Category: Blog

Recent research from The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) found that ‘tweaked, not tucked’ has become the new ideal for many. Research has shown that there has been an increase in the number of people over the age of 60 undergoing plastic surgery treatments.  Additionally, research from The Independent Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) found pensioners have been informing their advisers they would like to spend the money on cosmetic surgery such as breast enlargement, face lifts, and dental implants.

The reason suggested behind this increase in the over 60s undergoing cosmetic treatments is that many people are looking for a little extra help to match how they feel with how they look.  People are living longer and are in better health, many older adults are exercising on a regular basis and tying to stay fit. All of us want to look as good as we feel, and this may mean a nip and tuck here and there. 

Another factor affecting the increase in patients over the age of 60 has to do with people working longer these days. Many older adults are not fully retired and want to spend their pensions and extra cash on themselves to make them feel happier in their body. An article on Real Self interviewed an elderly lady who was shocked by her aged appearance and wanted to change her exterior to match the age she felt inside.  This notion of wanting to look as good as we feel seems to be the driving factor behind older adults undergoing plastic surgery, and many are feeling much better having done so. 

There have been questions raised surrounding older adults undergoing elective surgery at their age, but many professionals have addressed these questions. As with any surgery, it is important for the patient to be in good health before undergoing an operation, and just because a person is older, doesn’t mean they’re in poor health.  How healthy a person is doesn’t always depend on physical age, as long as the person leads a healthy lifestyle then being over 60 does not mean that they are at an increased risk during surgery. 

 

Vitamin D is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle due to its many health benefits. Vitamin D is important for growth and development of healthy bones and teeth, and is suggested to protect us against diseases such as cancer and diabetes. 

New research into the sources of vitamin D has found that the winters of Britain do not expose us to enough sunlight in order for our bodies to synthesise this and produce the vitamin D that we need. 

This research means that in the UK, we can’t rely on sunshine to meet our vitamin D requirements. The likely effect of this will be an increase in vitamin D supplements across Britain as we can’t get our entire vitamin D requirement solely from food. 

It is important that we lead a healthy lifestyle and as this new research has shown that many of us are likely to suffer a vitamin D deficiency in the winter months, we must look to other ways of meeting our vitamin D requirements. Taking Vitamin supplements and consuming food rich in vitamin D can help to increase a person’s daily intake of vitamin D and aid them in living a healthy lifestyle. For example, Marks and Spencer recently became the first retailer to fortify their complete range of bread products with vitamin D, increasing a person’s vitamin D intake from consuming these products. 

 

These lifestyle choices are important in the winter months when we may not be synthesising enough vitamin D from sunlight in order to meet our daily requirements.

With summer starting to show its presence, we will be swapping our winter boots for those summer time heels, but does wearing high heels damage your feet and cause any long-term damage? 

According to research, wearing high heels all day and having to walk around in them for long periods of time can cause and even worsen common conditions such as bunions and neuromas. 

We have listed a few warning signs to be aware of if you do wear heels often and for long periods of time:

 

• Pain in the ball of your foot or toe joints
• Shooting pains or numbness in the balls of your feet
• Bleeding underneath your toenails

 

According to research, it is safe to wear high heels for a few hours a day, like at work for example, or for a night out. It is advised that a broader heel is better than a thin, pencil type heel as a broader heel is more stable and reduces the pressure to your feet. 

There are plenty of options available to reduce stress levels and leave us looking good and feeling great, from wrinkle treatments to meditation. Below we look at some of the key factors that cause us to age and the ways you can combat these and start to feel more relaxed and rejuvenated inside and out.

 

Alcohol

– Alcohol dries out the skin, so reducing your alcohol intake is the simplest way to minimise the impact this has on the appearance of your skin. Make sure your keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

 

Water Intake

– Increasing your water intake can drastically improve your skins appearance by increasing its radiance and healthy glow. Hydrated skin looks fresh and healthy and will drastically improve the effects of ageing.

 

Smoking

– Lines caused by smoking can be tackled with dermal fillers which plump out and fill lines. This is a particularly effective treatment for lines around the mouth.

