Can you be too old for plastic surgery? Dr. Paul Wigoda, a South Florida plastic surgeon, agrees with recent reports that plastic surgery is an option for healthy seniors!  What does it mean to be 60 or 70 years old today? Certainly not the same as it did even a decade ago. Septuagenarians today are leading lives that are as active in their golden years as they were in their green twenties and thirties. In fact, many seniors in Fort Lauderdale and other Florida cities are waking up to the fact that simply because they are 70 years old, doesn’t mean they have to look it.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports 84,685 cosmetic procedures were performed on people 65 and over, which is a 21% increase over the surgeries performed in 2009. The most requested procedures are facelifts as late age patients seek to nip and tuck their way to more youthful looks.

There are a number of reasons why seniors are willing to go under the knife including:

* Wanting to look as young as they feel

* Availability of disposable income to pay for the surgery they’ve been wanting for awhile

* Improve self-esteem and boost self-confidence

* Increased marketability as a current or potential employee

This last point is notable. More and more seniors are continuing to work past retirement age. The current economic situation makes them more vulnerable to layoffs and dismissals by companies seeking younger, cheaper workers. For some, getting a little work done may mean the difference between keeping a well-paying job and being forced to take an early retirement.

Contrary to popular belief, plastic surgery presents no special risks to senior patients as long as they are in good health. A study done by the Journal of Plastic Surgery finds the risk of complications are about the same for people over 65 as they are for younger patients. As long as patients are cleared by their physician and take good care of themselves they shouldn’t experience any major problems.

Despite the youth-obsessed culture prevalent in America, at the end of the day you have to do what is right for you. Whether you get surgery or not, make sure you are doing it for your own pleasure and because of outside pressure to look younger.

Breast implants like Courtney Cox, Botox like Kim Kardashian’s mom, a Tummy Tuck like a celebrity model or some lingerie from Victoria Secret just because it makes you feel good; Enter to win Dr. Wigoda’s Beauty Sweepstakes on Facebook

Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda has launched a Facebook sweepstakes and campaign to expand his digital interactions with his patients. Now men and women looking for an expert source in plastic surgery and non-surgical services like Cosmetic Botox and fillers can subscribe to Dr. Wigoda on Facebook for all the latest plastic surgery tips and trends.

WWW.Facebook.com/DrWigoda

Dr. Wigoda gives his Facebook Fans something to talk about with his Beauty Sweepstakes Giveaways. The sweepstakes starts today on Dr. Wigoda’s Facebook Page and entrants have a chance to win a $250 Dr. Wigoda gift card or a Victoria Secret gift card ranging from $10 to $250. The winner will be published in Dr. Wigoda’s beauty blog and earn $250 towards Dr. Wigoda’s non-surgical services, while 10 runners-up will win Victoria Secret gift cards ranging from $10 to $50.

The winner will also be featured on Dr. Wigoda’s plastic surgery and beauty blog to share some of their top beauty tips and experience with Dr. Wigoda. Official contest rules include winners must be 18 years of age or older, live in Florida and be part of Dr. Wigoda’s Facebook Page.

The contest will run through September 30, 2011 and the winners will be notified by October 15, 2011.

About Plastic Surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda

Dr. Paul Wigoda practices plastic surgery in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area. As Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General, Dr. Wigoda is board certified and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Wigoda is an advocate for patient safety and education when it comes to plastic surgery. Areas of specialization include breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, facelift, brow lift, eyelid surgery, Juvederm, Radiesse, Restylane and botox treatments. Laser hair removal, spider vein treatments are also offered.

As demand for breast implants rises in Florida and beyond (a whopping 296,203 breast augmentations were performed on American women in 2010), Dr. Wigoda’s signature painless breast implant procedure has similarly risen in popularity among Florida women.

Thanks to Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon Dr. Wigoda, getting a breast implant has now become virtually painless. On his Painless Breast Implants website www.painlessbreastimplants.com Dr. Wigoda has gathered testimonials of many women who took the plunge and couldn’t be happier with their results. Last summer, one patient even blogged about the experience from start to finish.

Most Florida women can resume normal activities within a day or two after surgery and feel virtually no pain. Dr. Wigoda’s technique is very atraumatic with a quick recovery and almost no pain. Over the years, Dr. Wigoda has perfected his technique using ten-plus years of South Florida plastic surgery experience to match the correct incision and implant to each patient. Each year over 350,000 women have breast augmentation surgery in the U.S. and Dr. Wigoda offers potential patiends behind-the-scenes access via his Facebook Page, YouTube Channel and Twitter feed.

