When nations start to recover from wars or poverty, guess what one of the leading indicators are?
More jobs? Certainly. More new cars sold? Maybe. People getting more cosmetic plastic surgery? Without doubt!
On March 21st, the Associated Press circulated a story worldwide telling how plastic surgeons in Iraq are now being overwhelmed by patients wanting nose jobs, Botox, liposuction and more.
(Read more about the new demand for plastic surgery in Iraq.)
Because plastic surgeons are also trained in reconstructive surgery, those same doctors had been busy treating scars, burns and poorly healed wounds.
But, guess what? Cosmetic plastic surgery has been a harbinger of better times before.
Take Afghanistan, for instance. At war since the late 70s or under the thumb of oppressive rulers, things started getting better in 2005, with allied nations chasing the Taliban and Al-Qaeda into the distant hills.
Then, relative peace, security and prosperity came to the larger Afghan cities like Kabul, its capitol.
The opening of the Hamkar Surgical Clinic, the first Afghan cosmetic surgery clinic in the nation, made headlines worldwide. People there also wanted breast augmentations, eyelid lifts, nose jobs and removal of facial wrinkles.
On the other side of the globe, in China, prosperous times mean that more people are now asking about – and having – much more cosmetic plastic surgery.
According to China Daily, plastic surgery procedures in Beijing have doubled this year, with the typical patient being young, shapely and determined to stay that way.
China also was the first to hold a beauty contest just for women who have had cosmetic plastic surgery. The idea was triggered when a Chinese woman spent about $13,000 on cosmetic surgery only to be disqualified from the contest because she had breast implants and a face lift.
Yet another emerging economy, Hungary, also organized a similar contest. (Read more in our post about Miss Plastic Surgery.)
As of 2004, about $2.4 billion was spent on rejuvenation surgery in China. That amount has probably doubled to come close to the $10 billion that Americans spent on cosmetic plastic surgery in 2009.
Not foreseeing the Great Depression in America, President Hoover promised a continuing time of prosperity as “a chicken in every pot”.
So will newer politicians in nations emerging from hard times now promise “a lift on every face” as the yard stick for measuring good times?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Don't Suck it in, Tummy Tuck it in: Alpha Moms Go From Flab to Fab!
In today's society, does anybody shoulder more responsibilities than the working mother? I'm going to have to bite "no" on that one. Granted, I've never done the mom thing myself, but based on feedback gathered during countless venting sessions over coffee, late-night phone calls, and retail therapy with female friends and relatives, I have nothing but respect and admiration for these modern-day heroines. Successful working moms, or "alpha moms" as they're sometimes called, bust their butts to do it all, and as a result, they often overlook their own upkeep and self-preservation. But thanks to cosmetic treatments like liposuction, breast augmentation, and tummy tucks, working moms can keep doing it all and keep up their formerly rockin' bodies.
Ode to the Alpha Moms
Masters of multitasking, working moms can raise "baby Einsteins" while increasing company profits, keep passion alive in the bedroom and prudence alive in the kitchen, and diligently track their finances while tracking the latest trends in footwear. It almost doesn't seem fair that amidst these unpredictable factors, our bodies won't just do as they're told! And unfortunately, without a bank account to rival Paris Hilton's, or another means to pay personal trainers and nutritionists to remake you, getting back that pre-baby body just can't happen right away with conventional diet and exercise.
For those who can relate to feeling trapped beneath bills and diapers rather than personal chefs and pool boys, you need not despair of wearing a bikini again. Even when stubborn, post-baby tummies seem hopeless, options like tummy tucks can restore your faith. The tummy tuck, one of the most popular surgical procedures today, as well as the mini tummy tuck, are ideal for alpha moms who are feeling a bit flabby.
Telling Tummy Tucks
Tummy tucks, aka Abdominoplasties or Abdominal Lipectomies, remove excess fat and skin around the stomach, tighten muscles, and reposition tissue for a flatter, tighter tummy. For working moms of all shapes and sizes, there are three tummy tuck categories to choose from: the extended, the standard, and the mini. Extended tummy tucks are helpful for moms who are packing multiple car seats in their vehicle and want to tighten the entire abdomen and sides of the torso. Standard tummy tucks effectively tone up the entire belly region, and mini tummy tucks target the lower abdomen, for moms desperately missing their low-rise jeans.
