Davis

Technology and medical advances have driven cosmetic surgery (and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments) in countless, uncharted directions. The menu of procedures, as a result, looks very different today from what it did only several years ago.

But science alone isn’t responsible for that evolution. Patients have played a vital role, too. As plastic surgeons became better positioned to be more responsive to their particular needs, patients became more interested in tweaks than exaggerated cosmetic procedures. The standard today is subtle enhancements to one’s inherent appearance, not dramatic transformations.

With the changing face of cosmetic surgery, procedures have become more refined. The facelift is a prime example.

Rather than a single, relatively one-size-fits-all surgery, there’s now a full spectrum of procedures, including injectables, that fall under the facelift umbrella.

Injectables, in fact, appear to be spurring this era of minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures. (Minimally-invasive procedures have grown by 228% since 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Their cost is less than surgery, their effects are immediately visible, and the recovery time is minimal, all of which has contributed to their accessibility and inclusivity.

The ability to squeeze in a treatment over lunchtime and slip right back into their routine afterward without breaking stride has snared the attention of those who are reluctant to admit they had a procedure or don’t want to deal with the downtime.

Breast augmentation will continue to be popular—it was the top cosmetic surgical procedure performed in 2018 by a wide margin, according to the ASPS. But small, hyper-specific procedures, like “liquid rhinoplasty,” that help patients feel a little more confident but aren’t completely obvious are quickly gaining in popularity.

Body contouring treatments can be counted among that category as well. CoolSculpting can treat just about any unwanted bulge, but it’s FDA-approved for the abdomen, love handles, thighs, upper arms, “bra fat,” back fat, “banana roll” underneath your butt, and double chin. Those who undergo it can expect up to a 25% reduction of fat in the treated area. Just as impressively, though, they can walk out of a treatment and step right back into their normal lives.

While a segment of cosmetic surgery has always been dedicated to prevention, it’s never been as prominent as it is today. Much of that, again, can be attributed to the new mainstream acceptance of cosmetic surgery. For much of my career, cosmetic surgery was mostly associated with women of a certain age. But a growing number of my patients—men and women—are undergoing treatments in their twenties and thirties as a means to try to prevent more invasive procedures later in their lives. It’s a trend that seems to be unfolding nationwide, according to any number of surveys.

The changing face of cosmetic surgery has arrived.  And all these advances are bringing us closer to who we are.

Rhinoplasty, commonly referred to as a nose job or, more recently, nose reshaping, is an introduction to cosmetic surgery for a lot of people. Nearly 67,000 procedures were performed on patients in their twenties in 2018, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which ranks it behind only breast augmentation.

The goal of nose reshaping is pretty straightforward: to sculpt the shape of the nose on the outside for a more aesthetically-pleasing result and inside to improve breathing. And while noses are kind of like snowflakes, the procedure’s basically one-size-fits-all—until recently.

A rapid evolution has unfolded over the last few years. Today, plastic surgeons are able to employ a number of new techniques, dependent upon the patient’s needs and expectations, that help ensure the resulting nose is natural-looking and that it perfectly balances the patient’s face.

What you should know about liquid rhinoplasty

Among the newest of those techniques is a treatment called “liquid rhinoplasty.” You may also have heard it referred to as the “nonsurgical nose job.” Hyaluronic acid filler is injected into the nose to temporarily change its shape. If you’ve come across before-and-after photos online, you know the results can look as transformative as those of an actual rhinoplasty.

But as quick and easy as it may seem in someone’s Instagram Stories, it’s a procedure that should be taken seriously. As with any kind of plastic surgery, seek out a surgeon who’s very experienced with rhinoplasty—and liquid rhinoplasty, ideally. It’s not a procedure that any board-certified plastic surgeon would describe as high-risk, but it’s also not without potential complications.

Those complications are becoming more common as the procedure gains popularity and it’s performed by people who lack the appropriate credentials. By contrast, a reputable plastic surgeon who’s experienced in rhinoplasty will know and respect the anatomy. After all, a proper nose reshaping will improve the entire face.

What to look for in a plastic surgeon

For all the advances, the biggest risk of rhinoplasty remains a disappointing cosmetic outcome—which is why it has the highest revision rate of any plastic surgery procedure. To ensure a smooth procedure and happy result, find the most qualified plastic surgeon to do it.

Precisely restructuring and manipulating the nose while improving breathing issues requires a particular skillset and expertise that takes years to develop.

When you meet with a plastic surgeon for the first time, you’ll inevitably be shown before-and-after photos. But make sure to ask to be shown photos for noses that are similar to your own size and shape. They’ll not only speak to the surgeon’s ability, but they’ll also help guide your own discussion and set your expectations.

In the right hands, nose reshaping can give you the nose you’ve always wanted and enhance your whole face in so many other, unexpected ways.

