Dr. Steven Davis

Davis Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

Is There a Right Age for Plastic Surgery?

by

Cosmetic plastic surgery has never been more popular. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 7.7 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2017. That’s a two-percent jump over 2016, when there was an increase in both surgical and minimally-invasive procedures in every age group.

That trend largely continued in 2017. What that indicates is that while 40- to 54-year-olds still account for the great majority of cosmetic procedures at 49 percent of the total, more and more people are having plastic surgery done at younger ages.

What, then, is the “right age” for cosmetic plastic surgery? That’s a question that can and should only be answered on an individual basis because it’s a deeply personal decision. But as the stigma that was once attached to plastic surgery continues to fall away, I think what we’re seeing is it becoming a viable option to more people.

And as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ annual report shows, there are a multitude of reasons that people of all ages are seeking it out. Here’s a quick overview of the most popular cosmetic procedures by age group.

Right Age For Plastic Surgery

13- to 19-year-olds
Keep in mind, this group still represents the smallest segment of the cosmetic plastic surgery market at about one percent of the total number of procedures performed in 2017, or 229,000 procedures.

Rhinoplasty, or nose-reshaping surgery, has long been, and continues to be, the most popular surgical procedure among teens for a distinct reason: The structure and shape of the nose is fully formed by puberty. Generally, they’re encouraged to hold off on other cosmetic procedures because the rest of their bodies are still developing, though more than twice as many laser hair removal procedures were performed in 2017 than nose-reshaping surgeries.

20 to 29
Close to 86,000 20- to 29-year-olds opted for breast augmentation, which remains the most popular type of surgical procedure overall, with over 300,000 procedures performed in 2017, a three percent increase over 2016. Again, though, including minimally-invasive procedures—which we should because they accounted for 90 percent of all cosmetic plastic surgery in 2017—laser hair removal wins by a landslide, at close to 233,000 procedures.

30 to 39
Surgically, breast augmentation was the most popular and liposuction was a distant runner-up. Including minimally-invasive procedures, injection treatments, such as Botox, were the clear favorite, with more than 1.3 million procedures performed in 2017, a two-percent increase over the previous year.

40 to 54
So what’s the most avid segment of the cosmetic plastic surgery market having done? The top five surgical procedures, from most popular to least, were: liposuction, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and nose reshaping. On the minimally-invasive side, more than 4.1 million injection procedures (Botox) and 1.25 million soft-tissue fillers, such as Juvederm, were performed.

55 and over
The 55-and-over segment was only marginally less enthusiastic about injection procedures (about 1.7 million) and soft-tissue fillers (nearly 930,000). Though it was even more game for a chemical peel (almost 593,000). Eyelid surgery was the most common surgical procedure, followed close behind by facelifts.

Behind the numbers
These results follow some universal concerns about our appearance as we get older. Cosmetic plastic surgery was long perceived as a superficial pursuit of youth. But these numbers and my daily interactions with patients describe a different story. For the most part, these procedures are helping people across every age group align their appearance with the person inside, whether it’s a self-conscious teen, a new mother, or a retiree who feels 20 years younger than her age.

So there’s no “right age” for cosmetic plastic surgery. It’s the will that matters most.

Interested in Botox? Seek Out a Plastic Surgeon

by

The number of cosmetic injection treatments, like Botox, performed in the United States has grown more than 800 percent since 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. That makes it the fastest-growing, minimally-invasive procedure.

To meet that surging demand (and, of course, benefit from it), there’s been a massive influx of barely-qualified providers. In many cases, their only qualification is a weekend course that taught them how and where to inject Botox.

They’re not going to advertise that fact, of course, which can muddy the waters when you’re deciding where to seek treatment. There is, however, a very simple way to see past many of those pretenders—and spare yourself from a disappointing result: Seek out a plastic surgeon. Here are a few reasons why.

Botox Facial

Years vs. days
In contrast to the weekend training, a plastic surgeon completes a residency specifically for plastic and reconstructive surgery and is required to be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before beginning to practice.

Why should that matter for a relatively low-risk procedure like a Botox treatment? Because the plastic surgeon spends years studying and working with the anatomy of the human face, becoming, in the process, an expert in aging and appearance. Through that expertise, the plastic surgeon can help you tailor goals to your particular facial anatomy and then formulate a treatment plan to achieve them. The result is a more natural look.

Someone with less knowledge of the aging process and the anatomy is more likely to administer a one-size-fits-all treatment that will yield more artificial-looking results.

A plastic surgeon is also going to take a more holistic approach to your treatment by evaluating your full medical history beforehand. In asking about any medications or supplements you may be taking, allergies you may have, existing medical conditions, and your cosmetic surgery history, the plastic surgeon’s going to be able to determine if you’re a candidate for Botox and what other treatments may be viable options.

It’s another step toward ensuring the desired outcome while minimizing the risk as much as possible.

Long-term planning
At a medical spa and even a dermatologist’s office, often, Botox is part of a very limited menu of cosmetic injection treatments. A plastic surgeon, on the other hand, offers the full breadth of surgical and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures, which makes them the only ones capable of making an objective recommendation for a treatment, Botox or otherwise.

The other side of that is, there will eventually come a time for everyone when Botox injections are no longer enough. Continuing to rely on them beyond that point creates an artificial look that may be easy to spot when you see it, but it can be much more difficult to recognize on your own face.

A plastic surgeon’s treatment plan will take that inevitability into account and begin laying the foundation for the next stages of enhancing your natural beauty.

