THE STUDIO
Breast Reduction
Unlike breast augmenta-
tion, which is usually done for
aesthetic reasons, breast re-
duction surgery is usually
done for functional reasons
and thus, is often covered by
insurance.
Oversized breasts can
cause postural problems, back
and neck pain, bra strap dis-
comfort or psychological prob-
lems — especially for teens
who have large bustlines.
"We're seeing younger girls
— 14 or 15 years old — who
are psychologically impaired
because their breasts are so
large; they are no longer aes-
thetic," says Dr. Paul.
In the past, women were re-
luctant to undergo breast re-
duction until their child-
bearing years were over, but
new techniques preserve the
ability to breastfeed. Thus,
what used to be an older
woman's procedure has be-
come something younger
women now consider.
Of the 40,256 procedures
done in 1990, the price range
was $1,500 to $8,000, with an
average price of $4,050.
Collagen Injections
Nationwide, collagen injec-
tions are the third most pop-
ular procedure in the United
States for women, following
/\ liposuction and breast aug-
mentation. It is especially
- popular among the 35 to 50
,_ year old set.
Collagen injections are
most commonly used to erase
the nose-to-mouth lines, fol-
lowed by erasing the forehead
frown lines.
Priced per cubic centimeter
• of collagen injected, the pro-
' cedure costs between $100
and $500, with an average
price of $250. In 1990, there
were 80,802 procedures.
Nose Reshaping
While rhinoplasty, or nose
> reshaping, is not even among
the top three procedures for
women, it has emerged as the
number one cosmetic surgery
for men. Of those who under-
go the procedures, 28 percent
are men.
Armed with photos of mod-
els with cute little upturned
noses or of the classical stat-
• ues of antiquity, men and
'Women look to their plastic
surgeon to give them their
dream nose. But in the pho-
tos, it isn't the noses they're
admiring; it's the total look,
says Dr. Jack Gunter, a facial
plastic surgeon in Dallas,
exas, one of whose special-
ties is rhinoplasty. He serves
as a national spokesman for
the American Society for Aes-
thetic Plastic Surgery.
"It's surprising how differ-
,
ent the noses are," says Dr.
Gunter of the photos brought
to his office by patients as ex-
amples of what they want.
"What (the patients) really
like is the overall look of the
picture they have. In fact,
sometimes the nose is so
small and turned to the side
that you really can't see it."
"The picture can be worth
a thousand words as long as
they are not unrealistic about
what they are saying about
this nose," says adds Dr.
Beekhuis.
As patients talk about the
nose, Dr. Beekhuis said he is
careful to discuss whether the
model's nose really suits the
patient. "I tell them, 'that the
model is 5-foot-11, very thin,
with a strong bony structure.
You are 5-foot-2 with a round
face and weigh 150 pounds. I
don't think that's the kind you
want.' "
Dr. Gunter tells his pa-
tients the reason they like a
certain nose "is because it's in
harmony with the proportion
of the rest of the person's
face."
In other words, he adds,
nowadays there is no single
"ideal" nose. Instead, "there
has been a shift away from
the cookie cutter nose to a re-
shaped nose to fit the face."
Younger patients still ac-
count for the bulk of rhino-
plasty procedures. Eleven
percent of the patients are un-
der the age of 18; 57 percent
are ages 19 to 34.
But, like braces to correct
crooked teeth, it is also be-
coming popular with adults
who have lived with undesir-
able noses all their lives.
Last year, 68,320 noses
were reshaped at a price of
$300 to $6,000; the average
price was $2,590.
Face Lift
An aging population is will-
ing to pay up to $8,000 to
tighten their sagging skin via
a face lift. Most surgeons
agree that the ideal candidate
has a long slender neck with
little fat.
Face lifts have become
more popular as the popula-
tion has aged. Nearly 60 per-
cent of all face lifts are
performed on women 51 to 64
years old. Men are providing
a new market for face lifts as
they seek to remain compet-
itive with younger executives
in the business world.
A person can have more
than one face lift over a life-
time. There are cases of
women who had face lifts in
their 50s and are having their
faces redone in their 70s and
80s.
Dr. David Hawtof, of
Southfield, says people who
smoke are not good candi-
dates for this procedure.
"There is more risk to skin
loss where the skin doesn't
survive," he says of smokers.
Two years ago, 48,743 faces
were tightened at a price
range of $1,200 to $8,000; the
average price was $3,880.
Eyebrow Lift
"Eyebrows are an area that
have long been ignored," says
Dr. Mark Mashburn of Mary-
land. Sagging eyebrows, par-
ticularly in older women, can
cause "hooding" at the side of
the eye, which can hamper
peripheral vision. Elevating
the eyebrows takes care of the
problem. However, most peo-
ple who want to correct sag-
ging eyebrows opt for a face
lift. Thus, eyebrow lifts are
not a common procedure.
In 1990, 15,376 procedures
were performed for $1,000 to
$4,000, with an average price
of $1,980.
Eyelid Surgery
Eyelid surgery usually is
the first facial surgery re-
quested by a patient to correct
the signs of aging.
Fat pockets above and be-
low the eye can be trimmed to
give a more youthful appear-
ance, says Dr. Mashburn.
A quick healing time and
no scarring makes eyelid
surgery one of the easier plas-
tic surgery procedures pa-
tients can undergo. In 1990,
79,110 procedures were per-
formed. The cost for two eye-
lids ranges from $1,000 to
$5,000; the average price was
$2,450.
Ear Pinning
Not everyone who is born
with ears that stick out seeks
cosmetic surgery. But for
those who do, otoplasty, or ear
pinning, is a relatively simple
operation with no swelling
and little, if any, bruising.
More than half of this pro-
cedure is done on children un-
der the age of 12; 70 percent
under the age of 18.
In 1990, 10,153 procedures
were performed at a cost of
$750 to $4,500, with an aver-
age price of $1,900. ❑
Panel Airs
New Options
With
approximately
750,000 hysterectomies
performed each year in
the United States, the
need for sound medical
information is critical. On
Jan. 20, Sinai Hospital's
department of obstetrics
and gynecology will pre-
sent a free panel discus-
sion outlining exciting
new alternatives. ❑
STAY FIT AND LOOK
YOUR BEST II\
ACTIVEWEAR AND
DANCEWEAR FROM
THE STUDIO
WEST BLOOMFIELD
ORCHARD MALL
855-0650
NOW...WE COME TO YOU!
For SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIVES..
Professional
'Parlays Nails
For
A
lbdays Males
MANICURES
& HAIR CARE
IN YOUR OFFICE
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE
AT AN AFFORDABLE COST
TODAYS NAILS...for TODAYS MALES
Call Today For
Appointment 10
.
57E118778
IF3 EFISCINIAL.
1-RArximinim
YOUR
HEALTW
CLUB
HOME,
by Jan Jacobs, M.S.
EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST
CERTIFIED EXERCISE SPECIALIST
NESS EVALUATION
Ca ovascular • Body fat measurement
Nutritional analysis • Strength and flexibility
for an appointment call 646-1312
FIT FOR HEALTH
INUMWIMMOM
MIIMP.41PIMM
_T Il• UMW 6411MMI
MI I II• IOW I II MOP pamin
WM , A I It BM
6 .411M1
Personalized exercise programs to fit your needs. 6.
411111 A:.A
Learn how to take
better care of your
heart, call Red Cross.
American
Red Cross
ri / 8, . Public Service of This Newspaper
he Ad erhsing Council
CY,
0)
0)
833-4440
Well Help.
Will You?
113