Address: 5901 Corporate Drive #A, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80919, US
Telephone: 719-634-2503

September 25, 2019 by Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

How Many Plastic Surgery Procedures Are Done Each Year in the U.S.?

How many plastic surgery procedures are performed in the U.S. each year?

Plastic surgery is currently experiencing a boom and has been for some time. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Americans had nearly 17.7 million cosmetic procedures in 2018. Also, there were 5.8 reconstructive procedures performed.

Below you find some information on the most common types of plastic surgery procedures performed by plastic surgeons and their rate of occurrence:

Botox:

This cosmetic treatment is by far the most common non-evasive procedure. There were 7.4 million (up from 5.7 million in 2012) of these procedures performed last year. One of the factors that makes Botox so preferable is its low-cost and low risk.

Mammaplasty:

The most common surgical procedure is mammaplasty (breast augmentation). There were 313,000 breast enlargement surgeries in 2018 (compared to 296,203 procedures in 2012). New innovative technology has increased the success and safety of this surgery making it even more popular for women.

Abdominoplasty:

An abdominoplasty, otherwise known as a tummy tuck, is another very popular elective procedure. Last year, around 30,000 procedures were performed (compared to 116,000 in 2012). Tummy tucks are most common in women; however, men can have them as well. Most tummy tucks are requested by women because of damage to the abdomen during pregnancy. This procedure is safe and usually effective. For this reason, it is a very common plastic surgery.

Lipectomy:

Around 258,000 lipectomy (liposuction) procedures were performed in 2012 (compared to 203,103 in 2012). Liposuction is a very common procedure often repeated by the same person more than one time during their lifetime. It effectively removes fat from several areas of the body including the thighs, buttocks, stomach and arms.

Blepharoplasty:

Blepharoplasty, otherwise known as eyelid surgery, is another very common cosmetic procedure. There were around 206,000 procedures performed last year (compared to 208,000 in 2012). Eyelid surgery is preformed to correct drooping of the upper eyelids and bags below the eyes. This is accomplished by removing extra skin, muscle and fat from the eye.

NOTE: This article was recently edited and republished. It was originally published Dec 17, 2012.

July 9, 2019 by Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

Breast Implant Sizes

Breast implants are big business in the United States. There were nearly 300,000 breast augmentation surgeries reported in 2010 and even more performed in 2011, according to the website PlasticSurgery.org. Breast augmentation has been the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure since 2006 and the numbers continue to rise. When someone elects to have breast augmentation, a common question is what breast implant sizes are available?

Chances are that you or someone you know is considering breast augmentation surgery. One very important aspect of this procedure is determining the desired breast implant size. Several factors may affect the selection of the breast implant size.

Physical Characteristics

During a standard breast augmentation consultation, the cosmetic surgeon will evaluate:

your breast size
dimension of the breasts
characteristics of the overall breast tissue

Other factors to consider include:

your body type
skin elasticity
base diameter of each breast

In addition, you surgeon will evaluate where the breast implant may be inserted in the breast. This will affect the overall appearance of the breast after surgery and may play a part in the implant size decision.

These are all factors that will affect how the breast will look after breast implant surgery. Always ask your surgeon’s opinion about the best breast implant size for your body. Discuss the approximate size that you are seeking to achieve.

Personal Preferences

Of course, the decision to undergo breast augmentation surgery is a very personal one. Chances are very good that if you have chosen to get breast implants, you have a certain idea of how you would like to look. Discuss your goals and the vision of how you would like to look with your plastic surgeon. Remember that certain sizes may not work with your specific body type.

Overall Appearance

As part of the breast surgery consultation, a staff member will help you try on different breast implant sizes. You will wear a special bra and can insert different types and sizes of breast implants into the bra. You can then see how you would look with each specific size.

Before you decide to move forward with breast implant surgery, it is very important to be realistic about the surgery. Understand any potential complications and how you may look or feel after surgery. Select a physician who is board-certified in plastic surgery. Remember to ask and listen carefully when it comes to the surgery and your desired breast size.

