That's Fit

Americans had more niping and tucking done in 2007 than in any year prior. According to a WebMD article, around 11.7 million people had nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed last year, representing a 2 percent climb from 2006. Two percent may not seem like much of a jump, but to put things into perspective, the number of procedures has climbed by 457 percent since 1997.

According to statistics promulgated by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 91 percent of cosmetic procedures were performed on women. And a growing number of men, who made up only a small percentage of the total number of people who had work done, are turning to cosmetic surgery (up by 17 percent since 2006).

Here are the total numbers of the top five cosmetic surgeries for 2007:

1. Liposuction: 456,828
2. Breast augmentation: 399,440
3. Eyelid surgery: 240,763
4. Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty): 185,335
5. Breast reduction: 153,087

Here are the total numbers of the top five nonsurgical cosmetic procedures for 2007:

1. Botox injection: 2,775,176
2. Hyaluronic acid: 1,448,716
3. Laser hair removal: 1,412,657
4. Microdermabrasion: 829,658
5. IPL laser treatment: 647,707

We've heard before that obesity is a main cause for the development and onset of diabetes. But, could obesity surgery be the cause for many diabetes cases? Seems logical, although curing obesity with surgery should be a last resort in my humble opinion. Whatever happened to working hard to lose all that extra weight?

Now, I do know it's near impossible for some to work out regularly to try and lose wight, but near anyone can change diet choices to really start dropping the pounds. Do you agree, or is surgery a quick and easy solution to ridding oneself of obesity?

Research from Australia determined that those who were obese but were subjected to obesity surgery were five times more likely to have diabetes go away over the course of two years after the surgery compared to those who only went through standard diabetes care. Well, when the stomach and other organs are physically altered to curb hunger and food cravings, I can see this being a solution that works. Is it the best solution, though?

These days, it seems like everyone's getting plastic surgery -- after all, it seems like a quick fix for the things you don't like about your body. But there are a few things that the beauty industry doesn't tell you about plastic surgery -- like the fact that it's never really risk-free, or the fact that you'll be left with a large scar. Still, some of these facts won't deter someone who is desperate for a better body.

If you're thinking of getting plastic surgery, read this account of the experience from a woman in Britain. Her experience was a mixed blessing -- her recovery was painful but she does feel much better about her body post-op. And if you would like to share your own experiences, please do so in the comments.

Plastic surgery ... hmmm...what's your take on it? We've all heard the horror stories about people who have gone under the knife, only to later find themselves worse off than when they started. Then again, there are also plenty of success stories, with people finding great emotional comfort with their new physical self.

Nevertheless, where there is money to be made, there will always be an entrepreneur looking to improve upon existing standards and, of course, make a few bucks in the process. Such is the case with a new procedure called Lipoabdominoplasty; a surgery that combines the tummy tuck and liposuction, while supposedly offering less pain, swelling, bruising and downtime.

Evidently, the blood vessels in the nerves remain intact with this new procedure, whereas with the traditional tummy tuck, this was not the case.

I'm not really sure where I stand on the whole plastic surgery issue, so I'll leave the opining to you guys.

Whether you're into cosmetic surgery or not, sometimes the only way to get a particular result is to have yourself altered surgically. But thankfully that's not always the case -- in many situations a little hard work can get you similar, if not the same, results. Want specifics? Well here's a great set of moves in slide show format from iVillage, including moves to help give yourself a bust lift, a tummy tuck, and even a tighter backside.

Think of all the money you could save by skipping the surgery and going for natural results instead -- that's one heck of a fun vacation or a lot of shopping for new clothes!

13-year-old Brooke Bates is the subject of some major controversy these days. The teenager recently had surgery to have a gastric lap band placed over her stomach, helping keep her from over-eating. But wait, that's not all -- when she was 12, she got liposuction and a tummy tuck, which helped the 220-lb girl drop 40 pounds. She gained most of it back, hence the gastric lap band. She's lost 15 lbs so far and is hoping to lose 50 more. Brooke days that after her first round of plastic surgery, she went from being the "big, fat girl to the popular girl." Plastic surgery is only available to adults in the US, so Brooke traveled to Mexico for the surgery.

I think this is absolutely appalling. Obviously, quick fixes aren't working (she gained almost all of the weight back after her first one, after all) so have her parents ever heard of teaching healthy habits? How about diet and exercise? There's no reason why a healthy 13-year-old shouldn't be able to lose weight the old fashioned way, Furthermore, why are her parents reinforcing the belief that she needs to be thin to be happy?

I think this is so wrong on so many levels. What do you think?

Are more men getting nipped and tucked? It seems so -- rates of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures for men have increased 44 percent in the last six years. Women's rates are rising as well, but plastic surgeons are seeing more men in their offices than before.

What are they having done? This article outlines the nine most popular procedures. The quick fixes like microdermabrasion, Botox, and hair removal top the list, but men are also going in for liposuction and to remove the fat from under their chin. Surgeons also speculate that body lifts and tummy tucks will also become more popular as gastric bypass surgery becomes more mainstream.

Claiming their patients diet and exercise and just want to look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside, plastic surgeons expect to see the number of male patients rise in the coming years. What about you? Male or female, would you consider plastic surgery simply for the purpose of improving your looks? Or do you think this trend takes the focus on appearance one step too far?

A global survey done recently by ACNielsen revealed that as many as one in five people say they would consider having plastic surgery. The poll was conducted over the internet and surveyed 22,780 participants in 41 countries. Which country came out as the most receptive to going under the knife? Russia, with nearly half of respondents saying they would consider it when they get older. Second and third place go to Greece and the Baltics.

On the other end of the spectrum over 90% of Japanese, Malaysian, and Indonesian people said they would not be interested in improving their physical appearance with surgery. Overall, teenagers were more receptive to the idea -- although not until they were "older." And the older respondents were generally the least interested.

Personally, I think I'll just deal with what I've been given and not try to force any changes -- I would be especially scared of having some horrible complication and ending up worse off than before!