• Facial Cosmetic Procedures
• Breast Surgery
• Body Contouring

• Changes in Attitudes Toward Cosmetic Surgery Compared to 10 Years Ago
• Openness About Having Cosmetic Surgery
• Approval of Cosmetic Surgery In Relation to Household Income
• Approval of Cosmetic Surgery in Relation to Race/Ethnicity

Body Sculpting Trends
 
More and more patients are coming to Dr. Ronald J. Johnson for body sculpting to put curves back in the right places. Body sculpting, or contouring, has become much easier thanks to technological advances in liposuction and other minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Johnson has extensive experience in the field of body sculpting and uses the most advanced techniques and technology available today.

Historically, liposuction was developed to treat small, localized deposits of excess fat on individuals who were at or near their optimal weight. Over the years, scientific advancements have extended the application to remove larger volumes. However, many individuals continue to seek out the expertise of aesthetic surgeons in sculpting isolated areas of the body by the artful removal of small amounts of fat.

The focus is on small "figure faults," notes Los Angeles plastic surgeon Peter B. Fodor, MD, a panelist at the annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) in Los Angeles, who reported on abdominal "etching." In this technique, the experienced aesthetic surgeon creates the coveted "washboard" abdomen by removing small amounts of fat in a specialized way that actually enhances muscle definition in this area. Noting that "not everyone qualifies" as a candidate, Fodor reports that physically fit individuals may seek out this procedure to produce the appearance of a finely sculpted abdomen, an effect that may not be achieved by weight loss or exercise alone.

Knees, calves, and ankles are other areas that respond well to liposculpturing techniques. ASAPS panelist Richard A. Mladick, MD, a Virginia Beach plastic surgeon, maintains that "excellent corrections can usually be obtained by following careful contouring methods." Patients may have a "shapeless" leg with generalized fat around the calf or localized fat accumulations around the ankle or the knee.

The position of the cannulas as well as the "level" of the fat deposits help to determine the final result. Localized ankle bulges, for example, require only two tiny incisions. Anatomically, the tissues of the ankle consist of just a single layer of fat, so that all liposculpting in this area automatically occurs at the superficial level, just below the skin.

Liposculpting also can be effective in the face and neck. In these areas, the surgeon must be careful to leave enough fat to avoid a harsh "architectural" look.

Liposculpting is a sophisticated technique that can yield superior results. However, with the superficial technique, a higher risk of postoperative contour irregularities exists. Therefore, the training and experience of a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands all aspects of liposuction is essential to achieving a satisfactory result.

Dr. Ronald J. Johnson is a member of The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). ASAPS is an organization devoted to education and research in aesthetic (cosmetic) plastic surgery. Its members are aesthetic plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who have met additional educational and professional requirements set forth by ASAPS to maintain the highest standard of practice.

* SOURCE: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS)


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Facts About Cosmetic Surgery

Dr. Johnson believes in giving his patients as much information as possible before they decide on cosmetic surgery. Some of the facts related to cosmetic surgery and its growing acceptance in our country are highlighted below.

There were over 2 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures performed nationwide in 1997.

• Nearly 2.1 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in 1997, according to new statistical data released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). The ASAPS research includes survey data from doctors certified by several American Board of Medical Specialties recognized boards, including the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is the best estimate to date of total cosmetic procedures performed nationwide.
• Top procedures nationally were chemical peel (481,227), collagen injections (347,168), liposuction (176,863), cosmetic eyelid surgery (159, 232) and laser skin resurfacing (154,153).
• Men accounted for 14% of cosmetic procedures. The top three procedures for men were hair transplantation (50,566), nose reshaping (44,452), and liposuction (28,308).
• Baby boomers (35-50) had 46% of all the cosmetic procedures performed. About 24% of procedures were for people ages 19-34, and 22% for ages 51-64.
• Eighty-five percent (85%) of cosmetic procedures were for Caucasians, 6% for Hispanics, 4% for African-Americans and 4% for people of Asian descent.
• ASAPS members, who are plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, each performed an average of 320 cosmetic procedures in 1997. The most frequently performed procedures by ASAPS members were liposuction, cosmetic eyelid surgery, breast augmentation and facelift.

