Several cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists agree that, if there is one procedure to avoid when shopping for a slimmer look, it's "lipodissolve," a shot that is purported to dissolve stubborn fat deposits. This shot is often part of "mesotherapy," a shallow injection of a cocktail of substances using a fine needle.
"There is really not a single scientific study to show that it definitely works," said Dr. Malcolm Roth, director of plastic
surgery at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. "Are these chemicals safe when injected into fat? And what happens to this fat? Where does it go?"
And Dr. Carolyn Jacob, a board-certified dermatologist in Chicago, calls lipodissolve the most ill-advised treatment
available today.
"This is a non-FDA-approved use of a material called 'lipostabil,' which can dissolve fat and other structures.
However, it can cause pain, swelling, hard lumps, ulceration of the skin and contour irregularities."
"None of the pharmaceuticals used for injection are FDA approved," said Dr. Susan Kaweski at the Aesthetic Arts
Institute of Plastic Surgery in San Diego.
Despite the dangers of the procedure, the growing number of clinics offering lipodissolve is a testament to its
continued legal status in the United States. Still, the procedure is banned for cosmetic purposes in Brazil and
other countries.
A Sexier Step: Cosmetic Foot Surgery
Those who desire cosmetic surgery from top to toe should be no stranger to cosmetic foot surgery, a collection of surgical and minimally-invasive procedures designed to yield a sexier foot. Despite the continued popularity of these procedures—which involve everything from filler injections to rounding out angles to total surgical reshaping of the foot—doctors have been warning consumers away from cosmetic foot surgery for years.
"The public needs to be aware of the risks associated with these procedures," said American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) president Dr. Glenn B. Pfeffer. "Women need to know what they are getting into."
He noted that the trend toward the practice of cosmetic surgery raises serious concerns when one considers the risks of surgery on pain-free feet. "Complications can include infection, nerve injury, prolonged swelling of a toe and even chronic pain with walking," Pfeffer said.
Not surprisingly, the sector of consumers that tends to be the most enthusiastic at the prospect of better-looking feet are women who hope to adorn their feet with the latest in strappy, high-heeled fashions.
And the procedures involved run the gamut from filler injections to full-blown surgery to reshaping the foot. The AOFAS noted that surgery to shorten the toes or narrow the feet are favorite options in this category. Some practitioners will also inject the fat pad of the feet with collagen or other substances—again, solely to change the appearance of the feet.
Injection for Breast Augmentation
What if getting bigger breasts were as simple as getting a shot?
The idea is not a new one, and it stands to reason that pumping the breasts full of fat or fillers would offer an alternative to breast implant surgery—all without the scars.
Traditionally, doctors performing such procedures have used the fat harvested from other areas of the body, such as the buttocks and thighs. By purifying this fat and reinjecting it into the breasts, they say they can offer their patients a safe enhancement using the body's own spare materials.
But, in reality, the procedure is not nearly as simple as it appears.
"On the surface, the concept of using liposuction to remove unwanted fat from one's own thighs and buttocks, and then injecting it into the breasts to make them larger, has appeal," the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery noted in a past statement on the procedure. "However, aesthetic surgeons certified in plastic surgery have long maintained that injection of fat, or any substance, into or behind the breast tissue can be potentially dangerous."
Dangerous, because there exists the potential for the reinjected fat to calcify, creating a scarred mass buried within the breast tissues. These calcifications can either mask or mimic the presence of breast cancer. And since between 7 and 14 ounces of fat are needed for the enlargement of a breast, there is no shortage of relocated fat to make the detection of breast cancer difficult, or even impossible.
Cosmetic Leg Lengthening Surgery
How far would you go for a few more inches of height? For some, the quest for a more impressive stature leads them to a painful procedure that involves breaking both legs and using devices with screws attached to their legs to gradually extend their bones.
It's an extreme procedure to be sure. Yet, the technique is widely known in China and other Asian countries, where young professionals seek out the procedures to give themselves an edge in the business world.
But the procedure is also well known in the United States. Robert Rozbruch, the director of the Institute for Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction in New York, told ABC News that he does not approve of leg lengthening for cosmetic purposes as a new cosmetic surgery trend. And the patients who come to his center can receive the surgery only after extensive psychological testing.
But the results don't come cheap. Costs of the procedure generally top out at $120,000. For an average height gain of 3 inches, that's $40,000 per inch.
For those of a very short stature, the results may be worth the price tag and the pain. But the procedure is a poor choice if vanity is the main motivation.
Permanent Filler Injections
Most of the fillers that are on the market today are temporary: after a certain amount of time they are absorbed into the body and the results are lost. This group of fillers includes the natural filler collagen, as well as a number of newer gels such as hyaluronic acid.
But some fillers are designed to stick around in the body for longer periods. These fillers, appropriately termed "permanent fillers," include liquid silicone and the product known as "Aquamid."
Though tantalizing to some consumers who would prefer to pay for fillers once rather than shell out for repeat procedures, such fillers have also been known to lead to a number of complications, including irreversible binding with tissues and a tendency to "drift," which can lead to a distorted appearance.
The problems become even more severe in the event of a botched job.
But despite widespread disapproval among cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists, many consumers still seek out permanent filler injections.
Buttock Implants
While many people hit the gym and suffer through crash diets to attain a smaller behind, there are others who
actually seek out surgical solutions for a larger, rounder butt.
For these people, cosmetic surgery can offer buttock implants. Unlike breast implants, which are filled with either silicone gel or saline, buttock implants are solid slabs of silicone, positioned beneath the fibrous lining of the buttock muscles.
The result is a rounder, more voluminous rear end. But this result comes at a price for many patients. Among the problems is an increased risk of infection: to hide the incision from plain view, surgeons will often place it between the buttocks, perilously close to the anus and the germs that reside there.
And even after the incisions have healed, the implants are situated in an area of the body that endures its share of daily abuse.
Made Up for Life: Tattooed Makeup
Many women may dream of skipping their makeup routine in the morning. For those who opt for permanently
tattooed makeup, the reality can be more like a nightmare than anything else.
"I have had more than my share of patients who ask me to remove the permanent makeup tattoo that someone else gave them, and I will tell you that they're difficult to take away," said Dr. Malcolm Roth, director of plastic surgery at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Much of the difficulty in removing these tattoos is owed to the fact that the tattooed areas are some of the most delicate tissues of the face, namely, the inner folds of the eyelids and the lips. And even with today's complement of high-tech tattoo-removal lasers, there is never a guarantee that the tattoos will disappear completely.
This is especially bad news for those who have received botched jobs from untrained practitioners. But even for those who get what they want in the short term, their long-term satisfaction with the job may still be in question.
If you don't like the results, you may still be stuck with them. And even though you might like the result in the short term, fashions change.
Any Procedure by Untrained Hands
With the explosion in the popularity of cosmetic surgery in the past two decades has come another explosion in the number of people who are willing to perform these operations.
"Probably everyone has heard of the itinerant practitioner who performs procedures in a hotel room for bargain basement prices and then is nowhere to be found when complications arise," Dr. Gregory H. Branham, associate professor and chief of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, said.
So what is the key to avoiding such practitioners? Do your homework, and don't rush into surgery before you know everything you need to about your surgeon.
And when in doubt, don't go through with the procedure. You never regret the operation you don't have.
Source: 10 Cosmetic Procedures You Should Avoid: The Potential Aesthetic Benefits of Some Procedures Aren't Worth
the Risk, by Dan Childs, ABC News Medical Unit, April 7, 2008
