It’s that time of year again when we hear the results of annual surveys from plastic surgeons all over the country, revealing the latest trends in cosmetic plastic surgery. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery released their 2009 results this week and it showed a mere two percent decrease in cosmetic treatments compared to 2008. Given the economic situation in most U.S. markets during 2009, that’s positive news.
With almost ten million cosmetic treatments performed, the number of non-surgical procedures increased slightly while a moderate decrease was seen in cosmetic surgeries such as abdominoplasty, liposuction and breast augmentation. While plastic surgeons were clearly affected by the recession, many around the country are seeing strong demand in their communities and are therefore very optimistic.
Dr. Christopher Hess, a plastic surgeon in Virginia says his practice saw an increase of 11.5 percent from 2008 to 2009.
At Seattle plastic surgery, Dr. Robert Grenley says despite a bump in the road during late 2008 and early 2009, his plastic surgery practice has seen its busiest winter quarter in 24 years. “Patients who desire to have cosmetic surgery are finding a way to have it done” explains Dr. Grenley.
In Boston, Dr. Fouad Samaha says the past few months have brought a “strong resurgence in patient interest and volume that appears to be well ahead of economic indicators.”
From the statistics and talking to plastic surgeons, it seems that various non-surgical treatments and a continued interest in breast augmentation are the “recession-proof” offerings keeping doctors busy.
Breast Augmentation Top Surgery 2nd Year Running
For the second year in a row, breast augmentation was the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery, with 311,957 estimated procedures nationwide. Doctors have suggested several reasons for the continued success of breast augmentation:
In the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Renato Saltz of the ASAPS suggests silicone gel breast implants are a major factor pushing breast augmentation procedures to the top. A younger group of patients is also heavily favoring the procedure. For patients 19-34 years old, it was the most chosen surgery, while patients age 35-50 actually chose liposuction more frequently.
More statistics for 2009 will be released in the coming weeks from other professional groups. We look forward to comparing them and continuing this discussion of cosmetic surgery trends.
Did you know that grafts of rib cartilage can be used during rhinoplasty? A recent study in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery examined long-term results of these grafts during nasal surgery, concluding that the technique is well tolerated and “yields superb results.”
Other implant materials include grafts taken from the septum or the ear. But what is the ideal graft substance? That’s what researchers want to determine.
The ideal substance would meet these conditions, according to the authors:
Readily available in large quantities
Resists infection
Resists absorption
Completely integrated into host tissues
Causes little patient morbidity
For now, rib cartilage taken from human donors appears to be a viable option for rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty. Analysis of long-term results indicates that patients who used these grafts over a span of 24 years experienced a low complication rate and high satisfaction (94.2 percent of the 357 patients said they were satisfied with the results).
Before deciding on a plastic surgery procedure, you need to get all the facts. Understanding the risks, benefits, and alternatives can help you make a good decision, for 2 basic reasons.
1. You discover which procedures get consistently satisfying results and which do not, so you can avoid wasting your time and money.
2. You can see if plastic surgery is truly a good fit for you by comparing the risks and benefits with your personal values and goals.
Where can I get honest answers?
Too often, people are looking in the wrong places for legitimate answers to their plastic surgery questions. You want scientific and objective information from authoritative sources.
Here are a few places to find solid information:
Be a scholar: Visit the public library or the library at your college or university. Academic resources and peer-reviewed medical journals are superior to most of what you’ll find cruising the web. The only real drawback is that many of the articles and books are written for doctors or medical students – meaning they’re sometimes tough (and boring) to read.
Use websites that work: Yes, it really is a jungle out there, but there are a few sites that publish honest, useful information about plastic and cosmetic surgery. RealSelf.com is a good start, where you can see consumer reviews and get answers from plastic surgeons all over the country. Yourplasticsurgeryguide.com is another popular resource. You’ll probably realize the downside to this approach when you find a great deal of conflicting information, sometimes making the decision even more difficult.
