GLOW Blog

A new study commissioned by RealSelf reveals that 21 percent of women are considering cosmetic surgery and are planning for procedures either now or in the future. An online community devoted to cosmetic procedures used an outside market research firm to survey 5,035 American women between the ages of 18 and 64. The trend shows that more women are now seeking the help of cosmetic physicians.

Have you ever considered undergoing cosmetic surgery, then disregarded the idea because you felt it was only for movie stars and celebrities? In today’s society, you don’t necessarily need to be a famous model or celebrity to have cosmetic surgery. In fact, millions of people in the United States have cosmetic surgery every year -- including moms, people who want to advance in their careers, seniors who want to reverse signs of aging, and everyone else in between.

Between gossip magazines, reality TV and the internet, you could assume you know all there is to know about liposuction and SmartLipo.  But the seemingly countless warnings about assumptions exist for a reason. Assumptions are dangerous because they often go hand in hand with overlooking potentially important details. At GLOW Surgical Arts we are frequently suprised by the misinformation surrounding liposuction and SmartLipo despite folks best effort to "do their research" before the consultation. So though we’ve blogged about it before we felt it was time for a refresher on lipo – what it is, how it works, and how to figure out whether or not it is a good option for you.

As August becomes September, and the Halloween candies (already!) start taking over entire aisles at the grocery store, it becomes more and more clear: summer is winding down. Of course, that timeline differs depending on where you live. Here in Northern California, we’ve still got plenty of upper 70s, lower 80s to look forward to. That also means it’s not too late to take advantage of the summertime and commit (or recommit) to an exercise routine. No matter how you opt to strive for a better body, a trimmer physique, or simply to lose a few pounds, diet and exercise should be a part of it. However, there is the possibility that after autumn rolls into the Bay Area, after your exercise has led to a lower number on the bathroom scale… there might still be some unwelcome signs of that now absent excess fat on  your body. Then what?

A quick look at the extended forecast should erase any doubt you might have about it. And the “it” is that the weather in the Bay Area, and in Redwood City specifically, is pretty much perfect. Unless, of course, you’re anti-sunshine. Good weather means a lot of things. Barbecues are being fired up more often than they were, say, two months ago. Swimming pools are suddenly an everyday option, and an appealing one at that. If you have allergies, you’re no doubt aware of the pollen in the air. It’s summertime! Cosmetic procedures might be more on the mind with the more ubiquitous sunshine, as well. After all, the term “beach body” is one most are quite aware of. We all deserve to like the way we look in a bathing suit — and if a cosmetic procedure can help you achieve that feeling, then now might very well be the time to go for it!

Let’s start with something that goes without saying, but probably doesn’t get said nearly enough: everyone is acutely aware of how their buttocks look. We see it in the mirror. We feel it when we put on clothes. Certainly, we notice buttocks on other people all the time. It may not be an appropriate ice-breaker topic of conversation, but we all know the truth. The way our butts look matters to us. It might be an overly simplified way to look at the matter, but that truth is probably as good an explanation as any as to why buttocks augmentation procedures increased so noticeably in popularity last year.

The Great Recession has obviously had a negative impact on many aspects of American life. That goes without saying. Not everything has seen a downturn during these past several years, though. On the whole, cosmetic procedures grew in popularity

In 2013, just as they have for four years running. Over 15 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2013, a 3 % increase from 2012. And why not? When it comes to improving one’s self-image, and feeling good about the body and face we see in the mirror, the chance to enhance things for the better is always going to be worthwhile.

When something gets popular enough, there are bound to be rumors. Rumors will turn into myths. And eventually, it can practically be guaranteed that plenty of folks will actively believe in something that just isn’t true. That general rule of thumb is why those celebrity “news” magazines exist in every grocery store checkout line. Perhaps it’s debatable whether or not liposuction has reached the same level of notoriety as Jennifer Aniston’s love-life, but it’s definitely popular, as over 400,000 procedures are done in the U.S. every year. So, just like there are undoubtedly plenty of myths many people believe about Aniston, there are some general beliefs when it comes to liposuction that are simply false.