Scientists have created an artificial ear by using injectable molds and 3-D printing that closely resembles a real ear. Physicians at and bioengineers at Cornell hope this new invention will help thousands of newborns with microtia, a congenital deformity that leaves the outer ear underdeveloped at birth.

A published online study describes how the bioengineered ears were developed. Basically, the injectable molds and 3-D printing that comes from living cells are used to make ears that are indistinguishable from the human ear. Over three months, these ears developed cartilage that replaced the collagen used to make them. The consistency of the mold is similar to Jell-O.

Scientists began constructing the ears with a digitized 3-D image of the patient’s ear. Next, the image was converted into a solid ear by using a 3-D printer to construct the mold.

This advancement is promising for reconstructive surgeons who have been at a loss to help children born with microtia. In addition, patients who have lost a partial or entire external ear from cancer or an accident may benefit from a bioengineered ear.

Before this breakthrough, some surgeons would replace ears with Styrofoam-like materials. Others would reconstruct ears from a rib harvested from the patient. For children, harvesting a rib is a painful challenge and the results were far from natural looking.

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A recent study highlighted in the America Society of Plastic Surgeons journal showed that patients who had a second rhytidectomy, or facelift, experienced positive results. When the procedure was performed approximately 10 years after the first surgery, patients had low complication rates. Additionally, the results lasted as long as the first facelift.

Sixty patients who underwent a secondary facelift procedure were part of a research study at the University of Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Plastic surgeons performed a secondary rhytidectomy on 57 women and three men who were 60 years old at the time. Patients received repeat facelift procedures when signs of aging returned. On average, their first facelift procedure lasted nine years. Additionally, during the course of this 20 year study, 10 of the patients underwent a third facelift.

As a result of focusing on unique surgical principles, the second facelift proved to be safe and effective in giving patients a youthful appearance. Only a small percentage – five percent – experienced complications after the second procedure.

While most individual cases may produce different results, surgeons will follow techniques that extend the effects of the procedure. Even with the good results shown in this study, having a secondary rhytidectomy procedure may require the use of unique surgical techniques. Generally, plastic surgeons should follow the five R’s of a secondary facelift. These include resect the skin, release, refill, reshape and redrape.

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The year 2012 was a time of economic revival for many areas, from auto to retail to plastic surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, ASPS, reports that five percent more procedures were performed in 2012 than in 2011. This marks the third consecutive year of growth.

The greatest growth is in minimally invasive procedures. These tend to be cheaper, with shorter healing times. The ASPS indicates that they serve as an introduction as well. Invasive surgical procedures have not grown the way minimally invasive procedures have, but that growth will come.

The more minimally invasive the procedure, the more it has increased in the past year. Botox procedures and microdermabrasion are both up eight percent, while dermal fillers are up five. Laser hair removal saw a four percent increase, and chemical peels grew by two percent.

Conversely, some surgical procedures decreased in the past year. Breast augmentation, in particular, saw a decrease of seven percent. Liposuction fell one percent as well. Some other surgical procedures increased as well, such as facelifts, which grew six percent.

What does it all mean? Plastic surgery is on the rise, but some procedures are more popular than others are. Facial rejuvenation is still one of the most popular, and saw the most growth in the past year. Female breast augmentation dropped, but male breast reduction rose significantly.

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A great deal of time and effort goes into planning and proceeding with plastic surgery. Yet all too easily, some of the most basic questions are overlooked. How will the surgery affect the use of makeup?

Surgery, even minor plastic surgery, is still effectively an open wound in the body. This means that makeup acts as a contaminant, and the act of applying it is putting unnecessary stress on the wounded area. Makeup can, in some cases, lead to longer healing times or even infection.

Thankfully, most cosmetic surgery procedures heal quickly, so with a little caution you can go back to using makeup frequently if you desire. Each procedure is different, however, so you should ask beforehand how long you would have to wait. For example, a facelift affects much of the face, and takes ten or so days to heal enough for safe makeup application. A nose job or brow work only affects small areas of the face, so the rest of the face is fair game. Rhinoplasty procedures should be left alone for three or four weeks, while eye work takes around two weeks to heal.

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When patients use a licensed plastic surgeon, their chances of adverse reactions to surgery are minimal. Unfortunately, many people choose to have their dentist perform Botox surgeries or hire a low-priced spa to do the work. Users should always remember that plastic surgery is still a major surgery and can go wrong. Even with the best doctor, side effects can happen. Recent surveys show that over half of the United States population approve of plastic surgeries. If someone is about to undergo a cosmetic procedure, they should be wary of some of the following issues.

The most obvious problem with some procedures is scarring. Most incidents of bad scarring are not caused by the doctor, but by the patient’s genetic profile. People with higher skin pigmentation or darker skin are at a higher risk for massive scarring. To be on the safe side, patients should always check out their doctors credentials. Although any doctor or dentist can legally perform a plastic surgery, patients will want a physician who specializes in the field.

Another misconception involves liposuction. People believe that if they get liposuction, the fat will move to another part of the body. In reality, this is not what happens. The human body has a set number of fat cells. If these fat cells are removed with surgery, that area of the body will not gain weight proportionately. When the patient starts to gain weight, the added pounds will be distributed primarily among areas with more fat cells.

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