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January 21, 2013 By Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

Does Breast Enhancement Surgery Lead to Better Sex?

A woman who enjoys better sex after breast enhancements Despite the poor economy, more cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2011 than ever before. According to The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s Cosmetic Surgery Statistics the most common procedure requested by women was breast augmentation with breast lifts falling in the top five. Together, these two procedures accounted for almost 450,000 cosmetic surgeries in 2011. From 1997 to 2011 breast augmentation procedures increased by almost 320 percent, while during this period breast lifts increased by 540 percent. Many reports, polls and studies have suggested that breast enhancement surgery changes the way women view their bodies which leads to increased confidence and self-esteem. These heightened characteristics have also been linked to a more satisfying sex life.

Is Breast Enhancement Connected to an Improved Sex Life?

For women, body image greatly influences self-esteem, self-confidence, and the way they react in intimate encounters. When women feel self -conscious or ashamed of their bodies, they are less responsive and enjoy sex less than when they feel positively about their body image. In terms of body image, the parts of the body that are the primary focus for women during sexual encounters are their breasts. This may be a result of images from T.V., movies, media, ads, books and societal norms in which breasts are equated with womanhood, femininity, sexiness and desirability.

This is one of the main reasons millions of women have had breast enhancement surgery. When a woman feels her breasts look asymmetrical, misshapen, or undersized, this can have a large impact on her life. We’re surrounded by advertisements for products that are alleged to increase breast size, bathing suit models whose figures suggest the ideal body includes large, firm breasts, and movies in which the ingénues clothing reveals enough to suggest the presence of sizable breasts beneath. With all these influences it’s not surprising that women believe that they must have large breasts to be found attractive by others . These beliefs transfer to the bedroom, affecting a women’s sex life.

New Findings on Breast Augmentation Surgery and Saxual Satisfaction

Breast enhancement surgery has recently been front and center in the news with increased attention on examining the relationship between women’s satisfaction with their breasts and their sex-life. A study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery reported that women who had breast enhancement surgery reported increased satisfaction with the appearance of their breasts, and a greater sense of psycho-social and sexual well-being after the surgery. Since psycho-social functioning is strongly related to sexual functioning, while each of these factors may have contributed independently to improved life satisfaction following breast enhancement surgery, these factors also likely contributed to women’s quality of life through the ways in which they interacted.

A recent poll conducted by RealSelf.com, a consumer review site related to breast augmentation, suggested that breast enhancement surgery improved several areas in the respondents’ sexual functioning. In particular, results demonstrated that following surgery 61% of the participants reported having sex more often, and 70% of the participants reported greater satisfaction with their sex live.

Interviews with plastic surgeons regarding this poll were not surprised by the findings. A plastic surgeon on faculty at the University of Texas stated that he noticed a difference in how women dressed and the way they carried themselves , which he equated with increased self- confidence following surgery. He added that he believed this improved confidence observed in his patients was likely to affect other areas of their lives in a positive manner including their sexual functioning.

Anecdotal reports suggest that women who have undergone breast enhancement surgery experience orgasm more quickly and are more easily aroused by their partners. Some practitioners have suggested that when a woman feels self -conscious during sex that it’s more difficult for her to relax and experience pleasure from the encounter. Breast enhancement surgery increases overall confidence, which can lead to a woman feeling more relaxed and less inhibited during sex. Most theories related to the outcomes of breast enhancement procedures suggest that the improvement found in women’s sexual functioning was a result of an improved body image leading to increased self-confidence and greater comfort in intimate situations.

December 17, 2012 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 14 million cosmetic procedures in 2011 at a cost of around $10.1 million dollars. 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 5.7 million of these procedures performed last year at an average cost of $500 each. That is an increase of 5 percent from the previous 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). Breast enlargement surgeries are up 4 percent from last year. That means 296,203 procedures were performed last year at an average cost of $3,351. New innovative technology has increased the success and safety of this surgery making it even more popular for women.

About mammaplasty …

Reduction Mammaplasty:

Around 140,000 breast reductions (reduction mammaplasty) were performed last year at an average cost of $6,000 per procedure. Many breast reductions are not performed for cosmetic reasons alone. Women often have breast reductions to reduce back pain and other complications associated with having large breasts. For example, some athletes opt to reduce their breast size to increase their athletic performance.

About reduction mammaplasty …

Rhinoplasty:

Rhinoplasty, more commonly known as a nose job, is more popular with men than other procedures, yet there are still many women who request nose jobs as well. There are an estimated 252,261 nose jobs performed each year at an average cost of $4,306 a procedure. The nose has a huge effect on a person’s appearance. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that this is one of the most common plastic surgeries performed on a yearly basis.

