There are so many different types of plastic surgeries being offered for the face, body and skin. But what are the most popular procedures?
According to data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons nearly 1.8 million surgical cosmetic procedures and about 15.5 million minimally invasive ones were performed in the US in 2016. Here were the top five most popular…
Breast augmentation
(290,467 procedures, up 4% from 2015)
Liposuction
(235,237 procedures, up 6% from 2015)
Nose reshaping
(223,018 procedures, up 2% from 2015)
Eyelid surgery
(209,020 procedures, up 2% from 2015)
Facelifts
(131,106 procedures, up 4% from 2015)
Breast Augmentation
Women seek breast augmentations for a variety of reasons. Among the most common is to increase volume and fullness after pregnancy or significant weight loss. Based on your body type, skin elasticity and desired size, your plastic surgeon will decide whether to use saline or silicone implants. In addition to breast implants, other common breast surgeries include breast lift, breast reconstruction and breast reduction. Dr Goran Jovanovic, Specialist - Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery, says “the most common type of breast augmentation is performed using silicone implants. Breast augmentations are more requested by women with congenitally small breasts”.
“The most common type of breast augmentation I do is the inframammary one, where a small wound, placed below the breast, is used to introduce the silicone implant. I believe this method gives the least scar visibility,” says Dr Dany Kayle, Specialist Plastic Surgery, at Dr Kayle Aesthetic Clinic.
“Ladies are advised to have one week of rest after the operation. The pain is usually the first 2 to 3 days, then it starts to go down the following few days; so by the end of the first week, she feels comfortable to resume her regular activities except for sports, which she is allowed to resume after 4weeks,” says Dr Kayle.
Liposuction
No matter how fit someone is or how many tummy crunches and leg lifts they do, sometimes there are trouble spots that just will not reduce. For stubborn areas such as the thighs, arms, hips, chin, back, to name a few, liposuction may be an option. Liposuction is performed by making small incisions in the skin and then using a small cannula to dislodge or vacuum the fat until the desired results are achieved. The final results can be seen once the initial swelling subsides. The most commonly requested areas for liposuction are the abdomen and flanks (or love handles) says Dr Jovanovic. He added “Liposuction is usually very effective at removing fat deposits; improvement in the body contour is usually noticeable right after surgery”.
“Most common area is the tummy and the flanks, and this is a common request for both, ladies and men. It is quite effective, especially when done by an experienced plastic surgeon. It is the best method to remove unwanted fat and regain harmonious body contour. That is why, it has to be done with art,” says Dr Kayle.
“The modern method of liposuction is very atraumatic says with minimal if any, bruising and discomfort. Majority of my patients drive after 48 to 72 hours and return to work in 3 to 5 days’ time. I ensure they return to exercise in 7 to 10 days and full activity within 3 to 4 weeks,” says Dr Sanjay Parashar.
Nose reshaping
Rhinoplasty, sometimes referred to as a “nose job” or “nose reshaping”, changes the shape and the proportions of your nose enhancing facial harmony. It can also correct impaired breathing caused by structural defects in the nose. Dr Parashar has noticed a rise in requests for nose job in recent years, he said “I have seen a sudden increase in rhinoplasty. In 2010 I performed 25 rhinoplasties in 2016 it reached to 83 in a year”.
Dr Jovanovic says that social media can play a huge role on the decision of the individual to have it done. “The procedure is different from patient to patient” says Dr Jovanovic “the shape of the tip of the nose has a tremendous influence on the overall appearance of the nose. However, the doctor technique and specialty is always the key to the procedure”.
Dr Kayle has also noticed a rise in requests in recent years “indeed it did rise the same just as plastic surgery procedures in general. Of course social media has an important role in this. People are spending so much time on social media these days, and a lot of information and news is shared there, especially those related to beauty in general, as well as celebrities and their look,” says Dr Kayle.
“The main work is on the structures below the skin, namely the nasal cartilages and bones. Re-shaping these internal structures will reflect on the external look of the nose. All this will be achieved via wounds placed inside the nostrils with nothing showing on the outside,” says Dr Kayle. Adding that two weeks’ recovery will be needed but not for pain. “It is just because there will be a dressing covering the nose to give it support for two weeks until proper healing is achieved. After that, the dressing is removed and the patient can resume normal social life,” said Dr Kayle.
Eyelid surgery
Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery is performed to improve under-eye bags, lose skin on the eyelids, excess wrinkles, puffiness and give the area around the eye a more youthful appearance. During the procedure, incisions are made in areas that can be well-concealed, such as below the lower lash line and hidden inside the lower eyelid. After incision, excess skin is removed and the muscles are tightened.
“Eyelid surgery is performed in people with droopy eyelids, excess skin in upper eyelids, large fat bags, excessive wrinkles under the lower eyelids. Ageing signs around the eyes are first to appear and can make a person looking very tired despite the freshness in people,” says Dr Parashar.
“Upper blepharoplasty is the most common procedure where people desire to remove excess skin and get rid of lazy eyes appearance. It is simple and safe procedure that gives a significant freshness to a person. Lower blepharoplasty involves removing fat bags, tightening of skin and muscles and correction of dark circle. Men and women around 45 years of age desire it the most,” adds Dr Parashar.
The procedure is very common says Dr Kayle. “It is needed to remove excess skin and fat that accumulate over the eyelids as we grow older. Consequently, this procedure is quite helpful in reversing the signs of ageing. It can be for the upper eyelid alone, the lower eyelid alone, or for both combined. Patients are instructed that they might need around 10 days for the bruises to fade,” says Dr Kayle.
Facelift
As we age, the skin on our face tends to sag, fold and wrinkle. When this happens, creases appear below the lower lids, fat may become displaced and a loss of muscle tone often results in excess skin under the chin. During a facelift procedure, incisions are made at the hairline and behind the ears. Skin is then re-draped and fat re-sculpted until the desired result is achieved. “With a facelift a decision of the doctor can play a main role,” says Dr Jovanovic “facelifts can be broken down into different categories from a mini facelift to a complete rhytidectomy. With most facelift that I have done there can be an additional of one or 2 other combined procedures. A facelift reduces wrinkles and sagging skin on the face and neck caused by ageing or weight loss. The procedure removes excess skin, tightens the underlying muscles, and redrapes the skin in a higher position. The results go beyond what can be expected”.
Dr Kayle says the effects are dependent on the extent of the intervention needed. “Depending on the case, if a full facelift is needed, then we are talking about a major procedure done under general anaesthesia. However, sometimes, only a mini-facelift is needed and this is a simple procedure done under local anaesthesia. In addition, sometimes, simple lifting using just threads under local anaesthesia at the clinic can give excellent results in the hands of an experienced plastic surgeon. So, it all depends on the initial problem. When the right procedure is done for right case, excellent results are expected”. He added that the recovery time is about “10 to 14 days for a full facelift, one week for a mini-facelift, and 2 to 3 days for facelift using threads”.
Dr Parashar adds that “Medical facelift or no-scar facelift is performed using injectables. This is also called as volume lift. This is suitable for younger patients who have lost a lot of weight or elderly patient with not much muscles and skin excess. A facelift can also be performed using threads or strings that actually works as antigravity support. Six to 8 threads are strategically placed on each side of the face to support the skin and reduce sagging”.