So, alpha moms, and stay-at-home moms too, this tuck's for you. Meet with your local plastic surgeon to get the whole scoop on tummy tucks, including risks, benefits, and options for combined procedures. Tummy tucks are permanent, which is great, but your results can be still be affected by future weight fluctuations and pregnancies; so if your heart's set on three little tykes and you just had your second child, maybe wait until number three arrives before completing your tummy tuck and liposuction package.
Ode to the Alpha Moms
Masters of multitasking, working moms can raise "baby Einsteins" while increasing company profits, keep passion alive in the bedroom and prudence alive in the kitchen, and diligently track their finances while tracking the latest trends in footwear. It almost doesn't seem fair that amidst these unpredictable factors, our bodies won't just do as they're told! And unfortunately, without a bank account to rival Paris Hilton's, or another means to pay personal trainers and nutritionists to remake you, getting back that pre-baby body just can't happen right away with conventional diet and exercise.
For those who can relate to feeling trapped beneath bills and diapers rather than personal chefs and pool boys, you need not despair of wearing a bikini again. Even when stubborn, post-baby tummies seem hopeless, options like tummy tucks can restore your faith. The tummy tuck, one of the most popular surgical procedures today, as well as the mini tummy tuck, are ideal for alpha moms who are feeling a bit flabby.
Telling Tummy Tucks
Tummy tucks, aka Abdominoplasties or Abdominal Lipectomies, remove excess fat and skin around the stomach, tighten muscles, and reposition tissue for a flatter, tighter tummy. For working moms of all shapes and sizes, there are three tummy tuck categories to choose from: the extended, the standard, and the mini. Extended tummy tucks are helpful for moms who are packing multiple car seats in their vehicle and want to tighten the entire abdomen and sides of the torso. Standard tummy tucks effectively tone up the entire belly region, and mini tummy tucks target the lower abdomen, for moms desperately missing their low-rise jeans.
So, alpha moms, and stay-at-home moms too, this tuck's for you. Meet with your local plastic surgeon to get the whole scoop on tummy tucks, including risks, benefits, and options for combined procedures. Tummy tucks are permanent, which is great, but your results can be still be affected by future weight fluctuations and pregnancies; so if your heart's set on three little tykes and you just had your second child, maybe wait until number three arrives before completing your tummy tuck and liposuction package.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Best Celebrity Lips
Well, dear-hearts, I've been feeling a tad guilty about how I came down on the lovely Lisa Rinna in the last blog. While I stand by her assertion that she went a little filler-happy in the cheekbone region, I think her juicy pucker is to die for. So, in that line, I decided to write a little ode to lip augmentation, and list some of my personal favorite pairs of celebrity lips!
Pretty, Pouty Perfection
* Angelina Jolie: Of course, she had to top the list! Angie's plump lips, strictly reserved for Brad Pitt these days, are more famous than both her selfless work as a UN Ambassador and her Oscar-winning acting chops combined.
* Scarlett Johansson: Not only is Scar-Jo's full pucker envied by most of the female population, myself included, her apple-cheeked, ode to Americana features and healthy curves have reportedly made her look the most-requested makeover among cosmetic surgery patients.
* Julia Roberts: Known as America's sweetheart of the silver screen for decades, Julia's wide grin and plump lips have won her admiration from fans, lip enthusiasts and cosmetic dentists everywhere.
* Eva Mendes: This Cuban starlet has lips that helped solidify her image as a screen siren in the film industry, not to mention spiced up her many modeling gigs. Mendes' pout has graced ads for cosmetic giant, Revlon, and even for PETA.
* Jessica Alba: Often topping many young men's list of hottest actresses, Miss Alba's plump lips have heated up her career; from her days as a "Dark Angel" to her "Fantastic Four"-ay into current superstardom.
