It was not that long ago that there was a stigma hanging over the choice to have facial plastic surgery. Last year, the public was up in arms over Rene Zellweger’s altered appearance. People routinely make fun of celebrities that have had procedures performed, or who show obvious signs of having had a facelift or other surgery.
An article by Joel Stein, recently published on the cover of Time magazine, argues that plastic surgery’s stigma is fading. At the very least, the rise of minimally invasive treatments, such as fillers or laser skin resurfacing ,will soon become as commonplace as putting on makeup in the morning or styling your hair.
A Look at the Numbers:
A large number of people had plastic surgery in 2014. The most common procedures were the breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction, eyelidsurgery, and facelift. While more than 1.5 million people had plastic surgery last year, the numbers were actually down compared to 2013, and down by 12 percent compared to the year 2000.
Although fewer people had surgical procedures in 2014, one growing segement of the cosmetic surgery industry is that of minimally invasive procedures. More than 13 million people had some sort of non-surgical treatment performed last year.
Of those people, more than 6 million had Botox or other injectibles. Since 2000, the number of people receiving Botox or similar product, such as Dysport or Xeomin, has increased by more than 700 percent. Injectable fillers were the second most popular non-surgical option in 2014, with more than 2 million people receiving them. This is an increase of more than 250 percent over the last 15 years. Of those fillers, the most popular were those made from hyaluronic acid, such as Juvederm and Restylane.
Changing Opinions:
In his article, Stein interviewed a number of experts in medicine, as well as feminist scholars and past patients, to get a read on how people’s perceptions about cosmetic treatments have changed in recent years. One expert, Jennifer Cognard-Black, a feminist scholar and professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, stated she had been firmly against any type of cosmetic procedure. She believed that the need to change your appearance, or the impulse to make yourself look younger, was anti-feminist. She confessed to Stein, however, that she’s now unsure of her stance or if cosmetic procedures are, at their core, anti-feminist.
Deciding on the Right Procedure:
Stein also makes an argument that the increasing popularity of plastic surgery is because of the idea that ‘everyone’ is doing it, so it must be good. However, this hat i not necessarily true. If you are considering surgery, sit down with a plastic surgeon and discuss the options available to you. He will explain which of those options best fit into your life.
Minimally invasive treatments might work for some people, but those with loose or sagging skin are often better off choosing a surgical option, such as a facelift or brow lift. A surgeon will help you decide which is most appropriate. He or she can give you a clear understanding of the risks of surgery, and the recovery process required.
Increasing Education and Access to Procedures:
One major benefit of the dissolving plastic surgery stigma is the increase in all patients’ ability to become educated about potential procedures. If surgery no longer seems off limits, a patient is more likely to consult with a Board Cerified plastic surgeon than ignore his or her concerns.
The increasing access to surgery and cosmetic treatments involves uping patients’ awareness of their options. One of the limiting factors of surgery in the past, was that it seemed very expensive and out of reach. Today, patients have greater access to a variety of financing options, and are welcome to discuss these choices with their surgeon.
Whether a cosmetic treatment is something you’ve been thinking about for a while, or if you were recently inspired by the Time article, contact Dr. Paul Vitenas today at 281.484.0088. Dr. Vitneas is a Board Certified surgeon, whose training and education remain unsurpassed in the field of plastic surgery. At the compimentary consultation, Dr. Vitenas will review all options, and help to decide if pursuing a treatment is right for you.
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