Beverly Hills Rhinoplasty Surgery Blog

Going to the tanning salon this week? Might as well skip it and take a little arsenic. That, according to the AMA, is because a recent meta-analysis of various studies on tanning beds has finally caused the World Health Organization to elevate UV-radiation emitted from tanning beds to their top cancer risk category. This lofty position is shared among the likes of arsenic, mustard gas, asbestos, plutonium and, yes, even tobacco and mixed alcohol.

WHO elevates tanning beds to top cancer risk

Studies show those who use tanning beds regularly are 8 times more likely to develop melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, and the risk of skin cancer is elevated 75% if the sun bed user starts before the age of 30. These findings come as no surprise to most people. My mom used to say even in the ‘80s that “those beds should be called cancer beds!” Moms are smart that way.

But, this news is important because, for years, proponents of tanning beds used the argument that the primarily UVA radiation emitted from tanning beds was less harmful than sunlight which has broader spectrum UV rays.

In fact, while we have long known that UVB rays are harmful, understanding of the harmful effects of UVA radiation has recently grown and is being reflected in changes in sunscreen formulations. So, while some in their invulnerable youths will continue to seek out the tans that only a UV bed can give (just as they’ll continue to smoke and do other things they’ll regret down the road), it can now officially be said that they were warned.

In general, we believe that there are good facial plastic surgeons and general plastic surgeons who do good rhinoplasty work. However, when it comes to functional problems it is important to understand that persistent congestion can be due to anatomical factors- deviated septum, valve collapse, polyps- that can be fixed with surgery or they can be due to systemic issues like nasal allergies and vasomotor rhinitis that are treated with medicine. So in these cases you would likely be better served in seeing a double board certified facial plastic surgeon since they are also trained in the treatment of these systemic problems.

Recently we came across a post from someone asking about the “nose huggie.”

Intrigued we looked it up and found what appears to be a modified hair clip being touted as a rhinoplasty alternative. Sadly, although it is true that the nose is made up of a lot of cartilage, you cannot simply mold the nose or its cartilage with pressure. In fact, when discussing rhinoplasty with our patients we go to great lengths to explain that cartilage and bone cannot simply be molded like clay.

So while there are occasional patients who we think can benefit from injection rhinoplasty, also called non surgical rhinoplasty- the nose huggie is not something that we frankly think works as a non surgical alternative to a real nose job.