A male model turned TV presenter has jumped out of an aircraft at 12,000 feet with breast implants strapped to his chest in a lacy bra, all in the name of research for a new TV show.

Stephen Handisides (30) will be seen on the first edition (23 March) of MyFaceMyBody, the new TV show about cosmetic surgery, setting out to ‘bust’ the myth that silicon breast implants can explode during flights due to changes in pressure.

Handisides made the tandem jump over Cambridgeshire late last year with a black bra over his jumpsuit and the implants gaffer-taped in place to ensure they didn’t pop out mid-fall and provide someone on the ground with a nasty surprise! Both implants survived the descent at freefall speeds perfectly, laying to rest the worry some women have about the strength and safety of silicon implants.

Adrenaline-junkie Stephen, who in his career as a model has fronted campaigns for brands including Specsavers, QVC and Intercontinental Hotels, says he made the jump after being asked the same question over and over again:

“Lots of women I’ve met, including some beautiful models I’ve worked with, have expressed interest in getting breast implants but are worried about stories they’ve heard about implants rupturing due to high pressure or even exploding in flight. If that were the case then I think flights to and from Los Angeles would be a very messy business!

“The implants we used for the myth-busting jump were mid-market ones, used by many of the major cosmetic surgery providers. They survived with barely a mark on them despite having been put under enormous pressure during the descent. I hope women now know that if they’re considering breast augmentation, exploding implants is a worry they can cross off their list of things to check out beforehand!”

The full report can be seen on The MyFaceMyBody Show on Tuesday 23 March at 7.30pm on InformationTV, Sky Channel 166 and Freesat 404. The episode will be repeated on Thursdays at 3pm and Sundays at 6.30pm as well as being re-shown every Tuesday at the same time and a new episode every month.

The show is an entirely independent 30 minute chat show, presented by Stephen Handisides (who alongside his work as a model has spent many years working in the cosmetic treatment industry), dedicated to cosmetic surgery, non-surgical procedures, cosmetic dentistry and general aesthetic treatments.

Each episode of the fast-paced and informative programme will give viewers the fascinating lowdown on the latest treatments and procedures to hit the UK market, alongside entertaining ‘myth busting’ missions and revealing vox pops. The programme will also give consumers unbiased information on a huge range of cosmetic surgery treatments now available, the benefits and risks  and important tips on how to go about choosing the right surgeon or clinic.

As well as appearing on Sky TV, the programme will also be available to watch on demand on consumer website MyFaceMyBody.com. The site launched in February 2009 and already carries over 2000 pages of independent treatment advice, 200 educational videos and comprehensive news and events. A pilot episode of MyFaceMyBody is already available to watch on the website. Viewers can also use the website to quiz experts and engage in discussions during or after the show.

ENDS

For all media enquiries including images, footage and interviews with Stephen Handisides, please contact Steve Bustin at Cacique PR on sbustin@caciquepr.com or 020 7250 4750

The inquiry has drawn attention to a range of questionable practices at some private cosmetic surgery clinics, including giving surgeons commission depending on how much business they can generate. Dr Loiacono’s contract stated he would get 8 per cent commission if he earned the ACS clinic more than €25,000 a day.

Chris Inglefield, surgeon at London Bridge Plastic Surgery, said: “This highlights the need for patients to consider seriously the nature of any cosmetic surgery. Choosing a plastic or cosmetic surgeon is the most important step in achieving a good outcome and patients should not compromise on this by selecting the least costly option. They must expect to pay a fair price for expertise, good care and quality implants. Surgeons must always adhere to the principles of good medical practice, and perform surgery which is in the patient’s best interest and not in their own financial best interest.”

So why isn’t BAAPS happy? Because many surgeons feel that the Department of Health (DOH) has not gone far enough. The guidelines will ask the industry to take the lead on improving safety and regulate itself. It is understood the DoH will be proposing a voluntary system whereby clinics join a register run by the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services.

Chris Inglefield, from London Bridge Plastic Surgery, said: “Everyone will welcome the New Guidelines on the use of BOTOX and fillers from the DOH, but there is a call for tougher action from BAAPS and other organisations. But is legislation the right approach?  I do not support legislation as a means of improving standards of care. All medical professionals should adhere to the principles of Good Medical Practice and the tenet of “is the treatment or procedure in the best interest of the patient?” The filler and toxin industry has a duty to regulate practitioners who use their products – they make huge profits off of this!  The DOH should put pressure on the manufacturers of the fillers and toxins to ensure that patients receive a high standard of care at all times.”

Patients reduce swelling and pain and recover faster using new technology.