– For deeper lines Botox can be used to ease deeper wrinkles around the mouth and eyes.

 

Lack of sleep

– Sleep tracking apps and devices will help you define your sleeping habits. These devices can recommend personalised sleep schedules, give you reminders of when it’s time to go to bed and tips for improving your night time routine.

– Meditation is a well-known way to reduce stress and anxiety, but did you know it can also improve sleep? One study showed that 58% of insomniacs showed significant improvements in sleep by practising meditation. The easiest way to drift off to a better night’s sleep is with a guided meditation app with features designed to ease you into sleep.

Increasing your hours of sleep will help your skin to appear less tired and will rejuvenate your facial appearance.

What Is An Abdominoplasty?

An abdominoplasty is also called a ‘tummy tuck’ and is an operation designed to rejuvenate the abdominal area and remove excess fat and skin. It is often performed on patients who have either lost a lot of weight or to remove the excess loose tissue following childbirth. In most cases it restores weakened or separated muscles creating an improved abdominal contour.

 

Who Is It Suitable For?

For those of normal stable body weight who have developed excess skin and / or fat. The common causes are pregnancy, weight loss, aging, genetic or due to prior surgery.

 

Who Is It Not Suitable For?

A patient who has been encouraged to improve their contour by others is not a good candidate for surgery as they may not actually be comfortable going ahead with surgery. Patients with unrealistic expectations are also not good candidates for surgery as they will never be happy with the results they achieve if they expect perfection or unrealistic outcomes. Patients who smoke or have a significant past medical history are also not ideal candidates for surgery. Those who plan to have more children should consider the pros and cons of an operation.

 

How Much Does A Tummy Tuck Cost?

This depends on what is required. After a consultation with Mr Ross you will be given a quote for surgery. This will include the surgeon’s fee, hospital fee and anaesthetic fee and will include all the benefits of the BMI’s options package.

 

What To Expect During Your Consultation?

The success of the consultation depends on your openness and honesty in relation to what troubles you and your expectations of surgery. You will be asked questions about your health, desires and lifestyle. Different operations can be tailored to your needs and the potential outcomes and the risks and complications will be discussed with you. The operation removes excess tissue from the abdominal area and the type of abdominoplasty needs to be tailored to the individual. Various types of abdominoplasty procedures are available and may be combined with liposuction. It may involve lifting the whole abdominal skin, repositioning of the belly button and tightening of the abdominal muscles. For patients following significant weight loss other adjunctive procedures may be required. A consultation regarding the risks and limitations of surgery will help you to choose a procedure that will meet with your expectations.

 

Preparing For Tummy Tuck Surgery

The majority of abdominal rejuvenation procedures on the abdomen require general anaesthetic. Your health is of prime importance and any cosmetic surgery should be postponed if you are unwell for any reason. It is important that if anything changes with your health that you make contact with us. You should ideally stop smoking 6 weeks prior to surgery and stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements before surgery, you may need preoperative tests prior to surgery, which we will arrange if required. You will generally experience abdominal discomfort following the surgery and should aim to be off work for at least 2 weeks depending on the type of work you have done.

 

When going on holiday, everyone usually remembers to pack sun cream. This check list will help you make sure you’re picking the right sun cream and making the right decisions, and also give you some top tips to avoid sun burn.

 

1. There’s a difference between UVA and UVB

UVB rays are the burning rays that cause sun burn; they damage the superficial layers of the skin.

UVA rays however penetrate your skin much deeper, and these are the rays which can cause skin cancer. 

 

1. You need a ‘broad spectrum’ sun cream 

This means that you need to check the UVA star system which can be found on your sun cream bottle. The star rating ranges from zero to five, and this measures how much of the UVA rays are absorbed by the sun cream. So it’s really important that you use a sun cream with a high UVA rating to get full protection – a UVA rating of 4-5 is considered a good standard, coupled with an SPF of at least 30.

 

1. A higher factor doesn’t always mean a higher protection

Higher SPF’s do not always offer greater protection than the lower SPF’s, and this can lead people into a false sense of security. For example, SPF 30 offers a 97% protection from UVB rays, and SPF 50 protects against 98% UVB rays, so there isn’t much in it, that’s why it’s important to always re apply and keep an eye on your skin.

