BOTAX REJECTED!!

Good for you, not so good for us, but hey, that's what its all about. I'm glad that the tax measure was rejected by the Senate. Unfortunately, all those that get fake tans will have to pay a higher price for their tanning fix.
In July, 2010, a tanning bed tax will be in place. As of today, no word as to how much, but by the end of the year we'll have an idea as to how much more tanning will cost by mid 2010.

Latisse and the FDA

About six months ago I asked Dr. Cabezas, our ophthalmologist surgeon, for some Latisse because I, like a million other women, wanted longer and thicker eyelashes. Without hesitation he said no. He said that although the drug had been approved by the FDA, there was the horrible reality that if I accidentally dropped the brush on my skin or got the liquid in my eye consequences of unheard of proportions would ensue.
Recently I read on a plastic surgery blog that Latisse has been admonished for omitting certain details in its information to consumers, specifically, the same concerns that Dr. Cabezas had mentioned. The FDA said that there are omissions in the company's website and marketing materials. The FDA also stated that allergic reactions and possible infections were minimized by the company.
If you want to read the full text, check out
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/WarningLettersandNoticeofViolationLetterstoPharmaceuticalCompanies/UCM182628.pdf

Although I could have mentioned this before, I chose to silence my selfless quest for thicker and longer eyelashes. With the right mascara, I can pass for Daisy the Cow on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!
I think I'll stick with the mascara, after all, although it is waterproof, it is very powerful, it makes my lashes long and curly.
I think I learned a valuable lesson. Next time I will tell you all what goes on! That's what this blog is for, right?

Have you heard of Botax?

It's been going around for awhile, but many people haven't heard about it. Now, let's not talk politics, or which party ideals you represent, let's just get down to the nitty gritty.
The Senate Finance Committee is considering a 10% excise tax on cosmetic surgery deemed unnecessary for medical purposes. Section 213 of the Tax Code is the regulation that will be cited for determining which cosmetic surgery procedures will be taxed; specifically, "any procedure that is directed at improving the patients' appearance and does not meaningfully promote the proper function of the body or prevent or treat illness or disease."
The procedures that will come under fire are obvious, among others, liposuction, facelifts, tummy tucks, rhinoplasty, hair transplants, breast augmentations, teeth whitening and injectable facial fillers. Instead of a $10,000 (US price) boob job, imagine paying about $1,000 more just for the surgery. You still have to pay for the other "amenities" that come along with this surgery.
Now, knowing that in Costa Rica we have just as experienced and wonderful doctors, what's stopping you from getting your surgery with us? Read all about us at our website, http://www.mysecretvacation.biz or email us with questions or concerns. You want to speak to one of our doctors? Let us know, we might be able to get you through just to chat.

Company fined for falsifying comments

Remember the fabulous threads and non-invasive face lifts everyone was talking about some time ago? I said in my last blog that these were not well liked by our staff for several reasons. It seems that the city of New York also didn't like the results or the lack of results tooted by the company Lifestyle Lift.
During the summer, Lifestyle Lift was fined $300K for fake online reviews by alleged patients. The Attorney General of NYC determined that the reviews were actually posted by employees of the company during company time. The tactics constituted deceptive trade practices, false advertising and fraudulent and illegal conduct under the New York and federal consumer protection laws.
“This company’s attempt to generate business by duping consumers was cynical, manipulative, and illegal,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “My office has and will continue to be on the forefront in protecting consumers against emerging fraud and deception, including ‘astroturfing,’ on the Internet.”
This goes to show you once again that everything you read is NOT TRUE. Do your homework before you decide on spending your money, your time and possibly your life. Ask all the questions you have and make sure you determine FOR YOURSELF that the move you will make is the correct one.
Call us at 1-888-912-3556 and inquire as to our procedures. We won't lead you astray. We don't have any reason to!!

Is a temporary face-lift worth the cost?

Recently several people have inquired as to the new and often touted thread-lifts, which are the less pricey face-lifts. Although I do not have any medical education, I have access to many medical articles, surveys and websites not accessible to the general public. And of course, the obvious, I ask the doctors on our team.