• Caucasian (85%)
• Hispanic (6%)
• African-American (4%)
• Asian (4%)
• Other (1%)

• 35-50 (46%)
• 19-34 (24%)
  
• 51-64 (22%)
  
• 65+ (6%)
  
• 18 and under (3%)

• 35% of facelifts are performed on people 50 or younger.
• 52% of cosmetic eyelid surgeries are performed on people 50 or younger.
• 79% of liposuctions are performed on people 50 or younger.
• 13% of nose reshaping surgeries are performed on people 18 or younger.

• Chemical Peel (244,011 -- 51% of all chemical peel procedures performed)
• Collagen Injection (196,538 -- 57% of all collagen injections)
• Liposuction (77,660 -- 44% of all liposuction surgeries)
• Cosmetic Eyelid Surgery (73,176 -- 46% of all cosmetic eyelid surgeries)
• Laser Skin Resurfacing (69,364 -- 45% of all laser skin resurfacing procedures)

• Office-based Surgical Facility (46%)
• Hospital (30%)
• Free-standing Surgicenter (23%)
• Other (1%)

• Board-certified plastic surgeons (including ASAPS members), as well as other physician specialists, perform non-surgical facial cosmetic procedures such as Botox® injection, chemical peel, collagen injection, dermabrasion, fat injection and laser skin resurfacing.
• Non-surgical cosmetic procedures to the face account for 54% of the total cosmetic procedures performed in 1997.
• Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty, and board-certified plastic surgeons (including ASAPS members) are highly trained to perform surgical cosmetic procedures of the face such as cosmetic eyelid surgery, cheek implants, chin augmentation, facelift, forehead lift and nose reshaping.
• Surgical cosmetic procedures of the face account for 23% of the total cosmetic procedures performed in 1997.

• Board-certified plastic surgeons (including ASAPS members) perform the vast majority of cosmetic breast surgeries including breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction.
• Breast augmentation is the most frequently performed breast surgery (101,176 performed in 1997).
• Breast reduction is the second most frequently performed plastic surgery of the breast (47,874 in 1997). This operation often may be covered by insurance.
• Breast lift is the third most frequently performed cosmetic breast surgery (19,882 in 1997).
• Male breast reduction (gynecomastia surgery) is the eighth most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedure for males (11,168 in 1997).

• Board-certified plastic surgeons (including ASAPS members) perform the vast majority of body contouring surgeries including tummy tuck, buttock lift, liposuction, lower body lift, thigh lift and upper arm lift.
• Liposuction is the most frequently performed body contouring procedure (176,863 performed in 1997).
• Lower body lift, thigh lift and upper arm lift are performed only if patients are willing to accept the significant scars in exchange for looking better in clothing.

• 57% of women say they approve of cosmetic surgery.
• 58% of men say they approve.
• 69% of female baby boomers (ages 35-50) say they approve.
• 38% of people ages 18-24 say they approve.

• 66% of Americans have the same attitude toward cosmetic surgery as 10 years ago.
• 24% of Americans say their attitude toward cosmetic surgery is more favorable.
• 8% of Americans say their attitude toward cosmetic surgery is less favorable.

• 77% of Americans say that, if they had cosmetic surgery in the future, they would not be embarrassed if others (in addition to family and close friends) knew about it.
• 77% of women would not be embarrassed.
• 76% of men would not be embarrassed.
• 82% of Americans over age 55 would not be embarrassed.
• 62% of Americans ages 18-24 would not be embarrassed.

• 66% of people with incomes above $50,000 approve of cosmetic surgery.
• 59% with incomes of $41,000-$50,000 approve.
• 58% with incomes of $26,000-40,000 approve.
• 47% with incomes of $15,000 to $25,000 approve.
• 40% with incomes under $15,000 approve.

• 60% of white Americans approve of cosmetic surgery.
• 45% of non-white Americans approve.
• 25% of white Americans have a more favorable attitude than 10 years ago.
• 17% of non-white Americans have a more favorable attitude than 10 years ago.
• 7% of white Americans have a less favorable attitude than 10 years ago.
• 14% of non-white Americans have a less favorable attitude than 10 years ago.