Archive for the ‘News’ Category

International Survey of Plastic Surgeons Uncovers Worldwide Trends

Monday, August 16th, 2010 by newseditor

The first international survey of plastic surgeons has been completed, providing data on the worldwide number of cosmetic procedures performed in 2009.  Thanks to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, we can now better understand the growth of this medical specialty.

The most popular cosmetic surgery, according to the data, is liposuction, followed by breast augmentation, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty and tummy tuck.  Although procedures varied among different countries, the U.S., Brazil, China, Mexico, India and Japan represented the bulk of the top five surgical procedures.  The total estimated number of cosmetic procedures performed by board-certified (or equivalent) plastic surgeons was 17,295,557.

Interestingly, plastic surgeons reported more non-surgical procedures than surgical procedures, with the most common treatment being botulinum toxin injections (Botox or Dysport).

The survey data was released in time for the 20th Biennial Congress of ISAPS, which is taking place right now in San Francisco.  Read more on isaps.org or prnewswire.com

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Studies Show Viewers of Reality TV Favor Plastic Surgery

Monday, August 16th, 2010 by newseditor

Two recent studies found a correlation between interest in cosmetic surgery and viewing of reality TV shows that feature surgical makeovers.

Various networks have introduced programs with a significant focus on cosmetic surgery.  On cable networks, cosmetic surgery has been shown on programs such as Real Housewives of Orange County or Extreme Makeover.  On network television, you might see plastic surgeons featured on The Doctors or The Biggest Loser. The question posed by researchers was, how do these programs affect one’s opinion about cosmetic surgery?

According to studies from psychology professors at Rutgers University in New Jersey, when compared to television shows with a “neutral message,” these shows spur greater interest in altering your appearance through cosmetic surgery.

In one study, the authors surveyed 170 participants and found that those who favored reality television shows about cosmetic surgery were more likely to show interest in pursuing their own procedure.  In a second study, 189 participants were split into two groups, with one viewing a television program about a surgical makeover, while the other half was exposed to a neutral message.  Participants viewing the surgical makeover program indicated greater interest in cosmetic surgery than the participants exposed to the neutral message.

But are these programs presenting a realistic picture of cosmetic surgery?  If viewers are as impressionable as the study goes to show, there’s surely a need to present a more realistic and less sensational documentation of cosmetic surgery.

Read the study mentioned here, “A correlational and experimental examination of reality television viewing and interest in cosmetic surgery” on PubMed.

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Survey Shows Plastic Surgeons Are Satisfied in Their Careers

Friday, July 30th, 2010 by newseditor

A new article appearing in the upcoming Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal looks at a survey of career satisfaction among plastic surgeons.

Authors of a previous study found a link between high quality care and the doctor’s satisfaction in his or her job.  Knowing these statistics on plastic surgeons can therefore give us a general picture of the “health” of this profession in America and how it might affect the care you receive.

A questionnaire was mailed to 708 doctors who are members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, half of them male and the other half female.  The inquiry posed several questions about career satisfaction such as:

  • Was a career in plastic surgery the right choice?
  • Would you choose this career again if you had to do it over again?

Other questions inquired about income, switching specialties and retiring early.  The results are very positive, i.e. it appears that plastic surgery is a generally satisfying career in the United States.  93 percent of respondents said it was the right career choice and 78 percent said they would make the choice again if they had to.  Only a small percentage said they regretted the choice to become a plastic surgeon.

The most interesting outcomes of the survey were 1) the data regarding differences in satisfaction between surgeons who are “intellectually isolated” and those who are actively involved with their colleagues, and 2) the difference in satisfaction between surgeons who are focused primarily on reconstructive surgery and those who “balanced” their focus between reconstructive and cosmetic operations.

The study is published online ahead of print and you can access it through the journal’s website.

Source

Satisfaction with Career Choice among U.S. Plastic Surgeons: Results from a National Survey.   Streu, Rachel; Hawley, Sarah; Gay, Ashley; Salem, Barbara; Abrahamse, Paul; Alderman, Amy K . Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

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Body Dysmorphic Disorder Among Cosmetic Surgery Patients: A German Study

Monday, July 26th, 2010 by newseditor

Plastic surgeons frequently screen patients based on psychological criteria, checking for symptoms of a psychiatric disorder called body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD.  Characterized by abnormal preoccupation with self-perceived appearance defects, BDD can be a distressing condition and contraindication for cosmetic procedures.

A recent study published in Psychiatry Research provides the most recent update on the prevalence of BDD, examining the population demographics that are most affected and the tendency of those affected to seek cosmetic surgery.  2,510 German people were analyzed in the research study, and 45 of them were showed symptoms of BDD.  Symptoms (or inclusion criteria) included the following:

  • Preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance
  • Concern is markedly excessive
  • Causes clinically significant distress / impairment in function

Of those 45 people experiencing the above symptoms, 7 of them had undergone cosmetic surgery.

As a general rule, cosmetic surgeons do not operate on patients who have this disorder — for many reasons, including the high chance for the patient to be dissatisfied with the results.  However, patients do not always report symptoms of BDD to their cosmetic surgeon.  They may be embarrassed about it or they may be unaware that such behavior (preoccupation with a perceived appearance defect) is abnormal.  Subjects in the study showed an intense, frequent preoccupation and dislike of body parts such as the ears, nose, stomach, hips, buttocks, skin and breasts.

