Hello, fabulous Beauty Chat readers! Along with being an editor/contributor to this wonderful site, I am also an editor and writer for iEnhance.com (another website in our network). Many of those who are considering cosmetic plastic surgery often look to personal accounts when researching their procedures, which is why we would love to hear from you. We are constantly looking for inspiring stories from real people just like you who have had an enhancement procedure – cosmetic plastic surgery, skin care treatment, or cosmetic dentistry procedure. Here are a couple of examples of some recent stories: Jana’s Story and Elease’s Story.

If you would like to share your experience with a procedure you underwent, please feel free to contact me!

As some of you may know, Beauty Chat is part of a network of websites dedicated to helping our readers look and feel good – from the inside, out. As we continue to grow and add more informative content for our readers, we are proud to announce the launch of the redesigned iEnhance.com!

Head on over and check out the new look, along with new articles and stories from real patients.

Also, be sure to “Like” the iEnhance.com page on Facebook to be entered to win a gift basket filled with lots of beauty goodies!

Here are some of the products featured in the giveaway:

• Perricone MD Cosmeceuticals – Face Finishing Moisturizer
• blow – Damage Control Restoratice Hair Mask
• ViDerm – Complete Control
• Invicible Scars – Advanced Scar Therapy
• Sejaa Pure Skin Care – Day Cream, Night Cream, Mud Treatment

Good luck!

Most women dream about their wedding day from a very early age… They  plan out every detail of the event, from the dress to the food to the honeymoon location. Not surprisingly,  brides-to-be  head to their local gym before their big day in an  These all sound pretty standard, right? Well, here’s a new trend – plastic surgery to be  for  the “perfect bride.”

From breast augmentation to nose surgery, many of today’s brides are seeking more dramatic enhancements. And now there’s a new show that will be focused on this emerging generation of brides, “Bridalplasty” on E! Starting November 28th, a group of 12 women will be competing to win free cosmetic plastic surgery procedures and other wedding prizes. 

So it goes like this: Before they can start their competition, each bride meets  with Dr. Terry Dubrow – who was also the go-to doctor on “The Swan” – to go over her personalized wish list of procedures.

After their consultation,  they will  have a better idea of what their new body could look like if they win.

In addition to their new look, the lucky bride who wins it all will also get the wedding of her dreams. Here is where the twist comes in – the bride will finally reveal her new look to the groom at the wedding. And don’t worry, the big unveiling will all be caught on camera for our viewing pleasure.

Will you be tuning to watch these brides battle it out for a new appearance and dream wedding?

Photo Credit: She Radiance

Last week, MSN released a list of the “20 Best Celebrity Rumps” with none other than Kim Kardashian coming in at number one. Not long ago, women all over the country were doing all that they could to minimize this particular feature – diet, exercise, and even surgery. Now, with the likes of Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Shakira being so comfortable in their curvy figures, it seems that many women’s views have shifted.

Here are the Top 10:

• Kim Kardashian
• Jennifer Lopez
• Beyonce
• Jessica Biel
• Lady Gaga
• Shakira
• Rihanna
• Sofia Vergara
• Katy Perry
• Jessica Alba

As these shapely ladies continue to gain popularity for their derriere, those who are somewhat lacking in that department are looking for ways to enhance their buttocks. With the advances in techniques and technology, women are now able to undergo butt augmentation with either butt implants or through fat transfer. Although not all plastic surgeons offer this procedure, there are now several who have become specialists in this surgery.

Have you ever considered butt enhancement surgery?

On Monday, August 16^th, well-known Hollywood plastic surgeon Dr. Frank Ryan died in a car accident. It has been rumored that the famous doctor was tweeting while driving when his automobile turned off the highway. Dr. Ryan was most recently in the spotlight when Heidi Montag emerged with a new face and body – the celebrity plastic surgeon performed 10 procedures in one day.