Patients at London’s premier day hospital, The Cadogan Clinic (www.cadoganclinic.com) are to be the first in the UK to benefit from being able to use brand new healing treatment Hilotherapy at home, which can be used post-surgery to reduce swelling, bruising and pain and to speed up recovery and a return to normal activity. Cadogan Clinic patients, who may have undergone surgery such as eyelid procedures, liposuction or facelifts will be supplied with a Hilotherapy unit to take home and use for as long as they need. The system uses adaptable cuffs to provide cold temperatures to the areas affected, but unlike ice or gel packs, the treatment reduces the risk of nerve or tissue damage by providing complete control over the low temperatures used.

Traditional ice compresses can actually stop the healing process and even cause frostbite.

Hilotherapy (www.hilotherapy.co.uk) can be used anywhere on the body where swelling, pain or bruising are present or need to be prevented. The temperature range of the device, which is supplied in a carrying case and weighs just 3.6kg, is between +10°C and +30°C.

Hilotherapy is suitable for use after medical or cosmetic surgery or other trauma such as a sports injury. The therapy was introduced into the UK in late 2009 and was cited at the annual conference of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) as being ‘the ideal solution for cosmetic surgery patients’. Hilotherapy was used by Strictly Come Dancing contestant Jade Johnson after she injured herself while rehearsing for the show, as well as new heavyweight boxing champion David Haye after his gruelling title fight.

Cadogan Clinic patient Alessandra Jenkyn was delighted with the help Hilotherapy provided following recent facial surgery:

“After having an operation on my face which involved painful swelling and some bruising I was given the Hilotherapy device to keep on my face in order to diminish the swelling. I used a lower face cuff which kept my face cold.

“Having had surgery before that involved this type of swelling I could compare with past results using ice packs. I was surprised to see how effective this device was. In less than 48h my face had very little swelling left and there was no sign of bruising at all. I didn’t need any painkillers during the process and still don’t. I was amazed and very impressed by the recovery achieved- especially as I had been warned by my surgeon that this result was to be expected in 2 to 3 weeks only.

“I would definitely recommend this product when needed. It worked incredibly well and was very practical, easy to use and clean.”

Bryan Mayou, founder and lead surgeon at Cadogan Clinic says he has really seen a difference in his patient’s recovery:

“As a day hospital, it’s vital that we at Cadogan Clinic give patients the very best resources to promote healing when they leave the clinic. I’m seeing patients coming in for follow-up appointments a few days after surgery with significantly less bruising or swelling and reporting less need for painkillers than I would previously have seen, after they’ve taken a Hilotherapy unit home with them. They also report that the unit is easy and pleasant to use and that they’re grateful for the chance to resume normal life as quickly as possible.”

March 2010 sees the launch of the UK’s first TV chat show dedicated entirely to cosmetic surgery, non-surgical procedures,cosmetic dentistry and general aesthetic treatments. Each episode of the fast-paced and informative programme, presented by beauty industry expert and former male model Stephen Handisides, will give viewers the fascinating lowdown on the latest treatments and procedures to hit the U.K market, alongside entertaining ‘myth busting’ missions and revealing vox pops.

The MyFaceMyBody TV programme is an entirely independent 30-minute chat show, produced monthly, that will be screened 12 times per month on InformationTV, Sky Channel 166 and Freesat.402. The first episode will be screened on Tuesday 23 March at 7.30pm, then every Tuesday at that time, reshown Thursdays at 3pm and Sundays at 6.30pm.

The programmes are fun as well as educational, and will see presenter Stephen Handisides undertake challenges and interviews to prove his points and bust some of the most common myths about the industry. In the first episode, for example, Handisides skydives with breast implants strapped to his chest, to prove just how strong they really are! The programme will also give consumers unbiased information on a huge range of cosmetic surgery treatments now available, the benefits and risks and important tips on how to go about choosing the right surgeon or clinic.

The research team at MyFaceMyBody are already conducting regular polls and surveys, enabling them to present exciting new statistics and revealing trend information every month. The show will also cover the latest international news, with items on clinics, procedures and trends from around the world.

As well as appearing on Sky TV, the programme will also be available to watch on demand on consumer website MyFaceMyBody.com. The site launched in February 2009 and already carries over 2000 pages of independent treatment advice, 200 educational videos and comprehensive news and events. A pilot episode of MyFaceMyBody is already available to watch on the website. Viewers can also use the website to quiz experts and engage in discussions during or after the show.

The MyFaceMyBody Group is the brainchild of cosmetic surgery marketing guru and former male model Stephen Handisides, who through his work with a numberof the industry’s top brands (including providers of the most popular injectable treatments) has already had a huge influence on the way cosmetic procedures are marketed.

Stephen Handisides says his work in the cosmetic surgery industry and as a model made him want to share his knowledge:

“Having seen both sides of the beauty industry, I know what pressure there is these days to look as good as possible and to defy old father time’s inevitable progress. Some people are spending hundreds or even thousands of pounds on treatments and surgery but don’t always know whether what they’re paying for is the best treatment for them.