Learn more about breast implant sizes

Have more questions about breast implant sizes? Schedule a consultation with Colorado Springs plastic surgeon, Dr. Greg Liebscher.

This article was originally published March 8, 2012.

August 23, 2017 by Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

Can I Have Multiple Cosmetic Surgery Procedures at the Same Time?

A person having more than one cosmetic surgery procedure at the same time

Cosmetic surgery helps to enhance appearance and boost self-esteem. This surgical procedure offers many physical and emotional benefits. Some people who want plastic surgery are wondering if they can have more than one cosmetic surgery procedure performed at the same time.

Well, there is no one answer to the question of how many cosmetic surgery procedures you can have at the same time. Some surgeries can be performed at once with minimal risks while combining other surgical procedures can increase the chances of problems.

Advantages and Benefits

There are a several advantages to having multiple surgical procedures performed at the same time. You go through recovery from several procedures simultaneously instead of one at a time if the procedures are performed at different times.

One of the benefits of having several cosmetic surgery procedures at once is that you will combine your recovery time. Any cosmetic procedure you have will require some time for recovery, so if you’re going to have more than one surgery, you can cut down your recovery time by having all of the procedures done on the same day.

Disadvantages and Risks

While cutting down on recovery time may sound appealing, certain types of cosmetic surgeries put a strain on the body, and you must rest after the procedure. You need to be in a healthy condition before having any type of cosmetic surgery procedure, but if you think that undergoing more than one procedure at the same time will put a big strain on your body, you may want to schedule them on different times instead.

Having multiple procedures at one time will result to lower overall costs, since you are using the operating room once and having anesthesia once. Many surgeons have no problem with this, but some surgeons prefer to put their patients through one surgical procedure at a time and monitor progress after each procedure, and perhaps fine tune skills and anesthesia for future surgeries.

Many people who have plastic surgery are anxious about showing the results of their procedure to relatives and friends. Having several procedures at the same time means you will only have to reveal the results once. If you relish showing off your new look, having several revelations in a row can be an exciting experience.

An important factor to consider should be how often the surgeon has performed the cosmetic procedures you are considering. Find out how much experience your surgeon has with the specific surgeries you are interested in. If your surgeon has great expertise in liposuction but is not well-versed in performing facelifts, it may be a good idea to spread out your procedures and look for an alternative surgeon to perform the facelifts.

Complementing Procedures

Certain cosmetic surgeries go hand in hand, so you may want to combine multiple surgeries that can be done at the same time. For example, you may need to have a tummy tuck following liposuction in order to get rid of loose skin. It’s also a smart move to combine breast augmentation procedure with a breast lift cosmetic surgery. Or, women who undergo reconstructive breast surgery as part of cancer treatment, may choose breast augmentation.

Having more than one cosmetic surgery at the same time, or having cosmetic surgery procedures at different times both have advantages and disadvantages. A skilled cosmetic surgeon in partnership with an experienced anesthesiologist can make the decision whether they’re able to perform multiple procedures at the same time, or whether they want to perform them separately.

References

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Cosmetic/story?id=118249&page=1

http://www.surgery.org/consumers/ask-a-surgeon/safe-procedures-time-save-cost

July 10, 2017 by Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

Can the Size and Shape of Nipples Be Changed by Plastic Surgery?

How to change nipple shape and size with plastic surgery

Nipples and their surrounding tissues are now a point of focus for many people seeking plastic surgery, as cosmetic breast surgery procedures to correct these body parts are becoming increasingly popular. Your nipple size and shape can be altered surgically, and the appearance of the areola, the pigmented tissue surrounding the nipple, can be changed as well.

If you suffer from nipple hypertrophy, a condition in which your nipples are much larger or protrude much farther than most, you may benefit from a surgical procedure to reduce your nipple size and shape. During the procedure, your plastic surgeon will make an incision at the base of each nipple, and then remove some of the nipple tissue, creating a smaller nipple.

