Cosmetic Surgery: the New Normal
June 24th, 2015
Is Cosmetic Surgery the New Normal?
This week’s Time Magazine cover has a provocative title, Nip Tuck or Else. Author Joel Stein predicts that cosmetic surgery will not only become more common, but those opting to age naturally will be in the minority. While elective cosmetic surgery has lost much of stigma for being exclusively for the rich and famous, I am less convinced that most women will feel compelled to undergo surgery just because it is fashionable.
As a plastic surgeon, I regard surgery as a major decision for my patients and disagree that a nipntuck is the new stylish makeup. However, the non-surgical procedures such as Botox ® and synthetic fillers top more than 5 times the number of surgical procedures like facelifts and breast enlargements. According to Stein, these quick fixes represent a whopping 83% of the treatments done by dermatologists today. There is no doubt that social media has had an impact on the perception of beauty and the constant scrutiny of an increasingly narcissistic society has driven the marketplace. In my opinion, the bottom line is to seek out ethical practioners if you are considering having cosmetic surgery and schedule consultations with Board Certified Physicians. Useful websites to check physician credentials are The American Society for Plastic Surgery and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, both organizations in which I am a member.
Tummy Tuck Bonus: Fat Grafting
June 11th, 2015
Fat Grafting has been called a dream come true. Who hasn’t heard someone say they wish that they could suck fat from one area and reposition it someplace else. A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery routinely includes liposuction of excess fat in the abdomen. A new technique allows plastic surgeons to gently remove this fat and prepare it to be injected in other areas. Lipo fat grafting is an effective technique to enhance breast shape/size or to use as a natural filler for lip wrinkles and natural facial rejuvenation, replacing the use of artificial dermal fillers in anti-aging injections. Other common areas for carefully harvesting excess fat during liposuction or liposculpture are the thighs, flanks and hips. This procedure is one of the most exciting cosmetic surgery developments that I’ve seen during my more than 30 years in practice.
Photo: Dr. Bashioum preparing for Fat Grafting
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