Howard Klein: South Island Plastic Surgery. FRACS, FRCSC, FACS

The number of men coming forward for cosmetic surgery is increasing.  Click here to watch the full interview on TVNZ’s Breakfast show.

Kiwi blokes have caught on to the benefits of cosmetic surgery and are going under the knife in record numbers.

Plastic surgeons say they are dealing with a steady stream of men wanting to improve their looks by having noses reshaped, eyebrows lifted, “man boobs” reduced, or excess fat removed.

“Men are no different from women in that they like to look as good as they can,” said Christchurch plastic surgeon Howard Klein, who estimates that men now make up 15-20% of his patients.”

Click here to read the full article.

Cosmetic Surgery Fashion Show Makes It’s Debut in NYC
Examiner.com (2009-05-15) ; Smith, Sonya
Fashion shows in New York are not an uncommon sight but a recent event, hosted by “A Little Nip/A Little Tuck” author Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg, broke the mold on May 14. Instead of clothes, models showed off the latest plastic surgery procedures. The event also included discussion of current topics important to the plastic surgery community including mommy-makeovers, divorce packages, and the introduction of Greenberg’s recession buster package for job seekers looking to remain competitive in the face of the tumultuous economy. Proceeds for the event will benefit LI cares, a local charity that provides food to those in need.

FDA Okays Alternative To Botox
Washington Post (DC) (2009-05-26) ; Mailander Farrell, Jodi
Dysport has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a sound injectable treatment. The FDA has mandated Dysport, along with its competitor Botox, to have black-box warning labels detailing the grave risks associated with receiving the injections. Possible side effects of both Dysport and Botox include trouble swallowing or breathing; Botox has been used for therapeutic usage in patients with eyelid spasms, excessive sweating, and cervical dystonia, while Dysport has been approved for use in frown lines and cervical dystonia. Dysport is a derivative of botulinum toxin and has been used as a cheap dermal filler in Europe in previous years. The FDA has said that complications arising from botulinum injectables has been due to misuse of the treatment for conditions such as limp spasticity that have not been FDA-sanctioned.

Despite what some may think, people aren’t hiding their use of BOTOX® Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers.  In fact, according to survey statistics released today by The Aesthetic Surgery Education & Research Foundation (ASERF), the research arm of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), nearly nine out of 10 respondents (87 percent) openly discuss their BOTOX® Cosmetic and hyaluronic acid dermal filler treatments with others, with seven out of ten (70 percent) receiving support from the people they told.

“In a similar survey issued four years ago, we dispelled the myth that Hollywood and corporate wives were the typical BOTOX® Cosmetic patient,” says ASERF President Laurie Casas, MD, a plastic surgeon practicing in suburban Chicago. “Now, demographic and perception data trends show us that aesthetic injectable treatments have continued to evolve into mainstream and accepted options for the everyday woman.”

Survey results found that the typical aesthetic injectable patient is a married, working mother between 41-55 years of age with a household income of under $100,000.  The survey also found that women receiving aesthetic injectable treatments are health-conscious and philanthropy minded, with the majority incorporating exercise (95 percent) and healthy eating habits (78 percent) into their lives, and many volunteering with charitable organizations that matter to them (32 percent).   In addition, nearly seven out of 10 respondents believe that BOTOX® Cosmetic (72 percent) and hyaluronic acid dermal fillers (65 percent) are important parts of their aesthetic routine.

“Interestingly, among BOTOX® Cosmetic patients, nearly seven out of 10 respondents also received treatment with hyaluronic acid fillers,” says Dr. Casas.  “Most people have great success with BOTOX® Cosmetic and dermal fillers; however, we need to make patients aware that even though injectables are not ‘surgery,’ their administration is a medical procedure with risks that depend on the training and experience of the clinician, the clinical setting and the technique used.”

