. At the same time rhinoplasty and liposuction are proving popular choices amongst males undertaking one or more procedures at their clinics.

Silicone Implants for Breast Augmentation Surgery

2009-01-13T22:55:00.000Z

As we know one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures is breast augmentation, often with the use of silicone breast implants. A recent study of the health implications of using silicone implants for breast augmentation surgery has has found zero increase in the risk of cancers, connective tissue diseases and other diseases. The study appeared in the Annals of Plastic Surgery last November.

In excess of a dozen scientific studies have looked into the risk of cancer as a result of breast implants and have shown rather similar results to date. The studies have shown no evidence of an increase in breast or other cancers among females with silicone breast implants.

There has long been a concern that the use of implants during the breast augmentation procedures will retard the detection of early onset breast cancers using mammograms. There have been concerns from some studies suggesting that mammograms may work less efficiently in females with breast implants. There has however been no studies to date that demonstrate evidence of survival rates for cancer being lower in women who have used breast implants when undergoing breast augmentation surgery.

Further studies have suggested that problems with the use of implants for breast augmentation surgery are not common and rarely cause the need for further surgery, in fact when further surgery is required it is generally as a result of contractures hardening of tissue surrounding the breast implants.

Cosmetic Vaginal Surgery Claims Questioned

2009-01-09T08:30:00.000Z

Linda Cardozo, Professor of Urogynaecology and Consultant Gynaecologist for Women's Health at Kings College London has expressed concerns about the increasing amount of vaginal surgery procedures being undertaken for cosmetic reasons. Professor Cardozo is concerned at the amount of press being given to claims of 'satisfied customers' by both the media.

Professor Cardozo was speaking at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 7th International Scientific Meeting last September, making a point that there simply is not any medical literature to substantiate claims about cosmetic vaginal surgery.

Professor Cardozo explained that whilst there has been growing interest in cosmetic vaginal surgery over recent years, and increasing coverage in the popular press, there is very little scientific evidence to assist gynaecological surgeons as to risks and measure of effectiveness of such procedures.

So what are the cosmetic procedures to which Cardozo referrs, for example there is labiaplasty which reduces the size of the labia. Hymenoplasty which restores the hymen, and 'vaginal rejuvenation'. If women who are interested in cosmetic vaginal surgery were aware of the lack of the scientific medical literature pertaining to this field it is unlikely they would be comfortable proceeding with such surgery. Further, literature pertaining to pelvic reconstructive surgery points out that repeated surgery on the vagina increases the likelihood of scarring, loss of sensation and a diminishing sexual function; quite the contrary to the likely reason for considering the procedure.

Cardozo suggested that for those considering cosmetic vaginal surgery as a way to restore sexual function should seriously consider other less physiologically invasive options first.

It would seem there is some way to go before the benefits or otherwise of cosmetic vaginal surgery are fully understood.

Gift Vouchers for Cosmetic Surgery

2009-01-08T09:07:00.000Z

A joyous New Year to one and all. As the turkey mountain subsides news reaches Ucompare towers that 2008 has been a record year for the sale of cosmetic surgery gift vouchers in Great Britain. Depending on who you listen to it would seen that cosmetic surgery vouchers hit the top of the 'Most Wanted' list for both women and men. Regulars to this blog will already now that cosmetic surgery procedures have been gaining in popularity for some time now so perhaps we should not be too surprised by this new information.

The Birkdale Clinic who operate clinics in Liverpool, Rotherham, and Sheffield have stated that this year they have seen a thirty percent increase in christmas gift vouchers being bought for women, bringing in sales of twenty six thousand pounds. At the same time gift vouchers for procedures for gents increased by a whopping sixty percent.

So what were to top five procedures for Christmas?

1. Breast Augmentation

2. Tummy Tuck

3. Botox

4. Facelift

5. Liposuction

No surprises there then. Any of our lovely readers receive a gift voucher for cosmetic surgery this year? If so let us know if you think they are a great gift or not.

Overseas Cosmetic Surgery

2009-01-06T17:11:00.004Z

As you will have read on these very pages lately there has been much coverage in the popular press of late regarding overseas cosmetic surgery. One always has to be careful when choosing a clinic and surgeon to performs ones cosmetic surgery procedure, never more so than when looking to lower cost countries if you are looking for cheaper procedure costs. As we have always said at UCompare cosmetic surgery you need to spend time looking into the bodies that monitor cosmetic surgery in any country you are considering, ensuring that they hold their members to the highest standards, and whether or not any surgeon or clinic you choose is a member of said body.