Ask plastic surgeons in your area: While you should visit at least a few before making a choice, know that board-certified plastic surgeons will generally have your best interests in mind. They don’t want you to have a bad experience; they want to get you the best results possible and avoid complications. If you’re not a good candidate for the procedure, a good surgeon will tell you honestly. ( If you’re in Maryland, Dr. Horowitz can answer many of your questions during a consultation.)
What’s the drawback in this approach? A plastic surgeon can tell you if you’re a suitable candidate, but only you can decide if the procedure is what you truly desire.
The new tax unveiled Wednesday as part of the recent health care reform bill levies a 5 percent tax on elective cosmetic procedures. Plastic surgeons in America have spoken strongly against the proposal, and here are the top 5 reasons they say it should not pass.
Discriminatory: Women purchase 86 percent of all cosmetic medical procedures in the United States.
Targets middle class America: In a 2005 survey of people planning cosmetic surgery, 60 percent of the respondents reported incomes of $30,000 to $90,000 a year.
Could promote medical tourism: Patient safety should always be the “first concern” says ASAPS president Renato Saltz, and that should continue ““for those patients here in this country, as well as those patients who may now be encouraged by this tax to obtain their procedures abroad.”
Historically ineffective: “Since it passed a 6% tax on elective medical procedures in 2004, the New Jersey Department of Taxation has experienced a 59% shortfall based on projected revenue estimates.”
Line between reconstructive and cosmetic isn’t always clear: the tax imposes the burden of making clear distinctions between procedures that are medically necessary and simply elective. Who will make these distinctions?
Plastic surgeons belonging to the American Society of Plastic Surgery have been encouraged to log on to capitolconnect.com and make their opposition to this tax known.
Here are two simple rules you can follow to ensure that you get a productive surgery consultation with Dr. Horowitz.
1. Be prepared
If there are general questions that you can’t find answers to on our website, email us and we’ll try to respond quickly. Then if there are more specific facts that need to be clarified, the consultation will be the perfect opportunity for us to do so. Just make a list of questions that are particularly important for you.
Part of being prepared is simply knowing what you want to achieve with plastic surgery. Many patients research a procedure off and on for years before they schedule an appointment, so it is common to see patients that know what they want. However, that’s not a requirement; if you are just curious about plastic surgery and want honest information from a professional go ahead and schedule your consultation.
2. Be open
Openness and effective communication are important from the first consult all the way through the surgery. If it’s difficult for you to communicate your goals, use pictures! You can view our before and after photos or bring examples that you think are appealing. Better communication about your desires and specific needs will help Dr. Horowitz ensure that they are met, so use whatever tools you think will aid in that process.
Don’t hide your medical history, past procedures, goals or motivations for surgery. There’s no need to be defensive. Just remember that a consultation is just that – there’s no commitment and you can take as much time as you need to consider your options afterward.
If you’re interested in the mommy makeover that we offer here in Maryland, you might want to check out this recent Fox news feature filmed in Charlotte.
The mommy makeover is a series of cosmetic surgeries designed to give women their “pre-baby body” back. Fox speaks with Dr. Kevin Smith about the risks, benefits, and cost of a mommy makeover, and a patient discusses her satisfaction with the procedure(s).
In the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, you can find an article about breast surgery that outlines 6 major influences on the patient’s quality of life and satisfaction with surgery. A similar article (by the same authors) can be found here on BMC women’s health.
1. Greater Satisfaction With Breasts
This is obviously the primary goal of any elective breast surgery procedure. Women of the study commented about improvements in breast shape and the clothing options that were now available to them as a result. One patient with breast implants comments, “I have really nice voluptuous, rounded, normal-sized perky breasts and I am sooo happy with them.”
2. Improved Psychological and Social Well-Being
Patients in the study shared the positive changes in self perception and experiences in social settings. Increased confidence and feeling as if you fit the perceived “norm” of the female body are said to be a common benefits of breast surgery.
3. Improved Sexual Well Being
Enhancements in breast shape and size can bring improvements in sexual pleasure, largely because they alleviate “negative feelings about the breasts” that often cause women to feel less attractive.
4. Improved Physical Well-Being
Breast reduction patients can get relief from back and neck pain, which often allows increased activity and better health.
