Irina Vasilescu
Growing older
JULY 2012
Forever young How common is cosmetic surgery in a small german city like Bonn? T O P five sur gic a l a n d no n - sur gic a l p ro c e dur e s IN G ERM ANY
1. Breast implants 2. Liposuction 3. Blepharoplasty
4. Anti-wrinkles Foto: Getty images
treatment 5. Botox injections
source: GDÄPC (Official data for 2011)
(eyelid lift)
If you are thinking of erasing those new wrinkles on your forehead be prepared! The battle against aging is most of the times expensive, painful, and dangerous.
Foto: Irina Vasilescu
the fact that the patient is tak- to the normal routine within a en out of his normal social and week or two. personal atmosphere.“ Today, One might be surprised to dismost face lifts, neck lifts, eyelid cover that all cosmetic surgery operations, rhinoplasty surger- is dangerous! There is always a ies and breast propossibility that cedures or liposuc- „Cosmetic surgery something will tion can be done on go wrong. No operates on the absolute guaran outpatient basis, either at a hospital, antee can be healthy body„ surgery center or in given. Complian accredited operating suite. cations may occur, ranging from Recovery usually takes place scarring to fatalities. in the patient´s own home, so Despite all the risks involved, the there is less disruption to their number of people having plastic lifestyle and schedule. In most surgery is increasing. After all, cases, with short scar lifts, less you are only young...twice! invasive and more modified procedures, a patient can be back Helen S., 41, Bank employee in Bonn: „My husband knows nothing about my Botox injections!“
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met Helen through a german forum dedicated to women. She agreed to talk to me about her cosmetic procedures, with the condition that I would not reveal her real identity.
Foto: Irina Vasilescu
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t seems the desire to have the interventions is another im- clarifies. plastic surgery no longer portant aspect that makes this Most of the patients are middlemakes front page news be- kind of operation more com- aged women who, when not looking to smoothen their face, cause it is a common reality in mon in the private hospitals. ask for breast-lifts, liposuction both the celebrity world and in the wider society. It is an endur- Going to the plastic surgeon or abdominoplasty. If in countries like Brazil or Coing phenomenon and one that in Germany lombia the high number of above all appears to embrace According to the data pub- cosmetic surgeries can be exboth men and women. While the United States contin- lished by the German Society plained through the emphasis that the South-Amerues its dominance in the field, ican cultures usually countries not always associated put on the aspect of with plastic surgery are emergthe body, in Germany ing as major centres – one of the main reason may them is Germany. be the aging populaAccording to the Global Survey tion. Statistical data made by the International Socishow that more than ety of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 20% of the country´s (ISAPS), Germany ranks elevpopulation are seniors enth among the top 25 coun(over 65 years old). tries of the world with the most surgical and non-surgical cosWhat you should metic procedures performed in know... 2010. So Germany is one of the big players in the cosmetic plasEven though it is a tic surgery world-wide. But how personal decision, the often do people who don´t live idea of having plastic in big german cities go “under surgery can be a terthe knife“ in order to cut some rifying experience and years off their faces and bodies? sometimes people forTo find the answer to this question I visited Dr. Adrian Cinca, a Dr. Adrian Cinca - a young surgeon who has the get that this kind of procedures also affects young but experienced plastic secrets of rejuvenation. their psychological consurgeon who used to work in a for Aesthetic Sur- dition. Hence the pre-operatory German private gery 251.000 surgi- discussion with the doctor is clinic and now is performing plas- “251.000 surgical cal and non-surgical essential, as Dr. Adrian Cinca procedures explains: “The surgeon tries to tic surgeries at and non-surgical cosmetic were performed in understand as exactly as posthe Johannitersible the patient´s expectations Krankenhaus in procedures were Germany in 2010. the procedure and to see In Bonn one of the Bonn. performed in Ger- most asked for cos- from whether the patient has a disAccording to many in 2010.” metic procedures torted image about his or her him, most of are the filler-type body or not. I always refuse a the cosmetic and Botox injec- surgery if the person asks for surgery is done in private clinics, and rarely in tions, targeted at wrinkles. “Bo- absurd transformations.“ hospitals, mostly because this tox is used for what it´s called Cosmetic surgery is a special type of surgery doesn´t have as dynamic wrinkles - the ones that type of operation also in the rescope the saving of a life, but its disappear when the muscles are covery-phase. “We are not dealimprovment. “The main differ- relaxed. But starting with a cer- ing with a sick person, so the ence between cosmetic surgery tain age these wrinkles become recovery period is not dictated and other types of surgeries is static and then Botox has no ef- by the disease. The post-surgery that the former operates on the fect anymore, the only solution period should not exceed more healthy body.“ The high cost of being a face-lift.“, Dr. Cinca than four weeks, considering
When was your „first time“? About a year ago, just before my 40th anniverssary. Why then? Because turning 40 is a big thing in a woman´s life. I wanted to look good! What kind of treatment did you have? Injections with Botox and Hyaluron. I have very dry skin and my forehead wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes really bother me. Is going to the plastic surgeon something normal for you? Not at the beginning. Before going I took a long time thinking if I should. But I just feel too young to have wrinkles. When one of my friends told me that she also had something The antiwrinkle treatdone to her body I decided to go to the surgeon. ment that´s the most Was it worth it? Do you feel better now? powerful neurotoxin Yes. Even though the cost is high, the treatments helped known. improve my self-confidence. I get a lot of compliments. And in about three years I plan to have a mini face lift. Do you often speak about this? Only with the people that also do this. My husband, for example, knows nothing about it!