There is no denying that there are some great cosmetic surgery services available outside of the UK, Prague and Belgium for example have proven to be popular destinations for UK patients to date. Prague Beauty for example is one organisation held in high regard for their cosmetic surgery work. Prague Beauty specialise in many areas of cosmetic surgery, including; liposuction, breast augmentation and eyelid surgery. If you fancy having a chat with the nice people at Prague Beauty why not give them a call on 0845-463-8165.

Prague Beauty conduct their procedures from the Saint Anna's Clinic which is near the centre of Prague. Their surgeons are fully registered and have a high level of qualification. Most importantly, even though they operate in Prague, they are a UK company and as such are governed by British medical guidelines and operate under British law.

Another interesting factor of the increase in overseas travel for cosmetic surgery is the advent of insurance for patients. Angelis insurance recently became the first organisation to offer insurance specifically to candidates travelling overseas for dental, cosmetic and medical treatments. With more of us travelling abroad for those cosmetic procedures being able to source insurance to do so is a welcome addition.

More Cosmetic Surgery Predictions for the New Year

2009-01-06T10:32:00.000Z

Following on from our last post looking at predictions for cosmetic surgery for 2009 the next prediction from the ASAPS is that males will continue to be a growing segment of the aesthetic cosmetic surgery market. When the ASAPS commissioned a survey of consumers in 2008 it discovered that fifty seven percent of males approved of cosmetic surgery, and that a full twenty percent would consider undertaking surgery themselves. Even though only 57% of respondents approved of cosmetic surgery, apparently seventy nine percent would be happy for someone other than a family member to know they had undertaken a cosmetic surgery procedure (hmmm.....). Anyhow one thing is clear, men are increasingly discovering the benefits of cosmetic surgery and are willing to undertake a procedure themselves.

Next up and not surprisingly, is that minimally invasive and non surgical cosmetic procedures will again grow in numbers throughout 2009. Surgeons and manufacturers are constantly developing new methods that are advancing this category of cosmetic surgery, thereby reducing the time taken for patient recovery.

Finally it is predicted that there may be less overseas cosmetic surgery procedures undertaken during 2009 as the cosmetic surgery consumer becomes more sophisticated in how they choose their clinics and surgeons. It is clear that an educated consumers are more likely to ensure they understand the risks associated with cosmetic surgery procedures and the absolute necessity of using an appropriately accredited surgeon. As a consequence of the efforts to educate the consumer there is likely to be much greater focus on the methods by which surgeons gain board accreditation and the bodies providing such accreditation around the world.

New Year, Cosmetic Surgery Predictions

2009-01-05T08:30:00.000Z

New Year and new predictions for cosmetic surgery in 2009. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) which provides board certification for plastic surgeons in the US, has again given us their predictions for cosmetic procedures in 2009.

The first prediction is that aesthetic cosmetic surgery will continue to increase in popularity across an ever wider spectrum of the population as surgeons continue to develop procedures to cater to many more procedure candidates.

Interest in cosmetic fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, and Evolence will carry on growing as new products come to market and continue to evolve.

Unfortunately our population is becoming heavier as we get larger. Increasingly though we are realising the negative effects of obesity, leading to a greater number of patients seeking procedures for body shaping after weight loss. It is expected that procedures such as lower body lifts, abdominoplasty, and upper arm lifts will increase over 2009.

It is predicted that Reloxin will gain FDA approval in 2009, possibly leading to approval other countries as a consequence. This will lead to it competing with the extremely popular Botox procedure. Expect to see similar products enter clinical trials as this valuable sector of the cosmetic surgery market continues to grow throughout 2009.

Sadly it is predicted that there will be further horror stories from patients who have tried to cut corners and gone offshore to find either surgery or injectables at discount prices. Hopefully there will be an increase in that availability of good information for procedure candidates helping them to avoid bad choices.

Fat removal by non invasive methods is likely to become a massive cosmetic surgery market in the future, expect therefore to see continued clinical trials in this segment. It is likely that methods such as Ultrashape and SonosSculpt will become a future alternative to liposuction and smart lipo.

We will have more predictions for 2009 from the ASAPS tomorrow so head back over to see what else we are likely to see in cosmetic surgery this year.

