Britney Spears’ recent appearance as the opening act of MTV’s Video Music Awards has left the media in a feeding frenzy. I would agree that her dance moves were lacking in energy, and that her choreography could have used a little spice, but I thought her physical appearance was impressive.

The media is often cruel when it comes to the image of celebrities. Yet we must not be blinded by bold headlines. Remember that Britney is a mother of two children! I would have to guess that if a “normal” woman danced around scantly-clad on national television after recently bearing two children, she would not nearly look as good as Britney did at the MTV Video Music Awards. This pop star may not have performed well, but she looked GREAT.

Did the media really expect to see the same Britney Spears who made it big from singing “Hit Me Baby One More Time” during the late 90s? We all know that childbearing changes the womanly figure; therefore I was impressed with how close Britney came to achieving her pre-baby body. Am I alone on this?

My point is this: the media can be cruel! Britney appeared far from “fat,” and yet that’s exactly what the media is posting about her. The pressure is on for celebrities to achieve zero percent body fat and, pretty much, an anorexic status. Is that glamorous? Is that healthy? Of course not! It is no wonder why celebrities often go overboard with plastic surgery.

Many Hollywood stars are out to achieve unrealistic body shapes due to pressure and fear that someone will see them as less than perfect.

Just look at Tara Reid! She has tried to achieve the perfect set of abs, but ended up spending years fixing problems related to a bad liposuction job. It was only after her recent body contour procedure that she has been able to achieve a nice looking tummy.

I am not saying that plastic surgery is wrong. In fact I think it can be wonderful when done for the right reasons, such as changing the lives of many individuals by correcting features that have caused them to feel insecure. In a nutshell, the image of “beauty” portrayed in the media can be far from truthful, and people should remember this when they visit a plastic surgeon and ask for that “Halle Berry nose” or “Brad Pitt profile.”

Are you getting what you paid for? Rather than struggling with this question or being disappointed after a procedure, make sure that your money gets you what you want. This is why interviewing your plastic surgeon during the initial consultation is very important.

You should be well-educated about what you are paying for! First of all, many plastic surgeons offer free consultations. I would suggest interviewing a minimum of two physicians. Second, never hesitate to ask about board certification. If you’re prospective surgeon seems hesitant about the subject or skips around your question, look it up online. Every state has a licensing board that all its physicians must be registered under. By calling the medical board in your state, you can gather information regarding board certification status, and if any, complaints filed against your physician.

At your consultation, you should also request to see plastic surgery before and after photos of your surgeon’s work. Many plastic surgeons keep photo albums available in their office for their patients to browse through. You may also want to know what procedures your plastic surgeon specializes in, how many procedures he or she has performed, the surgical facility they utilize, and the type of follow-up care they offer. The best way to prepare for this visit is to make a list of your questions before meeting with the doctor.

Hope this helps you find the best plastic surgeon for the job!

Don’t we all wish we could turn back time and slather our youthful skin with sun block on a daily basis! If only we knew then what we know now. The damage that leads to blotchy skin tones, fine lines, wrinkles, and skin cancers, was done long before these signs began to appear. So what can we do now, to fix what we did back then? Well, if you are not looking for pricey surgical procedures, you still have some options. There are many skin care lines with significant dermatological research backing their claims. You should always be weary, however, of those that promise a quick fix!

Usually products that have developed to help reverse signs of sun damage and aging, contain Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA). These products can cause a tingling or burning sensation when applied, so it is also important to make sure that you utilize sun block as part of your new skin care routine when using products that contain AHAs! Because they increase cell regeneration, AHAs will increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Superficial layers of skin will then begin to be removed, leaving newer cells exposed.

Other options include dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser procedures and injectables. Although these procedures tend to be more expensive than topical products, each one can be done by a skilled dermatologist or licensed esthetician.

We must all remember it took years to create this damage; it will take time to improve it. The best bet for picking the right products is to schedule an appointment with an esthetician – a skin care professional who usually work at day spas. Scheduling an appointment for a facial and consultation will allow your esthetician to determine what your skin care needs are. He or she then has the knowledge to make recommendations regarding which products you should begin using. If you are concerned about the cost, you can ask for samples before dropping your cash on a product that may not be right for your skin!

…Is this a healthy way of thinking? Let’s face it, after 40 weeks of feeling gigantic, we are all anxious to get back into our skinny jeans and ditch the elastic waste bands. The reality, however, is that following pregnancy our bodies take months to recover. The famous saying to make all of us in the postpartum state feel better is, “It took nine months to put it on; it will take nine months to get it off!” Well, this saying is frustrating to many of us, but there is some truth behind the madness.

