Breast Augmentation is One of the Most Popular Surgeries

In 2006, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released a brand new leader in elective cosmetic plastic surgery. For the first time, breast augmentation came out on top. And it has only increased in popularity since then. Liposuction and rhinoplasty were also in the top three, but their popularity has diminished slightly as women prefer to focus on their breast size and shape. 

Researchers and plastic surgeons aren’t exactly sure what prompted this spike in breast implant popularity. Some believe it had to do with the improved safety of implants that allowed more women to contemplate entering the operating room without having to worry about rupture or leakage later. The safety and efficacy of this elective cosmetic procedure has improved dramatically in recent years as technology and state-of-the art techniques are continually improved and expanded. 

Some postulate that the increase in popularity is due to an increase in breast cancer awareness and diagnosis. Many women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer elect to undergo bilateral mastectomies and will also have reconstruction done once their radiation treatment is complete. Some women that have a strong history of breast cancer don’t even wait to be diagnosed with the malignant cells in their body. They simply have the mastectomies done early and replace their real breast tissue with implants that cannot grow cancer cells. 

Still others believe the strength in the economy initially prompted this rise in elective cosmetic procedures. However, even as the economy took a dip in recent years, breast augmentation stayed on top in popularity. It’s as if women decided that if they could only have one part of their body done, they would like to improve their breasts. 

An increase in this type of elective cosmetic surgery may also be due to an increase in celebrity procedures and exposure. Many men and women follow the habits of the stars and feel that if an elective procedure is safe enough for them, it must be safe enough for me. This can be slightly controversial because not everyone is a good breast implant candidate and not every one will choose the same factors such as incision size and implant type. Instead, women should discuss with their plastic surgeon to determine whether or not breast augmentation is right for them.

As we move forward and there are even more advances in science and technology, breast augmentation will become even more safe and simple. In turn, this will draw more women to the procedure and make it even more popular than ever. Some people may think this is a negative trend perpetuating among our young women. While others embrace the change and simply visit the bikini beach more often.