Society more open than ever about cosmetic surgery

Consumer survey results indicate ‘having work done’ not taboo anymore

Chicago – Cosmetic surgery is everywhere these days: TV, magazines, Internet and more. And according to new data, society is indeed more comfortable talking about cosmetic surgery than ever before.

In a survey released today by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, 71 percent of respondents think society is less judgmental about cosmetic surgery than it was just five years ago. Furthermore, about 62 percent said society’s attitude toward cosmetic surgery made them feel more comfortable about getting a procedure.

Before and after a tummy tuck surgery

“This is a confirmation of what many of us have felt for a long time – that cosmetic surgery has become mainstream,” said Dr. Mark Berman, AACS President-Elect. “A variety of factors have contributed to the normalization of our industry, but the bottom line is that people are not afraid to talk openly about cosmetic surgery anymore.”

According to the survey, the most accepted invasive procedures are breast augmentation (42.4%), facelift (32.2%) and tummy tuck (32.1%). Among non-invasive procedures, the most accepted are laser hair removal (61.9%) and Botox (61.6%). Additionally, 52 percent of respondents said they would tell family about having invasive cosmetic surgery.

Before and after a breast augmentation surgery

About 20 percent said they would consider getting cosmetic surgery in the future, while about 22 percent were unsure if they would. Respondents under the age of 40 were nearly twice as likely to consider having a procedure in the future.

“It’s been a long road but thanks to the hard work of so many, cosmetic surgery is rightfully gaining acceptance in our society,” said Dr. Patrick McMenamin, AACS President. “We’ve reached a point where people are no longer quiet about having a cosmetic procedure and that is important to all of us.”

Before and after a facelift surgery (rhytidectomy)

Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery

Nationwide Survey Shows Americans Oppose a Cosmetic Tax

$5.8 Billion Tax Targets Middle Class – Mostly Working Women

Arlington Heights, Ill. – A majority of Americans oppose the inclusion of a five percent tax on cosmetic medical procedures, according to a survey. Survey respondents oppose the cosmetic tax by a 52% – 43% margin.

According to the survey, a large majority of respondents, by a 64% – 34% margin, agree that the cosmetic medical procedures tax has no place in health care reform, since these procedures and treatments are not covered by health insurance and the tax will disproportionately impact middle class women.

“It is clear from these results that Americans disagree with this proposed tax,” said Michael McGuire, MD, President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). “Taxing medical procedures sets a dangerous precedent by inviting the Internal Revenue Service into the physician-patient relationship, and allowing the government to make decisions regarding medical necessity.”

The tax on cosmetic medical procedures was not included in any of the five health reform bills developed and debated in Senate and House Committees. According to the Congressional Budget Office, it is projected to raise approximately $5.8 billion over ten years toward the $856 billion price tag for the proposed Senate health reform bill. However, a similar tax in New Jersey has realized less than one-third of the anticipated revenue and an independent audit of the New Jersey system found that it took $3.39 in expenditures just to collect a single dollar in tax — making a cosmetic tax not only a bad idea but an unreliable way to fund health reform.

According to the survey, there is no significant difference between men and women in their opposition to the proposed tax. On the other hand, respondents over the age of 45 are much more likely to oppose the tax, with opposition increasing among older respondents.

The survey further demonstrates that, by a 49% – 30% margin, respondents were more likely to oppose the tax once informed that sixty percent of all people planning to have cosmetic medical procedures report a household income of between $30,000 and $90,000.

“These numbers confirm what ASPS has been saying all along, that many people mistakenly believe that this is a luxury tax,” Dr. McGuire said. “But in fact, it is a tax on the middle class — despite President Obama’s direct campaign promise not to raise taxes on this group of Americans.”

This survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation among a national probability sample of 1,014 adults comprising 506 men and 508 women 18 years of age and older, living in private households in the continental United States. Interviewing was completed during the period December 3-6, 2009.?

Source: ASPS

For more information about cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures do not hesitate to contact us.