Breast Sizing for Breast Augmentation Surgery

2008-12-14T19:21:00.000Z

So you have decided to go ahead with a breast augmention surgery procedure. You know the breast augmentation procedure will result in larger breasts, but how much larger?

Considering by how much to augment ones breast can be a tricky and emotional decision for many procedure candidates. Choosing an incorrect augmentation size for implants is one of the most common reasons for post augmentation corrective surgery having to occur.

To help with the process of deciding on the size of ones implants has just become easier with the creation by L W Gatz of their trademarked 'Breast Sizing Purlz'. The purlz are tester implants that are designed to affect the feeling of variously sized implants. Previously women have used bags filled with water for example to try and get the feel for their impending breast sizes. Theses implants are made of microfiber spandex blended fabric filled with polyethylene plastis beads, providing test volumes.

The Purlz are made of microfibre spandex and contain one hundred percent polyethylene plastic beads, therebey imitating the volume of and breast implant being considered. The Purlz methid uses a set of hooks to secure the imitation implant in place as opposed to the usual pocket method. This is claimed to provide a more realistic experience for the tester and therefore improve the decision making process for the cosmetic surgery candidate.

NHS Underwriting Overseas Cosmetic Surgery

2008-12-11T14:10:00.000Z

In the United Kingdom The British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) has suggested that the government consider disseminating guidance to the National Health Service on what is becoming a bit of a sticky subject. There has been quite a bit of coverage in the British press of late concerning overseas cosmetic surgery. BAPRAS is concerned about how the NHS treat patients who are experiencing problems as a result of having undertaken procedures abroad.

BAPRAS argue that by treating problems caused by UK patients undertaking cosmetic surgery procedures abroad resources are being removed from patients in the UK waiting for non cosmetic plastic surgery.

Recently data published by the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery found twenty three percent of BAPRAS membership have treated NHS patients with complications as a result of procedures performed outside of the UK.

The report suggested that in 2007, plastic surgeons saw at least 208 patients across the UK for complications caused by botched foreign cosmetic plastic surgery. Of this 208 twenty six percent required emergency surgery, thirty one percent opted to have elective surgery to remedy their initial surgery, thirty three percent had non-surgical treatment as an out patient and eight percent had non surgical treatment as in patients.

The report goes on to highlight that the most frequent issues were due to breast augmentation procedures as seen in sixty one percent of patients, twenty four as a result of abdominoplasty, fifteen percent for breast reductions and ten percent as a result of face or neck lifts.

As we said at the top of the post there has been a fair amount of anti foreign cosmetic surgery rhetoric in the UK media of late, how much of this is PR in order to put people off travelling abroad for their surgery and protecting the livelihoods of UK surgeons we do not know. We are also unsure at the moment how many people are travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery each year and therefore how much of a percentage of that number the incidents in the Journals article represent. We also wonder how many complications result from UK elective cosmetic surgery each year, and again what percentage this represents. All questions that we will be thinking about and hoping to report back on in the near future.

Whatever the answers to those questions, one thing is clear; complications can arise as a result of elective cosmetic surgery on occasions no matter which country the procedure is performed in. In order to avoid complications it is extremely important for all procedure candidates to do their homework before choosing their surgeons. Make sure you are aware of the correct qualifications the surgeon should have to perform your chosen procedure, and that the qualifications are up to date. Ucompare cosmetic surgery have examples of checks that should be considered as do many of the websites of the worlds leading plastic surgery associations, so do the homework and do not become a cautionary statistic no matter which country you choose to have you surgery in.

Surgicare Signs On With Ucompare

2008-12-11T11:47:00.000Z

Here at Ucompare, we are committed to providing our users with a choice from the very best cosmetic surgery clinics in each market. As such, we are pleased to announce that Surgicare, one of the UK's leading cosmetic surgery clinics has teamed up with Ucompare as of last week. Surgicare are one of the most well respected names within the UK cosmetic surgery industry, and with over 16 years experience are one of the most well known.

Surgicare offer a wide range of cosmetic surgery procedures including breast enhancement, liposuction, smartlipo, ear correction and eye-bag removal surgery. They also offer a wide range of weight loss surgeries throughout their extensive network of UK clinics.

If you would like to find out more information on Surgicare, and the range of procedures they offer, why not visit the main Surgicare clinic page on the Ucompare cosmetic surgery website. We look forward to seeing you there!

