Popular Cosmetic Surgical Procedures

 The decision to undergo a cosmetic procedure—whether Botox or breast enhancement—is an investment. Potentially life-changing, both invasive (surgical) and non-invasive (non-surgical) treatments require a good deal of time, money and research on the part of the patient. The following is a guide to the most popular cosmetic procedures, from chemical peels to tummy tucks, to help jump-start your education.

Surgical Options

  • Abdominoplasty (Tummy tuck): Flattens abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of abdominal wall.
  • Blepharoplasty (Cosmetic eyelid surgery): Corrects drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle.
  • Lipoplasty (Liposuction): Improves body shape by removing exercise-resistant fat deposits in chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves and ankles.
  • Rhinoplasty (Nose surgery): Reshapes the nose by decreasing or increasing size, removing humps, changing the shape of the tip of bridge or changing the angel between the nose and the upper lip.

  • Rhytidectomy (Face lift): Improves sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles and re-draping skin.

Non-invasive Options:

  • Botox injections: Temporarily reduce or eliminate frown lines, forehead creases, crow’s feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck.
  • Hyaluronic acids (Hylaform, Restylane): Soft-tissue fillers that help fill in lines and creases and help plump up sunken areas of the face. They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks.
  • Microdermabrasion: A skin-freshening technique that helps repair sun-damaged and aging facial skin by mixing gentle abrasion with suction to remove the dead, outer layer of skin.
  • Chemical peels: A chemical solution used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing damaged outer layers. Helpful for facial blemishes, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation.

Keeping it Safe
Although thousands of people have plastic surgery every year without complications, no surgical procedure is risk-free. To maximize safety, ensure the following:

  • Your surgeon is adequately trained and is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
  • The facility where your surgery will be performed conforms to strict safety standards
  • Your surgeon is informed of any drugs you are taking and your full medical history, especially if you have had any circulation disorders, heart or lung ailments or problems with blood clots
  • The surgical facility will use skilled, licensed personnel to administer and monitor your anesthesia and your recovery immediately following the procedure
  • Extra safety measures are taken if you are having a more extensive liposuction procedure

How can I be sure that my surgeon has adequate training?
Patients are advised to find a doctor who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify a surgeon in plastic surgery of the face and entire body. Although a non-board-certified doctor could be skillful and experienced, certification by the ABPS is the gold standard for plastic surgeons because it signifies that the surgeon has had formal training in an accredited plastic surgery residency program. If your surgeon is ABPS-certified, you can be assured that your doctor:

  • Has completed at least five years of surgical residency training after medical school, including at least two years in plastic surgery
  • Has passed comprehensive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery exams
  • Is qualified to perform cosmetic and reconstructive procedures—everything from liposuction and facelifts to intricate wound repair

To verify a surgeon’s certification status, contact the American Board of Plastic Surgery at (215) 587-9322 or visit its Web site at www.abplsurg.org or the American Board of Medical Specialties at www.abms.org; or call 1-800-776-2378.

 

Top Five Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2005

  • Liposuction (324,000)
  • Nose reshaping (298,000)
  • Breast augmentation (291,000)
  • Eyelid surgery (231,000)
  • Tummy tuck (135,000)

Top Five Minimally Invasive Procedures in 2005

  • Botox (3.8 million)
  • Chemical peel (1 million)
  • Microdermabrasion (838,000)
  • Laser hair removal (783,000)
  • Sclerotherapy (590,000)

Top Five Male Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2005

  • Nose reshaping (99,680)
  • Hair transplantation (39,244)
  • Liposuction (35,673)
  • Eyelid surgery (32,988)
  • Breast reduction in men (16,275)

Top Five Male Minimally Invasive Procedures in 2005

  • Botox (313,519)
  • Microdermabrasion (201,051)
  • Laser hair removal (173,387)
  • Chemical peel (108,998)
  • Laser skin resurfacing (37,998)  


All information taken from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site, www.plasticsurgery.org.