Cosmetic Procedures You Should Avoid
Plastic surgery continues to increase in popularity, thanks to the influence of celebrities being more open about cosmetic procedures and more people desiring ways to look younger and more beautiful. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), plastic surgeons performed a total of almost 2 million surgical procedures in 2015, up 7 percent from the year before.
Furthermore, this plastic surgery craze shows no sign of slowing down– the number of cosmetic procedures women undergo has increased by over 500 percent since 1997, when the ASAPS began tracking this data. One of the biggest increase has been in nonsurgical treatments such as Botox and fillers. The cosmetic industry is a multibillion dollar industry, and there seems to be a never-ending introduction of the latest fantastic rejuvenating treatment. Though many treatments are safe, there are some procedures one should avoid.
1. Injections of silicone oil: Despite the fact that the Food and Drug Administration approves these injections for old acne scars, many facial plastic and plastic surgeons don’t recommend silicone injections. The reason is silicone is a permanent filler that if inflected or inflamed can cause a lot of complications. More importantly, silicone can’t be removed easily. So a bad result is likely to be permanent.
2. Neck lifts that remove glands below the jawline: After a lower facelift and necklift, the submandibular glands may become more prominent and detract from the result. Many patients want these glands removed, but removal is not like simply removing a cyst or mole. There are many critical structures around the gland (ie. facial nerve branches, hypoglossal nerve, salivary gland ducts, etc) that need to be protected. Additionally, the submandibular glands are important salivary glands that have important functions such as saliva production. Removal of these glands may cause permanent dry mouth, or may weaken the tongue if the nerve is injured. Some surgeons may conservatively reduce the size, but even this must be done very carefully.
3. Threadlifting: In this procedure, surgeons insert thread beneath the skin that is used to tighten and pull on the face. However, this type of facelift can cause irregular bunching of the skin, dimpling or rippling. Worse, the threads can be hard to remove if patients want them taken out later. In my opinion, most patients seeking facelifts want a good result. It’s not worth the complications when the results are minimal. Patients who want a mini lift can get a good result from a limited traditional surgery, which is just as safe as the idea of inserting a thread. In addition, more precise surgery is possible versus using a thread to pull on the face.
4. Any non-FDA-approved surgery: Finally, patients should only consider treatments that have been FDA approved. It’s a bit scary knowing the existence of numerous companies around the world that market “new” products they claim will achieve fantastic cosmetic results. What’ s dangerous about these unregulated products is not knowing what’s in the product a surgeon is injecting or using. Injecting products that have not been FDA approved is very risky and potentially dangerous. These products may be permanent, making fixing the resulting problem almost impossible. Though there are various products approved by other national bodies (such as the European Union), I would still caution against trying these products. The most popular filler today involve hyaluronic acids (HA). HAs are naturally occurring sugar molecules present in all species, and hence very safe. There are several reputable U.S. companies who market FDA approved HA fillers. Though there may be various differences in performance, they are all safe, nonpermanent, and reversible—qualities one wants in a filler. It’s unlikely a European HA filler is going to be significantly superior to any HA filler one can find in the U.S.
For more information about cosmetic procedures performed by a professional, please contact Dr. Kenneth Yu Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in San Antonio.