The match
Focusing on plastic surgeons leaves you with a much more qualified pool of options, but you still need to find the doctor who’s right for you. The next step is to be meticulous in your search.

Not every plastic surgeon does Botox treatments regularly, so limit the parameters of your search a little further to those who consistently perform them. And then schedule a consultation with a few of the most promising prospects to see who you have a rapport with. Remember, this may be a low-risk, short-term treatment, but, ideally, you want it performed by a plastic surgeon who has your long-term goals in mind.

What’s the Difference Between Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery?

by

Cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery—and plastic surgery, for that matter—are often used interchangeably, but they shouldn’t be. So let’s clear up the confusion here and now.

Reconstructive surgery is performed to restore function and a normal appearance and correct deformities caused by birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, or medical conditions, including cancer. In fact, breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy is perhaps one of the most widely known kinds of reconstructive surgery being done today.

Generally, reconstructive surgery is considered medically necessary, so it’s covered by most health insurance plans, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly depending on the plan.

Cosmetic surgery is performed to enhance appearance, usually by reshaping and adjusting normal parts of the body to make them more visually appealing. Think breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tuck. Cosmetic surgery is not considered medically necessary, so it’s not usually covered by health insurance.

Plastic surgery is essentially the field that encompasses both. You can think of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery as sub-specialties of plastic surgery.

Easy as they are to define here, there are some instances when cosmetic and reconstructive surgery overlap and prompt some special attention by an insurance provider. They typically involve surgical operations that may be considered cosmetic or reconstructive, depending on the patient’s situation.

Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, is a classic example. It’s done a lot of times purely to enhance the appearance of the nose, but it may also be required to restore normal breathing through the nose and normal appearance after a bad nasal fracture.

Also, no matter the type of plastic surgery, the end goal is always to create the best possible cosmetic result.

What to look for in a plastic surgeon
There are no residency programs that focus specifically on cosmetic surgery, so physicians pursuing cosmetic surgery can have varied backgrounds that include medical school and a residency and/or fellowship program, typically in a surgical specialty, which is usually followed by attaining board certification in that specialty and post-residency training specifically in cosmetic surgery.

That said, there’s nothing to prevent a physician from opening a cosmetic surgery practice without having completed formal plastic surgery training in an accredited program. Though, physicians with significant experience in cosmetic surgery can become certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

A plastic surgeon, by contrast, completes a residency specifically for plastic and reconstructive surgery and is required to be board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery before beginning to practice.

The American Medical Association recommends choosing a physician based on their training, education, experience, and demonstrated practice history. Ultimately, though, experience and expertise in the procedure you plan to have should be your foremost consideration.

Welcome to a More Personalized Generation of Breast Augmentation

by

Breast augmentation and enhancements are by far the most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedure performed today. In 2017 alone, over 300,000 breast augmentations and more than 105,000 breast lifts were performed in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Much of the reason that interest continues to grow year after year is because the procedures have evolved. These aren’t the breast implants that first entered the mainstream during the “Baywatch” era. Today’s implants come in a wide range of shapes, diameters, and projections that allows for a much more natural look.

Your augmentation would begin with a series of measurements that, one, ensure the ideal placement of the breasts in relation to your shoulders and, two, properly align the areolas and nipples. It’s a process I’ve come to refer to as Cup Crafting.

Boob Job

During this initial consultation, I’ll also ask you to describe how your ideal breasts would look: perkier, for instance, or fuller. Perhaps, simply, more youthful. This is the time, too, for us to address any questions or hesitations you may have about the procedure:

  • Are there risks for future breastfeeding or mammograms?
  • Will I need help at home after the surgery?
  • Are revisions possible?
  • What’s the cost of that surgery?

We won’t proceed until you’re fully confident in the procedure.

What to expect during the procedure
As for the procedure itself, this is what to expect: The surgery is usually done with either general anesthesia or conscious sedation, so you’ll either be asleep or sedated. It varies by patient, so we’ll discuss it beforehand.

During the surgery, I’ll make small, economic incisions to create a pocket to make room for the implant. Once I’ve positioned the implant, I’ll close and bandage the incisions. The entire procedure usually lasts less than two hours, and you’ll be able to go home soon afterward.

I practice conservation when making any incision, which reduces downtime and post-operative pain as much as possible.

What to expect after the procedure
Recovery varies from one patient to the next, but, on average, full recovery ranges from four to six weeks. You should feel significantly better within a week, though you’ll still want to stick to light activity and avoid strenuous activity until you’re fully healed.

Should you need pain medications after the surgery, you’ll have access to them in accordance with your overall recovery plan.

The incisions will leave minimal scars, but they heal very well and become harder to see with time. Plus, they’ll be located in an inconspicuous spot, so you likely wouldn’t notice them unless you looked for them.

It’s important to enter into a breast augmentation procedure with realistic expectations, and we’ll discuss them during your initial consultation, but this type of breast enhancement can:

  • Improve the fullness of the breasts
  • Improve asymmetry
  • Increase the projection, size, and shape of the breasts
  • Create a more balanced hip-to-breast ratio

Augmentation does have some limitations. In the case of severe drooping or sagging, many women will also need a supplementary breast lift, which can easily be performed alongside the augmentation, diminishing downtime and post-op discomfort.

How long will your results last?
Your breast implants should continue to please for about 15 to 20 years. Sometimes, significant weight gain or loss can affect their appearance, or the implant may shift or cause complications, requiring revision surgery. But I take a meticulous approach that results in an extremely low risk of the implant rupturing or migrating.

Not only are implants much more individualized than they once were, they’re also much safer. So feel confident in both your decision and the results.