According to statistics just released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, cosmetic surgery procedures like abdominoplasty, liposuction and breast augmentation decreased by 17 percent in 2009, while less expensive non-surgical treatments rose about half of 1 percent.

Like many other markets, plastic surgery has clearly been affected by the recession.

928 physicians from different specialties responded to the ASAPS survey, which is intended to help interpret emerging trends in cosmetic plastic surgery.  The findings from these 928 physicians were then “aggregated and extrapolated to the known population of 24,000 physicians who are Board Certified in these specialties.”

Breast Augmentation Remains Top Cosmetic Surgery

For the second year running, breast augmentation was the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery, with 311,957 procedures. Doctors have suggested several reasons for its continued success.

Excitement about the reintroduction of silicone gel breast implants may still be a factor, said ASAPS President Dr. Renato Saltz to the Wall Street Journal.

Philadelphia cosmetic surgeon Bruce Genter agrees, and adds that it may also be due to the relatively quick recovery time of breast augmentation and the almost “immediate gratification” it brings.  “There is also an overall upbeat aura about breast augmentation that is not pervasive in other cosmetic surgical procedures,” comments Dr. Genter.

Statistics also showed that breast implants are favored among younger women.  For patients 19-34 years old, it was the most chosen surgery, while patients age 35-50 actually chose liposuction more frequently.

Expect more 2009 statistics to be released in the coming weeks from other groups such as the ASPS.  We’ll compare their findings and further discuss the cosmetic trends that emerged during 2009.

• Read the ASAPS Press Release

Recently published in the LATimes was a story of dramatic workplace violence that left a woman in California with scars and deflated breast implants.  Her plastic surgeon is now hoping the story will elicit a contribution of supplies from implant manufacturers, to contribute to her reconstructive surgery procedure.

When a man opened fire in the dental office where Lydia Carranza worked last year, she was shot twice: “The bullet fragments were millimeters from her heart and her vital organs,” said Dr. Ashkan Ghavami.  The shooter also claimed the life of her co-worker.

According to a firearms expert interviewed for the story, what saved Lydia’s life may have been the presence of her saline breast implants.  Of course he advises against getting “breast enhancements as a means to deflect a possible incoming bullet.”

Read more about this story here on LATimes.com

Lois Stern starts where some of the other books on the subject seem to stop:  with the questions people really, really want to ask but seldom do; with the answers they really want to have, but can’t seem to find.

Stern did the work.  She conducted over 100 in-depth and intimate interviews with women.  She had some work done herself, so she’s got cred.  She tells the truth about her own experience, pushes aside some of the same old questions, (Am I a good candidate for X?  Should I tell anyone or just pretend it’s the same old me?) and moves into fresh new territory.

She believes there is still a wall of secrecy around cosmetic surgery and tells us all about it.  She tells us certain questions come up over and over again – and that one of the most frequently asked by women before they have cosmetic surgery is this: “Will I be happier later?”  That’s such an honest question, and Stern finds it again and again as she listens to women’s stories.  I happen to think that a well-adjusted person who has cosmetic surgery can definitely be happier later.  [Hint: and they seem to think so, too.]  I mean, if you’ve gone through life feeling self conscious about your (insert body part here ________), you know the euphoria one can feel to look in the mirror and see sleek thighs where saddlebags once lived, or to see bright, flashing eyes that were once taken hostage by drooping lids and crinkled skin.

Lois Stern did her homework.  She has extensive checklists. She has advice.  She talks about how we have to step up to the plate and partner with our doctor if we want to get the best possible results.  That means, among other things, coming clean about the prescriptions and non-rx meds we take, the truth about how and what we eat, our lifestyle habits (yeah, you…do you really go to the gym 5 days a week?  If not, say so!) and so on.  You can’t expect a surgeon to give you the best outcome if you give the bare minimum in terms of information, do you? This is an adult-to-adult collaboration, not Gepetto carving his wooden doll).

Continue reading ‘Guest Book Review: Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery’

Which type of breast implant feels more natural: saline or silicone?

This is a common question for women considering breast augmentation or breast reconstruction. Surgeons generally agree that silicone implants mimic natural breast tissue more closely than saline. However, natural results can be achieved with either implant. If you’re concerned about a natural look or feel in your breast implants, there are a few factors to consider:

• The amount of tissue covering the implant will affect the way it looks and feels, so you may want to consider sub muscular or partial sub muscular implant placement.
• The implants and tissue may soften during the months following breast augmentation with saline implants.
• Women with a thin body and thin breast tissue will often be advised to choose silicone implants due to the possibility of visible implant wrinkling caused by a lack of adequate coverage.
• Choosing the proper size is critical for achieving a natural result that matches your body proportions.

Injections are a scary thing for many people, even those who are otherwise interested in the cosmetic benefits they may provide. Products like Juvederm and Restylane can effectively restore facial volume and reduce wrinkles, but are these treatments comfortable?

Fortunately the answer is yes, thanks to anesthetics. Today, many non-surgical facial procedures can be done with little or no discomfort, thanks to local anesthetics that numb one or more areas of the face beforehand.

Lidocaine blocks pain signals, reduces swelling

Just as your dentist uses lidocaine as as a quick and simple way to numb the mouth prior to dental work, plastic surgeons use it as local anesthetic for injections of dermal filler. It blocks the pain signal sent by the nerve endings on your skin. You quickly feel the anesthetic taking effect and numbness kicks in.

