Finding a plastic surgeon right for you has become more difficult since cosmetic procedures have continued to grow in popularity and availability. If you don't know how to begin getting facts, the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS) can provide information to help guide you.
Cosmetic procedures continue to grow in popularity and in accessibility as prices decrease enough to bring in more patients who would normally not be able to afford plastic surgery but want it. And this increased accessibility has been demonstrated by a staggering increase in some procedures that cosmetic surgeons are performing.
According to statistics from the American Board of Plastic Surgeons (ABPS),
one of the biggest changes in what types of procedures are performed was in calf augmentation with a 61% increase from 2009 to 2010, the latest year statistics are available for. But not all cosmetic procedures climbed in popularity. Lip augmentation other than injectables, for example, dropped by 21% in popularity and use in 2010 compared to 2009.
But regardless of what else changes in popular procedures, some things have managed to remain unchanged, and that includes the large number of breast jobs performed every year. Cosmetic surgeons are still doing almost 300,000 breast augmentations a year, and even though those numbers only rose by a mere two percent from 2009 to 2010, that is still a lot of breast work being done across America.
Men have not been left out of the surge for perfection through cosmetic improvements either. As of 2010, the five most popular cosmetic procedures for men included nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, breast reduction for men, and hair transplantation.
With so many varied specialties out there, it is important that patients don't assume that all cosmetic surgeons are equally skilled in all aspects of the field. A cosmetic surgeon that specializes in hair transplantation, for example, may not be equally skilled in breast augmentation, and it is important for your surgical outcome to know that and find a doctor who is a specialist in the procedure your considering.
If you are ready to become one of the 1,555,614 people who sought out plastic surgery last year, make sure to do your research ahead of time and learn all you can about the procedure, the risk factors, the benefits, and how to select a qualified plastic surgeon.
If you aren't sure where to start, begin by looking at the ABPS's website. This is a good place to find information on surgical procedures, including the facts and risks associated with a particular procedure and how to screen a doctor.
The ABPS website also contains a referral list of certified doctors in your geographical area who specialize in the procedure you're interested in. It gives you a solid place to learn and gain information to ensure you only use a qualified surgeon who will give you the results you expect from your surgery.
And of course your own plastic surgeon can be a great source of useful information about the procedure your considering and if they aren't an expert in the procedure they can generally point in you in the direction of a plastic surgeon who better meets your needs.