Here are some medical facts: It takes one month for the body’s blood volume (which nearly doubles during pregnancy) to return to normal. Secondly, three months following pregnancy the body will have shed approximately 10 liters of fluid! At three months, most women are feeling up to, and are physically ready for, exercise! So, in reality, three to four months have flown by, your body chemistry has regulated, you are hopefully sleeping a little longer…and you’re ready for the gym! Now give yourself at least one week for every two pounds that you have left to shed. After you do the math, some of us might fall into the dreaded nine month deadline for weight loss, and some of us may have lots of time to spare. This is a healthy and realistic timeline to follow!

So, after you have done your part, there are some postpartum attributes that might stick around. Now ask yourself, “Do I want to have any more children?” If the answer is “no,” then plastic surgery might be your answer. Some physical characteristics that women despise following pregnancy are: stretch marks, extra skin folds of the abdomen, and sagging of the breasts. None of the previously mentioned changes can be fixed by crunches or miracle creams! This is when it is OK to consider cosmetic procedures such as breast lift surgery, breast augmentation, a tummy tuck, or a laser procedure to help fade stretch marks. If surgery is not for you, don’t be discouraged by what your body has endured!

Bringing a child into this world is an amazing thing – many women see the permanent changes to their body as badges of honor!

A New Way To Sample Beauty Products!

A recent topic discussed in the PlasticSurgery.com forum was that of New Beauty’s “TestTube,” which features a variety of beauty products available for sampling. As we all know, cosmetic products are not cheap!

So New Beauty is offering their TestTube for a reasonable price, allowing you to determine if you like a certain product before you drop serious amounts of cash on anything that sounds too good to be true. So far, consumers seem happy with the idea of the TestTube. Feedback suggests that this is a great way to try multiple products that range from whitening toothpaste to face masks. New Beauty offers the TestTube to its consumers four times per year.

If you receive this product, or have comments about it, please share with it all of us who are interested to know if it is worth the investment!

Breast Augmentation – Is maintenance surgery necessary?

Many women who desire larger breasts will most likely undergo breast augmentation. Yet most women are not aware, however, that breast augmentation surgery is not a one-time procedure.

So does this mean that "maintenance" (despite better terminology) is required for women who have undergone breast enhancement? Well, breast implants do not come with a lifetime warranty! It is important to discuss this with your plastic surgeon before undergoing this procedure. This is especially important for younger women in their early 20s who may face multiple operations in the future.

The truth is, the life of an implant is approximately 10 to 15 years. An ultrasound may be done between five to eight years post-augmentation to determine if the implant is intact. Yet before it anything even shows on an ultrasound, many women will notice a leak or problem with the implant, a rippling of the implant, a difference in size, or a change in the contour of the breast.

This information is not meant to discourage women from undergoing breast augmentation! It is simply to educate them about a very common procedure. Breast augmentation has been performed for many years now and has boosted women's confidence and drastically improved their self-image. So, if breast augmentation is the procedure you are currently researching, make sure you ask your prospective surgeon about the information I have just shared with you!

SmartLipo™ vs. Conventional Liposuction

Despite the appeal of SmartLipo™, many surgeons are sticking with conventional liposuction methods. But why? Conventional liposuction has many years of research behind it; doctors have been able to study long-term effects and the outcome of conventional liposuction methods while SmartLipo™ is relatively new and has minimal studies to back up its claim to safety and benefits. However, many people might be thinking about SmartLipo™ and how it compares to typical liposuction techniques.

As for treating small areas of the body, some plastic surgeons are claiming that SmartLipo™ is superior because: it is performed under local anesthetic versus general, the procedure results in less bleeding and bruising, and recovery time is quicker with less discomfort.

Basically, SmartLipo™ is a laser-assisted liposuction procedure that uses heat and energy to remove fat rather than suction alone. The device that is inserted into the skin is approximately one millimeter in diameter. This small tube contains the laser fiber which is used to break down cell membranes of adipose (fatty) tissue. The result is “liquid fat” that can be removed through light suction, or left for the body to remove. The added benefit of SmartLipo™ is that the laser acts on collagen and the dermis, which results in skin tightening.

This said though, many doctors are still sticking to traditional methods. Although who knows what may be the better answer in years to come?! Please share your experience with SmartLipo™ …we would love to hear your personal experience!