American Academy Of Cosmetic Surgery Opposes Cosmetic Surgery Tax

Chicago, IL – As negotiators on Capitol Hill try to find ways to fund a health care overhaul, a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery has been introduced on Nov. 18 as part of the Senate’s proposed health reform bill, introduced by US Senator Harry Reid (D-NV). The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery strongly opposes such taxes and urges legislators to consider the following points:

• A tax on elective cosmetic procedures is an unreliable, risky revenue source that has no proven record of raising projected revenues.
• The difficulty of defining elective vs. medically-necessary cosmetic surgery. There is a blurry line between what procedures are considered medically-necessary and those that are elective.
• Retention of highly-skilled physicians is at risk. Physicians face many challenges in operating their practices on a day-to-day basis. Turning them into tax-collectors is an additional burden on these doctors.
• Cosmetic surgery is not a specialty for only the wealthy or the vain. In fact, the median income for those electing to have cosmetic surgery is dropping.
• Despite the fact that more men are seeking cosmetic procedures than ever, the largest portion of patients are still working women, who would be unfairly targeted by such taxes.
• A large portion of those being taxed would be the baby-boomer generation. And as this age group continues to age, the more interest will be generated in cosmetic procedures. It is important to note that the age bracket are most likely to vote in elections is the same as those who are electing to have cosmetic procedures.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cosmetic Procedures Up in 2008

Largest Increase in Hispanics, Up 18%

Arlington Heights, Ill. – Tough economic times may have caused a decline in some areas of cosmetic surgery, but procedures among ethnic patients are up. According to statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), ethnic cosmetic procedures increased 11 percent in 2008, with more than 3 million performed, while procedures among Caucasians dropped 2 percent. Cosmetic procedures among Hispanics, the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., experienced the greatest growth; up 18 percent.

“We’re seeing a rise in Hispanics opting for cosmetic procedures that coincides with the growth we’re seeing in the nation’s population,” said ASPS President John Canady, MD. “Less social stigma, as well as, advances in procedures allow patients to maintain their ethnic look.  While the majority of patients continue to be Caucasian, the profile of the typical patient is changing.”

Mexican-American Raquel Laurent, 41, recently had an injectable filler and light laser skin resurfacing to refresh her appearance during these tough economic times. “I’ve always been interested in cosmetic procedures. And, like many people, I’m more willing to invest in something that lasts many months compared to say a vacation. How you look and feel is important, no matter what your ethnicity.”

It’s no coincidence Laurent opted for the benefits of cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures.  In fact, overall, minimally-invasive procedures were up 5 percent in 2008, ASPS statistics show. Minimally-invasive procedures with the largest increases included injectable fillers and facial rejuvenation procedures.

“Laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels can provide tremendous results when done by a board-certified plastic surgeon familiar with ethnic skin,” cautions ASPS Member Surgeon Tripti Burt, MD, who performed Laurent’s procedures. “However, in the wrong hands, these procedures can lead to pigment irregularities and scarring.”

Hispanics comprised 10 percent of the 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures performed in 2008, with nearly 1.3 million procedures; African Americans made up 8 percent with 910,000 procedures, up 10 percent; and Asians accounted for 7 percent with 866,000 procedures, up 5 percent.

The most commonly requested cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures for all ethnic groups were Botox®, injectable fillers, and chemical peel.

For further information about plastic and cosmetic procedures don’t hesitate to contact us

Liposuction Turns 20

The evolution of liposuction will be discussed by leading experts at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), being held at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Convention Center May 2-7, 2009. “Liposuction 20 Years Later: Precision in Shaping, Prevention and Correction of Contour Irregularities”

In the early 1970s, “suction-assisted lipectomy” (SAL), or lipoplasty (liposuction), first appeared in the peer-reviewed literature. Originally used to remove lipomas (fatty tumors) and fatty deposits in various reconstructive procedures, the procedure was soon found to have a much wider application as a cosmetic surgery technique. In 1989, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified suction lipoplasty systems for use in aesthetic body contouring.

Since that time, the demand for liposuction has grown significantly and, according to ASAPS statistics, it was the second most popular surgical cosmetic procedure in 2008, with 341,144 procedures performed. With such popularity, however, comes greater responsibility to patients in terms of safety and cosmetic outcomes.

The panel will discuss liposuction technologies that have appeared over the years, including ultrasound-assisted, laser-assisted, power-assisted, and VASER®-assisted liposuction methods, the POLICE (Pre & Post Liposuction Contour Equalization) technique, fat grafting for the correction of deformities, and others.

In addition, which technologies yield the best outcomes will be debated. Some plastic surgeons feel that the best liposuction results are obtained without the use of the latest technologies – particularly those technologies that aim to thermally or otherwise damage fat cells.

There is more to successful body contouring than advanced technology or surgical technique. An understanding of aesthetic body proportions can mean the difference between a svelte, womanly figure and a “boxy”, man-like appearance. And thorough documentation and analysis of deformities, for example – particularly through the patient’s perspective via refined photographic techniques – is instrumental in ensuring predictable and pleasing results.

