A New Study Shows a Link Between Plastic Surgery and Higher Self-Esteem

At We Know Beauty, our board certified plastic surgeons know the profession inside and out. As some of the most experienced and best plastic surgeons in the field, we've come to realize that everyone's reasons for coming to cosmetic surgery are different. Whether they are looking to fix or ameliorate a specific condition or improve their appearance, plastic surgery has increasingly become the answer for individuals around the globe.

No matter what reason a person has for making the choice to undergo plastic surgery, though, a new study has found strong evidence suggesting cosmetic surgery is an excellent way to achieve higher self-esteem and a better mood. Furthermore, respondents in the study even reported experiencing less anxiety and feeling healthier overall. Research published in Clinical Psychological Science and reported by Science Daily illustrates that plastic surgery patients often experience more joy in life, a higher sense of satisfaction and greater self-esteem.

 Last year's most popular procedures included breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, eyelid surgery and rhinoplasty, all procedures that our top plastic surgeons at We Know Beauty have developed incredible expertise in completing. 

In reviewing the results of the study, The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery speculates that the increase in self-esteem following surgery could be a significant factor in the the growing number of people undergoing cosmetic procedures. At We Know Beauty, we are certainly grateful for the opportunity to utilize our incredible medical knowledge and skills to help individuals to feel more confident, healthier, and happier through cosmetic surgery.

The Power of Beauty

We all know that knowledge is power and that money talks, but it seems to us that few things in this world is as powerful, or talks as loudly, as sheer beauty -- and you don't need to be one of our top plastic surgeons to know that.

The reason we're thinking about this right now are the spate of world wide news stories about Yityish Aynaw, the amazingly gorgeous Ethopian-born current Miss Israel who is appealing to the President Obama on his current trip. And, before your mind goes too far with that thought, we mean appealing to the president on behalf of jailed Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard. Without going into the details of that knotty case -- allied nations spy on each other all the time but the results are not usually so public or so dire -- it's not surprising that a beautiful woman would be used to both disarm the president and encourage support for Pollard's release among an otherwise uninterested American public.

Of course, as board certified plastic surgeons, the idea of beauty is important to what we do. Moreover, whether we like it or not, beautiful people get attention, and there's no need for anything particularly sexual or romantic to be going on. It's hard to imagine a more publicly happily married man than President Obama, whose own wife is easily one of the nation's most attractive and charming women. At the same time, even the man who seems to have everything in life and more can't help but having his attention grabbed by a woman as stunning as Ms. Aynaw. Men and women alike can't help but be a little bit in awe of a woman like that and pay attention to what she says.

Beauty really is the name of the game for our staff of some of the best plastic surgeons around, but even we don't fully understand just why beauty captivates us humans the way it does. We're just very glad that's the case.

FDA Approves New Silicone Breast Implant

One of the most note-worthy pieces of cosmetic surgery news this week is the FDA-approval of a new cohesive silicone breast implant called Natrelle 410. This new cohesive gel implant from Allergan was approved based on a seven-year study involving 941 female participants. The FDA gave the product the green light with the expectation that Allergan conducts post-approval studies related to Natrelle 410’s safety and effectiveness.

The last time the FDA approved a silicone-based implant was March 2012. In applying these silicone implants (also called gummy bear breast implants) in their breast enhancement surgeries, the board certified plastic surgeons of We Know Beauty have experience very positive results. These form-stable implants from Sientra retain shape but strike a great balance between firm and soft for natural-looking (and feeling) breasts. These implants also demonstrate an extremely low chance of rupture/leakage.

In performing flawless breast augmentation, the medical professionals of We Know Beauty only utilize the safest products. There must be a high assurance of safety associated with an implant before it is considered for use. The health and well-being of the We Know Beauty client is of paramount significance. All surgeries are conducted by highly-skilled plastic surgeons with FDA-approved products that have been heavily researched.

If you are currently considering a breast augmentation with saline-based breast implants, have a look at the plastic surgery before and after pictures on the We Know Beauty website. The beautiful results delivered by We Know Beauty are evident in the before and after gallery. To learn more about breast augmentation by We Know Beauty, contact our office to schedule a complimentary consultation.

Post Valentine's Beauty Slump?

We hope, of course, that everyone reading this had a wonderful day yesterday. However, it's possible that some of you might not feel that "wonderful" is the best word for how things went.

As top plastic surgeons here in Southern California, we see a lot of interesting patterns when it comes to when people decide to come into our offices or to actually have work done. While you have to plan ahead pretty far with most plastic surgeries if you're thinking ahead to Valentine's Day, or another holiday or major life event where people want to look their best, it's very often a factor in patients' planning.  Sometimes, it's just possible that maybe a little too much work goes into getting ready for these events.

