Would you Nip or Tuck? 

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Would you Nip or Tuck?

More Men and Women Reveal They Would ~ Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Gain in Frequency and Approval

By Jenny Hogan

Cosmetic surgery continues to grow in popularity and acceptance.  Where once having a cosmetic procedure would have raised a few non-botoxed eyebrows, now plastic surgery is becoming a part of mainstream America.  In 2006, nearly 11.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed in the U.S., rising 7 percent from the previous year, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.  Since 1997, the number of procedures has increased 446 percent.

Who is getting what done?

For the first time, breast augmentation is the most popular surgery for women, with 383,886 procedures performed last year, up 18 percent from 2005.  Liposuction is the second most common surgery for women and tops the list for men.  Botox injections are the most common minimally-invasive treatment, with more than 4 million performed in 2006.  With the recent FDA lifting of the ban on silicone breast implants, augmentation procedure numbers are expected to rise even higher.  The typical plastic surgery candidate?  A 34-year old woman, married or in a long-term relationship is the most common breast augmentation recipient, according to the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation.  Almost half are degreed and earn $50,000 or more. 

Would you Nip or Tuck?

More American households are answering yes, with some reservations.  According to consumer attitudes surveys from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 63% of women say they approve of cosmetic surgery in general, with 61% of men agreeing.  Thirty-four percent of women and 18% of men would actually consider cosmetic surgery for themselves now or in the future.  Age made a difference in the answer.  The demographic of 35-44 year olds comprised the highest numbers, with 31% willing to consider surgery while Americans age 65 or older had the lowest demographic with 20% willing to partake. 

There was no discernable difference in the numbers regarding ethnicity or marital status, but those of us with children are slightly more likely to consider cosmetic surgery now or in the future.  However, those willing to have surgery are not ashamed to talk about it -- when asked whether they would be embarrassed if people outside their immediate family and close friends knew about it, 83% of women and 78% of men reported they would not feel self-conscious.  Many patients cite wanting to fit better in their clothing as a motive for body contouring surgeries, while wanting to look less tired or angry as the basis for Botox injections, dermal fillers or eyelid surgery.  With cosmetic surgery going mainstream, women feel they are less likely to be viewed as vain or superficial and men are joining in with participation in increasing numbers.

The Top Procedures:

For women, the top five surgical procedures are: breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks and breast reduction.  For men, the top five are liposuction, rhinoplasty – or nose surgery, eyelid surgery, breast reduction to treat enlarged male breasts, and facelifts.  Following are brief highlights of the top surgeries for women:

Breast Augmentation

There is no standard profile for recipients of breast augmentation, according to Dr. Byron Poindexter, a partner at The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery of Reston, Virginia.  “We’ve had patients ranging in age from 18 to 78,” he notes.  Generally, patients are women who have already had children and lost volume during pregnancy.  Other candidates are younger women with smaller breasts who want to expand one or two cup sizes. The incisions are made in one of three places: in the breast crease, the areola of the nipple or the armpit.  Implants are made from either saline or silicone.  Anatomy, tissue thickness and the patient’s preference all will play a role in choosing the implant type.  It will generally take around three months for the implants to settle and the results to be final.  Despite complications that can arise from any implants including rupture, breast pain and tissue hardening, there were not found to be increases in rates of cancer or connective tissue disease in recent studies on implant recipients.

Liposuction

Traditionally, liposuction was reserved for patients with bulges of fat such as love handles or saddlebags.  But liposuction has evolved, and is now more about body sculpting than weight loss.  “Having liposuction is often a tipping point – if you take enough fat, people can metabolize existing fat better.  It’s a springboard.  People use it to dive off into a better, healthier lifestyle,” says partner Dr. Sigal of The Austin-Weston Center.   Liposuction involves removing fat cells that are above the muscle layers.  It is performed by making one-half centimeter cuts in the area and inserting a cannula, a long thin tube, to extract the fat deposits through suction. There is very little bruising and liposuction can be performed anywhere on the body where there is fat – the outer thighs, abdomen, arms, lower legs, breasts, face, neck and chin. Liposuction gives the appearance of weight loss.  Often people will have a tummy tuck along with liposuction, if the skin is loose or the patient is overweight.  The results will be final in approximately three months, with some initial swelling. 