Abdominoplasty:

An Abdominoplasty, otherwise known as a tummy tuck, is another very popular elective procedure. Last year, around 116.000 procedures were performed at an average cost of $2,828 each. 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.

About abdominoplasty …

Lipectomy:

Around 203,103 lipectomy (liposuction) procedures are performed on a yearly basis at an average cost of $2,828 each. 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.

About lipectomy …

Blepharoplasty:

Blephoroplasty, otherwise known as eyelid surgery, is another very common cosmetic procedure. There were around 208,764 procedures performed last year at an average cost of $2,828 each. 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.

About blepharoplasty …

Rhytidectomy:

Rhytidectomy, otherwise known as a face lift, is an additional cosmetic procedure that is common. There are an estimated 116,000 procedures performed each year at a cost of $6,231 each. A face-lift’s purpose is to correct damage to the face by tightening and firming the skin of the face. Damage to the skin is caused by many factors including fluctuations in weight, smoking, genetics and exposure to the sun.

About rhytidectomy …

The above is a list of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed each year. The cosmetic surgical industry continues to grow each year as more and more people choose to try these procedures.

November 26, 2012 By Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

Do You Know What Country Has the Most Plastic Surgery?

A map of South Korea, the plastic surgery capital of the world A 2010 study by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reveals that affluent South Korea claims the highest number of per capita plastic surgery procedures in the world. An estimated one in five women in the capital of Seoul have had some sort of surgical modification, the most common cosmetic procedures being blepharoplasty (double eyelid surgery), rhinoplasty and facial liposuction.

The overall goal of these surgeries for both men and women is to achieve the more desirable westernized look. By far the most in-demand procedure is double eyelid surgery, with more than 44,000 performed in 2010. This fairly simple surgery reduces excess skin in the upper eyelid, making the eye look larger and more westernized. Facial liposuction and jawbone shaving are employed to reshape the face from round to more oval, while the addition of a bridge to the nose makes it appear narrower and more westernized.

Several possible reasons for South Korea’s nip/tuck explosion have been suggested. Many of the most popular celebrities, from music and rock stars to beauty queens, have had enhancement of some sort, and patients often come to the plastic surgeon’s office with photos of their favorite stars. Nose, eye and chin modifications erase the traditional cast of the Asian face and and create a more Caucasian appearance. South Korea’s overall affluence means many can afford to undergo the knife, and the high value placed on beauty may also play a role in the explosion of cosmetic surgery.

Young people are providing a vast pool of potential patients for Seoul’s plastic surgeons. Girls as young as twelve are led to believe that they will not be beautiful or get ahead in their appearance-obsessed society unless they have high-profile noses, big eyes and slender cheek and jaw bones, and many view it as a simple enhancement leading to greater self-esteem. Many websites have sprung up offering advice on the best ways to achieve the desirable “small face” appearance.

Aggressive marketing by plastic surgeons is commonplace, with many offering such incentives as mother and daughter surgery packages or two procedures for the price of one. Facial modification has nearly become a rite of passage, with many high school girls getting procedures after sitting for their college entrance exams. Unfortunately, some South Korean plastic surgeons have been accused of highlighting only the positive sides of the surgeries and downplaying the negatives. Reports have even been received of patients signing consent forms while already on the operating table.

Increasing numbers of medical tourists are pouring in from other Asian countries, particularly China, seeking the services of Seoul’s busy hordes of plastic surgeons. Chinese patients present a huge growth market, with many desiring modification of large cheekbones, big mandible angles and low profile noses. Like the South Koreans, they are seeking the western ideal, believing the change in appearance will be well worth the improvement in confidence and chance for a better job and more attractive mate.

About Colorado Springs, CO, Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Greg Liebscher

If you live in the Colorado Springs area and would like to talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon in Colorado Springs about your plastic surgery procedure, please contact Dr. Greg Liebscher by calling 719-634-2503.

March 8, 2012 By Gregory J. Liebscher, MD, FACS

Breast Implant Sizes

A woman with overly sized breasts Breast implants are big business in the United States, with 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 doctor will evaluate your breast size, the dimension of the breasts and the characteristics of the overall breast tissue.

Other factors that the doctor will consider include your body type and skin elasticity, as well as the base diameter of each breast. In addition, the doctor will evaluate where the breast implant may be inserted in the breast, as 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 that may be impacted by breast implants of different sizes. Always ask your doctor’s opinion about the best breast implant size for your body and 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 and 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 once recovery is over with your doctor and 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 to 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, any potential complications and how you may look or feel after surgery. Select a physician who is board certified in plastic surgery and remember to ask and listen carefully when it comes to the surgery and your desired breast size.

Learn more about breast implant sizes

If you want to know more about breast implant sizes, you can schedule a consultation to discuss your breast implants procedure with Colorado Springs plastic surgeon, Dr. Greg Liebscher.