“I’ve been developing MyFaceMyBody over the last few years as I wanted to make sure both women and men could find easily accessible and engaging yet totally independent information about the huge number of procedures available to them.

“We have a lot of fun making the programmes and the feedback we’ve had on the pilot has been phenomenal. I hope the viewers enjoy it, engage with us on the programme and let us know what they’d like to see us cover.”

London, UK – 01 February 2010 – The economy may have been sagging but the nation still found ways to remain uplifted during 2009, according to the latest audit figures from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk), the not-for-profit organisation established for the advancement of education and practice of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery for public benefit. The number of surgical procedures last year exceeded 36,400 –a slow but steady rise of 6.7% from 2008, despite the financial downturn. The most impressive stats have been recorded specifically in male surgery, the demand for which has grown by 21% overall, with the number of gynaecomastia (or ‘man-boob’) ops alone having shot up by 80%.

Highlights:

-36,482 surgical procedures were carried out by BAAPS members in 2009, a 6.7% increase from 2008, when 34,187 were performed

-Women had 32,859 procedures in 2009, up from 31,183 (a modest increase of over 5%) but interest in male surgery far outstripped them with a 21% rise overall (from 3,004 last year to 3,623)

-The number of male breast reduction or gynaecomastia ops (‘man boobs’) nearly doubled from 323 to 581, a staggering 80% increase and moving from 5th most popular procedure for men to 3rd

-Breast reduction surgery proved popular among women as well, rising by 17% from 3522 to 4122

-Male brow lifts rose quite considerably (up 51%), from 72 to 109, as well as male facelifts which went up by nearly a quarter (23%) and male tummy tucks (up 20%)

-Rhinoplasty (or ‘nose jobs’) proved very popular with both sexes, increasing by 25% overall, thus rising from 7th most popular procedure to 5th

-Although facelifts actually fell in demand by 8% among women, the steadfast rise in brow lifts, eyelid surgery and nose jobs suggests patients may have sought cheaper and more targeted rejuvenation procedures

-Breast augmentation remains the most popular procedure with 8,565 performed this year (up just 1% from 2008)

According to Mr. Nigel Mercer, consultant plastic surgeon and President of the BAAPS:

“The public’s interest in aesthetic surgery appears to remain strong and indeed growing quite considerably among UK males, despite the economic downturn. Wide media coverage has clearly helped to educate both men and women about the latest advances and choices available as well as the potential risks of these treatments. It’s encouraging that more people are choosing surgeons with excellent training and credentials from the BAAPS website. In the current climate it is even more important that patients seeking cosmetic surgical procedures do not make decisions based solely on price.”

The figures in full:

MEN & WOMEN (combined) in order of popularity:

Total: 36,482 -an increase of 6.7%

2009 figures in order of popularity:

-Breast augmentation: 8,565 – up 1% from last year

-Blepharoplasty (eyelid ops): 5,443 – up 6%

-Breast Reduction: 4,703 – up 22% (Up from 4th to 3rd place)

-Face/Neck Lift: 4,241 – down 7% (Dropped from 3rd to 4th place)

-Rhinoplasty: 3,836 – up 25% (Up from 7th to 5th place)

-Liposuction: 3,509 – up 8%

-Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): 3,403 – down 6% (Dropped from 5th to 7th place)

-Browlift: 1,433 – up 43% (Up from 9th to 8th place)

-Otoplasty (ear correction): 1,349 – up 7% (Dropped from 8th to 9th place) 

WOMEN

Total: 32,859 – an increase of 5.4% on 2008

Women had 90% of all cosmetic procedures in 2009 compared to 91% of procedures in 2008

Top five 2009 figures for women in order of popularity:

-Breast augmentation: 8,537 – up 1% from last year

-Blepharoplasty (eyelids): 4,827 – up 7%

-Breast Reduction: 4,122 – up 17% (Up from 5th to 3rd place)

-Face/Neck Lift: 4,005 – down 8% (Dropped from 3rd to 4th)

-Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): 3,268 – down 7% (Dropped from 4th to 5th place) 

MEN

Total: 3,623 – an increase of 21% on 2008

Men accounted for 10% of all cosmetic procedures in 2009 compared with 9% in 2008

Top five 2009 figures for men in order of popularity:

-Rhinoplasty: 877 – up 26%

-Blepharoplasty (eyelids): 616 – up 1%

-Breast Reduction: 581 – up 80% (Up from 5th to 3rd place)

-Otoplasty (ear correction): 542 – up 7% (Down from 3rd to 4th)

-Liposuction: 499 – up 4% (Down from 4th to 5th in 2009) 

According to Mr. Rajiv Grover, consultant plastic surgeon and BAAPS Secretary responsible for the UK national audit of cosmetic surgery: “This year we have recorded a dramatic rise in a number of male surgical procedures, probably due to heightened media attention, which has allowed men to realise the positive outcomes that can be achieved. The continued popularity of brow lifts and eyelid surgery may mean that patients still keen to have rejuvenating treatments despite the recession, are choosing more cost-effective measures such as targeting one particular feature, rather than having a whole facelift.