Cosmetic Surgery, one of life's little pleasures during the downturn

2008-11-18T14:43:00.000Z

We here at Ucompare Cosmetic Surgery towers love to treat ourselves and our loved ones on a fairly frequent basis. Fresh flowers for the office, and delicious meals in our favourite restaurants to name but a couple of our indulgences. Well it would seem we are not alone, a small piece crossed our desks today from the Financial Times commenting on how many people in the UK are following our lead.

It would seem that our friends at Harley Medical Group are enjoying 'rampant demand' at the moment. For those of you who haven't seen the information regarding Harley Medical on UCompare they are one of the UK's larger cosmetic surgery companies with 23 clinics across the UK and Ireland. Harley Medical's chairman Mel Braham stated "People think long and hard about cosmetic surgery operations and may have been planning their surgery for the last three years". Apparently tummy tuck and liposuction procedures have risen by 51 per cent and 71 per cent respectively since January, whilst the demand for rhinoplasty has risen 45 per cent over the same timeframe.

Along with strong growth over recent weeks in demand there have also been increased inquiries regarding less invasive surgery such as laser hair removal and botox. So even with all of the bleak economics stories we are hearing in the press these days the British remain determined to continue looking their best.

If you would like more information regarding Harley Medical or any of the procedures mentioned anywhere on this blog then head on over to Ucompare Cosmetic Surgery and take a look.

Transform Adverts Are 'Misleading' Claim Harley Medical Group

2008-11-17T09:26:00.000Z

An article out yesterday in the Guardian newspaper has reported that the Advertising Standards Authority has been forced to act on a complaint filed with them regarding specific claims advertising placed by the Transform Group. The complaint, which was filed by Harley Medical Group, claims that Transform have exaggerated their reputation in the UK cosmetic surgery industry.

The ASA have now ruled that Transform, led by Pat Dunion, can nolonger call themselves ‘Britains most trusted cosmetic surgery group.’ It was ruled that the claims, made on a series of adverts in numerous leading consumer magazines breached the their code of practice on four grounds, truthfulness, substantiation and matters of opinion.

Harley Medical, one of Transforms leading rivals in the UK cosmetic surgery marketplace, claimed that the adverts placed in Company, Cosmopolitan and Glamour was misleading. Harley Medical Group claimed that they, rather than Transform, had the highest level of patient recommendation in the UK, and as such, the claim was misleading.

Liposuction Surgery

2008-11-17T09:06:00.000Z

Liposuction surgery is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures, and today a large number of cosmetic surgery clinics throughout the UK offer liposuction surgery.

Liposuction surgery sees the removal of localised fatty deposits removed, allowing for a recontouring of a specific area of the body. The most common areas were liposuction surgery is performed include the hips, chin, thighs and the main stomach region. Typically, liposuction is performed on areas which have proven particularly resilient to the more traditional forms of weight loss such as dieting and exercise.

As with all forms of cosmetic surgery, it is necessary to have realistic expectations of what can be achieved through liposuction. Your surgeon will talk with you extensively regarding the potential results and implications, as well as taking you through what is involved during the procedure.

As mentioned previously, Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures, and in the vast majority of instances the patient is very pleased with the final results. Noticeable changes to your body contours are immediately apparent following the surgery, and it is likely that the patient will be more at ease with their new body shape and size.

High Satisfaction rate for Breast Augmentation

2008-10-24T12:17:00.000+01:00

Almost 348,ooo women undertook breast augmentation in the US last year, the most of any cosmetic surgery procedure in any country in the world. On top of these figures a further 105,00 undertook breast reductions and a similar number underwent breast lifts. All of these figures come from a soon to be released study by The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

The same study rather pleasingly found that breast lifts and augmentations, or a combo of both achieved high rates of satisfaction for the patient whilst improving their self esteem and life quality. Again rather pleasingly; ninety nine percent of those women who responded to the survey stated they would have the surgery again. Ninety one percent of respondents stated they had heightened self esteem as a result of undertaking their procedures.

Interestingly all of the respondents' procedures had involved the vertical methodology for their procedures.

Respondents stated average usage of prescription analgesics was less than six days allowing the resumption of driving on average within six days as well. The average length of time before returning to work after these cosmetic surgery procedures was less than 8 days whilst most claimed to be back to normal within a month.

Many satisfied patients by the sound of things from were we are reading, check back here or on ucompare-cosmeticsurgery.com for more information as we make our way through the study.