The disorder poses a significant threat to one’s health.  Aside from being a general hindrance, BDD is linked to increased thoughts about suicide and suicide attempts.  Therefore, as authors of the study suggest, awareness of body dysmorphic disorder should continue to increase and careful screening by healthcare providers should be initiated to help people suffering from it.  A disorder like BDD also reinforces the need for cosmetic surgery patients to be completely open and honest about their reasons for seeking surgery and their medical history.

You can access this study, “Updates on the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder: A population-based survey” through Elsevier Journals or Science Direct.

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Good Looks Offer Key Advantages in the Workplace

Friday, July 23rd, 2010 by newseditor

Newsweek.com just published The Beauty Advantage, a special report that explores America’s pursuit of good looks and the advantages that attractive men and women have in the workplace and in other areas of life.

Although we may try to judge people purely on their personality, character, or competence in the workplace, there are other biases at work, the report suggests. “Looking good is no longer something we can ignore or dismiss as frivolous or vain,” argues reporter Jessica Bennet.

If society were not biased in favor of attractive people, would these statistics be true?

  • “A good-looking man will make some $250,000 more than his least-attractive counterpart, according to economist Daniel Hamermesh.”
  • “Fifty-seven percent of hiring managers told Newsweek that qualified but unattractive candidates are likely to have a harder time landing a job.”
  • “More than half of those hiring managers advised spending as much time and money on “making sure they look attractive” as on perfecting a résumé.”

Lots of surprising statistics are cited throughout the report, but what’s more interesting are the biological and psychological explanations for the beauty advantage.  Is our bias an appreciation of the Platonic ideal form?  Are we unconsciously surrounding ourselves with attractive people in order to produce healthy offspring?  It’s unlikely that a single answer can satisfy our curiosity on this topic.

For many people in our generation, it comes down to an individual choice: how far will you go in your pursuit of beauty?  In the continuum of choices you can make to change your appearance, it’s not always clear where to draw the line.  Many people are quite satisfied with little more than a stylish wardrobe or haircut, but not every person begins their pursuit with the same beauty advantage.

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Latisse Wishes Challenge Campaign Begins June 15

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 by newseditor

Allergan just announced a new Latisse promotion to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In the Latisse Wishes Challenge, they’re asking people to donate $20 or more to the Make-A-Wish foundation in exchange for a Latisse free trial certificate.

Only the first 10,000 people who donate will receive the Latisse free trial certificate. You may remember last year’s campaign led by Brooke Shields. This year, the campaign is led by lifestyle designer Kathy Ireland, professional ballroom dancer Chelsie Hightower and style guide Bobbie Thomas. Watch the video to learn more about the campaign and see important product information about Latisse.

“With approximately 1.5 million bottles sold since launching the product a little more than a year ago, LATISSE is giving back by helping the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant the wishes of children. Through the campaign, we will double each individual’s donation, with a maximum donation of $250,000, through October 31,” said Robert Grant, President of Allergan Medical, a division of Allergan, Inc.

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Moms Influence Daughters to Change Appearance

Monday, May 10th, 2010 by newseditor

We found several compelling stories this mother’s day about moms influencing daughters to change their appearance.  It seems that more mothers and daughters are making the choice to get cosmetic surgery together.

If your mother had a successful rhinoplasty, would you do the same?  One young woman gives her nose-job story to Elle, detailing the years she spent considering the procedure and how she finally decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps. After her rhinoplasty, she confesses: “I hate to say it, but my mother is right: It’s the nose I was meant to have.”

[Elle]

Would your mother undergo cosmetic surgery before you?  If so, you might find yourself inspired to do the same when you see the results.  The number of mother-daughter pairs visiting Oklahoma cosmetic surgeon James Koehler M.D. has him seriously considering a “family discount.”

[msnbc]

Last month, reporters confirmed that supermodel Christie Brinkley had a facelift and her daughter Alexa Ray Joel checked in for a rhinoplasty the following day.  According to reports from the New York Post, the mother and daughter have already made several public appearances to show off their new looks.

[NY Post]

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2009 Plastic Surgery Statistics Show Increase in Non-Surgical Enhancement

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 by newseditor

Non-surgical enhancement increased less than one percent last year while surgicalsurgery_stats procedures like abdominoplasty, liposuction and breast augmentation decreased by 17 percent.  Clearly, like many other markets in the United States, plastic surgery has been affected by the recession.

Statistics came from annual survey of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in which 928 physicians from different specialties responded. The effort that is intended to help interpret emerging trends in cosmetic plastic surgery.

For the second year running, breast augmentation was the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery, with 311,957 procedures estimated nationwide. Doctors have suggested several reasons for the continued success of breast augmentation:

The reintroduction of silicone gel breast implants may be a factor, said Dr. Renato Saltz to the Wall Street Journal. The procedure also boasts a relatively quick recovery time and patients get almost “immediate gratification,” says Dr. Bruce Genter.

Statistics also indicate that breast implants are favored among younger women.  For patients 19-34 years old, it was the most chosen surgery, while patients age 35-50 actually chose liposuction more frequently.

Expect more 2009 statistics to be released in the coming weeks from other professional groups.  When they do, we will compare their findings and further discuss the emerging cosmetic trends.

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