5. A Positive Surgical Experience
Those who experienced a positive surgeon-patient relationship – with good communication and honest information exchanged – expressed more satisfaction with breast surgery. Patients who had an adverse relationship with the surgeon or staff reported less satisfaction.
6. Overall Satisfaction
Researchers also included the simple category of general satisfaction. Would you undergo the surgery again? One breast augmentation patient responds, “there is not one day that goes by that I am not so pleased that I did it.”
Dr. Horowitz is committed to providing unparalleled cosmetic services to his patients. This means keeping up on the latest technology and the newest techniques. But just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s always better. Dr. Horowitz feels part of his responsibility as a Plastic Surgeon is to educate the community about techniques that are safe and effective and those that are more style than substance.
“Many patients are asking me about laser or “Smart” lipo. I do not currently recommend this technique for several reasons. First, although it has been touted as a less invasive liposuction procedure, standard liposuction still needs to be performed after the laser and benefits realized by the procedure during recovery are likely to be little, if any. Second, even fans of the technique would admit that the results are not really any better than traditional liposuction. Claims that it can tighten loose skin have not been shown to be true.
Furthermore, many non-plastic surgeons have embraced this technology because it may allow them to do small areas under local anesthesia in the office. What they won’t tell you is that it may require several separate sessions and after that, the cost savings would be minimal.
Laser Lipo is certainly very exciting and promising technology but until the technique is shown to be superior, I will continue to recommend traditional liposuction to my patients.”
Choosing a doctor to treat your medical conditions isn’t always easy, and likewise, choosing a surgeon for your elective procedure presents its own set of difficulties. I believe people should seek three things from their plastic surgeon: qualifications, knowledge of the latest procedures, and a personal connection.
Qualifications
Unfortunately, we’re seeing no shortage of doctors who claim to be experts in cosmetic medicine and surgery. Along with the economic downturn and the low rates of insurance re-imbursement, physicians from nearly every specialty are competing for cosmetic patients. So, how can you know your surgeon is qualified to treat you?
The answer is to look for board certification in plastic surgery. Even savvy patients who know enough to ask about board certification can be fooled. Many physicians will place an ad outlining their cosmetic surgery services and on the bottom claim simply that they are “board certified.” It is incumbent for the patient to ask “By what board?.” While it is comforting to know that a physician is board certified in something, certainly an anesthesiologist is not the most qualified person to perform cosmetic procedures.
The latest issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery includes a research study on a surgical procedure, similar to the brow lift that we perform right here in Maryland, that’s been proven effective in curing migraine headaches.
In a clinical trial, surgeons operated on 49 patients to ‘deactivate’ their migraines at their respective ‘migraine trigger sites.’ 26 patients in a “sham surgery group” were basically given a placebo.
One year later, 57 percent of the patients in the actual surgery group reported complete elimination of migraine headaches, compared with only 4 percent in the sham surgery group. Furthermore, 83 percent of the actual surgery group observed at least a 50 percent reduction in migraines.
Author of the study, Bahman Guyuron MD calls the procedure a “meaningful addition to the field of reconstructive plastic surgery” and we wholeheartedly agree. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. You can read the official press release here at plasticsurgery.org
surgeons all over the country, revealing the latest trends in cosmetic plastic surgery. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery released their 2009 results this week and it showed a mere two percent decrease in cosmetic treatments compared to 2008. Given the economic situation in most U.S. markets during 2009, that’s positive news.
in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery examined long-term results of these grafts during nasal surgery, concluding that the technique is well tolerated and “yields superb results.”
consultation with Dr. Horowitz.
In the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, you can find an article about breast surgery that outlines 6 major influences on the patient’s quality of life and satisfaction with surgery. A similar article (by the same authors) can be found 
Dr. Horowitz is committed to providing unparalleled cosmetic services to his patients. This means keeping up on the latest technology and the newest techniques. But just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s always better. Dr. Horowitz feels part of his responsibility as a Plastic Surgeon is to educate the community about techniques that are safe and effective and those that are more style than substance.
The latest issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery includes a research study on a surgical procedure, similar to the 