Harley Medical Group - New Trends In Liposuction

2008-09-18T14:52:00.001+01:00

The Harley Medical Group, one of the UK's leading cosmetic surgery clinics, has recently been reporting on trends it has noticed within the UK cosmetic surgery market, and in particular with patients who have been chosing to have liposuction procedures.

According to the Harley Medical Group, one of the most noticeable trends was in the type of liposuction procedures that patients were requesting, and in particular the regions were they were requesting the fatty deposits to be removed from. Whilst traditional liposuction was used to remove unwanted deposits on the stomach region, an increasing number of patients are now looking to have liposuction performed on the areas above the knees (knee saddles), the back areas, the upper arms (bingo wings) and the region between the calves and the ankles (cankles).

More information on liposuction procedures.

The Harley Medical Group are a partner of our UK cosmetic surgery site, and more information on the company can be found on our UK site.

Breast Augmentation Surgery On The Increase

2008-09-18T14:52:00.000+01:00

A recent report from the US based Freedonia Group has predicted that the number of cosmetic surgery procedures will exceed 18m by the end of 2012, with demand for cosmetic surgery products averaging annual growth levels of 8.4% for the next four years.

According to the group, a large percentage of the growth in cosmetic surgery procedures can be attributed to the growth in the number of breast augmentation procedures being performed. This is particularly relevant given the recent return of the silicone filled breast implants, which were initialled banned by the FDA in the early 1990’s.

Today, breast augmentation surgery is the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedure, with over 300,000 procedures being performed each year in the United States alone.
More information on breast augmentation surgery.

Cosmetic Surgery Patients Getting Older

2008-09-12T09:17:00.000+01:00

In 2007 the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery conducted its 'Procedural Survey'. Data from a five year survey shows that the average age of cosmetic surgery patients undergoing one of the ten most popular invasive surgeries has risen by approximately three years to slightly above 42. Interestingly the average age for patients undergoing non invasive procedures is also a smidge above 42.

And what procedures are proving most popular? Well when it comes to invasive surgery liposuction remains the number on choice, as it has been for all of this decade. Botox injections remain the most common non invasive cosmetic surgery procedure.

55,000,000 Cosmetic surgery procedures each year by 2015

2008-09-11T21:36:00.000+01:00

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons' in house medical journal 'Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery' has predicted that by 2015 there will be more than 55 million cosmetic surgery procedures performed each year. This compares with less than 14 million in 2005, a substantial increase by any measure. The society found that between 1992 and 2005 of all the procedures performed by its members non surgical procedures increased at a compound annual growth rate in excess of 27%. In 2005 alone in excess of 65% of all procedures performed by the society's' members were non surgical, such as cosmetic dentistry.

These figures outline the pace of growth of cosmetic surgery and the improvement of its members ability to reach potential customers, no doubt helped by the rise of the internet. With an ever increasing number of procedures to choose from and practitioners offer their services it has become ever more important for anyone considering undertaking cosmetic surgery to choose wisely. Along with UCompare there are many sources of information about how to go about making your cosmetic surgery choices. It remains imperative that you investigate any procedure you are considering carefully and have a full checklist when considering any surgeons.

Those Pearly Whites: Cosmetic Dentistry

2008-09-11T19:35:00.000+01:00

Who amongst us doesn't like to see a winning smile, a lovely set of even white teeth sets it off beautifully. Cosmetic dentistry has become increasingly accessible throughout the country over the last few years, and as a consequence more and more of us are improving our smiles.

Common cosmetic dentistry procedures include:

- Teeth whitening.
- Veneers.
- Implants.
- Gum Lifting

Teeth whitening is a popular option these days. Teeth become easily stained by things such as coffee, tea, and smoking. Teeth can also become naturally yellower with age. Teeth whitening is general undertaken as a single procedure or in multiple sessions. When done as a single procedure a whitening gel will be used that has a concentration of high hydrogen peroxide. Th other method is to have an individually designed mouth guard into which is placed a whitening gel. The custom fitted guard is worn each day for a couple of hours and the teeth will whiten gradually over a week or two.

Veneers are individually made cases for each tooth. Obviously made from tooth coloured material, a veneer offers an alternative to crowns. Veneers can be used to redefine broken, stained, or incorrectly angled teeth. If you are considering veneers you must consider that the procedure is generally non reversible. The tooth that is being veneered will be partially ground in order to fit and adhere each veneer. As a consequence you need to be sure that you are happy to undertake the procedure and that the material used in the construction of the veneer is well proven.