Dr. Wigoda sees patients who are bothered by their stomach every day in his Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery office. Most request information about liposuction and Tummy Tucks, also called abdominoplasties. Dr. Wigoda takes care to differentiate between the two procedures, pointing out that liposuction merely removes fat, while tummy tucks are actually three procedures in one:

1. Removes fat
2. Removes excess skin
3. Tightens muscles

When considering getting a tummy tuck, it is crucial to consider your surgeon’s credentials, facility and reviews. Other key considerations:

• A tummy tuck procedure takes longer than liposuction.
• The tummy tuck recovery period is longer than that of liposuction (approx. 6 weeks)
• A tummy tuck can be more costly.
• A tummy tuck can leave longer scars.

To tuck or not to tuck? If you have good skin tone and no loose skin, you might just need liposuction. If you have loose skin that is hanging, then a tummy tuck may be more appropriate.

Florida Plastic Surgeon Dr. Wigoda reveals truths and myths about Botox, the most popular procedure performed by Florida Physicians in a new YouTube video.

For approximately 30 years, Botox has been used to treat wrinkles and has become a very routine procedure. The New York Times reported that 5.4 millon people were injected with Botox last year alone. Most Florida patients undergo the Botox procedure every 4-6 months.

Despite the popularity of Botox, there are still some myths surrounding its uses. Dr. Wigoda reveals the truth about several of these myths:

• Botox is mainly used for the upper face including the upper forehead, crows feet and the glabellar area between the eyebrows.
• In the lower face, instead of using Botox, fillers are used.
• Botox is not a poison; however, it is made from bacteria.
• Contrary to common belief, side-effects are extremely minimal and rare.
• Botox doesn’t inhibit any day-to-day activities such as exercise.

In a time of recession, Dr. Wigoda says that Botox is a cost-effective alternative to plastic surgery in reducing wrinkles and preventing new ones from forming.

In addition to its common uses, Botox has been recently proven to relieve migraines. Some Florida patients get Botox every 3-4 months to relieve migraines and/or to treat wrinkles.

As the heat index here in Florida continues to climb and people spend more time in their bathing suits, many Floridians are considering getting liposuction to get the body they want. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Wigoda warns patients to educate themselves on the different types of liposuction and to do their research before choosing their Florida plastic surgeon for any procedure.

What is liposuction? Also known as lipoplasty or liposculpture, the procedure removes excess fat deposits, slimming and shaping specific areas of the body. Liposuction can treat stubborn fat pockets in several places on the body, including abdomen, flanks, back, thighs, inner knees, arms, neck and hips. Liposuction can be performed on its own or combined with other plastic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation, a facelift or tummy tuck.

Contrary to common belief, liposuction is not a weight-loss solution. The procedure was designed to treat small areas of fat. Many patients seek liposuction to remove stubborn fat deposits that linger in spite of diet and exercise.

Considering having lipo done? There are several different types of liposuction procedures:

• Ultra-sonic liposuction
• Smart lipo
• Suction assisted liposuction
• Power assisted liposuction

Dr. Wigoda recommends ultra-sonic liposuction as he believes it to be most effective in achieving your desired results. Despite the current popularity of Smart liposuction, Dr. Wigoda does not feel it is as effective as ultra-sonic liposuction and has only become a buzzword due to heavy marketing.

It is also important to know what type of doctor your surgeon is. While legally any doctor can perform a liposuction, patients should only entrust their bodies to board-certified plastic surgeons for cosmetic procedures.

Dr. Wigoda urges any patient considering liposuction to do their research and consult a Florida plastic surgeon with good credentials and reviews.

Fort Lauderdale’s Dr. Wigoda knows a celebrity plastic surgery patient when he sees one. Hollywood Golden Girl Betty White is the latest in a long line of celebrities to admit going under the knife – after denying it much of her career.

The 89-year-old was quoted as recently as last year saying that plastic surgery makes people “unrecognizable” and she was glad she hadn’t done it.

However, in her new memoir “If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t),” the star admits to having an eyelid lift in 1976, at the age of 54. While White initially “scolded” herself for getting the procedure, she admits, “now I’m glad I did it.”

“Looking at Miss White’s before and after pictures, it’s apparent that there is a significant improvement in the eye area,” says Fort Lauderdale plastic surgeon Dr. Paul Wigoda. “Other than the eyelid lift, it doesn’t appear as if she’s had any other work done.”

Dr. Wigoda also disagrees with White’s previous stance that cosmetic surgery makes people look unnatural or unrecognizable: “Plastic surgery should enhance one’s appearance, not alter it. Miss White herself is an example of a good candidate for a procedure who did her research when selecting a plastic surgeon and enjoyed optimal – and natural-looking – results.”

