P. James Voloshin, M.D., and his team at Newport Surgery Institute in Orange County are dedicated to the needs of their patients. Your experience will be satisfying at the Institute, which boasts a staff directed by excellence, trust and skill. The Institute does all the top surgical procedures such as liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty.

The term "plastic surgery" is derived from the Greek word, plastikos, which means to form or mold. Cosmetic surgery is done to redesign normal structures on the body in order to improve the patient's looks and self-confidence. Reconstructive surgery is done on atypical structures of the body caused by obesity, congenital imperfections, developmental defects, trauma, disease, or growths.

Why do people submit themselves to cosmetic plastic surgery? That depends. It may be that you have a once in a lifetime event coming up (such as your wedding day) and you want to look perfect. It may also depend on your gender. Fifty-seven percent of women tell their plastic surgeons they just want to look younger. Only 45% of men make the same assertion. One in four men - but only one in ten women - see plastic surgeons for what they call work-related reasons.

Making the decision to get cosmetic surgery can be a colossal, life-changing choice. Check your plastic surgeon out: does the American Board of Plastic Surgery certify him/her? What school/s did he/she attend? Where did he/she do residency training? After narrowing your list to board-certified and well-trained surgeons, visit their websites to get a general feel of their practice, and to see before and after pictures if available.

To aid recovery after your procedure:

-- Apply ice packs or compresses to minimize swelling
-- Do not take aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications
-- Do not smoke or be exposed to secondary smoke during recovery
-- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight
-- Use sun block to protect your skin
-- Go to follow-up appointments to reduce complications

Americans watch shows such as "Extreme Makeover" and "Dr. 90210" to gape at plastic surgery done from head to toe. The pop culture exposure has brought more acceptance of cosmetic surgery, but also created fear of drastic results. With this in mind, Newport Beach marketing firm "The Professional Image," recently sponsored a media briefing where a group of prominent plastic surgeons gathered to discuss the latest trends in cosmetic surgery and anti-aging.

Article by: Adam O'Connor, Los Angeles Cosmetic Surgery