Based on the information from articles and doctors, what I can say is that the less pricey face-lifts are not recommended. In a recent study in the May/June Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, all of the participants said that they would not recommend the thread-lifts. Although the cheaper face-lifts run around $1,500-$4,500 (within the United States), they don't compare to the $6,000-$15,000 (U.S. price) face-lifts. On an average of 21 months, the improvements persisted only in the group who had the surgical face-lifts. The participants said that after the swelling subsided, the cheaper face-lifts failed to give them the much anticipated long term results.

The moral of the story: don't sell yourself short. Although you might be paying less for a procedure, you are not necessarily getting the result you expected. Remember, the final look will be worn by you. Do your homework, research the doctors, the clinics and of course the procedure.



As I have often said in other blogs, our prices at My Secret Vacation are not the cheapest you will find in Costa Rica or in other parts of the world, but our doctors are highly acclaimed and their results are often envied. You should not be looking for the cheapest price on the procedure, but for the best results achieved. Any questions? Call us at 1-888-91-BELLO.

Breast Augmentation: Survey Highlights Recent Trends

All Press Releases for April 27, 2009

Breast Augmentation: Survey Highlights Recent Trends In Today's Most Popular Cosmetic Surgery Procedure


New York, NY (Vocus/PRWEB ) April 27, 2009 -- Despite the highly anticipated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of silicone gel implants for cosmetic purposes in 2006, saline-filled implants remain the most popular choice for primary breast augmentation, according to a study published in the March/April issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

According to this survey, 60% of surgeons still were using saline implants, and the vast majority of these doctors selected saline implants for 75% to 100% of their patients undergoing first-time breast augmentation. The reported survey found that 80% of responding plastic surgeons had increased their use of silicone gel implants since their reintroduction in 2006. There were a number of reasons for choosing one implant type over another. Patient preference was the most common factor driving the choice of silicone gel implants.

The 27 questions included in the survey were posed to 1746 members of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). ASAPS members were selected for the study population in an attempt to gather data from surgeons who most likely perform the highest volume of primary breast augmentation procedures. Data was gathered over a 3-month period beginning in June 2007.

The survey gathered other practice data on primary breast augmentation including most common incision location, implant size and type, and complications:

• The majority of surgeons (64%) preferred an incision near the breast crease, while 25% preferred an incision around the bottom half of the areola.
• The average implant size reported by 81% of surgeons was 300 to 400 cc (which is approximately a small to a full "C" cup bra).
• Smooth implants, rather than implants with a textured surface, were most often preferred by 92% of respondents because it was the surgeon's preference, less wrinkling, or overall better results for the patient.
• Ninety-six percent of surgeons used round, rather than anatomically-shaped, implants.
• The most common position for implant placement was under the muscle (62% of surgeons).
• The most frequently reported early complication of primary breast augmentation was nipple sensation changes, while capsular contracture (breast firmness caused by scar tissue contracting around the implant) was the most commonly cited delayed complication.

"Although the reintroduction of silicone gel implants was accompanied by expectations of a sharp increase in their use, this survey revealed that, among Aesthetic Society members, saline implants are used more often than silicone gel implants," said Rod Rohrich, MD and Edward Reece, M.D., the study's senior and lead authors. "However, both saline and silicone gel implants are used frequently, safely and reliably."

"The approval of silicone gel implants has expanded the options for women considering breast augmentation," says Alan Gold, MD, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)."Nevertheless, obtaining favorable patient outcomes is usually not dependent on the type of implant as much as the use of patient-appropriate techniques by a qualified and experienced surgeon."

According to recent data from ASAPS, breast augmentation was the top cosmetic surgical procedure in 2008, overtaking lipoplasty for the first time. In 2008, there were 355,671 breast augmentation procedures, up over 250% from 1997. According to the Society's most recent statistics, 46% of breast augmentations in 2008 (including both primary and implant replacement procedures) were performed using silicone gel implants.