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth. As with veneers be sure you are happy that the materials used are well proven.

Dental lift procedures are used to change gums that are not even, helping to improve the balance of ones smile. Usual conducted on an outpatient basis and under anaesthetic.

As with any dentist you want to be sure that they are well qualified and a member of the appropriate dental organisation in the country in which they operate.

The growth in cosmetic surgery tourism in the United States

2008-09-08T18:07:00.000+01:00

Over the past few years, we have witnessed a considerable increase in the numbers of people who are having their cosmetic surgery procedure performed outside of the United States. Cosmetic surgery clinics in countries including Panama, Costa Rica and Brazil all market themselves throughout the US, offering prices far below those available in the local market.

On the back of this rapid expansion in the numbers of people having their cosmetic surgery performed overseas, we have also witnessed the birth of a new phenomenon, that of medical tourism. Such has been the explosive growth in this industry, that is estimated that over 750,000 Americans travelled outside of the US for health care in 2007, and a recent report by Deloitte Consulting projected that medical tourism is set to increase by a factor of over ten times in the next decade. A large proportion of these patients are travelling abroad for their cosmetic surgery procedures including breast augmentation, liposuction and facelifts.

So why are so many people choosing to travel overseas for their cosmetic surgery? For the vast majority of people the answer to this is simple, price. On average, choosing to have your cosmetic surgery procedure performed outside of the United States can result in a saving of up to 50% on the equivalent surgery in your local clinic.

There are also other factors which have contribued to this increase in the numbers of people choosing to have their cosmetic surgery abroad. For example, the increased accessibility of the internet has made it considerably easier to research both the clinic and your prospective surgeons credentials and qualifications. Something which you would easily be able to do in a local clinic. Secondly, the rapid expansion of the cheap flights market has made travel to countries including Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico considerably cheaper in recent years.

Rhinoplasty Nose Surgery

2008-09-08T11:43:00.000+01:00

Rhinoplasty is the surgical term for nose surgery. Nose surgery is sometimes undertaken to rectify breathing problems caused by irregularities in the structure of the nose. More often rhinoplasty is undertaken to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the nose.

There are many aspects of the nose that can be changed during nose surgery. For example; the width of the bridge of the nose, or the size and profile of the nose or nostrils. Due to the nature of the surgery it is important that the face has finished growing before considering rhinoplasty for cosmetic reasons. Also due to the nature of the procedure, if you are considering nose surgery and currently smoke you might want to start thinking about giving it up until after the surgery. Or lets be honest, you might as well think about stopping for good.

Rhinoplasty can be conducted on an outpatient basis, you will need to consult with your surgeon on this one. The surgery will be conducted either under general anaesthetic or intravenous sedative.

Nose surgery is completed either on a 'closed' or 'open' basis. Closed surgery involves the incisions being made inside the nose so that they are naturally hidden. 'Open' surgery involves the initial incision being made across the columella.

Once changes have been made to the shape and or size of the nose there may well be a requirement to make further incisions in order to sculpt the natural creases in the nose to match its new size or shape. Support devices may be placed in the nose to support it during the early stages of the healing process.

The post surgery healing process can be lengthy, sometimes it may require as long as a year for the changes to the shape and contours of the nose to fully change.

There are potential risks involved in nose surgery, for a fuller overview why not take a look at UCompare cosmetic surgery to make sure you are aware of them.

Smart Lipo – The Changing Face of Liposuction

2008-09-07T08:43:00.000+01:00

Last year over 300,000 liposuction procedures were performed in the United States, and a major part of the growth in popularity of this procedure has followed the introduction of less invasive techniques such as Smart Lipo.

Also commonly known as laser lipolysis, Smart Lipo is a new form of liposuction, which involves the use of a laser to melt away the more stubborn fat deposits in localised areas such as the hips, inner thighs, double chins or upper arms.

Smart Lipo is a minimally invasive procedure which is now used extensively throughout Europe, and has recently been approved by the FDA in the United States.

Smart Lipo Procedure Information

Performed under a local anaesthetic, Smart Lipo involves the use of a very fine cannula being passed under the skin through a tiny incision, and directly into the fatty deposit. Through the cannula, a laser beam is then methodically guided through the fat cells immediately liquefying and destroying them. The dislodged fat cells subsequently dispelled from the body through the usual processes.

Smart Lipo After Care

A Smart Lipo procedure will usually take around one hour, and you will likely be discharged from the clinic 1-2 hours after your Smart lipo procedure. You will be given specific instructions by your clinic on your discharge, and you may be required to wear a compression garment for a few days following the procedure.

