1 in 5 Consider Cosmetic Surgery
April 8th, 2015
A new study has found that 1 in 5 American women actively have considered having cosmetic surgery. According to the New York Daily News, a report commissioned by RealSelf.com showed a rising trend to consider cosmetic surgery. Young women aged 25-34 were among the most likely to want to change for some part of their body. Women over 45 particularly expressed displeasure about the appearance of their neck/jowls. The survey seems to coincide with that age range within my own practice.
It is surprising how influential social media has become, as reflected in dissatisfaction of having photos taken being in the top 5 reasons that patients wanted cosmetic surgery. The survey results about patient expectations for wanting cosmetic surgery are ranked as follows: 1. Self-esteem, 
2. Confidence level,
 3. Happiness, 4. Comfort having photo taken, and 5. How I look clothed.
Now compare results to the same survey after having cosmetic survey. They are basically the same, except that patient’s opinion of their own sex appeal rises to the number 5 spot. In my 30 years experience as a cosmetic plastic surgeon, I believe that patients are sometimes embarrassed or reluctant to share the real reasons that they want cosmetic surgery. Perhaps after having surgery, their boost in confidence enables patients to accurately report their personal opinion in evaluating their sex appeal. I find that people in general follow the old adage, that if you think you look good, you also feel better about yourself. I think the survey reflects these same attitudes. In the age of social media and the popularity of “Selfies,” it’s probably more important than ever.
Engaged: Ready for “ring finger selfieâ€
February 16th, 2015
Just when you think social media has covered it all, the popularity of the “selfie†is taken to extremes. Perhaps driven by the photoshopped perfect images flooding the Internet now, savvy social media users want the photo record of their life to be perfect, too. Enter cosmetic surgery hand makeovers for the newly engaged to showoff that new ring in a “ring finger selfie.†It used to be that a manicure would be sufficient for engagement ring photos, but now some women are more critical of sharing photos that show imperfections like age spots or wrinkled hands.
While cosmetic plastic surgery is continuing to become more popular in all the traditional categories, such as breast enlargement and facelifts, there has been an expansion in non-traditional areas recently. It is understandable that with every medical advancement, a new market is created and today social media essentially stirs the pot for new cosmetic surgery trends. Autologous fat grafting, is a relatively new technique using your own fat that is injected for plumping up the skin to minimize signs of aging. It is currently being used for a variety of anti-aging procedures. Maybe the added scrutiny of selfies, now make hands and feet also fair game for cosmetic makeovers. While I haven’t specifically seen the request for engagement hand rejuvenation surge here in Minnesota, the stigma for having cosmetic surgery has quietly been removed, become more accepted and is no longer reserved exclusively for the rich and famous. Are you ready for your closeup?
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