 

1. You must reapply your sun cream  

Even if your sun cream states that it is water resistant, you are only protected for a certain amount of time once wet, so you will have to reapply your sun cream after getting wet. When on holiday in the sun you also sweat a lot, and this also affects the level of protection your sun cream provides as the sweat breaks down the sun cream, so again, even if you just lie on the sun bed and don’t move for hours, you must reapply your sun cream every couple of hours to maintain protection.

 

1. Spray sun creams aren’t always the best option

Aerosol sun creams can include a lot of alcohol, and this can dry out your skin and hinder the protection your sun cream gives. This means when buying sun cream, check the label for alcohol in the list of ingredients. If the sun cream does include alcohol, then go for a different option as this cream is likely to dry out your skin and increase your risk of sun burn. 

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery in Manchester you may well have already heard of Mr. Ross’s practice. If you haven’t then you will be able to obtain a lot of useful information from his website. You will also be able to read many online reviews from past patients on other independent websites. 

 

If you have come to Mr. Ross through a recommendation of a friend / colleague / GP/ medical practitioner it is worth looking through his website and doing your own research prior to your initial consultation. At your initial consultation the more research you have done regarding Mr. Ross’s practice the better. 

 

Although the general internet is a valuable resource for patients it is not individualized to your requirements and advice varies considerably. 

 

With Mr. Ross you will start a cosmetic surgery journey and at the initial consultation this will be an opportunity to meet Mr. Ross and ask him questions about what you are looking to achieve. You will always consult with Mr. Ross and the consultation is never delegated to another professional.

 

Mr. Ross takes a lot of time during the initial consult to show you examples of his work to try and give you a realistic expectation of what can be achieved. The aim is to give you sufficient information in order that you can make an informed decision to proceed.

 

Although Mr. Ross has performed thousands of cosmetic surgery procedures it is important that you realize that one size does not fit all and your individualized needs are very important. You need to be open and honest and every question is important to Mr. Ross. There are often many different options and it is important to have the opportunity to be taken through the pros and cons of the various options.  With so many new techniques and technologies the initial consultation process is only the first step on your cosmetic surgery journey. 

 

At the end of the initial consultation you will be given information about your intended procedure and any subsequent advice. If you are a suitable candidate and your expectations are realistic Mr. Ross will offer you a further consultation. You may well need more than one additional consultation.

 

It is important that you are given enough time to able to make an empowered decision to proceed. You may wish to speak to previous patients, anaesthetist, nursing and  ward staff and this can all be arranged for you. 

 

We aim to make your cosmetic surgery journey as pleasant and as informed as possible. We look forward to sharing this journey with you. 

 

To book an appointment and start your cosmetic surgery journey with Mr Ross call 01614014033 

 

The icy winds and cold air that come with winter can be really bad for our skin, stripping it of its moisture. The cold air is known for causing dry, irritated skin and we have a few tips to help combat these winter issues.

 

1. Hot showers are extremely tempting when it’s cold outside, yet this is really detrimental to your skin. The hot temperature removes many of the skins natural oils and moisture. It is important to keep your showers short and at a warm rather than hot temperature, this will ensure your skin stays hydrated throughout the winter months. 

 

2. Another tip to combat winter dryness is to moisturise. Although this is an obvious tip, many of us become lazy in the winter when it comes to moisturising, eager to get back into our clothes after a warm shower. However, in order to keep our skin healthy and full of moisture, it is really important to moisturise. This helps to replenish any loss of moisture and will keep our skin free from flakiness. Moisturising throughout the day will ensure that our skin stays healthy and radiant during the winter period. 

 

3. We can wrap up warm during winter, but one aspect that is always on show is our face. This takes a huge toll on our skin and our lips. In order to avoid sore, chapped lips, our top tip is to always carry a tub or stick of lip balm in your pocket to combat the icy air and its effects.

