According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 11 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2006. This represents a 48 percent increase from just six years ago. Cosmetic surgery represented 1.9 million of these procedures in 2006.This should come as no surprise given that more people than ever are conscientious about their overall health and appearance with an improvement in diet and exercise leading the way. In addition, the mainstream media has highlighted many of the advances in cosmetic surgery. Combine this with the fact that increased efficiency of outpatient surgery centers makes cosmetic surgery more affordable than ever.

If you are considering a cosmetic procedure, you are in luck because the options available to you are immense! This is truly an exciting time in the field of plastic surgery. If you are interested in minor enhancements in your appearance, you may consider minimal procedures such as Botox, skin fillers, and laser skin treatments. Nearly every month, a technical refinement or improvement leads to a new laser or injectable product. No doubt about it, this gives the cosmetic consumer many more options and undoubtedly, improves the appearance of millions of people a year.

However, there are obvious limitations to these minor procedures. For many, to reverse effects of aging or weight gain/loss, surgery remains the only option. I am sure you have seen advertisements for some laser or new product that will melt away fat or lift sagging skin without the need for surgery - don’t believe it. The reality is surgical advancements have kept pace with nonsurgical advancements. New and less invasive surgical techniques are being performed every day, leading to fewer complications and better outcomes. So, is cosmetic surgery right for you?  When I first see a cosmetic surgery patient, I ask them what their motivation is. It is very important to understand why a person is seeking a particular procedure. People who are unhappy with their self image often have a physical or cosmetic flaw that erodes their self esteem over time. These people tend to be selfconscious, inhibited and less effective at interpersonal activities. By improving the physical flaw, cosmetic or reconstructive surgery can enhance one’s self image and thereby improve a person’s self confidence and interpersonal skills. Through questioning, it may become apparent the patient is seeking to please a spouse or significant other. This should not be the primary reason for seeking surgery. No matter how terrific the outcome, cosmetic surgery will not save a failing relationship. Rather, improvement in one’s own body image should be the goal. This will lead to enhancement in one’s self esteem and increased satisfaction with the procedure.

The next question I ask involves the patient’s expectations. Too often, people see an air brushed professional photo of a celebrity or a cosmetic surgery advertisement of a 22-year old model and consider this a reasonable goal of cosmetic surgery. Consideration must be given to the patient’s age and overall body shape when trying to set a goal for cosmetic surgery (not all women’s breasts can be made to look like Pamela Anderson’s breasts). For a patient to be satisfied with the surgical outcome, realistic goals must be set before the procedure is undertaken.

Understanding the risks of cosmetic surgery is imperative. Cosmetic surgery is still surgery and therefore carries certain inherent risks. Knowing that risks exist and making educated decisions to minimize these risks is extremely important. A thorough conversation with your plastic surgeon will clarify those risks and put them in perspective. Some simple things that can be done to greatly reduce the risks of surgery include weight reduction, diet, and exercise. Smoking increases the risks of surgery by three fold. So if you are a smoker and are considering plastic surgery, let this be a motivation for you to stop smoking now. Not only will you improve the outcome of your surgery, you will be on your way to a healthier life! Finally, selecting a plastic surgeon certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgeons will ensure that a qualified surgeon is performing your procedure and therefore minimizes your risk of complications.

When it comes time to select your surgeon, do your homework. Anyone can advertise on the Internet or in the yellow pages. This does not mean that they are qualified to perform your surgery. The unfortunate reality is that there are many people who misrepresent themselves as qualified plastic surgeons. Many people say they are “board certified” but they do not specify what they are certified in. There are several simple things you can do to ensure that you select a qualified individual. Make certain the surgeon you choose is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery. This will ensure that the surgeon has graduated from an accredited medical school; completed general and plastic surgery training lasting anywhere from six to eight years; and passed comprehensive written and oral examinations in the field of plastic surgery. Also, make certain that the surgeon you choose is on staff at one or more of the local hospitals. All hospitals do a thorough credentials and background check on an individual before granting them staff privileges. To find a local plastic surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, log on to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons website at www.plasticsurgery.org.