For instance, East Asian women (China, Japan and Korea) hold their skin and complexion to the highest regard. It is very important to them that their skin is blemish-free, smooth and clear. Complexions should embody the perfection of porcelain, and to achieve this Asian women strive to eat foods high in collagen. Fair skin is also seen as more beautiful, and this mainly dates back to days when dark skin was associated with working outside under the sun (implying low social status). Another aspect of beauty is having large eyes. Because of this, many Asian women have undergone double-lid surgeries or purchased circle-lenses to make their eyes appear larger.

In India, attractiveness is based on long dark hair, wheat-colored skin, doe eyes, curvy physiques and shorter height. Dark black hair is an important indication of beauty because it allows colorful hair ornaments to stand out more. Eyes should also be large and expressive, with high-arched eyebrows to accentuate this.

In African countries such as Ethiopia, beauty is seen in the large lip plates worn by women and girls. Bottom teeth are removed at puberty so that females can receive a lower lip piercing that will later house a clay plate. The clay plat stretches the bottom lips to a very long and desirable length. In other parts of Ethiopia, scars on a woman’s stomach are seen as elegant and attracts young men. Placing scars on the stomach and chest indicates sensuality and appeal.

In the Middle East beauty is sometimes not measured by what one sees, but by what one doesn’t see. Middle Eastern women wear long cloaks called Abaya, that usually only reveal their eyes. This modesty creates a lure for men, and enhances the beauty of eye shape and make-up. It is more appealing to reveal only small glimpses of beauty than to display everything all at once.

Doctors are predicting that popularity with this procedure is associated with increasing weight-loss efforts. People are beginning to lose more weight, both naturally and surgically, which is leaving them with excess skin in certain areas. The upper arm region seems to be of particular concern, with celebrity images of toned biceps fueling the fire.

The cost of an arm lift generally ranges from $6,000 to $8,000, making it a relatively cost-effective surgery to undertake. Now that arm lifts are taking over the scene, what surgery is making its way out? Statistics are showing a significant decrease in butt-lifts, which saw the biggest drop out of any procedure between 2011 and 2012. Butt implants declined by 25 percent, while butt lifts decreased a whopping 35 percent. So, with less push for the tush, you can expect to start seeing more demand for upper body procedures in 2013.

1. Tell the doctor beforehand that you’re from out of town- he/she can recommend the ideal place for your loved ones and you stay after your surgery.
2. Recovery time- Depending on the procedure, you may not want to travel right after your surgery to plan accordingly and book some cushion time to your hotel schedule.
3. Keep all your necessary medical documents with you- when so far away from home, potentially in different times zones, it would be a good idea to keep those documents with you beforehand.
4. *For international travel- Study up.  Each country has different procedures and laws regarding medical care, make sure you select a location and doctor who will take the best care of you.

1. NIOSA (Night in old San Antonio)- It’s like a delicious history lesson to San Antonio- every food item you can think of, each representing a different culture and ethnic background. Start with a cowboy klopse (deep-fried meatball with spicy jalapeno batter) and then move over to fried okra and marinated steak kabobs.
2. Taste of New Orleans-Cajun and creole cooking with a great mix of people. Spicy food with a rice, red beans and etouffes are a fun shift from the norm.
3. King William Fair- The best parade to watch and best watched while holding a great cold beverage.  The houses and eclectic building in this part of town are a worth the trip alone.
4. A Taste of the North Side- 50 local restaurant present their best dishes- Kirby’s Steakhouse, Tap Exchange, Bistro Six, Rumi Lounge, and Two Bros- all great. The event is held at The Club at Sonterra with a variety of beer and wine tastsings. It’s a good idea to get tickets in advance.

Take in everything that this city has to offer. Fiesta events are a great way to see a new side of the city we know and love.

1. Breast Augmentation- After slipping to the number 2 spot in 2011, breast augmentation regained the number 1 spot in 2012. Around 370,000 breast augmentations in 2012, compared to 317,000 in 2011.
2. Liposuction- With 313,000 procedures in 2012, liposuction claims the number 2 spot. Their popularity can be attributed to the new technology in less invasive procedures like Coolscupting, Liposonix and Vaser Shape.
3. Facelift-Ranked third, their popularity is especially significant when you consider that non-invasive procedures like Botox is taking away some of their market share. Nonetheless, facelifts procedures numbered around 119,000.
4. Weight-loss related surgeries- Surgeries related to body contouring increased from 9,175 in 2011 to 10,119 in 2012.

More 2012 numbers:
Over 2.6 million Botox injections
1.4 million Restlylane/Juvederm treatments
880,000 Laser Hair removal procedures