Cosmetic eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, was the third most common cosmetic procedure in 2010, performed on 209,000 Americans. The surgery can be performed on the upper or lower eyelid, depending on the patient’s features and the board-certified plastic surgeon’s preferences.

To learn more about blepharoplasty, or to see before and after photos, visit Dr. Wigoda’s Fort Lauderdale plastic surgery website or the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery website to avoid becoming a botched surgery statistic.

Four people have died after cosmetic surgery performed by doctors at a Strax
Rejuvenation & Aesthetics Institute since 2008 — more than at any other physician
office in Florida.

Dr. Paul Wigoda tells patients beware of discount plastic surgery centers that have
a high turnover of doctors and history of deaths. Research and safety should be top
priority when choosing a plastic surgeon.

No clue of how a patient died during a plastic surgery procedure?

Death and plastic surgery should not be in the same sentence. A South Florida
cosmetic surgeon says he has “no idea” why a patient suddenly died during a routine
procedure.

“In all honesty, I have absolutely no idea what happened. We have no clue at all,” Dr.
Harold M. Bass told local media. Bass is one of 14 independent surgeons who operate
at Strax, a local surgery center. Wendrow is the fourth patient to die in three years after
receiving cosmetic procedures at the center, reports Sun-Sentinel Health writer Bob
LaMendola. An attorney for the center refused to comment on the incident, instead
pointing out that the death average at Strax is “lower than the national average.”

“It is shocking to hear the news of Ms. Wendrow’s passing,” says Dr. Paul Wigoda, Chief
of Plastic Surgery at Broward General Hospital. “Although there are risks associated with
any surgery, including cosmetic surgery, one death is one too many and four in three
years is nothing short of appalling. My condolences go to the family and friends of Rony
Wendrow.”

Dr. Wigoda strongly encourages plastic surgery candidates to conduct thorough
research before selecting a plastic surgeon. It’s worth noting that the rates of plastic
surgery complications, including death, are much higher at “discount surgery centers”
than in private doctors offices.

Dr. Wigoda includes a section on his website dedicated to helping patients do their
homework and has published numerous blogs on the subject including “Is Your Plastic
Surgeon Board Certified? Questions to Ask Before Plastic Surgery” and “How to Spot
the Red Flags.” Make sure your surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon, not simply
a “cosmetic surgeon.”

Making the choice to undergo cosmetic surgery is not one that should be taken
lightly. Even the most famous and experienced plastic surgeons have less than-stellar
results with patients from time to time, and occasionally have patients that experience
complications during plastic surgery. It is imperative to choose a well-qualified surgeon
that you feel comfortable with, to minimize the risk of complications.

Plastic surgery to avoid bullying? Are South Florida teens ready to go under the knife? Should we be thinking of Botox, Boobs and Nose Jobs to avoid bullying? Media outlets such as Good Morning America and The Today Show are reporting a growing number of teens requesting plastic surgery as a reprieve from bullying.

According to CDC data, one in five high school students are bullied on school grounds every year. Even future pop superstar Lady Gaga was teased about her appearance as a child: the singer recounted being taunted and thrown in a trash can on The View on Monday.

High school senior Erica Morgo tried to break her own nose after constant teasing. After the incident, her mother, Dana Manzella, decided to allow her then 15-year-old daughter to undergo cosmetic surgery.

Teasing is torture to teens. So when 13-year-old Aubrey Woodward told The Today Show she wants plastic surgery to get her ears pinned back, she said it was because, “it makes me feel really bad” when she gets teased about them.

Erica and Aubrey are among a small but growing number of teenagers who say being teased or bullied prompted them to consider or even undergo cosmetic surgery.

Ear pin-backs are one of the most common plastic surgeries for teens, along with nose jobs such as Erica’s and breast reductions. Recent data from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery indicates that 203,308 teens went under the knife in 2009.

“While not very common, plastic surgery on teenagers can be appropriate in certain circumstances,” says Dr. Wigoda, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Broward General. “Each case has to be evaluated carefully to make certain the surgery is being done for the right reasons. For example, if a teen has very large breasts for which she not only gets teased but which make it difficult for her to exercise or participate in physical activities, or if they are causing pain, a breast reduction may be appropriate. A teen who feels very self conscious about a large nose or prominent ears, can be helped significantly with surgery with regards to their self esteem and their degree of confidence in themselves.”
When considering plastic surgery, whether for a teen or adult, it is important to thoroughly research the doctor, surgery center and risk associated with a procedure. The decision to have an elective cosmetic procedure is a serious one and should not be taken lightly. Dr. Wigoda firmly believes in building a rapport and carefully evaluating each potential patient to ensure they are a good candidate for whatever surgery they are pursuing.