As Hollywood mourns the death of Dr. Ryan, patients who relied on his expertise, such as Heidi, may need to search for another surgeon. There have been claims that she suffers from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which is what led to the multiple procedures she had done in November of last year. Should she wish to undergo further cosmetic enhancements, a surgeon with experience in treating patients with BDD would be the best option. As many celebrities have spoken out on Dr. Ryan’s caring bedside manner and compassion to his patients, he will be greatly missed by many.

Photo Credit: NYDailyNews.com

Spring has already arrived, and summer is coming up soon. In Southern California, the sun is usually ablaze 85 percent of the year, and I’ve become much more concerned about how the sun has taken its toll on my face lately. At my young age, there are many wrinkles on my face that are already beginning to set, and I’m not quite sure what to do. These days, there are preventative anti-wrinkle creams at the grocery store and infomercials that boast to completely diminish fine lines and wrinkles. However, I’ve come to find that these creams can cost from just a few bucks to over a couple hundred dollars. With the current state of the economy and a thin wallet, what’s a girl to do?

This weekend, I started to look into what is available to begin my battle with the signs of aging. In the skin care aisle at a local grocery store, there were many name brand creams like Olay® and RoC® that claimed to reduce the signs of aging. Though their prices were attractive, they didn’t seem very effective and I was sure the results would not last very long. Then I thought to go down to Sephora. There, I found a much more refined taste of specialty facial creams, but they were also quite expensive. There were so many to choose from too, and many of the creams came in 1 oz. or 2 oz. jars, small amounts that I’m sure I’d go through quickly.

Given that I like to see results right away, I started looking beyond facial creams and into non-surgical facial treatment. Fortunately, there are many facial treatments that do completely eliminate laugh lines, crow’s feet, and even deep wrinkles for older women. Botox® is by far the most popular choice to treat wrinkles; there are also artificial fillers that are used for wrinkles. From what I’ve read, many professional plastic surgeons assure that no matter what you hear about creams that promise to completely erase fine lines and wrinkles, there are no substitutes quite like Botox and injectables. They cost a few hundred dollars but results last several months. Despite the price, I like that I wouldn’t have to apply a cream every night and the results would be immediate and last five to six months.

To get rid of my dull complexion, I’m considering microdermabrasion or a chemical peel. In a microdermabrasion, the top layer of the skin is removed by a special exfoliate, revealing newer and fresher skin underneath. Microdermabrasion is usually over a hundred dollars and results typically last a few months. Chemical peels are another great way to rejuvenate the skin. For a more youthful look, a special combination solution of skin safe acid is used to remove the outermost, most damaged layer of skin, revealing a more even skin tone. These usually rub between $200 and $300; results for a microdermabrasion, while depending on the type of acid used, chemical peel results can last from a few months to over 20 years.

If I make a few adjustments in my budget now, hopefully sometime before summer I can have at least one facial treatment done. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to follow my favorite budget beauty tips and of course, daily basic skin care. Come summertime, I’ll be sure to wear sunglasses everyday. Not only do sunglasses protect the sensitive area around the eyes, which is often the first place on the face to show signs of aging, but they’re also a great fashion statement.

I am just beginning my battle with the signs of aging. Before I choose a facial treatment, what do you recommend? Have you ever considered any non-surgical facial treatments, or do you know anyone who has?

Photo Credit: Elle Magazine and Modern Mom

Good morning everyone! Thank you for being such patient, avid readers. Due to our busy schedule here at Beauty Chat, we have not been able to pump out as many articles as we’d like. But that’s all going to change shortly, as we have some great ideas up our sleeves.

In addition to providing Beauty Chat for y’all, our company is also home to several other websites, including iEnhance.com, PlasticSurgery.com, and CosmeticSurgery.com. So the writers of Beauty Chat also spend their time contributing to these online properties.

Beauty Chat was actually developed based on the idea that beauty isn’t just about surgery; it’s about finding beauty within and working your way outwards. Skincare, makeup, and fashion all contribute to enhancing your image, which are commonly the subjects of our conversations with you!

So, in order to serve your needs and continue to create a place where you can feel at ease browsing around and reading up on your favorite topics, we have created a survey for you to take. Not only would we simply appreciate this, as it will help to gauge the direction of our articles, but there is also something in it for you too!

