Ageing businessmen fuel boom in ‘voice-lifts’ as they seek to restore authority in their speech

  • Surgeons inject stomach fat into vocal cords to strengthen speech

By
Daily Mail Reporter

10:03 EST, 16 September 2012


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10:05 EST, 16 September 2012

Increasing numbers of elderly people are having so-called ‘voice-lifts’ to restore the youthful tone to their speech.

The procedures are proving a lucrative new avenue for the cosmetic surgery market which has so far been dominated by treatments like breast enhancements and nose jobs.

Many clients are approaching or have reached retirement age and hope the operation will improve the prospects of them staying in work.

Restoring authority: Increasing numbers of elderly people, many of them businessmen, are looking to 'voice-lifts' to help boost the strength of their speech (file picture posed by models)

Restoring authority: Increasing numbers of elderly people, many of them businessmen, are looking to ‘voice-lifts’ to help boost the strength of their speech (file picture posed by models)

The doctors treating them, known as phonosurgeons, claim it reduces the reediness in the voice and can help to boost confidence.

A large proportion of the revenue is expected to come from businessmen and executives who want to maintain an air of authority in their speech during boardroom discussions as they enter their seventies and eighties.

In a trend that has developed in America, a growing number of specialists are taking courses where phonosurgeons teach them the required techniques.

According to The Sunday Times, the operation involves injecting the folds of the vocal cords with fat removed from the stomach to bulk them up and boost the strength of the voice.

But the recognisable character of speech is not affected because tone, pitch and modulation are created by the lungs and the shape of the mouth.

Keeping pace: Specialists expect to be treating more and more businessmen and executives who want to maintain an air of authority during boardroom discussions as they enter their seventies and eighties (picture posed by models)

Keeping pace: Specialists expect to be treating more and more businessmen and executives who want to maintain an air of authority during boardroom discussions as they enter their seventies and eighties (picture posed by models)

VOICE WEAKNESS CAN START AS EARLY AS 30

In men, the voice begins to show signs of ageing from about 30 years old.

For women, it can come after the menopause or even much later.

This weakening – known as glottic insufficiency – happens when the vocal cords lose the muscle tone that enables them to close properly.

Sufferers often complain that their voice becomes reedy and lacks the convictions needed for situations such as board meetings.

Patients pay up to £6,000 for the procedure, which requires and overnight stay in hospital.

John Rubin, a consultant at London’s Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear hospital, has pioneered the treatment in Britain.

He said: ‘The biomechanical properties of fat aren’t that different from the vocal chords.

‘Fat has a high water content, so half of what is injected disappears within 36 hours.

‘The rest stays put and will be effective (for up) to 18 months.’

A 67-year-old finance director from Surrey, who asked not to be named, had the operation in America because his partially deaf wife was struggling to hear his weakening voice.

‘There is no question it has improved my speaking voice rather well,’ he said.

The comments below have not been moderated.

” A large proportion of the revenue is expected to come from businessmen and executives who want to maintain an air of authority in their speech during boardroom discussions as they enter their seventies and eighties. ” There’s only one honest way to do that: and it depends on being properly competent (through knowing exactly what you’re doing), while at the same time not caring a damn what uninformed people think about you. Any other way is a confidence trick, and usually relies on echoes of ‘verbal control’ experiences inflicted on you during youth by ‘teachers’ and other licenced bullies. The only defence against such echoes is the same – i.e. to be properly competent (through knowing exactly what you’re doing), while at the same time not caring a damn what uninformed people think about you. Amazing, eh?

Philip
,

Bankrupted Britain,
16/9/2012 21:27

It is not necessary to have the fat or collegen injection I had an implant for reasons similar to this article, it allows me to effectively chair meetings and address staff.

Of course Doris and “northerners” wouldn’t understand – some people actually work! Go back to reading your left field impoverished rags.

W8TOFF
,

Kensington Obvs., United Kingdom,
16/9/2012 19:45

I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

Fanatical northerner
,

Leeds,
16/9/2012 18:46

How often does the average person chair a board meeting?

Doris Cotterpin
,

Dove Cliff House, United Kingdom,
16/9/2012 18:43

For Gods sake what rubbish how neurotic

Gandalf
,

Middle Earth,
16/9/2012 18:31

The society we live in is full of loud-mouthed bullies who try to get things their way by doing a lot of shouting. Truth be told the real clever ones tend to keep their voice down.

abrli
,

london, United Kingdom,
16/9/2012 17:00

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