From Publishers Weekly
Copeland is assistant professor of clinical surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and attending surgeon in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Mount Sinai Hospital—as well as a "diplomat" of the National Board of Plastic Surgery; Postman is a senior features editor at Elle, who has also written for Glamour and Mademoiselle. The diction they cook up for this advice book meshes medical and fashion expertise in a manner that is somewhat unnerving; at one point, their first person text notes that "Helping people to imagine how their looks—and, by extension, their lives—can improve is the most challenging and rewarding" aspect of what Copeland does for a living. "Fixes" and procedures include endoscopic forehead lifts, "collagen or fat injections in the face to strategically plump it up," neck lipectomy (whereby "gobble neck" is "sucked away") and many others, carefully explained and illustrated by before and after pictures. The authors raise the potential "red flags" that should prevent one from undergoing surgery (including depression and pregnancy), but they also define various "light-bulb moments"—a dopey catch-phrase to refer to the things that bring people to seek surgery or other interventions. The book takes readers from making the cosmetic surgery decision through finding a doctor, to "Skin Savers and Quick Fixes" that don’t involves surgery, and separate chapters on the face, breasts (the word "perky" is used repeatedly), body contouring, and healing that do. Copeland is an enthusiastic advocate of surgical procedures, and tries to back that enthusiasm with anecdotal and scientific evidence regarding surgery’s effects, for some, on self-esteem and health. The pack is thick with similar books, but the Sinai name carries a lot of clout (at least in New York) as does that of Elle, and the book’s upbeat, go-go encouragement is infectious. Some readers, however, may find themselves admiring the "before" pictures more than the "afters," and wondering about those light-bulb moments. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description

What if our lives, social and professional, could be changed for the better by cosmetic surgery or even a simple lunch-hour procedure?

A recognized leader in the plastic surgery field, Dr. Copeland draws on years of clinical experience to guide readers through the myriad of options for cosmetic enhancement. With input from dozens of patients, complex-sounding procedures -- from face-lifts and breast surgery to liposuction and tummy tucks -- are demystified and defined, enabling readers to approach their doctors with confidence and gain the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision.

Dr. Copeland also details nonsurgical "lunchtime fixes" such as Botox injections, light-laser treatments, and collagen injections, as well as topical peels and creams to banish wrinkles and improve appearance without recovery time.

If you are among the increasing number of men and women who want to look younger, feel healthier, and live better than you ever thought possible, Dr. Copeland's skillful advice will inspire you to take control of your own cosmetic wellness.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In Change Your Looks, Change Your Life, Dr. Michelle Copeland urges us to imagine how improving our appearance can increase our self-confidence, resulting in a more complete wellness -- top to bottom, inside and out. She asks us, What if? What if our lives, social and professional, could be changed for the better by cosmetic surgery or even a simple lunch-hour procedure?

A recognized leader in the field of plastic surgery, Dr. Copeland draws on her years of clinical experience to guide readers through the myriad options for cosmetic enhancement. With input from dozens of patients, complex-sounding procedures, from face-lifts and breast surgery to liposuction and tummy tucks, are demystified and defined, enabling readers to approach their doctors with confidence and gain the knowledge necessary to make an informed decision.

Change Your Looks, Change Your Life benefits from Dr. Copeland's unique perspective as one of the most prominent female plastic surgeons in the United States and the first to graduate from Harvard with a dual degree in plastic surgery and dentistry. Emphasizing individuality, self-esteem, and the power of choice, her advice is patient-focused and sensitive to the emotional and psychological aspects of cosmetic procedures.

For those not ready for a major procedure, technological advances have made rejuvenating procedures like Botox injections affordable and practical solutions for more people than ever before. Simple "lunchtime fixes" such as light-laser treatments and collagen injections can be combined with topical peels and creams to banish wrinkles and improve appearance without recovery time. Dr. Copeland details these nonsurgical options, suggesting treatments for the most common cosmetic complaints.

This revolution in medicine has been met with a radical change in attitude, and Change Your Looks, Change Your Life is your guide to a new generation of plastic surgery. If you are among the increasing number of men and women who want to look younger, feel healthier, and live better than you ever thought possible, Dr. Copeland's skillful advice will inspire you to take control of your own cosmetic wellness.