Plastic Surgery in the News (12-2005)
The Growing Trend of Ethnic Plastic Surgery
The American Society for Plastic surgery released information from a recent study that indicates that racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 20 percent of all cosmetic procedures performed last year in 2004. That figure is up 14 percent from 2000. Where once the ethnic population was concerned about procedures altering their ethnic features, new procedures and special training are available to alleviate such concerns. For example, dark-skinned patients were concerned about scarring, but new techniques now help minimize unwanted outcomes. Those techniques, along with the sensitivity of the plastic surgeon have made it easier for people of various ethnic backgrounds to feel comfortable seeking plastic surgery.
There is No Magic Pill
Dieting, weight-loss and improved body image have and always will be of concern, but there are no magic bullets. One distributor of a weight-loss pill claimed that it could melt away fat and cellulite in just three weeks, without diet or exercise. The pills contained honey, garlic and apple cider vinegar and, of course, the offer was yet another scam, a way to defraud people looking for solutions for weigh reduction. The company has been fined and will be required to offer refunds to its customers.
Not Just for Women Anymore
New figures indicate that today, men are now just as concerned as women are, about how they look. They are, like their female counterparts, “discovering” the benefits of plastic surgery. A recent study of British men showed a significant rise in chin implants. The men in the study felt that a masculine jaw line would give them a more aggressive appearance and would help them in the workplace and in their careers. The most requested chin implants were those on Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Douglas.
Other procedures that topped the list were liposuction, which is the most common cosmetic operation in the United States. Also popular with British men are rhinoplasty (nose) and under- the-eyes “bag” removal.
To Your Own Self Be True
A recent article in The Baltimore Sun, states that nearly 11.9 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States last year, a 44 percent increase more than 2003, and a 465 percent increase since 1997.
Most patients are pleased with the results and with their new appearance, but many also report disappointment with the judgmental responses they receive from their families and friends. Perhaps it is the Calvinist ethic that instructs us to be happy with what we have and not to change what we are born with. Perhaps plastic surgery is viewed as a way to present oneself untruthfully. Whatever the reason for the negative feedback, patients should expect the need for some psychological adjustments after plastic surgery. The challenge for the doctor is in helping patients properly prepare for post-op feedback. But, despite the feedback, the numbers of people who opt for plastic surgery continues to rise!
The American Society for Plastic surgery released information from a recent study that indicates that racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 20 percent of all cosmetic procedures performed last year in 2004. That figure is up 14 percent from 2000. Where once the ethnic population was concerned about procedures altering their ethnic features, new procedures and special training are available to alleviate such concerns. For example, dark-skinned patients were concerned about scarring, but new techniques now help minimize unwanted outcomes. Those techniques, along with the sensitivity of the plastic surgeon have made it easier for people of various ethnic backgrounds to feel comfortable seeking plastic surgery.
There is No Magic Pill
Dieting, weight-loss and improved body image have and always will be of concern, but there are no magic bullets. One distributor of a weight-loss pill claimed that it could melt away fat and cellulite in just three weeks, without diet or exercise. The pills contained honey, garlic and apple cider vinegar and, of course, the offer was yet another scam, a way to defraud people looking for solutions for weigh reduction. The company has been fined and will be required to offer refunds to its customers.
Not Just for Women Anymore
New figures indicate that today, men are now just as concerned as women are, about how they look. They are, like their female counterparts, “discovering” the benefits of plastic surgery. A recent study of British men showed a significant rise in chin implants. The men in the study felt that a masculine jaw line would give them a more aggressive appearance and would help them in the workplace and in their careers. The most requested chin implants were those on Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Michael Douglas.
Other procedures that topped the list were liposuction, which is the most common cosmetic operation in the United States. Also popular with British men are rhinoplasty (nose) and under- the-eyes “bag” removal.
To Your Own Self Be True
A recent article in The Baltimore Sun, states that nearly 11.9 million surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures were performed in the United States last year, a 44 percent increase more than 2003, and a 465 percent increase since 1997.
Most patients are pleased with the results and with their new appearance, but many also report disappointment with the judgmental responses they receive from their families and friends. Perhaps it is the Calvinist ethic that instructs us to be happy with what we have and not to change what we are born with. Perhaps plastic surgery is viewed as a way to present oneself untruthfully. Whatever the reason for the negative feedback, patients should expect the need for some psychological adjustments after plastic surgery. The challenge for the doctor is in helping patients properly prepare for post-op feedback. But, despite the feedback, the numbers of people who opt for plastic surgery continues to rise!