There is usually very little swelling or bruising following a Smart lipo procedure, and the majority of patients are able to return to work the next day.

Just what is Blepharoplasty?

2008-09-06T12:32:00.000+01:00

Over at the UCompare cosmetic surgery site you can find detailed information of the blepharoplasty procedure. So just what is blepharoplasty? Most of us are familiar with eyelid surgery, well they are in fact one and the same.

Eyelid surgery revitalises The appearance of the eyelids. The procedure can be used for the upper or lower eyelids, or both. Eyelid surgery can be used to rectify the following:

- Skin that has lost some of its elasticity on the upper eyelid. In extreme cases this can affect ones ability to see correctly.

- Similarly the lower eyelid can also sag over the time.

- Small folds in the skin of the upper and lower eyelids.

- Excess skin on either eyelid.

- Fat deposits on the upper eyelid that can appear as puffiness.

Most people are able to have eyelid surgery as an outpatient. Given the nature of the surgery however you will undoubtedly need some post surgery assistance. No jumping behind the wheel to drive yourself home for example.

Procedurally eyelid surgery is relatively simple, usually conducted under general anaesthetic. The surgical incisions are placed so as to ensure no post surgery scarring should be visible.

Upper eyelid incisions with its natural creases giving access to tighten tissue and muscle within, remove or replace deposits of fat. At the same time any skin that requires removal can be taken care of.

Incisions on the lower eyelid occur underneath the line of the lashes. Again any skin that requires removal can be taken care of.

Eyelid incisions will be closed up with dissolving or removable stitches, surgical taping, and/or adhesive for skin.

Once the recovery period is complete the eyelid and area around it should display improved definition. Don't forget to check out the site for more in depth information on eyelid surgery and all things cosmetic surgery.

Breast Augmentation- An Introduction

2008-09-04T21:53:00.001+01:00

Breast augmentation is often referred to as augmentation mammaplasty. Breast augmentation is most often considered by those who do not feel their breasts are large enough.
Breast augmentation is designed to improve the fullness and projection of the breast, thereby enhancing ones figure. The augmentation procedure is often used to return breast dimensions after pregnancy or significant weight loss.

Breast lift procedures differ from breast augmentation in that they correct sagging breasts. We will cover breast lifts shortly on this blog so be sure to head back soon for the update. Both procedures can often be performed during the same surgery.

Breast augmentation surgery requires patients to be medicated, either by general anaesthetic or intravenous sedation.

Breast augmentation will involve an incision being made in one of three areas:

1) Periareolar incisions are made at the base of the areolar.

2) Inframammary incisions are made at the base of the breast.

3) Transaxillary incisions are made in the underarm.

Each method is designed to ensure there is as little scaring as possible after the healing process and that the incisions become invisible.

The two most commonly used implants used for breast surgery are either saline implants, or silicone implants. Saline implants, surprise, surprise contain saline water. This is salt water that has been sterilized. Silicone implants contain a silicone gel.

Once the incisions has been made the implant will be placed either underneath the pectoral muscle, or immediately behind the breast tissue and on top of the pectoral muscle. When in implants are in place internal stitches (or sutures in the US) are layered on the internal tissues whilst surgical taping and external adhesive will be used to seal the skin. In a relatively short time any signs of surgical incisions should disappear.

Check out the site for a fuller description of breast augmentation and all things cosmetic surgery, including what to expect of the post surgery recovery period.

Liposuction - an overview.

2008-09-04T20:13:00.001+01:00

Today, liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures, and last year alone over 300,000 liposuction procedures were performed throughout the United States.

So what exactly is liposuction?

Liposuction is a procedure which removes fatty deposits which have traditionally proven more resistent to dieting and regular exercise. This removal of the fatty deposits results in an improved body contour and proportion, often resulting in increased feelings of self esteem and perception in the patient. Whilst liposuction is often performed as a singular procedure, it is nowadays regularly performed in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as tummy tucks, breast lifts and facelifts.

Liposuction Procedures

Liposuction surgery will likely be performed under a general anesthetic, and will involve a small incision being made in the skin in the vicinity of the targeted fatty deposit. Through this incision, a small hollow tube or cannula is inserted, which allows your surgeon to losen the fatty deposits prior to removal. Once the fatty deposits have been displaced, removal is via a surgical vacuum.