About ASJ
Aesthetic Surgery Journal, owned by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and published by Elsevier Science, is a peer-reviewed international journal focusing on clinical and scientific developments in cosmetic surgery and cosmetic medicine. The Journal has subscribers in more than 80 countries. Besides its affiliation with ASAPS, the leading organization of board-certified plastic surgeons who specialize in aesthetic surgery, ASJ is also the official English-language journal of plastic surgery societies in Brazil, Israel, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Costa Rica, Colombia, India and The Netherlands, and it is the official journal of the Rhinoplasty Society. ASJ's Editorial Board includes plastic surgeons and Interspecialty Editors representing anesthesiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology and clinical psychology. For information on the Journal, as well as subscriber and pay-per-view access to the Journal's full text and graphics, go to http://www.aestheticsurgeryjournal.com/.

About ASAPS
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the leading organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic plastic surgery includes Active-Member plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, as well as International Active Members who hold equivalent credentials in their own countries. For information, visit http://www.surgery.org/.



American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Herbal supplements before surgery

Recently I saw a report in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal claims that more than two fifths of cosmetic surgery patients take some form of herbal supplement in the sometime before their operation. Experts are concerned that some supplements can be harmful around the time of surgery and may also interact with conventional medicines. Dr Alan Gold, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (Asaps), said that despite the well-documented side-effects of some herbal supplements, "many patients do not fully appreciate the importance of discontinuing these treatments before surgery". While some herbal supplements may provide benefits during recovery, commonly used herbal medications such as ginkgo biloba, ginseng, garlic, echinacea, valerian root and others can have deleterious effects when combined with surgery.

This is pretty scary if you ask me. The reason? Well, most of us think that we don't have to inform our doctor regarding the use of herbal supplements. Not so!! Dr. Gold added: "Stopping certain herbal supplements prior to surgery is just as critical as stopping aspirin, ibuprofen and many other common drugs."

As many as 70% of patients do not disclose the use of alternative medications to their surgeon or conventional health care provider, sometimes because they feel these physicians have little knowledge or interest in naturopathic medicine, or they feel physicians may disapprove of such treatments. Some patients simply fail to recognize the relevance of supplement usage to their current medical or surgical care. Patients need to be aware that full disclosure of all medications - both those that are prescribed and those that are obtained over-the-counter - is extremely important to their health and safety.
So please, if you do take herbal supplements, be sure to inform your doctor. In today's world we are willing to try anything that will help us overcome our infirmities. Doctors are no longer surprised to find out that their patients are taking natural medicines and/or herbal supplements. So go ahead, disclose everything!!





Herbal Medications to Avoid Within 2 Weeks of Surgery

--Gingko Biloba--Echinacea--Garlic--Goldenseal--Ginseng--Licorice--Fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids)--St. John's Wort--Dong Quai--Kava--Feverfew--Valerian Root--Ephedra

WELCOME BACK!!

The economy sure has gotten to us all hasn't it? All of us are waiting for our share of the "stimulus package". So, when you receive your share, remember us at MY SECRET VACATION for your well deserved time to regroup.

Now, for a little information...Since November 2008, many clinics have closed its doors to clients not only in the U.S. but throughout the world.



The closure of clinics is not due to the lack of interest in cosmetic fixer-uppers, but because of a lack of clients. Now is the time to remember the meaning of the latin phrase CAVEAT EMPTOR.

The potential client needs to be aware of the "sales" that are prevalent around the country. Although you might find a "good price" at the initiation of your research, your final price might not be what you bargained for. There have been many cases of individuals that have fatally suffered from "cheap" plastic surgery. There have been just as many cases of those that have suffered needlessly because they opted for less expensive surgery.

Our prices might not be the "cheapest" you will find, but rest assured that the services we provide are the finest available.

We've been able to maintain our prices because of the way our business is set up. Our job is to market the doctors in our system as well as to market the recovery centers. We don't add to the prices because of the situation in the U.S. The doctors give us a price and that is what is told to you when you call us for quotes.

So take your time. An informed customer is a great customer. Any questions you might have, email us or call us at info@mysecretvacation.biz/info@mysecretvacation.com or 1-888-91-BELLO.