When you hear the word facelift, your mind probably registers a pretty specific image: An older man or woman whose face and neck skin seems disproportionately tight compared to the skin on their arms or legs.

We have Madonna to thank for that. And Kathy Griffin. And Cher.

But we’ve come a long way since the days of the one-size-fits-all procedure that yielded those sorts of results. The facelift, up until only a few years ago, was a pretty straightforward procedure. A flap of skin on each side of the face was pulled back, the tissue below the skin was altered, and the excess skin was removed.

Clinically, it was a sound remedy for the loss of skin elasticity and decrease in fat deposits that inevitably accompany aging at a certain point. But very few plastic surgeons were capable of many deviations. Skip ahead to today: The traditional facelift is now merely one of many ways to achieve a more youthful-looking face. What’s changed? Read on.

Less is more

For starters, we’re living in what’s been described as the age of the “tweak-ment.” Gone are the days of the exaggerated breast enhancements, overfilled lips, and unrealistic facelifts. Patients, more and more, want to keep their family traits and look like themselves—but with a few refined tweaks.

Ten years ago, a patient was likely to come in for their consultation clutching a magazine cover featuring their favorite supermodel. That’s who they wanted to look like. Now, more are interested in looking like themselves, but the version of themselves that appears through their preferred Instagram filter.

That interest has given rise to more precise variations of a number of cosmetic procedures, including the facelift. There’s the mini-facelift, which targets the earliest signs of aging, and the mid-facelift, which focuses on the cheeks, among other types of facelifts.

Injectables, lasers, and skin resurfacing are also more accessible than they’ve ever been. They can be quick, lunchtime procedures that yield immediate but subtle effects with limited downtime, qualities that contribute to their convenience as well as their confidentiality.

There’s more to it than technique

For all the scientific advances, the expertise of the plastic surgeon remains the greatest factor in producing a result that aligns with what the patient has in mind. Yes, it’s a matter of technique and tools, but to an even greater extent, it’s also about the surgeon’s artistry.

Difficult as a plastic surgeon’s training is, it’s at least something that can be honed with practice. The same can’t really be said for his creativity. If he discovered an ability to express himself through one medium or another early on, he’s as likely to nurture it as anyone. But if he didn’t, he’s just as inclined to abandon it.

A technically-proficient surgeon can correct the concern. But only an artful one will truly enhance the face’s inherent structure and traits.

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s hot outside. Like, get-me-to-the-nearest-body-of-water hot.

Understandably, this can be a difficult time of year if you’re even the slightest bit insecure about exposing your midsection. There are a number of ways to address that concern through modern cosmetic surgery, liposuction and a tummy tuck being two of the most popular.

But the summer’s here now, and while each may yield dramatic results, it could take a month or two for the swelling to fully subside in either case. And it may take even longer before you’re basking in the full effect of your treatment.

Is there something, then, that can have you looking better in a bikini or swim trunks with some summer left to spare? Yes: CoolSculpting.

A smaller midsection in a couple of weeks

How, exactly, is a CoolSculpting treatment different from lipo and a tummy tuck? For starters, it’s a noninvasive treatment, meaning there’s no scarring whatsoever to be concerned with. It can treat unwanted fat just about anywhere on the body, but it’s FDA-approved for the midsection, thighs, upper arms, bra fat, back fat, the “banana roll” underneath your butt, and double chin.

Here’s how it works: An applicator that looks like a big vacuum hose applies suction to the area you want to target. (Key to the process is having enough fat for the applicator to adhere to. If you can pinch your bulge, you’re a candidate.) It then applies carefully regulated cooling plates to bring fat cells down to a temperature at which they’re irreversibly damaged.

The frozen fat cells then die and are gradually eliminated by the body. It could take three months for the final effects to become apparent, but you should start noticing a difference in as little as a couple of weeks.

Virtually no discomfort or downtime

A CoolSculpting treatment generally takes between a half-hour and an hour. And it’s relatively gentle. You may feel some initial discomfort as the cooling begins, but it dissipates pretty quickly. Which leaves you free to check email, scroll through Instagram, or even sit back, close your eyes, and appreciate the solitude.

If that sounds too good to be true, I haven’t even gotten to the best part yet: There’s no downtime with a CoolSculpting treatment, so you can head into the office when your treatment’s done, run some errands, or hit the gym.

There’s really no downside here—especially when you consider that CoolSculpting may finally help you achieve that beach body that diet and exercise alone couldn’t deliver. And before the end of the summer, no less.

Over the weeks following your treatment, you can expect up to a 25 percent reduction of fat in the treated area. And those results are permanent. Once fat cells are frozen and eliminated, they’re gone for good.

Hello, bikini. So long, unflattering one-piece. And guys, you can leave those oversize T-shirts in your closet. They were never fooling anyone anyway.