Trendsetting celebrities have been sporting heels nearing seven inches, and the trickle down effect has impacted women trying to keep up with the high altitude fad.

Sporting Himalayan-sized heels for the walk on the red carpet or a brief photo op isn’t a challenge, but wearing them all day in the real world can be a tall order. For women who can’t resist, there are surgical options to make the fashionable heels more comfortable, and they’re taking advantage.

New research shows cosmetic procedures on the feet have doubled in the last year, and inquiries into dermal injections into the toe pads are up 21 percent. In just 20 minutes a filler can be injected into the toe pads to create more cushion and eliminate some of the burning and foot fatigue that goes with high heels.

Collagen in the skin under the toes breaks down over time and the injections help to fill out the skin and fluff the pillows underneath aching feet. There’s only mild side effects to the procedure, and they tend to wear off after about 48 hours.

Dr. Paul Nassif is opening a practice to accomodate East Coasters

Celebrity cosmetic surgeon and fixture on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Dr. Paul Nassif is filling the demand for his services on the East Coast with a new office.

Nassif’s office will be located on Park Ave. in New York City where he’ll be able to spend more time with his East Coast patients.

He says that questions from his eastern patients prompted the move.

“The demand for it got to the point where I realized it was time to bite the bullet,” Nassif says, who will divide his time between his new office and his L.A. practice.

He says he’ll come to New York every few weeks to consult, check in on his patients and do surgeries. He’ll offer the same spectrum of work in New York that has made him a favorite in Tinseltown.

“Most patients want the same thing these days. The big trend now is less is more. People don’t want to look ‘done,’” Nassif said in a recent interview noting the shifting focus in the cosmetic surgery field.

He says botox treatments are still wildly popular, and rhinoplasty always is a common procedure.

“The nose everyone comes in asking for is Megan Fox. She has an elegant, natural-looking nose.” Nassif says.

Source: Wet Paint

Photo credit: Getty

This month in Vancouver, Canada, the members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) are discussing the most effective ways to reverse the signs of aging around the mouth.

Even after a facelift, aging around the mouth create an asymmetry in the face. While the rest of the face looks younger, the mouth area can still reveal the years.

“Atrophy of the lips, wrinkles around the mouth, and skin discoloration due to sun damage cannot be corrected by a facelift, but various technologies do provide pathways to improve the appearance of the perioral region and reverse the signs of aging,” says Dr. Michael Kulick, a San Francisco surgeon.

Doctors have used injections of fillers and neurotoxins over the years, and now liplifts are becoming a popular technique to bring the mouth area in line with procedures already completed on the rest of the face.

“Our goal is about achieving total aesthetic harmony in the entire mouth area as well as the rest of the face,” Says Reston, VA surgeon Dr. George Weston.

The ASAPS is also working on formulating new comparison scales for lip aesthetics and volume, which the doctors say will produce a better understanding of treatment outcomes for patients and physicians.

Source: the American Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The Mother’s Day holiday is generally thought of as a day for greeting cards, flowers, special lunches. Now add cosmetic surgery to the list.

Plastic surgeons in Los Angeles have seen a spike in cosmetic surgery in the run up to the holiday as women reclaim their appearance prior to motherhood.

In 2010, there were more than 300,000 procedures nationally on women between ages 20 and 39, and many of those have been breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tucks.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons says that these three procedures commonly associated with women restoring their bodies to pre-pregnancy appearance were on the rise in 2011 as well. Breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tucks accounted for more than 600,000 procedures last year.

While cosmetic surgery often has been associated with correcting a singular perceived flaw, this mommy makeover approach is more geared to correction rather than wholesale change.

Doctors warn though that it’s important to consult with a reputable plastic surgeon before committing to any procedure. If done properly, the patient can continue to see improvements in their appearance for up to a year after surgery.

The HydraSolve Lipoplasty system is FDA-cleared and is based off of Tissue Liquefaction Technology developed by Alcon. By combining saline solution with low temperature and pressure, it is possible to liquefy tissues specifically targeted.  Unlike other suction-based systems, HydraSolve avoids damaging blood vessels, nerves, or connective tissue by controlling where the energized saline streams. This allows surgeons to significantly lower the risks associated with this form of plastic surgery.

Since its FDA clearance in 2010, Andrew Technologies has been working on clinical development of the HydroSolve device with leading surgeons to show its effectiveness in a batch of over fifty patient cases. By lowering the amount of blood loss suffered and minimalizing the risks associated with this form of fat extraction, patients have a lower recovery time. The appearance of bruising is also significantly decreased due to this method.

Source: Andrew Technologies, LLC

By focusing on this section of the face while planning plastic surgery operations, it is possible to achieve a younger appearance that isn’t achievable through traditional face and eyelifts.

Cheek implants and other cheek-related plastic surgery operations rose 47% in 2011 to an impressive 12,000 procedures done. Cheek operations are performed through an incision at the hairline and from within the mouth, making the operation nearly invisible. The cheek lift also corrects a notable problem with the eyes by raising the platform for the lower eyelid.

Source:  American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Comtex

Removing a scar is dependent on the type of scar. White line scars, which are common among plastic surgery patients, can be treated by professionals specialized in micropigmentation. Micropigmentation is something like permanent makeup, coloring the scarred tissue to match skin tones. This can be done on older and newer scars.

For types of acne scars, professionals can use lasers, fillers, or a combination of the two to remove or limit the appearance of scars.

Using moisturizers and cool compresses can help prevent scars from developing as it allows skin cells to regenerate quickly. By preventing the development of scabs, scars can be reduced. Large cuts that can be stitched should be. Stitches removed at the appropriate time, typically four days after insertion, can prevent the appearance of scars.

“Ask me again when I’m 65, but…I’m proud to be able to say, in this day and age, I haven’t done anything,” Klum said. “Everyone has a view of what’s pretty and what’s not pretty, and [surgery] just doesn’t look pretty to me. Especially when I see it on really young girls.”

For a special episode titled “Needles, Knives or Nothing: Kathie Lee and Hoda’s Guide To Getting Work Done,” the ladies were fully prepped in caps and gowns as they rolled on stage on hospital beds. Answering viewer curiosity, the co-hosts underwent five different procedure including laser hair removal for Hoda’s arms and and an eyebrow lift for Kathie Lee.

Via MSNBC

The purveyor of all things beauty brings this revelation to its luxury spas. A 30-minute facial treatment employs Skin Caviar Liquid Lift to deliver firm and radiant results desired by both men and women.

In addition to the actual Skin Caviar Liquid Lift application, the 30-minute treatment includes a massage from the face to the neck to the décolleté with sumptuous La Prairie products. A scalp massage and warm face mask follow just before a final application of the Skin Caviar Liquid Lift and a lip-exfoliating treatment.

When the treatment is done, guests are welcome to relax in the lounge with a glass of champagne and a warm neck pillow.

Photo credit: La Prairie