As we enter a new year and a new decade, I thought it would be appropriate to give my predictions for “Hot Trends” in plastic surgery for 2010. Procedures like non-surgical fat and cellulite reduction will become even more popular, but there are some other, more “unusual” procedures that I predict will become more popular in the upcoming year.
Cosmetic Surgery Predictions 2010
- Permanent Lip Implants – A large number of men and women request fuller lips. This has traditionally been done using temporary injectable fillers such as Restylane and Juvaderm. In good hands the results are excellent, but temporary. The cost varies by geographic region and the specific filler chosen, but starts around $700. With patients returning on average of every 6 months (sometimes sooner), it will cost you approximately $1400 per year and $4200 over three years. Now there is a permanent solution – PermaLip. These are soft silicone, permanent lip implants. With a cost of $1800 per implant, the cost savings is enormous. I have had excellent results with this safe and permanent solution for those who desire fuller lips. The demand was high for this at the end of 2009 and I have no doubt that the popularity will only increase. On a personal note, this makes me very happy given that I am one of only a few plastic surgeons experienced with this procedure.
- Earlobe Rejuvenation – Long, thin, sagging earlobes are a tell-tale sign of a person’s age and often neglected. I have noticed in my own practice that earlobes age just like the rest of our face and body. This is why I offer my patients options for earlobe rejuvenation. This may include “plumping” them with fillers, or shortening them by removing excess skin in a simple in-office procedure. I anticipate that this inexpensive, simple procedure will continue to gain demand in 2010.
- Adjustable Breast Implants – Selecting an implant size can be a source of tremendous anxiety for the patient. In fact, the most common reason for re-operation after breast augmentation is to change the size of the implant. Also, many women have pre-existing breast asymmetry, making implant selection difficult because different size implants are required. Post-operative adjustable saline implants can solve this problem by allowing a physician to change the size of the implant through a tiny access port beneath the skin. While this is not designed for increasing or decreasing your breast size based on your outfit, it is designed to allow the patient to take their time in deciding the final volume of the implants. It is common for breast implants to appear “too large” immediately after surgery when they are swollen and in a high position. After the swelling goes down in several weeks and months, it is common for the patient to complain that they are now “too small.” Now more saline can be added to the implants resulting in the desired size. The access ports can then be removed with a simple in-office procedure.
- Belly button enhancement – Another procedure gaining popularity in my practice is belly button surgery. Men and women come to me and complain about the appearance of their belly button. They may feel that it is “too large” or that they what the “outie” made into an “innie.” Also, the belly button may have been distorted because of a hernia. Belly Button Rejuvenation can improve the appearance of your belly button with a short in-office procedure using local anesthesia. Last year I was quoted in the New York Daily News in reference to Victoria Secret Supermodel Karolina Kurkova’s (lack of a) belly button. After that, belly button revisional surgery has become one of the most requested procedures that I performed in 2009 and from the looks of my upcoming schedule over the next few months, this trend will continue.Breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer can involve implants or the patients own tissue (autologous). A recent survey of female plastic surgeons reported that female plastic surgeons would prefer implant reconstruction if they needed a mastectomy. Personally, I feel that I can get a better cosmetic result with significantly less risk to the patient with implant reconstruction. This has always been a problem in patients requiring radiation as there is a high risk of implant hardening or deformity. New radiation technology that more specifically radiates the breast tissue without radiating the implant will decrease this risk.
Non Cosmetic Surgery Prediction
Only time will tell if my predictions for 2010 come true. I am certain that they will be among the hottest procedures in my practice during the upcoming year, but national trends are difficult to predict. I look forward to my December 2010 blog entry when I reflect on my predictions.
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If you are interested in cosmetic surgery of the breast or body contact Schulman Plastic Surgery to book your consultation. Fly in and visit New York City before you have your surgery.