According to consultant plastic surgeon and past President of BAAPS Douglas McGeorge:

“Those considering an aesthetic surgery should always be aware that no procedure is without risk. When performed under the right circumstances, cosmetic surgery can have a positive psychological impact and improve quality of life.”

If you are unhappy with your breasts, or require reconstructive surgery due to cancer treatment, you may be considering cosmetic surgery. Fortunately, during the past decade, breast augmentation surgery has become cheaper, less invasive, and more effective. If you’re wondering whether you’re a good candidate for breast augmentation surgery, here are some points to consider:

1. Expectations

Before your cosmetic surgeon even looks at his or her scalpel, you will be extensively assessed. In order to be considered suitable for breast augmentation surgery, you must have realistic expectations about your results. Patients with a history of psychological conditions like body dysmorphic disorder may not be treated. It is important to do your research and think objectively about what you expect to achieve.

2. Physical Fitness

Good candidates for breast augmentation surgery are generally fit and healthy. Patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure or other serious physical conditions need to address these issues before surgery is performed. Depending on the precise nature of the surgery, there will be a multitude of risk factors. The surgeon will not operate if there is a chance of exacerbating pre-existing conditions.

3. Specificity

Although your surgeon can help you decide on the specific details pertaining to your breast augmentation, you need to at least have some idea of how you would like your new breasts to look. It may sound objectionable to some, but perusing the Internet to find pictures of breasts you like can assist the surgeon in the planning process. Your initial consultation is the first major step towards your new boobs, so make it count. Don’t be afraid to speak openly and honestly about exactly what you expect from your magnificent mammaries!

4. Homework

Breast augmentation, like any type of cosmetic surgery, poses certain risks. You need to do your homework to decide whether the juice is worth the squeeze.

There are two types of implants: silicone and saline. Understand the benefits and drawbacks of each before your consultation. Additionally, you may be asked to choose between several incision points. Again, the surgeon can help you decide, but the planning process is far simpler if you have conducted your own research in advance. One factor that few people consider is that breast implants do not last for an indefinite period of time. They generally need to be replaced every eight to ten years, so factor this into your financial plan.

5. Motivation

People opt for breast augmentation surgery for many different reasons. Some require reconstruction due to mastectomies, while others were born with asymmetrical or ugly breasts. Having cosmetic surgery on a part of your body that you feel generally unhappy with is perfectly acceptable. Be aware, however, that if you change your mind and have your implants removed, your breasts may look nothing like they did originally.

Breast augmentation surgery boasts consistently wonderful results. If you’re unsure whether or not you are a good candidate, your doctor will be happy to answer any questions.

Mr. Dan Alderson - My faceMyBody.com Guest Blogger

To get more information about breast surgery, risks and complications and to view some breast surgery before and after photos, check our educational pages here in MyFaceMyBody.com

For many people, the neck is one of the most ageing areas, so a neck-lift can be an effective cosmetic surgery procedure to tackle this problem area. The natural ageing process or dramatic weight loss can result in loose, sagging skin or a build up of fat around the neck area, while sun damage often leads to wrinkles and age spots. Face with Neck-Lift procedure are often performed at the same time, so the chances are that you may need both treatments to achieve the desired result. While the neck is notoriously a difficult area for aesthetic practitioners to treat effectively, a neck lift usually delivers dramatic and lasting results.

For more information visit the Millimetre Perfect profile page, here in MyFaceMyBody.com. 

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While women may bemoan the size of their derriere, new research from UK scientists reveals having a big bottom is good for you. According to their findings, carrying fat around the backside and thighs reduces the effect of harmful proteins which cause inflammation and artery clogging.

So women with an ample posterior are less likely to develop heart disease and diabetes, meaning well-rounded celebrities such as J-Lo and Beyonce are healthier role models for women than ultra-skinny models like Kate Moss.

The researchers found that a larger rear is preferable to extra fat around the stomach which sadly gives no such protection.

Gluteofemoral fat around the lower body is hard to break down and the slower-burning hip fat makes more of a hormone that protects the arteries and promotes better blood sugar control and fat burning.

Study leader Dr Konstantinos Manolopoulos, of Oxford University, said: ‘The fat around our thighs and hips is different to the fat we accumulate around our tummy. There is ‘good’ fat and ‘bad’ fat – just like there is good and bad cholesterol.

‘The cells in lower body fat work differently from the cells in upper body fat – so it could be said that celebrities like J-Lo are better role models for women’s health than supermodels who have much less lower body fat.’

Amy Lindsay – MyFaceMyBody.com Journalist