Additional findings of the survey found that 72 percent of respondents received BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to treat their glabellar lines – also referred to the “11” – the frown lines in between the brows, while 63 percent of those surveyed received hyaluronic acid dermal filler injections to treat their nasolabial folds – also known as the “parentheses” – the lines around the nose and mouth.  A few of the most frequently cited reasons to receive treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic was “to look more relaxed, less stressed” while patients reported choosing treatment with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to “look more rejuvenated.”

Based on its annual survey of U.S. physicians performing cosmetic procedures, ASAPS recently reported that BOTOX® Cosmetic injections have remained the most frequently performed procedure since FDA approval of the product in 2002.  Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers ranked as the third most popular procedure performed last year.  ASERF conducted this follow-up survey to quantify the characteristics and opinions of the patients who receive the treatment to help its members and the public obtain a better understanding of these important modalities.

Survey Methodology

To conduct this survey, ASERF, the charitable, not-for-profit research arm of American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), retained the services of Industry Insights, Inc. an independent research and consulting firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

In March 2009, a two-page questionnaire, designed by ASERF in conjunction with Industry Insights, was distributed to 1,818 ASAPS members to distribute to their BOTOX® Cosmetic and/or hyaluronic acid dermal filler patients.  A total of 687 completed and useable forms were received in time for processing and analysis.  Based on 687 presumably random responses, this study has a +/- 3.7% margin of error at a 95% level of confidence.  A margin of error of +/- 5% is typically accepted as the “standard” in association research, so this study’s +/-3.7% figure indicates a stronger than typical level of statistical integrity.

The survey was sponsored, in part, by a market research grant from Allergan, Inc.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Click here to listen to the interview

Howard Klein talks on ZB 21st July 2008

Click here to listen to the interview

Howard Klein says Black Cap Jesse Ryder should make a full recovery

Houston Chronicle (2009-01-26) ; Morgan, Kim

A number of less invasive plastic surgery procedures allow patients to treat themselves to the benefits of cosmetic surgery without significantly denting their budgets. The Zoom! whitening procedure costs $400 and takes less than under two hours, while injectables such as Restylane and Juvaderm last for months at a price tag of $500. Other dermal fillers such as Botox are useful for minimizing lines and softening features, while Perlane, Juvaderm Ultra, and Juvaderm Ultra Plus (Radiesse) are popular heavier fillers. After receiving a skin consultation, a patient can schedule a micro-dermabrasian or chemical peel facial for about $200. For body contouring, patients can receive the Italian-engineered Electrical Body Stimulation at $125 per treatment. In this painless treatment, a micro-current stimulates muscles to tighten them, resulting in a better toned physique.

Read the full article here

Scientific American (2008-12-31) ; Lite, Jordan

Latisse, a drug used for eyelash lengthening, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Bimatoprost is the main compound in the product that enables lashes to grow longer and darker. Other eyelash lengthening products have been unsuccessful, such as Jan Marini Skin Research’s Age Intervention Eyelash. The FDA claimed the product’s containment of bimatoprost caused patients to have swollen eyes; Latisse contains a much smaller amount of bimatoprost. Latisse is manufactured by Allergan and costs $120, available with a physician’s prescription. The eyelash lengthening drug, which lasts two to four months, has been deemed a solution to hypotrichosis or lack of hair growth. While physicians say that Latisse could be useful for promoting hair growth in both eyebrows and the scalp, Allergan notes that the company has not explored other uses for the drug. Side effects of using Latisse include darkened eyelid skin, itching, and redness.

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Jesse Ryder’s surgery
The Press Download Article (PDF 60k)
NZ Herald Download Article (PDF 112k)

Surge in cosmetic surgery tourism worries in NZ.
The Press Download Article (PDF 1.2mb)

Now the birth is over, let’s erase all evidence on a mother’s body.
The Press Download Article (PDF 1.8mb)

Super-sizing the assets.
The Press Download Article (PDF 292 kb)

Extreme Makeover.
NZ Womans Weekly Download Article (PDF 1.3 mb)

I spent my life savings on plastic surgery.
Womans Day Download Article (PDF 840 kb)

Botox fans get ready for Christmas.
The Press Download Article (PDF 220 kb)