It's only natural that people who are contacting the best plastic surgeons are interested in trying to time their recovery to coincide with a holiday primarily dedicated to romance with their significant other. Still, we've found that it's a good idea to tamp down expectation for these kind of big days.

The problem is that people sometimes seem to expect all their problems to disappear, and that doesn't happen. Even as first-rate board certified plastic surgeons, we can tell you that happy and/or contented people nearly always look better than disappointed people.

So, keep your expectations as realistic as possible before a big day -- a bit too low is maybe better than a bit too high. That way, you have a chance of actually enjoying yourself and not frowning about it afterwards.

Do women come around to plastic surgery as they age?

Recently, We Know Beauty on Facebook discussed a recent interview with Mariska Hargitay. In it, she was quoted as saying "I used to be against [plastic surgery]...But now that I'm older I think women should do whatever they want to make themselves feel good." As some of the top plastic surgeons in Los Angeles, the doctors here at We Know Beauty feel like many women come around to plastic surgery later in life—or at least are less judgmental about it.

You can see this on the testimonial page in reference to We Know Beauty's best plastic surgeons. One woman writes, "Plastic surgery always scared me...But then I saw something that terrified me even more—the fate of my face due to [heredity]." So, she decided to come visit Dr. Hodnett and was glad she did. She states, "It has boosted my confidence so much and now I love to smile, all thanks to Dr. Hodnett!"

Plus, with many older celebrities—like Jane Seymour and Jane Fonda—coming clean about some of their own procedures, a new casual attitude about plastic surgery is emerging. The board certified plastic surgeons at We Know Beauty keep this in mind, always meeting their patients where they feel comfortable. For example, a woman may want a face lift, but non-surgical procedures may be more appropriate (or vice versa). This will be openly and comfortably discussed at a complimentary consultation with one of our doctors. Call We Know Beauty at 800-832-0510 to schedule one of your own!

Can a Cosmetic Surgery Help you Lose Weight?

A report released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) declares that a recent study shows abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is linked to long-term weight loss for many patients. The release states that out of a sample group of 20 women who were once obese, 14 women dropped weight following tummy tuck and maintain a normal BMI a year later. The other 6 experienced weight loss after the procedure but had not kept the weight off. After reporting these findings, the ASPS proposed an interesting question: Can a ‘cosmetic’ procedure help patients lose weight?

The ASPS surgeon suggests that the fat removed during tummy tuck could be linked to a reduction in appetite, however, there is no conclusive evidence relating to the belief. Still, those who received a tummy tuck from the best plastic surgeons at We Know Beauty know that results of the abdominoplasty promote a healthy self-image. It is safe to say that if someone suddenly feels better about his appearance, then he, or she, is less inclined to participate in emotional eating, binge drinking, or late-night snacking. A positive frame of mind leads to a feeling of satiety, which the ASPS report definitely relates to abdominoplasty. In that sense, a tummy tuck can be linked to weight loss. The board certified plastic surgeons of We Know Beauty has seen this in the patients that have visited the clinics.

If you are interested in abdominoplasty to look and feel better, contact a We Know Beauty rep today to schedule a consultation with one of the top plastic surgeons, 800-832-0510.

The Beauty of Saving Lives

We stumbled over an item in today's Huffington Post by Michael Yaremchuk, M.D., the chief of craniofacial surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, which pointed out something relating to plastic surgery that's actually kind of beautiful. In a piece memorializing the work of Dr. Joseph E. Murray, the Nobel Prize winning transplant pioneer who was also one of medical history's best plastic surgeons, Dr. Yaremchuk pointed out something that most people are not aware of.

There is an connection -- a shockingly ancient one -- between plastic surgery and the miracle of transplatation which has saved so many lives and which Dr. Murray kicked off with the first kidney transplant back in 1954. Dr. Yaremchuk notes that the history of transplantation began with the first attempted skin grafts in India circa 800 B.C. Obviously, this was long before the era of today's board certified plastic surgeons and successful skin grafts were a very long ways away, but the connection with transplantation continued when Dr. Murray used temporary grafts when working on badly burned U.S. soldiers during World War II.

As Dr. Yaremchuk points out, transplantation and plastic surgery remain closely aligned today, with the cutting edge work being largely in such areas as facial transplants. The truth is that it's simply not possible to draw a line between the important work of most surgeons and the supposedly superficial work of even top plastic surgeons. All of us surgeons are in the business of saving lives and improving the quality of life. Whether we're doing face lifts or kidney transplants, what we are doing is actually kind of beautiful.