The editors of Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery have gazed into their crystal balls to see what nips and tucks Americans will be seeking in 2009. From how the economy will affect cosmetic surgery to which new products will come to market, here’s what we will see more – or less – of in the coming year:

Less is more in 2009. The economic recession will spur many consumers to re-evaluate their cosmetic surgery plans. More people may choose less invasive procedures such as injectables and fillers instead of major surgeries, to buy time until the economy rebounds. In fact, a recent poll of consumers and plastic surgeons released at the annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) in Chicago found that 27 percent of the survey participants were considering less expensive options, compared with 20 percent six months ago. Read the rest of this entry »

MRI scans that detect shrinkage in specific regions of the mid-brain attacked by Alzheimer’s disease accurately diagnose the neurodegenerative disease, even before symptoms interfere with daily function, a study by the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) in Miami and Tampa found. Read the rest of this entry »

People who use weight training to ease their lower back pain are better off than those who choose other forms of exercise such as jogging, according to a University of Alberta study. Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Stephen R. Quake of Stanford University and a team of other researchers found that taking the blood samples from a pregnant woman may be an affective way to test for Down’s Syndrome. While only a small group of 18 woman participated in this study, if the method is approved and successful, this would be an alternative to the current, more risky procedures that test for Down’s Syndrome in an unborn baby. Amniocentesis, one of the most popular prenatal testing methods for Down’s Syndrome, has far more risks associated with it.
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Pain is more than a symptom of osteoarthritis, it is an inherent and damaging part of the disease itself, according to a study published today in journal Arthritis and Rheumatism. More specifically, the study revealed that pain signals originating in arthritic joints, and the biochemical processing of those signals as they reach the spinal cord, worsen and expand arthritis. In addition, researchers found that nerve pathways carrying pain signals transfer inflammation from arthritic joints to the spine and back again, causing disease at both ends. Read the rest of this entry »