Who gets plastic surgery and why? If images of Upper East Side socialites and West Coast aspiring actresses spring to mind, it may be time to update your thinking. Contrary to industry stereotypes, the average plastic surgery patient (71%) makes around $60,000/year, is under 50 years old (64%), and has never had plastic surgery before. These findings come from a study commissioned by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which also illustrated that there really is no “average” plastic surgery patient.
It turns out people from all races, genders, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds pursue plastic surgery! The common element? All people who seek plastic surgery want to improve a perceived imperfection about their appearance to feel better about themselves. Here are five popular reasons that prompt many to schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon and begin the journey to loving the way they look!
#1 – To achieve a more youthful-looking appearance.
Over time, the natural aging process causes the loss of collagen, fat, muscle, and bone in our bodies. As a result, we may begin to notice deepening wrinkles, sagging skin, a hollow or deflated appearance to the face, heavy jowls along the jawline, and loose, crepey skin on our necklines. Many people become frustrated with aging because their appearance makes them look older than they feel and even than what’s listed on their driver’s license!
Facelift surgery is an effective way to turn back the clock to a younger-looking you! This procedure removes excess, sagging skin and tightens underlying muscle and tissue to recapture a more youthful, smooth, and lifted appearance to the face.
#2- To remove stubborn fat resistant to diet and exercise.
Most people have at least one “problem area” on their body that seems resistant to diet and exercise. This can be highly frustrating when you’re leading a healthy lifestyle but can’t visually enjoy the rewards of your efforts when you look in the mirror. Liposuction surgery is an effective way to remove stubborn pockets of fat and reshape the body into more ideal and attractive proportions.
Liposuction uses a vacuum-assisted cannula that breaks apart pockets of fat and removes them from problem areas like the arms, back, abdomen, flanks, hips, and thighs. Because only a set volume of fat can safely be removed at once, most patients choose to focus on the problem area that bothers them most and then map out a plan for future treatments with their surgeon if needed.
#3 – To tighten loose, sagging skin resulting from major weight loss or natural aging.
Loss of elasticity in our skin is a normal and natural part of aging. The sagging skin that results is generally most prevalent around the face, jawline, and neck. Facelift surgery (which includes a Neck Lift at Edina Plastic Surgery) can help restore a fresher, tighter, and more lifted appearance to the face by removing excess skin, lifting and tightening underlying tissues, and smoothing the surface of the skin.
The breasts and upper arms can also experience progressive loss of elasticity with aging. Breasts may begin to appear heavy and deflated with nipples that point downward. The underside of the arms may appear loose and crepey. In these cases, Breast Lift surgery or Arm Lift surgery may be appropriate procedures to restore more lifted, youthful-looking breasts and sleeker upper arms.
The amount of loose, sagging skin a person may experience after significant weight loss is much more advanced than that of the natural aging process. Once fat’s underlying structure and support is lost, the remaining skin may appear stretched, loose, and deflated. The skin may also hang in folds over various body parts and become very uncomfortable. This excess skin can be very troubling to the patient, especially after working so hard to transition to a healthier lifestyle. Body Lift surgery can help patients reclaim the true contours of their body after dramatic weight loss by removing excess skin on the arms, abdomen, back and/or thigh area.
#4 – To address the physical changes a woman may notice in her body after pregnancy.
Just as with substantial weight loss, pregnancy can lead to major changes in the appearance of a woman’s body. These changes commonly include loose, sagging skin in the breasts and abdomen. Mommy Makeover surgery combines multiple, customized procedures to help a woman reclaim her “pre-baby body” after childbirth. The most common procedures include (but are not limited to): Breast Lift, Tummy Tuck, Liposuction, Labiaplasty, and Breast Augmentation.
*It is at the discretion of your plastic surgeon how many procedures can safely be performed during a Mommy Makeover.
#5 – To improve confidence.
Feeling confident about the way you look can be life-altering. Some people who pursue plastic surgery may have been teased as a child because of their appearance. Being singled out for ears that stick out or a hump on your nose at a young age can take a severe toll on a child’s self-esteem that frequently transcends into adulthood.
Plastic surgery can help correct many of these imperfections and lead someone to feel secure and confident in their appearance again. Plastic surgery isn’t just about correction, though. For many, it’s about improvement and aspiring to look like the best possible version of YOU. This will mean something different for everyone. For that reason, it’s essential to partner with a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands your desires and aesthetic goals.
Regardless of a person’s reason for pursuing plastic surgery, it’s important to appreciate that the landscape of the industry is changing. Plastic surgery is accessible and attainable to more people now than ever before. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people embrace the power they have to improve their appearance and elevate their level of confidence with plastic surgery!
What’s YOUR reason for pursuing plastic surgery? Schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss it with a board-certified Edina Plastic Surgery plastic surgeon today! Call (612) 688-3177, text (952) 925-1765, or CLICK HERE to get started!
