Almost 80% of Canadians wary of Plastic Surgery

Almost eight out of ten Canadians would not have a face lift, droopy eyelids fixed or unwanted fat suctioned from their body, even if they could afford it.

This is the conclusion of the latest poll about plastic surgery, conducted in the wake of several high-profile cosmetic surgery deaths.

The Ipsos Reid survey for CanWest News Service and Global National found only 20 percent of 1,000 adults surveyed agreed with the statement, "If I had the means and ability, I'd have cosmetic surgery done."
Seventy-nine percent disagreed and one percent didn't know or refused to answer.)

Similar surveys in the United States suggest approval of such procedures is at an all-time high, with more than half of Americans in favour of surgical enhancement.

"I think that, with what's happened in the news in Canada, people here are a little bit more worried about plastic surgery," says Frank Lista, medical director and founder of the Plastic Surgery Clinic in Mississauga, Ontario, and past president of the Canadian Society of Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery.

Last September, 32-year-old Krista Stryland, a real estate agent and mother of one, died in a hospital emergency room following a liposuction procedure performed by a family doctor who advertised as a cosmetic surgeon.

Stryland's death raised fresh alarms over untrained and unqualified doctors in Ontario performing cosmetic surgery and the increase in risky procedures being done in private "corner store" clinics.

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Plastic surgeons question LipoLaser treatment

Many Canadians are opting for new procedures that use lasers to target fat in order to avoid traditional liposuction, which can require a significant investment and extensive recovery period.

But some plastic surgeons question whether laser treatments produce worthwhile results, especially considering some, including the LipoLaser procedure, don't even remove fat from the body.

“I'm skeptical that it would work as well as they say it does because liposuction isn't just removing the fat, it's sculpting,” said Lorne Tarshis, chief surgeon at the Institute of Cosmetic Surgery in Toronto.
Sculpting is a process where doctors mould skin from the inside to appear firm and toned as they vacuum out the fat.

Meridian Medical Inc., which makes the LipoLaser, touts the treatment as a non-invasive and pain-free way to reduce body fat. However, the company also says the procedure is meant for “spot fat reduction” and that clients shouldn't expect dramatic results.
Patients can expect to lose one to four centimeters after a treatment, which costs $150 to $200.

“You can have fairly significant loss when incorporated with diet and lifestyle,” said Jonas LaForge, a naturopathic physician and Meridian Medical's director of medical and technical sales.

The LipoLaser procedure works by placing paddles on the patient's desired problem area so lasers can target and break up fat cells into fatty acids, water and glycerol that are either used by the body or flushed out.

It's the second laser-based liposuction procedure to be approved in Canada in the past six months as the cosmetic surgery industry seeks to cater to clients who don't want to experience the trauma of surgery in order to trim down.

Read the full story in the Globe and Mail