Your guide to plastic surgery procedures
Your quick-hit guide to some of today's most popular plastic surgery procedures
By KATIE FOUTZ
Editor's note: This is the first in a four-part series about plastic surgery.
Americans went under the knife (or laser or syringe) nearly 11 million times for cosmetic procedures in 2006.
That's 48 percent higher than in 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Much of the growth has come from so-called minimally invasive procedures such as Botox injections. But people continue to sign up for major elective surgery to change their appearance.
The growing demand could reflect a growing audience for "Extreme Makeover," "Dr. 90210," "I Want a Famous Face" and other television shows.
Reality TV has a strong influence, a small study of plastic surgery patients revealed. Four out of five people reported TV directly influenced them to pursue a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure, with nearly one-third very much or moderately influenced by TV. The results concerned Dr. John Persing, plastic surgeon and co-author of the study, which appeared in the medical journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in July.
"These shows may create unrealistic, unhealthy expectations about what plastic surgery can do for you," Persing said in a statement. "Although it's called reality TV, it may not be reality."
If you're thinking of getting a little work done (or a lot), first consider the real-life possibilities. Some doctors require you to take a week between consultation and surgery to think about it. In this series, you'll learn about what to expect, such as the cost, pain and recovery time involved in the top procedures performed in the United States.
Here is what Naperville plastic surgeon Richard Joseph, M.D., tells potential patients at his cosmetic surgery practice, Your Best Image.
Breast augmentation
What: Silicone or saline implants are inserted through an incision in the armpit, under the breast or near the areola to make breasts bigger. Males and females alike ask for this surgery, Joseph said.
Where: Performed by a physician - ideally a plastic surgeon with cosmetic surgery training - in a hospital, freestanding surgical center or doctor's office equipped with an operating room.
Risks: Infection, bleeding. Rarely, breast implants can harden and feel unnatural or deflate.
Downtime: You could get implants on a Friday and be back to work at a desk job Monday. But you should not drive for at least a week, and normal physical activities can resume in about two weeks.
Discomfort level: "The first night is rough," Joseph said. He usually prescribes narcotics for postoperative pain relief. He also refers patients to optional physical therapy for lymphatic drainage and to improve range of motion in their arms.
Cost: Some health insurance plans cover all or part of this procedure for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy. Insurance might cover this procedure for people with constricted breasts or Poland Syndrome, a congenital condition that keeps one breast from developing normally. Otherwise, the average physician's fee is $3,600, according to the ASPS.
Nose reshaping
What: Bones and cartilage are moved, removed or chiseled.
Where: Performed by an ear-nose-and-throat doctor, plastic surgeon or dermatologist in a hospital, surgical center or doctor's office.
Risks: Breathing problems if the nose valves collapse and close. Rarely, infection, bleeding, loss of smell, loss of feeling.
Downtime: "You look like hell," Joseph said - under-eye swelling and bruising are common. Expect a week to nine days off from work.
Discomfort level: Pain is manageable with Tylenol.
Cost: Insurance might cover this procedure for people who have trouble breathing through their noses. Otherwise, the average physician's fee is $3,841, according to the ASPS.
Liposuction
What: Surgery that removes fat from the breasts, waist, hips and/or thighs. A long metal tube is inserted into fatty deposits and clips off the fat. A machine connected to the tube sucks out the fat and puts it in a waste container, or the doctor uses a syringe to suck it out to be transplanted into another part of the body.
Where: Performed in a hospital, surgical center or doctor's office by a physician - ideally a surgeon, but pediatricians, ob-gyns, emergency-room doctors, orthopedic surgeons, ear-nose-and-throat doctors and urologists have been known to perform this procedure after some training, Joseph said.
Risks: Swelling, bleeding, infection.
Downtime: Depends on how much fat is taken out - from 1 to 15 quarts. Expect to take a week to nine days off from work.
Discomfort level: Again, this depends on how much fat is removed and how many body parts are affected. Joseph usually prescribes a narcotic pain reliever after surgery.
Cost: Average physician's fee is $2,750, according to the ASPS .
Eyelid surgery
What: Removes or lifts extra skin from a droopy forehead or under-eye circles.
Where: Performed by an opthalmologist, ear-nose-and-throat doctor or plastic surgeon in a hospital, surgical center or doctor's office.
Risks: Bleeding, infection. Blindness or other visual problems are possible but rare, as is damage to the tear ducts.
Downtime: A week or less.
Discomfort level: Ice packs and Tylenol can manage the pain.
Cost: Insurance might cover this procedure for people who have a visual defect because of eyelid drooping. Otherwise, the average physician's fee is $2,877, according to the ASPS .
Tummy tuck
What: Three procedures in one surgery: liposuction, abdominal muscle cutting and skin removal.
Where: Performed by a surgeon in a hospital, surgical center or doctor's office.
Risks: Infection, bleeding, swelling.
Downtime: Back to work in two weeks. If you get a "mini tuck" on a small pouch in the stomach, you could be back to work in a few days.
Discomfort level: Depends on the surgeon and patient, but you'll likely need prescription narcotics for pain.
Cost: Insurance might cover this procedure for people who have an abdominal hernia. Otherwise, the average physician's fee is $5,063, according to the ASPS.
Contact Katie Foutz at kfoutz@scn1.com or 630-416-5216.