Recession Cuts Many, Not All Plastic Surgery Procedures

ScienceDaily (Mar. 25, 2009) — Showing sensitivity to weaknesses in the U.S. economy, plastic surgery was not spared from the recession's grasp.

According to the newest national procedural statistics report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), in 2008, doctors performed over 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures – encompassing both surgical and minimally-invasive procedures. Surgical numbers dropped nine percent and minimally-invasive numbers rose five percent. Nearly 5 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed, slightly more than the previous year.

"Like most sectors, plastic surgery is feeling the effects of the economic downturn," said John Canady, MD, ASPS president. "However, repeat patients and those putting off surgery, likely sustained demand for some minimally-invasive procedures. Growth in demand will likely return as the recession eases and baby boomer's offspring begin to explore surgical options."

The following are the top-line 2008 National Plastic Surgery Statistics:

• 12 million total cosmetic plastic surgery procedures; up three percent versus 2007
• 1.7 million surgical cosmetic procedures; down nine percent versus 2007
• Top 5: Breast augmentation (307,000; 12 percent decline), Nose reshaping (279,000; two percent decline), Liposuction (245,000; 19 percent decline), Eyelid surgery (221,000; eight percent decline), Tummy tuck (122,000; 18 percent decline)
• 10.4 million minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures; up five percent versus 2007
• Top 5: Botox (5 million; eight percent increase), hyaluronic acid fillers (1.1 million; six percent increase), chemical peel (1 million; two percent increase), laser hair removal (892,000; two percent decline), microdermabrasion (842,000; six percent decline)
• 4.9 million reconstructive procedures; up three percent versus 2007
• Top 5: Tumor removal (3.8 million; five percent increase), laceration repair (307,000; seven percent increase), scar revision (163,000; eight percent increase), hand surgery (100,000; 13 percent increase), breast reduction (89,000; 16 percent decrease)

"Although many obstacles remain in patients acquiring insurance coverage for reconstructive procedures, it is promising to see, for the first time in several years, a gain in reconstructive plastic surgery procedures," said Dr. Canady.

ASPS procedural statistics are collected through the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures, Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS). This data, combined with the annual survey sent to American Board of Medical Specialties certified physicians most likely to perform these procedures, results in the most comprehensive census on plastic surgery.

This article was first published in www.sciencedaily.com

What You Should Anticipate After Your Rhinoplasty Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Rhinoplasty aka nose job, is a famous cosmetic plastic surgery procedure for altering the form of a patient’s nose. Rhinoplasty is a procedure which comprises of difficult sequences of surgical movements that change in the nose shape or size of the bone and the cartilages. Therefore, between 2 patients the rhinoplasty surgery is not exactly equal. However, some fundamental parts of the procedure will affect the patient's healing.

Nose bones have huge influence on whether a patient will endure bruising and how bad it is. If nose bones are just scraped at the nose bridge area, the patient will not endure bruising or swelling beneath the eyes. If they are broken, in order to narrow the higher portion of the nose and to shut an open roof after a major hump lessening, the patient will endure bruising beneath the eyes which is normally thought of after rhinoplasty cosmetic plastic surgery.

The bones of the nasal are sever low down at their foundation where they connect with the higher jaw bone up to the inner corner of the eye. Severing these nasal bones with a tiny chisel will result the bone to bleed which seeps into the soft tissue planes below the lower eyelid tissues. As this tissue plane ends where it links the cheek, an extremely sharp line of demarcation grows between the non-bruised and bruised cheek skin. It takes up to 3 weeks after the cosmetic plastic surgery for the bruising in most patient to go away totally. To hide the bruising, make-up can be used.

The nasal tip swelling period depends whether a patient undergo an open or closed rhinoplasty. Most rhinoplasty nowadays are done open, as a result, tip swelling cannot be avoided. The more thick a patient’s skin, the more swelling a patient will have and the longer it stays. To heal the skin and keep down the major of the swelling, the patient must wear tapes and splint. Once the tapes and the splint are taken off 7 days after the cosmetic plastic surgery, the patient ought to expect development in the tip figure. However, there is going to be some considerable swelling and figure changes as this happens.

A patient must patient to see the hard work of the rhinoplasty cosmetic plastic surgery. For some patients it may take a few months, but for most, they will see rewarding enhancements 3 weeks after the rhinoplasty cosmetic plastic surgery.

To understand the expectation after the surgery, before having it done, can relieve a patient's worries during the healing period. This is mostly correct in rhinoplasty cosmetic plastic surgery where the patients are frequently rather nervous given the significance of the nose to the patient's look.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery-Creating Dimples You’ve Always Wanted

With cosmetic plastic surgery you are able to create dimples that you have always wanted. Dimples are actually depressions in the cheek skin. For those who are born with dimples, it is visible when one smiles and is not visible when one is not smiling. Cheek dimples are inherited and normally found on both sides of the cheek and seldom to be found on one side of the cheek.

Cheek dimples are caused by abnormality of the zygomaticus muscle. This is the major muscle elevator of the upper lip and corner of the mouth. It runs from the bone of the cheek to the corner of the mouth. When a dimple take place, it is due to a split or hole in this muscle. When one smiles the zygomaticus muscle contracts and this hole become bigger. This is the reason why a cheek dimple may not be visible when one is not smiling but is visible when one is smiling.

There are people who dream of having cheek dimples as it makes them look beautiful. It is possible to have cheek dimples through a small cosmetic plastic surgery. During the cosmetic plastic surgery, a small incision on the inner side of the cheek opposite the preferred dimple location is made. This procedure will results in bruising and the major problem is that the dimple may not be a permanent feature in the event the stitches pull through 7 days after the surgery.

This small cosmetic plastic surgery can be undone if the patient does not like the outcome of the procedure.