Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

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.