Whatever advances lie ahead and debates that remain, it is important to note that, just as when the first lipoplasty systems for aesthetic contouring were approved twenty years ago, today’s lipoplasty technology is still secondary to the skill of the surgeon. Every surgery has risks, but selecting a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon helps to ensure both patient safety and satisfaction.

Get a Liposuction done by Doctor Roberto Martinez Rinaldi

Before and After photos

Survey Finds That Women Are More Likely To Consider Plastic Surgery Than They Were Ten Years Ago, But Men Are Less Likely

A new survey shows that more than half (56%) of all Americans approve of cosmetic plastic surgery and nearly one-third (30%) say they would consider having cosmetic surgery themselves, either now or in the future. The February 2009 consumer attitudes poll of 1000 American households was commissioned by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and conducted by the independent research firm Synovate.

Women are more likely than men to contemplate cosmetic surgery; 40% of women said they would consider having cosmetic surgery, compared to 18% of men. But many of those who might not want surgery themselves say it has nothing to do with what others might think. Almost three-quarters (73%) of all women and 69% of all men said that if they had cosmetic surgery, they would not be embarrassed if other people knew about it.

Opinion                                                    2009                                                        2000

Americans’ general approval of cosmetic surgery

Women                                                   62%                                                          61%
Men                                                         51%                                                          63%

Would not be embarrassed about having cosmetic surgery

Women                                                   73%                                                          77%
Men                                                         69%                                                          77%

Would consider cosmetic surgery for self, now or in the future

Women                                                   40%                                                          31%
Men                                                         18%                                                          20%

Would consider cosmetic surgery for self,
now or in the future, by race/ethnicity [includes both men and women]

White Americans                                   29%                                                          26%
Non-White Americans                           31%                                                          24%

Other key findings of the study include:

* The majority of men and women (73 percent) have not wavered on their attitude toward cosmetic surgery in the past five years; although 20 percent said their attitude was ‘more favorable’ and 7 percent that said their attitude was ‘less favorable’ than it was five years ago.

* Out of all age groups, men and women between the ages of 25 and 34 are the most likely to consider plastic surgery for themselves now or in the future.

* Men and women age 18 to 24, at 65 percent, are the most likely to approve of cosmetic surgery, while those age 55-64, at only 49 percent, are the least likely to show approval.

* Ethnicity has little effect as to whether respondents would be embarrassed if people outside their immediate family and close friends knew they had cosmetic surgery.   Exactly the same percentage (71%) of white respondents and nonwhite respondents said they would not be embarrassed.

According to 2008 ASAPS Cosmetic Surgery Statistics, last year women had more than 9.3 million cosmetic procedures (92 percent of total), and men had over 800,000 procedures (8 percent of total). Overall, the number of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures decreased 12 percent from 2007.

Get any plastic surgery procedure done by Doctor Roberto Martinez Rinaldi.

Source: www.surgery.org

Myths and Misperceptions of Breast Implant Surgery

Surprisingly, it’s shape over size for Canadian women considering breast implant surgery

(NC)-Despite common perceptions of the motivations for women seeking breast implant surgery, the results from a recent survey, The Canadian Women’s Attitudes toward breast implant surgery, demonstrate that what matters most to Canadian women is achieving a natural shape for their breasts, rather than a larger size. In fact, nearly 73 per cent of women surveyed who are considering breast augmentation, are considering the surgery to make their bodies look more natural or normal.

“It may be surprising to many Canadians what the main motivators are for women seeking breast implant surgery,” says Dr. Mitch Brown, a plastic surgeon based in Toronto, Ontario. “For a vast number of my patients, this surgery was definitely not just about augmenting breast size, but rather achieving a shape and size that can help them look natural, renew their femininity and feel more comfortable in their clothes.”

The survey also demonstrates that an open dialogue between surgeons and patients is important and increased awareness and understanding about breast implant surgery is needed.

Highlights from the survey include:

. While 65% of women surveyed are satisfied with their current breast size, only 48% are satisfied with their breast shape;

. When asked to select a body part she would like changed, 41% of women would change their breasts (second only to stomach at 72%);

. Of the women wanting to have breast implants, 59% cited attaining a more natural or normal look to their bodies;

These results were based on a survey of more than 1,000 women from across Canada to assess their attitudes and perceptions towards breast implants.

Ask for a free quotation to Doctor Roberto Martinez Rinaldi

Source: www.newscanada.com