What Areas Can Liposuction Surgery Work On?

Liposuction surgery can be performed on the following areas:

Abdomen and waist
Thigh area
Upper arms
Calves and ankles
Chin and neck area

If you would like to find out more about liposuction surgery, why not visit our main site at Ucompare Cosmetic Surgery, where we provide comprehensive information on the very latest cosmetic surgery procedures and techniques.

Cosmetic Surgery Clinics We Work With - Prague Beauty

2008-09-04T08:32:00.000+01:00

Prague Beauty are a UK company offering an extensive range of discreet and high quality cosmetic surgery procedures in the beautiful city of Prague in the Czech Republic.

Offering procedures at approximately half the price of those charged in the UK, the company and its services are bound by British Medical guidelines and British Medical law. All the cosmetic surgeons at Prague Beauty are highly qualified, and have many years of cosmetic surgery experience.

Prague Beauty operate out of St Anna's clinic, which is situated near the centre of Prague, in a quiet suburb approximately 40 minutes drive from the airport. St Anna's is a modern clinic, with all rooms being en-suite, and offering telephones and satellite television. The operating theatre itself includes a range of modern equipment, and is fully air-conditioned.

Prague Beauty offer a fully managed service, and a representative of the company will be with you in Prague to ensure that you are comfortable and catered for during your stay. From the point of your arrival at the airport, through to your flight home, Prague Beauty will ensure that you have everything you require, and that your cosmetic surgery procedure is a comfortable experience.

For more information on Prague Beauty, and all the cosmetic surgery clinics we work with, why not visit our main site at Ucompare Cosmetic Surgery, where we provide information on all aspects of cosmetic surgery procedures including breast enlargement, liposuction and blepharoplasty.

Cosmetic Surgery Clinics We Work With.

2008-09-03T09:55:00.000+01:00

Through our Ucompare cosmetic surgery websites in the UK and US, we currently work with two cosmetic surgery clinics, although following our recent re-launch, this figure will be rapdily increasing over the next few months.

Harley Medical Group
Having been established for over 24 years in the UK, the Harley Medical Group are a name synonymous with cosmetic surgery in the UK, and are undoubtedly one of the UK's leading cosmetic surgery clinics. They offer a wide range of cosmetic surgery procedures including breast enlargement surgery, liposuction and facelift surgery at a number of clinics throughout the UK, all of which are registered with the Healthcare Commission. Without doubt, the Harley Medical Group are a name you can trust.

As well as the large number of cosmetic surgery procedures on offer, the Harley Medical Group also offer a range of financial options for those clients who are seeking a means to finance their procedure.

For more information on the Harley Medical Group, why not visit our main site, where Harley Medical Group explain their offering in more detail.

What types of cosmetic surgery do we offer?

2008-09-01T18:56:00.000+01:00

As this is early days for the blog, we thought we would take some time to explain to you how we work, and exactly what services we offer here at Ucompare cosmetic surgery.

Firstly, and most importantly, we are an information service, and our aim to ensure you make the best decision for your individual requirements. In order to do this, we work hard to ensure you have access to the very latest news, developments and information on cosmetic surgery procedures including breast augmentation surgery (breast enhancement surgery), liposuction, blepharoplasty and rhinoplasty. We explain in detail the nature of the cosmetic surgery procedure, as well as the associated costs and risks involved. We are not here to sell you the surgery, and the decision to have the surgery is always your own, we are here to help you make the best decision for you.

We also work with an increasing number of cosmetic surgery clinics from around the world, many of whom offer a wide range of cosmetic surgery procedures. Through our site, these clinics will tell you the services they offer, and where their clinics are.

Welcome To Our New Cosmetic Surgery Blog!

2008-09-01T18:51:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to the new My Cosmetic Surgery blog site, the official blog for the Ucompare-cosmeticsurgery websites.

Through this blog, we aim to bring you the very latest news, information and research from the world of cosmetic surgery, from destinations including the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Costa Rica and South Africa. By doing this, we aim to ensure our users and clients are provided with the very latest information they require to make the most informed decision on their cosmetic surgery.

So How Do We Work?

We aim to provide you with all the necessary information on cosmetic surgery procedures and cosmetic surgery clinics in one place. By doing this, we provide you with information on the various procedures and the cosmetic surgery clinics which offer these procedures.

So we would like to wish you the very best of luck in your search for a cosmetic surgery clinic, and remember, we are here to help!