 

4. Our hands go through the paces every day, and this can become evident in winter. We have a few tips to help keep hands soft and free from dryness: always wear gloves when washing up at home and try to moisturise each time after washing your hands. These tricks will help lock in moisture and leave your hands feeling soft. Another tip is to remember to always have a pair of gloves on you to keep your hands out of the harsh weather. 

Abdominoplasty is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures. The operation involves the undermining of the abdominal skin, repositioning and removal of skin excess. It is an excellent means of rejuvenating the abdomen following pregnancy and weight loss.

Traditionally drains have been used to reduce the chance of hematoma and seroma. The treatment of seromas can be complex and involve multiple aspirations. Reduction of seroma rates is essential to improve long-term satisfaction for patients.

There is no evidence that drains prevent the incidence of seroma and surgical techniques may well be the key to decreasing the incidence of seroma.

Drains have been shown to increase hospital stays, limit mobilization, increase patient discomfort and are an additional source of infection.

 

A recent publication has highlighted the need to look at surgical technique rather than the use of drains to limit seromas. Preservation of the deep lymphatic vessels requires dissection in a superficial plane with preservation of thin layer of fascia, Scarpa fascia that exists within the abdominal fat. This is a distinct anatomical structure and although more difficult to identify for the inexperienced surgeon is a distinct entity. Preservation of this holds the key to reduction of seroma.

Mr. Ross uses the same described method of dissection for all his patients and has not used surgical drains for a number of years. Mr. Ross has not at the time of writing had a seroma using this method. Mr. Ross does not use drains and does not believe that there is any association between the use of drains and the prevention of seroma. 

Mr. Ross almost always strengthens the abdominal wall and almost always recommends surgical garments. Mr. Ross mobilizes all patients immediately postoperatively and believes that garments provide patients additional support when mobilizing postoperatively. 

 

Reference

 

Quaba AA1, Conlin S, Quaba O. The no-drain, no-quilt abdominoplasty: a single-surgeon series of 271 patients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Mar;135(3):751-60.

The media is often to blame for our fear of growing old. Pushing products in our direction constantly to ‘fight the signs of ageing’, airbrushing every fine line from sight and criticising every public figure for their lack of perfect appearance. 

Anti wrinkle creams are a best seller worldwide, and no wonder, each of us wanting to look younger for longer, to retain that youthful look. But the truth is, there reaches a point when we are no longer young, and why is that such a bad thing?  

 

“60 is the new 50”

 

I’m sure all of us have heard this saying, meaning that yes, we are feeling younger in ourselves, and no, 60 really isn’t that old! So what I’m turning 60, I still feel 26 on the inside. 

I’m sure many of us do not feel our age, so why are we scared of growing older? 

We shouldn’t be scared to grow old; we’ve earned it!

And just like we’ve earned our age, we’ve earned those wrinkles! 60 long years on this Earth doesn’t come without some wear and tear, so bat those adverts away telling you to fight the signs of ageing – each of those wrinkles tells a tale of your life and they should be worn with pride. The media love to dictate how women should look: no wrinkles, lovely firm skin and a slim toned figure. Many of us are well aware that this is simply unattainable for the average person, wrinkles are a sign of ageing, and so is sagging skin. We should not be fighting the signs of ageing, but rather embracing them. 

 

“A lady of her age shouldn’t be dressed like that”

 

Well why not? Why is it that society decides that when a woman reaches a certain age she must fade into the background and stick to a plain cardigan and some skin coloured tights. Our personalities do not fade with age, so why should we? The elderly are not ‘them’, but rather ‘us’, we should not throw them aside as soon as they become old and worn, but rather accept them for all that they are, which is, part of us. So no, we should not be scared to grow old; we will be before we know it. So enjoy the life that you live. One should never consider a cosmetic treatment in order to conform or to fit in to society.

 

Will cosmetic surgery stop the ageing process? 

 

The decision to engage in cosmetic treatments is an individual one and although it can improve quality of life a consultation is the best way to determine the pros and cons and risks. Mr Ross offers open and honest consultations and will only offer treatments that he feels are in your best interest. Mr Ross consults with over 1000 patients per year but will only offer treatments to on around 300-400 patients that he consults with.