As a thank you for being a loyal Beauty Chat fan, we have put together a basket of goodies. By filling out our survey and commenting on this post, you will be entered to win a basket of skincare and beauty products.

This contest, in which the winner will be randomly chosen, will last about two weeks – ’til March 19th! Thank you again for being so fabulous.

Chat with ya soon!

Elana

Photo Credit: Zazzle

I stumbled upon an article today about a 21-year-old Chinese woman, Xiaoqing of Shanghai, who is seeking plastic surgery to look like Jessica Alba. But here is the true kicker, she wants to go “under the knife” to win back her boyfriend!

Apparently, her ex-beau has been obsessed with the Hollywood star ever since they started dating 18 months ago – photographs of Alba used to cover their apartment and he constantly talked about her.

Individuals who want to look like their favorite celebrity is nothing new in today’s media. Shows such as ABC’s “Extreme Makeover” and MTV’s “I Want a Famous Face” revealed the extent that people are willing to go to transform their entire appearance to look like anyone other than themselves.

However, when do we decide someone is taking plastic surgery too far? And is it healthy for this woman to undergo cosmetic surgery for the purpose of winning a lover back?

I understand that when it comes to dating it is perfectly natural to want to look good for a significant other. Dressing up for a night out or changing one’s hair is reasonable in “spicing” up the relationship, but completely transforming your looks? That goes beyond just up-keeping the appearance.

According to Xiaoqing, she wants to undergo multiple surgeries, because she has never been able to let her ex-boyfriend go. “If in the end he still does not accept me after I undergo the plastic surgeries, I will give up. I will then choose to let go, start afresh and live life by myself,” she said.

Unfortunately, she will still have to live with the “Alba” face she will receive because of him. When making the decision to undergo plastic surgery, most doctors will agree that the choice should be something you should make for yourself.

What do you think about her decisions for undergoing plastic surgery? Have you ever changed your outer appearance for a significant other?

Photo Credit: Chica Inc. and Reuters

In case you haven’t heard, “The Hills” star Heidi Montag underwent 10 cosmetic surgery procedures in one day back in November 2009.

This would be the second round of face and body enhancing surgeries she’s had in the last few years; she previously had a nose surgery performed and breast implants surgery.

In today’s world, it’s not something new to see a celebrity, or reality star, have a few nips here and tucks there. But when does it become an addiction and no longer a little tune-up?

Joan Rivers, Cher, Jocelyn Wildenstein, and Mickey Rourke are just some of the Hollywood stars who are known for their ever-changing looks. Now, the female half of “Speidi” seems to be the newest member of the plastic surgery addicts club.

And what exactly did Montag undergo? Well, here’s the laundry list of surgeries:

•    Botox injections
•    Mini brow lift
•    Nose surgery revision
•    Fat injections to cheeks and lips
•    Chin reduction
•    Liposuction to her neck
•    Ears pinned back
•    Buttocks augmentation
•    Liposuction to waist, thighs
•    Breast augmentation revision

The reality star and wannabe pop singer has been quoted saying that, “For the past three years, I’ve thought about what to have done…I’m beyond obsessed.” At only 23 years of age, Montag has had more procedures than an any of us can even think of! However, to be honest, her “new” look is attractive, but her “old” look was just as appealing and didn’t really need the work done. Had she done these procedures over an extended period of time there may not have been such a dramatic change. Whereas now, Mrs. Pratt is unrecognizable.

What do you all think? Did she succeed in achieving “the best me” with these surgeries?

Photo Credit: People and Examiner.com

Brazilian-native Dr. Robert Rey, the star of E! Entertainment’s Reality TV show “Dr. 90210,” is now reaching out to women overseas. This September, he launched his lingerie line, “Shapewear,” in Brazil – a post-operative, body slimming undergarment line that has already gained popularity in the states. Having partnered up with retailer Polishop.com.br, Dr. Rey’s collection of body shaping, sexy, elegant lingerie is… Continue reading on iEnhance.com.

Photo Credit: Dr. Robert Rey