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Newsletter APRIL 2004 VOL: 1 |
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IN THIS ISSUE
> Cosmetic Surgery Briefs
> Total Body Makeovers Aren't Just Found In Primetime
> Plastic Surgeries up 32% in 2003
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Cosmetic Surgery Briefs
The more the merrier when it comes to plastic surgery
A recent survey by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery revealed that more people are undergoing cosmetic procedures - with a friend.
- 36 percent of plastic surgeons saw a couple that underwent surgery together
- 25 percent saw a mother and daughter who had surgery together
- 31 percent saw a patient who received plastic surgery as a gift
- 6 percent saw sisters have plastic surgery together
- 4 percent saw friends having plastic surgery together
Restylane™ - the new wrinkle fighter
Approved by the FDA last December, Restylane™ is quickly becoming a cosmetic surgery favorite for its wrinkle-fighting staying power.
Made with hyaluronic acid, Restylane™ is a substance normally found in the skin that adds volume and fullness to the skin. The FDA based its approval on the results of a clinical trial of 138 U.S. patients who were treated with Restylane on one side of the face and collagen on the other. The product is injected as an office procedure, and the results last 6 months or longer. Restylane™ has been used in more than 60 countries since 1996.
Learn more about Wrinkle Fillers »
Total Body Makeovers Aren't Just Found In Primetime
Take a little reality TV and sprinkle in Americans' concern with their appearance, and you end up with the prime-time series Extreme Makeovers, which debuted last year.
But the real reality is that most Americans aren't looking for 'extreme' change, but rather enhancement in what they have. Plastic surgeons today are commonly asked to combine multiple procedures into a single operation.
For example, commonly combined procedures include:
The benefits of a combined approach can be numerous. They mean patients have to endure a single recovery period, which reduces time away from work, not to mention the reduction in stress and pain, and reduced surgical fees - sometimes as high as 30 percent because of efficiencies realized during the combined procedures.
And this trend looks like it may be around for a while. As plastic surgery continues to "come out of the closet" - on TV, in magazine articles, and in the daily news - more and more average Americans are going to find the time and money to make a few improvements of their own.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, a 2004 attitude study showed that 34 percent of women said they would consider cosmetic surgery, an increase of 4 percent from a year ago. In addition, approval of cosmetic surgery is high among both women and men - 51 percent of women and 42 percent of men said they generally approve of it. And even more telling - 80 percent of women and 74 percent of men said they would not be embarrassed if anyone else knew they had cosmetic surgery.
So the next time you turn on the TV and see someone undergoing an "extreme makeover," take a close look - it just might be someone you know.
Plastic Surgeries up 32%in 2003
The message is clear: we want to look and feel better about ourselves. In 2003, Americans had more than 8.7 million plastic surgery procedures, up 32 percent from 2002, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The number of surgical procedures grew by five percent, while minimally invasive procedures jumped 41 percent over the previous year.
Some other interesting facts:
- Women account for 82 percent of those having cosmetic plastic surgery. They most often chose liposuction in 2003, followed by breast augmentation, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery and facelift.
- The top procedures for men in 2003 were nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, hair transplantation and facelift.
- 40% of all plastic surgeries were performed on people between the ages of 35 and 50. Persons aged 19 to 34 accounted for 26% of surgeries, and 24% were performed on patients aged 51 to 64.
- Several procedures are on the increase, including breast augmentation, lip augmentation, tummy tucks, breast lifts, liposuction, facelifts and eyelid surgery.
- Reflecting the growing popularity of Botox, forehead lifts were down 24%.
Trends to watch for in 2004
Some of the plastic surgery techniques and approaches you'll hear about in 2004 include:
- Short scar facelift - The "anti-extreme" facelift. This procedure involves shorter incisions than traditional facelifts, leaving no scar behind the ear. The benefits include a shorter recovery period and fewer complications, which enable patients to return to work usually within two weeks.
- Total body lifts - The obesity fallout. With the increase of bariatric surgery, plastic surgeons are seeing more and more people who've lost a large amount of weight - 100 pounds or more - and are a left with a significant amount of excess skin. Somewhat risky because of the sheer extent of the surgery, successful body contouring still has the ability to profoundly change a patient's life.
- Restylane - The "new BOTOX® Cosmetic" Approved by the FDA in December, Restylane is designed to treat moderate to severe wrinkles around the nose and mouth. It's the third injectable wrinkle treatment to gain federal approval, following BOTOX® Cosmetic, which is used for treating wrinkles between the eyebrows, and collagen injections, which are used for other wrinkles and imperfections.
- Butt implants - The bottom line. Breasts may be big in America, but in Latin America, the talk is about buttocks. These implants have a more solid covering than breast implants because they must sustain weight. Plastic surgeons are continuing to hear from more patients interested in exploring the possibilities of getting a lift south of the border.
- Pain Pumps - Gain without Pain. Pain pumps are small, self-contained devices used primarily in breast augmentation and tummy tucks to reduce postoperative pain. Use of a pain pump facilitates a more rapid recovery by allowing increased activity and reducing the need for stronger pain medicines, which often produce nausea.
- A total body approach to health - It's not just about looks anymore. More and more plastic surgeons are looking beyond a patient's facelift or breast augmentation to evaluate the total health of a person, including weight, fitness level, and healthy lifestyle practices (not smoking). It's a more holistic approach to patient care.
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