Eyelid Surgery

Puffy bags under the eyes or drooping eyelids can really create a tired or angry look, and more men and women are opting to combat this affect with blepharoplasty, surgery for the eyelids.  This procedure removes fat, excess skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. Extremely drooping eyelids can even interfere with vision.  Often eyelid surgery is performed in conjunction with other procedures such as a browlift or facelift.  Eyelid surgery will create an alert, youthful look but will not remove wrinkles, such as crow’s feet from around the eyes, eliminate dark undereye circles or lift sagging eyebrows.  Most candidates are 35 or older, but sometimes younger candidates opt for the surgery when drooping eyelids are a family trait, or to eliminate puffiness around the eyes due to excess fatty tissue. Complications that may arise from blepharoplasty include temporary swelling at the corner of the eyelids, temporary double or blurred vision, scarring or a slight asymmetry in healing.  It may take six months or so for the thin scars to lose their pinkness but they eventually fade to a nearly invisible white.  In time, looseness of the skin may return after eyelid surgery is performed, but the removal of fat is permanent and the effects of the surgery are usually quite long lasting.

Tummy Tuck

“One tummy tuck is not the same as another,” says Dr. George Weston, the third partner at The Austin-Weston Center.  “Some people might have a mini tuck, where minimal skin is taken, or if there is looseness above umbilicus, a full classic tummy tuck is performed.”  A good candidate for a tummy tuck is anyone with looseness of the skin and muscles of the abdomen.  Generally, patients are women, often post-pregnancy.  After birth, women are advised to wait at least three to six months, to give them a chance to get back to their normal shapes and to see how much improvement there is.  Although having one will not affect future pregnancies, women are advised to wait until they are finished having children to have the tuck.  Gastric bypass patients also often have tummy tucks. The incision is made down low on the pubic line, from hip bone to hip bone, although it can be designed up higher or to design. Tummy Tucks are rarely performed as a stand-alone procedure.  Usually liposuction will accompany a tuck, or another surgery will be done in conjunction with it.  “We always look at the whole essence of the body,” says Dr. Weston.  “Some people just want a tummy tuck but their hips or thighs are full and it will be unbalanced.  You wouldn’t want to paint just half of your house; it doesn’t look right.” 

Breast Reduction

Of all the cosmetic surgeries, breast reduction makes the quickest change to the body. Physical discomfort, wanting a trimmer, better proportioned figure or feeling self conscious about breast size are some reasons our patients undergo mammoplasty, or breast reduction surgery.  Large breasts can restrict activities and exercise, can cause back pain, skeletal deformities, breathing problems or cause skin irritation from bra straps.   Breast reduction removes fat, glandular tissue and skin from the breasts, leaving them smaller, lighter and firmer.  The goal is a better proportioned body that fits into clothing easier and that looks and feels healthy.  There may be significant scarring, although a bra or bathing suit will usually provide coverage.  Swelling and bruising should disappear in a few weeks, but it may take six months to a year before the final results are complete.

Cosmetic Surgery statistics promise to continue rising as many procedures go mainstream.  Fiction and non-fiction television shows centering on cosmetic surgery, surgical makeover shows and the focus on celebrity surgeries have contributed to this popularity, as well as changing attitudes towards beauty and aging.  Once existing only in the realm of the wealthy or famous, now it is common for cosmetic surgery to be used by the average individual as an effective and powerful tool for personal change.

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EDITORIAL NOTE:  The Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery is located at 1825 Samuel Morse Drive in Reston, Virginia and can be contacted at 703-893-6168 – www.austin-weston.com.  Jenny Hogan is the Media Director for Marketing Solutions, Inc., a full-service marketing, advertising and PR agency specializing in the professional beauty business working with manufacturers, salons, spas, medical spas and wellness centers.  For more information, contact 703-359-6000, visit www.MktgSols.com or send an email to MktgSols@MktgSols.com.