Benefits of Lidocaine for Wrinkle Filler Injections

1. Reduces or eliminates discomfort during injections into sensitive facial tissue
2. Minimizes tissue swelling
3. Allows your doctor to better sculpt and correct targeted areas of the face
4. Allows you, the patient, to relax during the procedure
5. With longer procedures – filling in the cheek area, for instance – it eliminates the need for general anesthesia

Related links about Lidocaine and Wrinkle fillers

• MedicineNet article about lidocaine
• Mayo Clinic web article on lidocaine
• Wrinkle fillers in Seattle with Dr. Grenley

Abdominoplasty (or “tummy tuck”) is one of the top 5 requested cosmetic surgery procedures each year in the United States. It’s designed to remove excess fat and skin from the midsection of the body to bring the body back into balance and harmony.

A traditional, full abdominoplasty corrects a host of problems voiced by men and women who are looking for a solution for a protruding abdomen, sagging skin or stretch marks. This procedure involves removing excess fat and loose skin, while also tightening abdominal muscles that have loosened from the abdominal wall due to pregnancies, significant weight gain or – in some cases – the aging process itself. The navel is usually repositioned in the process, to bring the abdominal area back to a more youthful, well-toned appearance.

What’s a mini-abdominoplasty?

Many patients don’t require a full abdominoplasty. If you are basically in good physical shape and have a minimal amount of excess fat and loose skin below the navel area, the mini tummy tuck might be an excellent option to consider. Less invasive than the full abdominoplasty, the mini tummy tuck repairs muscle separation and loose skin below the navel only. This procedure involves a smaller incision and a shorter recovery period than the full abdominoplasty calls for.

The mini tummy tuck can often be performed using local anesthesia and a sedative that keeps you comfortable, drowsy and pain free. Excess fat and sagging skin are removed and the lower abdomen is resculpted to smooth, flatten and tighten it. The result is a midsection that is restored to balance and a more attractive, youthful appearance.

How to know when a mini-abdominoplasty might be the best choice for you:

1. If you are within 10% of the ideal weight for your age and height and have good skin elasticity and tone. To determine your ideal weight, see the American Medical Association’s chart:

Continue reading ‘How to Know if a Mini Abdominoplasty is Right for You’

Q: Why has breast augmentation become so popular in the United States?
A: More than 350,000 women had a breast augmentation in 2008. Aside from the sociological reasons, breast augmentation is popular because….

• a) American women are dissatisfied with the size and shape of their breasts and
• b) Breast augmentation is a very predictable and effective procedure for changing aesthetic characteristics of the breasts.

Q: Have we seen a dramatic increase in the use of silicone implants since their return to the market?

A: Just 3 years have passed since restrictions were lifted on silicone implants, so that’s still difficult to measure. 2009 statistics haven’t been publicized yet, but so far saline implants are the most common choice for surgeons in the United States.

Q: What type of surgeon is most qualified to perform breast augmentation?

A: This can be a controversial issue, but many agree that a board-certified plastic surgeon is the most qualified. It’s still recommended that you evaluate each surgeon on an individual basis.

Q: In what part of the country is breast augmentation the most expensive/inexpensive?

A: The national average cost of breast augmentation is around 4000 dollars. In certain areas where demand is higher or the cost of living is higher, you can expect to pay more. Check out this chart on RealSelf.com that outlines the cost of breast augmentation in each state.

Continue reading ‘Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Augmentation’

Lawmakers have dropped the elective cosmetic tax from the healthcare reform bill, according to news reports over the weekend. Strangely, they decided to trade one controversial tax for another and replace the elective cosmetic tax with a 10% tax on indoor tanning.

Now just as representatives from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons spoke out against the elective cosmetic tax, people from the Indoor Tanning Association (a colorful group no doubt) are opposing the tax. They say their industry, which consists mostly of small businesses, has been “thrown under the bus.”

In the News

• Huffington Post: Senate’s Proposed Tax on Indoor Tanning: Potential Lifesaver and Fundraiser
• CNN Money: Cosmetic Surgery Tax Out: Tanning Tax IN

In the latest issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal, you can find a research study about the role of gender in the formation of periorbital (around the mouth) wrinkles.

Conducted by a team of plastic surgeons in Utrecht, the study offers several reasons why women exhibit periorbital wrinkles earlier and more severely than men.  Here are 3 of the contributing factors:

1. If you’re a woman, the skin surrounding your mouth has fewer sweat and sebaceous glands, which are important for hydration.

2. You also may have fewer blood vessels in the same area.

3. The muscular fibers surrounding the orifice of a woman’s mouth are also more closely attached, which causes an “inward traction” and therefore, deeper wrinkles.

Read more on the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery website.

Marketing efforts for breast augmentation done with fat-grafting are being “ramped up” says the New York Times. Experienced plastic surgeons weigh in to warn potential patients about the unpredictable nature of this procedure. “Suddenly everyone is claiming to have 10 years experience,” says expert Dr. Sydney Coleman. [NY Times]

A British cosmetic clinic is showing off the cosmetic surgery results of their employees in a 2010 calendar. They’re calling the calendar “tongue-in-cheek, but tasteful, featuring “girls from across our company of all ages and they all look amazing.” [The Sun]

Can breast implants or lasik eye surgery be considered a marital asset? According to the Associated Press, attorneys in North Dakota thought the issue was worth debating. The judge’s ruling? “nonsense” [Star Tribune]

Giving cosmetic surgery for Christmas? Don’t surprise your significant other with a plastic surgery gift certificate unless you’ve discussed the idea in the past. Do it right and you’ve got an extraordinary gift! [RealSelf]