Along with Brittany's weddings, Julia's babies and Martha's new home in a federal penitentiary - one of the biggest stories of 2004 was plastic surgery. As the experts in the specialty, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons offers its 2004 Top 10 Hot Topics in Plastic Surgery.
1. Teenage plastic surgery - If you believe everything you read, you might think more teenagers are having cosmetic surgery than are going to college.
* Contrary to popular belief, people 18 and younger make up only 4 percent of all cosmetic procedures. Although numbers have increased, teens are a small percentage of the total plastic surgery population.
2. "Reality" television - For network executives, the recipe for high ratings is plastic surgery combined with reality television.
* Unfortunately, these shows can foster unrealistic and unhealthy expectations. Plastic surgery is real surgery with real benefits and risks.
3. Body contouring following massive weight loss - Weight loss patients turn to plastic surgeons for breast reductions and upper arm, lower body, thigh, and breast lifts to eliminate excess skin and contour their smaller bodies.
* The ASPS predicts these procedures will continue to rise as Americans tackle the obesity epidemic.
4. More injectables - Continuing an exciting trend which began with Botox(r) in 2002, the FDA approves Sculptra(r), Hylaform Plus(r) and Captique(tm).
* Popularity of minimally invasive procedures continues to push demand for more options to smooth wrinkles for longer periods of time.
5. Governor Schwarzenegger terminates California oral surgeon bill - Proposed bill would have allowed oral surgeons to perform cosmetic
plastic surgery.
* Patient safety triumphant against political pressure.
6. The many uses of Botox(r) - Beyond wrinkle smoothing, studies find it can be used for pain control following breast reconstruction, relief of migraine headaches and reduction of excessive underarm and
palm sweating.
Botox(r) is FDA approved for use in forehead expression lines between the eyebrows (glabellar region). All other uses are considered off label.
7. Face transplant - Plastic surgeons make preparations to conduct the first face transplant in the United States.
* Surgeons believe they have found the correct mixture of
immunosuppressive drugs to safely perform the procedure, but ethical questions remain.
8. Cosmetic surgery tax - Politicians in New Jersey and Illinois believe they can balance budget deficits and fund state initiatives by taxing elective cosmetic procedures.
* What's next for lawmakers - taxes on bariatric, lasik, and orthopedic procedures?
9. Taboo of plastic surgery eroding for ethnic groups - More and more African American, Hispanic, and Asian people embrace plastic surgery.
* Plastic surgeons continue to hone techniques to maintain a patient's ethnicity while enhancing features.
10. Stem cells from fat? - Doctors can harvest and store adult stem cells from liposuction fat and successfully grow stem cells.
* While this advance is exciting, treatment of medical disorders using stem cells from liposuction has yet to be developed.
For referrals to ASPS member plastic surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and to learn more about cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery, call the ASPS at 888-4-PLASTIC (888-475-2784) or visit www.plasticsurgery.org.
© 2005 HealthNewsDigest.com