* Katherine Heigl: The statuesque actress seems to have been blessed in many areas, but her even, full lips have become one of her most well-touted features by far.
* Jessica Biel: Another Jessica tops my lip list. While Jessica Biel's pillowy lips were played down throughout her years as a young, clean-cut sitcom star, she eventually fell from "7th Heaven," seemingly right into Hollywood's A-list and onto the radar of lip-lovers everywhere.
Lippy Honorable Mentions
* Halle Berry
* Anne Hathaway
* Keira Knightley
* Jennifer Lopez
* Gisele Bundchen
In my mind, these women comprise some of the hottest lips in entertainment. Now, of course there are others I didn't mention, but these puckers combine with dazzling star power, talent and unique beauty to put their lips in a category all their own. I couldn't say which actresses' lippy assets are genuine and which are the source of lip augmentation, but the results are fabulous either way! Some stars like Lisa Rinna, Melanie Griffith and Jessica Simpson have admitted to using dermal fillers in the past to plump their lips, while others are keeping their flawless lips sealed.
Making Your own Lips Famous
So, if celebrities who've already lucked out in the gene pool can choose lip augmentation to enhance their already divine appearance, why not you and me? Especially now that dermal fillers like Restylane® and Juvederm™ have become nearly risk-free and can be had at reasonable costs! Other possibilities for lip augmentation include lip implants like AlloDerm. Just be sure that, before you receive lip augmentation and kiss those thin lips goodbye, you consult with a cosmetic professional first.
Pretty, Pouty Perfection
* Angelina Jolie: Of course, she had to top the list! Angie's plump lips, strictly reserved for Brad Pitt these days, are more famous than both her selfless work as a UN Ambassador and her Oscar-winning acting chops combined.
* Scarlett Johansson: Not only is Scar-Jo's full pucker envied by most of the female population, myself included, her apple-cheeked, ode to Americana features and healthy curves have reportedly made her look the most-requested makeover among cosmetic surgery patients.
* Julia Roberts: Known as America's sweetheart of the silver screen for decades, Julia's wide grin and plump lips have won her admiration from fans, lip enthusiasts and cosmetic dentists everywhere.
* Eva Mendes: This Cuban starlet has lips that helped solidify her image as a screen siren in the film industry, not to mention spiced up her many modeling gigs. Mendes' pout has graced ads for cosmetic giant, Revlon, and even for PETA.
* Jessica Alba: Often topping many young men's list of hottest actresses, Miss Alba's plump lips have heated up her career; from her days as a "Dark Angel" to her "Fantastic Four"-ay into current superstardom.
* Katherine Heigl: The statuesque actress seems to have been blessed in many areas, but her even, full lips have become one of her most well-touted features by far.
* Jessica Biel: Another Jessica tops my lip list. While Jessica Biel's pillowy lips were played down throughout her years as a young, clean-cut sitcom star, she eventually fell from "7th Heaven," seemingly right into Hollywood's A-list and onto the radar of lip-lovers everywhere.
Lippy Honorable Mentions
* Halle Berry
* Anne Hathaway
* Keira Knightley
* Jennifer Lopez
* Gisele Bundchen
In my mind, these women comprise some of the hottest lips in entertainment. Now, of course there are others I didn't mention, but these puckers combine with dazzling star power, talent and unique beauty to put their lips in a category all their own. I couldn't say which actresses' lippy assets are genuine and which are the source of lip augmentation, but the results are fabulous either way! Some stars like Lisa Rinna, Melanie Griffith and Jessica Simpson have admitted to using dermal fillers in the past to plump their lips, while others are keeping their flawless lips sealed.
Making Your own Lips Famous
So, if celebrities who've already lucked out in the gene pool can choose lip augmentation to enhance their already divine appearance, why not you and me? Especially now that dermal fillers like Restylane® and Juvederm™ have become nearly risk-free and can be had at reasonable costs! Other possibilities for lip augmentation include lip implants like AlloDerm. Just be sure that, before you receive lip augmentation and kiss those thin lips goodbye, you consult with a cosmetic professional first.
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