It’s no secret people want to look good, and cosmetic procedures are a popular way to satisfy that desire. In 2012, nearly 15 million cosmetic procedures (including both minimally invasive and Kim surgical) were performed in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
They list the most popular minimally invasive procedures as:
• Botox or Dysport injection (neuromodulators)
• Dermal fi llers (hyaluronic acid)
• Laser hair removal
• Microdermabrasion
• Chemical peels Other non-surgical treatments include laser resurfacing, tattoo removal and vein treatments.
The top fi ve surgical procedures were:
• Breast augmentation
• Lipoplasty (liposuction)
• Abdominoplasty (“tummy tuck”)
• Blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery)
• Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)
Other popular surgical procedures include forehead lifts, breast lifts and facelifts.
Before undergoing a surgical cosmetic procedure, the ASPS recommends that prospective patients assess the need for having the surgery and know the risks involved, the surgeon performing the procedure, the cost and what to expect.
The patient should understand that the amount of pain and the recovery time involved can be very variable from person to person. They should take surgical consultations seriously as a step in determining whether the desired cosmetic procedure is really right for them.
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery suggests you follow these tips before undergoing any cosmetic medical procedure:
• Check credentials. Research the physician and ensure that he or she is board-certifi ed in dermatology.
• Don’t rely on price. Bargain-priced treatments may end up costing you in the long run if they are ineffective, damaging to your body or require another procedure or surgery later to correct.
• Make sure a doctor is on-site to closely supervise.
• Ask questions.
• Be sure your medical history is taken and make sure the physician is aware of your medical history, including allergies to medications and previous surgeries you’ve had.
• Don’t be afraid to walk away: Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, go elsewhere.
Dr. Mary T. Kim is chief of the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at LSU Health. She said each individual patient has a unique set of personal circumstances which bear on cosmetic procedures and their applicability to a particular situation.
“Everyone has different goals and body habits. A candidate is evaluated individually to achieve the desired result.
The plastic surgeon will need to evaluate your skin laxity, areas of fatty deposition, skin tone, your medical and surgical history, presence of overhanging skin, thickness of your fatty layer, your abdominal muscle strength and the contours of your fl anks, thighs and hips as well depending on the surgery that is planned or requested,” Kim said. “Facial rejuvenation surgery will require evaluation of eyelid tone, position of brows, overall skin laxity and aging, smoking history, medical history, previous surgery. Plastic surgery is not weight loss surgery. It is primarily for improvement of contour and aging signs.”
Kim highly recommends selecting a board-certifi ed or board-eligible plastic surgeon who can explain all the risks and benefi ts of the surgery and answer all of your questions about what is involved and what to expect, including recovery.
“The consultation should involve realistic expectations that can be achieved by cosmetic surgery. There will be scarring but scars fade over time. Plastic surgery is designed to place scars in discrete areas of the body,” Kim said. “You will be given specifi c instructions depending on the type of surgery you get such as wearing a surgical bra or wearing abdominal binder. Some surgeries have drains temporarily placed. There will be surgical pain but should be under control with pain medications.”
Kim said often (depending on which procedure is performed) patients can go home almost immediately. “Cosmetic procedures are usually outpatient same day surgeries,” she said. “The patient can choose to stay overnight at the facility if there were multiple procedures done at the same time or had large volume liposuction procedure. I explain to patients their healing process varies and is very individual. On average, most patients go back to full activity in six weeks. Depending on the procedure, most patients go back to work in two weeks.”
– Michael Stone
DID YOU KNOW?
In 2012, the top fi ve surgical procedures were:
• Breast augmentation
• Lipoplasty (liposuction)
• Abdominoplasty (“tummy tuck”)
• Blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery)
• Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
