Though not as popular or well known as other cosmetic surgery procedures, belly button plastic surgery allows surgeons to change the appearance of the belly button in several different ways:

• Innie vs. outtie: A plastic surgeon can turn an outtie belly button into an innie, and vice versa.
• Shape and size: You may be unhappy with the size and shape of the belly button that you were born with, or your belly button may have changed due to weight gain, pregnancy, age, or other factors. A plastic surgeon can adjust the size and shape of your belly button during surgery so you feel more confident in your appearance.

Belly button plastic surgery can be performed in conjunction with the tummy tuck procedure or abdominal liposuction, or as a standalone procedure.

However, some people still have noticeable dark circles even when they are living healthy lifestyles. In order to find the right treatment for dark under eye circles, you need to first determine their cause. The causes of dark circles include:

• Thinning of the skin: Some people have thin skin in the eye area due to genetics, while other people’s skin thins out as they age. Thin skin under the eyes makes underlying blood vessels more visible. Eye creams that include skin-thickening ingredients such as vitamin C, tretinoin, and retin-A are a good treatment option for those with thin skin under their eyes.
• Excess Pigmentation: Excess pigmentation most often affects people with darker skin tones. Eye creams that contain skin-lightening ingredients such as hydroquinone can help reduce the appearance of dark under eye circles in people with excess pigmentation.
• Puffy Bags: Older men and women that have developed puffy bags beneath their eyes can benefit from lower eyelid surgery. During surgery, the surgeon removes excess fat and skin in the lower lid area to reduce puffiness and shadowing, and improve the patient’s overall appearance.

Walking Indoors with Shoes On

Whether you have been walking on the lawn, in a public bathroom, or a parking lot, your shoes attract various chemicals, bacteria, allergens, and other contaminants. By taking off your shoes immediately when you enter the home, you can significantly decrease the amount of germs you bring into the home.

Setting Your Purse on the Floor

Women often set their purses on the floor in restaurants, while taking public transportation, and on other places that are ripe with bacteria. Women then sling their bags back over their shoulders, allowing contaminants to get on their clothes. Finally, once home, the purse is often left on the bed, the kitchen counter, or another area of the home where germs can spread.

Keeping Your Toothbrush On The Sink

The bathroom sink is one of the most bacteria-infested areas of the home due to its close proximity to the toilet. Studies have shown that toothbrushes left on the sink can attract germs and other contaminants. Experts suggest that people store their toothbrushes in closed cabinets to reduce the amount of bacteria on the toothbrush.

Because breast implants are measured in cc (cubic centimeter) units, it is difficult for many women to determine which size they need to achieve an A, B, C, or D cup. Further, a 350 cc implant in one woman may result in a small C cup while the same implant placed in another woman may result in a full C or small D cup. That is why it is so important to consult a qualified plastic surgeon that can guide you in choosing the implant that is right for you.

According to a study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 2009, the most popular implant sizes are 300 cc to 400 cc implants.  About 80 percent of patients choose implants in this size range, which typically results in a small C to large C cup.

The article’s authors, Susan T. Butler and Scott W. Fosko, studied 1,050 people in St. Louis and found that skin cancer on the face was more likely to occur on the left side. The prevalence of left-sided facial skin cancers was most prevalent in men.

Because the left side of the face is exposed to the window and the sun while driving, the study’s authors believe that the cumulative UVA exposure can lead to skin cancer.

Daily use of sunscreen is the best defense against skin cancer. That is why it is so important to remember to use sunscreen on the face, neck, arms, hands, and any other areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.

The incisions that are created during breast augmentation surgery do not affect milk ducts or a woman’s ability to breastfeed in the future. As long as you choose a qualified, experienced surgeon, breastfeeding should not be a problem in the future.

Can Breast Implants Adversely Affect Pregnancy?

The materials used in breast implants do not pose a health risk to women, whether they are pregnant or not. These materials have undergone rigorous testing to ensure that they are safe, and have been FDA approved for use in adults.

Will Pregnancy Affect the Appearance of the Breasts?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding may have an affect on the way your breasts look; however, every woman is different. Some women may gain or lose volume in the breasts following pregnancy, while others will regain their former shape.

Dark Under Eye Circles

Lack of sleep can make the blood beneath the surface of the skin more visible, making the under eye area appear darker than usual. People also tend to rub at their eyes more when sleepy, and this can contribute to dark under eye circles.

Weight Gain

Numerous studies have shown that lack of sleep is linked to obesity. Some believe that if you are awake for longer times during the day, you have more time to eat. Other believe that the lack of sleep causes a person to consume more food in order to refuel.

Grainy Complexion

If you are unable to get enough sleep each night, the skin will look paler than usual and make blemishes more visible. Long-term lack of sleep can also cause the skin to sag.

Breast Reduction

Large breasts can cause back and neck problems. Patients can get coverage for breast reduction surgery if they submit recommendations from their primary care physician and plastic surgeon, and send in medical records for chiropractic appointments, pain medication, and other costs associated with the back and neck pain.

Eyelid Surgery

As we age, the skin on our upper and lower eyelids begins to sag. If the upper lid droops significantly, it can block the patient’s vision. Patients interested in getting insurance to cover the cost of upper eyelid surgery will need recommendations from their primary care physician, ophthalmologist, and plastic surgeon.

Rhinoplasty

Men, women, and children who have a deviated septum or other breathing problems may need nose surgery to clear the airways. In order to get insurance coverage for rhinoplasty, patients should submit recommendations from their primary care physician, breathing specialist, and plastic surgeon.

While it is important that everyone follow a good diet and exercise routine to maintain overall health and prevent future medical problems, there are some cosmetic flaws that diet and exercise cannot fix. These patients may choose to undergo cosmetic surgery in the months before summer to get their bodies bikini-ready.

Breast Augmentation

One of the most popular procedures plastic surgeons perform on patients is breast augmentation. Many women are not genetically blessed with naturally full breasts that fill out their bikini tops, bras, and other clothes. Breast implants come in various volumes so women can select the size that will suit their body types and aesthetic goals.

Tummy Tuck

Women who have been pregnant and lost a significant amount of weight may have accumulated excess skin in the abdominal area. This extra skin can be removed and the remaining skin tightened. The tummy tuck produces a more contoured stomach and gives women the confidence to wear a bathing suit.

Not surprisingly, the number of plastic surgery procedures performed last year has decreased. Still, the widespread popularity of cosmetic surgery and non-invasive aesthetic procedures is evident as millions of patients did undergo treatment despite the poor economy.

Plastic Surgery Statistics in the Past 12 Years

1997: 2,099,173
1998: 2,772,924
1999: 4,606,954
2000: 5,741,154
2001: 8,470,363
2002: 6,889,531
2003: 8,251,994
2004: 11,855,013
2005: 11,428,750
2006: 11,456,768
2007: 11,701,031
2008: 10,258,557
2009: 9,993,771

The ASAPS report also includes general information about the patient, such as the gender of the person that underwent surgery.

Most Popular Procedures for Women

Breast augmentation: 311,957
Liposuction: 243,217
Eyelid surgery: 124, 939
Abdominoplasty: 123,041
Breast reduction: 113,511

Most Popular Procedures for Men

Liposuction: 40,519
Rhinoplasty: 32,661
Eyelid surgery: 25,004
Gynecomastia: 16,801
Hair transplantation: 13,064

For more plastic surgery statistics, visit the ASAPS website.