Plastic surgery is no longer taboo. While there used to be a certain stigma surrounding getting a nip and tuck, this has certainly waned over the years. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) recently released its statistics for 2015, and the numbers certainly reflect this relatively new openness. In fact, their survey results show an increase of over 1 million reported procedures from 2014 to 2015. In this blog post, Drs. Will and Burt break down some of these numbers, sharing information about the top procedures.
Most Popular Procedures
If you had to guess the current trends in plastic surgery, what would you say are some of the most popular procedures from 2015? You’d probably guess breast augmentation, and you’d be right. At 1,488,992 cases reported in 2015 (as compared to 1,348,197 in 2014, a 10.4 percent increase), this is at the top of the list. With many women losing breast volume due to pregnancy and/or aging, these numbers are not all that surprising. Some of the other numbers might shock you, however. Let’s take a look …
Liposuction
Nearly 1.4 million liposuction treatments were reported in 2015. In 2014, 1,372,901 cases were reported, which is an increase of 1.6 percent. Liposuction, or “lipo,” as many refer to it, has become a household name due its popularity and effectiveness. Traditional liposuction breaks up and suctions fat away from the body through a thin, hollow tube (called a cannula) that is inserted through tiny incisions. More advanced and less invasive techniques such as ultrasound or laser-assisted liposuction work by heating up and emulsifying fat so that it can be removed gently.
Eyelid Surgery
You might not hear many people talk about eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, but the numbers certainly show that many people are partaking in this rejuvenating procedure. In fact, 1,264,702 people got eyelid surgery in 2015, making it the third most popular plastic surgery procedure. While this procedure can’t remove crow’s feet, per se, it can leave you looking much more refreshed.
Dr. Will or Dr. Burt can evaluate you to decide if you need upper or lower lid treatment. If the upper lids are being treated, the surgeon will make an incision along the natural crease. Through this incision, the surgeon removes excess fat, skin and muscle before repositioning the remaining tissues and tightening the muscles. If the lower lids are being treated, the surgeon makes an incision below the lashline or on the inside of the lid before removing excess fat and skin. Either way, your surgeon will be careful to ensure these incisions are concealed for inconspicuous scarring.
Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, has become increasingly desired as well, rising in popularity by 11.1 percent from 2014 to 2015. Many tummy tuck patients are women who have had physical changes due to pregnancy or are simply fighting the effects of gravity over time. During this outpatient procedure, Dr. Burt or Dr. Will makes an incision from hipbone to hipbone, just above the pubic hairline. Through the incision, skin is carefully separated from the underlying tissue. Excess skin and fat are removed, the muscles are tightened and stitched into place and the remaining skin is closed over the incision using sutures. Liposuction might also be enlisted to achieve ideal results.
Contact Drs. Burt and Will
If you want to know more about trends in plastic surgery, have questions about the procedures mentioned, or want to learn about our other procedures, please contact us at (815) 287-8830 (Plainfield) or (630) 930-3555 (Burr Ridge).