If you have inverted nipples and wish to breastfeed your child, you may want to consider a surgery to correct your nipples in order to make breastfeeding less complicated. Inverted nipples often occur when the ducts beneath the nipple are short, which creates tension and pulls the nipple inward. During this surgical procedure, an incision is made at the base of each nipple, and then the tense fibers and ducts are cut, allowing the nipple to be drawn out. This procedure can be done under local anesthesia, and you can expect a full recovery in a few days.

Additionally, if you have larger than normal areolae, you may want to reduce the amount of this darker skin on your breasts. During surgery, an incision will be made around the bottom of the nipple or along the perimeter of the areola. The pigmented tissue will then be removed, and the remaining skin will be sutured together. Scarring is minimal, and you can expect a full recovery in a few days if there are no complications.

If you are considering any nipple or areola surgery, the first step is to consult with a board-certified and licensed plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Greg Liebscher, one of the most respected and practice plastic surgeons in Colorado Springs, CO.

REFERENCES:

“Nipple reduction – An adjunct to augmentation mammoplasty.” Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery. Nabil Fanous, MD, Carolyne Tawile, MD, Amanda Fanous Web. 3 July 2012
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2740602/

“The inverted nipple: its grading and surgical correction.” US National Library of Medicine Han S., Hong YG. Web 4 July 2012
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10654681

June 27, 2017 by Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

C-Section Scar Removal: Can Plastic Surgery Help?

A woman's flat abs after having a C-section scar removal in Colorado Springs, CO

Ever wonder what can be done about C-section scars? Do you have to just live with them forever, or can plastic surgery remove them? Well, continue reading about this popular reconstructive plastic surgery procedure.

For women who have received a cesarean section, the scar can be extensive and cause a bulging or flap of skin on the lower abdomen. This scar may be seen under a bathing suit and may also affect intimacy as some women may feel embarrassed or self-conscious about the scar and become hesitant to appear naked in front of their partners. There are several plastic surgery procedures that can be performed which will diminish or erase the appearance of scarring.

Your Options

Most women will opt for the abdominoplasty or tummy tuck procedure. This poses a problem because this procedure also causes a scar on the lower abdomen. In actuality, it is just exchanging one scar for another. However, the Bikini Tummy Tuck or Mini Tummy Tuck may be just the right procedure for you. This type of plastic surgery works best for women who do not have a large amount of fat or skin to remove. For women with a minimal to moderate amount of skin and who are bothered by the appearance of a C-section scar, this procedure can remove the scar and that flap or bulge of skin typically associated with the C-section. It may also remove the appearance of stretch marks on the lower abdomen.

Scar Revision Surgery

For those who would like a less invasive type of solution, other options include scar revision surgery. Scar revision may include topical treatments such as creams or gels. They soften and reduce the appearance of the scar. This topical treatment can accompany surgical revision that will reduce or minimize the appearance of the scar. This type of procedure usually does not erase the scar completely. The American Society of plastic surgeons states “Scar revision surgery is meant to minimize the scar so that it is more consistent with your surrounding skin tone and texture” (www.plasticsurgery.org/Reconstructive-Procedures/Scar-Revision.html). So for those looking to erase the scar completely, the mini tummy tuck may be a better solution.

Good candidates for plastic reconstructive surgery are women who:

are healthy
do not smoke
have a realistic idea about the outcome of these procedures.

Overall, improving the appearance can boost self-confidence.

Talk to a plastic surgeon in Colorado Springs about C-Section scar removal

Of course, always talk to a board-certified medical professional about whether or not C-section scar removal surgery is right for you. For Colorado Springs plastic surgery patients with questions about C-Section scarring or any reconstructive surgery procedure, contact Dr. Greg Liebscher at 719-634-2503 to schedule a consultation to discuss your options for a tummy tuck procedure.