Liposuction, breast augmentation and Botox use up in US

WASHINGTON -- The number of surgical or minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are up in the United States, but trends are changing towards scalpel-free techniques such as the use of Botox, according to figures out Monday.

There were more than 17.7 million such procedures in 2018, according to figures from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

Long-term trends show that the number of cosmetic surgical operations are down -- a decrease of five percent from 2018 compared to 2000. There were around 1.8 million last year, 100,000 fewer than at the turn of the century.

Cosmetic nose, chin, ear, eyelids and forehead procedures have lost some popularity.

Liposuctions are also less popular, but remain much used (258,000 operations in 2018), and has seen a revival in recent years, with a five percent annual increase in each of the last two years.

Breast augmentations are still the most popular plastic surgery operation, with more than 300,000 each year and a four percent increase last year.

But in total there is almost ten times more minimally-invasive interventions than surgical operations: 15.9 million last year, a two percent growth over the previous year.

The most common procedure by far is an injection of the Botulinum toxin to hide wrinkles, with 7.4 million such procedures in 2018.

Also popular: soft tissue fillers like lip plumping with hyaluronic acid injections, with 2.68 million such procedures.

These figures are reported by the 8,000 certified physicians and members of the Society, and do not include data on complications or incidents related to these interventions. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Plastic surgery booms in China amid new wealth

SHANGHAI - Chen Yan is 35 and fears middle age is upon her, so like all of her friends she sees cosmetic surgery as the solution: time to get a new nose.

Plastic surgery is booming in China, fueled by rising incomes, growing Western influences, and the imperative of looking good on social media.

Some parents are even paying for teenage children to get work done to help their employment prospects.

"We Chinese think that after you've married, given birth to a kid and you’re past 30, they call you a middle-aged woman," said Chen.

"I don’t want to be a middle-aged woman that early."

The shop owner travelled from the central province of Hunan to pay 52,515 yuan ($8,000) in a quest for the perfect nose at Shanghai's private Huamei Medical Cosmetology Hospital.

Spread over four floors and featuring a peaceful convalescent roof garden complete with tea house, the vast majority going under the knife are young women.

It offers an array of options including breast augmentation, ear shaping, bone shaving, pubic-hair transplants and a procedure that promises to reduce armpit odor.

SUMMER RUSH

Stepping inside the hospital is like entering a five-star hotel.

In the immaculate foyer, patients are greeted by bowing hostesses in striped blouses, short black skirts and high heels as soothing music plays. A sign outside entices teachers and students with a 20-percent summer discount.

The surgeon Li Jian says 90 percent of his patients are women aged 16 to 70.

The under-40s want to look more beautiful, the over-40s want to look younger.

The most requested procedures involve removing bulk from the face and body, and nose jobs -- Chinese women typically seek slimmer, more "Western-looking" noses.

This year 14 million Chinese are expected to have cosmetic surgery, a 42 percent surge from last year, according to SoYoung, a popular app on the industry that used data from several sources including international consultancy Deloitte.

Summers are especially busy at the Shanghai clinic because recent university graduates believe better looks lead to better employment prospects, particularly in the entertainment business.

Increasing numbers seek plastic surgery in their teens, although the hospital does not treat those under 16, while 16 and 17 year olds require parental consent.

"Most Chinese people believe the thinner the face or nose, the more beautiful they look," Li said.

"Some people want to make themselves more beautiful when they take pictures of themselves. So they want themselves to become more European," he added.

"As a plastic surgeon I don't think that is beautiful, at least that is not Chinese style. So I refuse many girls who have that kind of opinion."

BECOMING ADDICTED

Sun Yibing, now 22, had her first procedure at 17 and has since become something of a celebrity after going under the knife 12 more times.

Bullied at school because of her looks and weight, she had operations on her eyes, nose, jaw, temples and elsewhere, and now sports rounder eyes, as well as a sharper nose and jawline.

But as her appearance has morphed, so has her view of surgery.

"I got addicted to surgery and yet was never satisfied with myself. I am not against plastic surgery but you have to be yourself instead of turning into others," Sun, who is from the central province of Henan, told AFP.

Sun partly blames minor celebrities who make their names on the internet in China -- often by live-streaming themselves singing or dancing and boasting about their surgery -- for hastening the stampede.

She now fears that the rush to cash in has brought growing numbers of unscrupulous and poorly trained surgeons into the industry.

"A couple of years ago people still were quite conservative about having cosmetic surgery," she said.

"But I am afraid that the plastic surgery industry is a mess now with good and bad clinics mixed so customers don’t know what is what," she added.

I'M THE LAST ONE

Back at the hospital a woman in a waiting room peers out from beneath her bandaged eyelids. Another, in obvious pain after surgery, appears almost to be trying to hold her head together.

Chen had already done minor work to her nose and had a crease inserted in her eye lids -- so-called double eyelid surgery aimed at creating rounder, more Western-looking eyes is one of the most popular in China.

But it took her six years to summon the courage for a full nose job, finally taking the plunge after all her friends did so.

"I got here later. I’m the last one to come," she said.

Following surgery, she said that the hospital recommended a bone-shaving operation to narrow her jawline using a surgical drill.

Some Chinese women hanker for a more "V-shaped" visage, but the procedure comes with potential complications including infection or even facial paralysis.

"I just want to make myself look more beautiful," said Chen, who is unsure whether to proceed.

She explained: "No matter how old a woman is, she should make herself more and more beautiful."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Angeline on her breasts: 'Nahihirapan ako kasi sobrang laki'

MANILA - Singer-actress Angeline Quinto, who has been open about her cosmetic enhancements, revealed on Friday that she once considered undergoing breast reduction surgery.

Speaking with ABS-CBNnews.com on the sidelines of the press conference of her new film "Beauty in a Bottle," Quinto said she eventually decided against it after consulting a doctor.

"Sa totoo lang po, itong boobs ko ay nahihirapan ako minsan kasi sa sobrang laki," she said. "Akala ng iba ay nagpadagdag ako. Hindi nila alam namomroblema ako every time na mayroon akong show."

According to Quinto, she sought advice from celebrity dermatologist Vicki Belo, who is behind the singer's past cosmetic surgeries.



"Sabi niya masakit [ang operasyon pag magpabawas]. Sobrang sakit daw kaysa sa magpadagdag. So gawan na lang siguro ng paraan sa damit ko," she said.

When she brought up the idea to her rumored boyfriend Erik Santos, Quinto recalled that the "I'll Never Go" singer didn't think twice in advising her against it.

"Actually, sinabi ko kay Erik 'yon. Nagalit siya sa akin. Nasa L.A. kami noon, sinabi ko na gusto kong pabawasan pero sabi niya, 'Huwag na, kasi sisingilin ka niyan pagtanda mo.' May point naman," Quinto said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jasmine Tridevil’s third breast makes her reality TV ready? 3 boobs get looks

Jasmine Tridevil is pitching her reality show to MTV and is expected to be on Inside Edition. The wannabe reality star has offered up a reason for people to be interested in her as she went under the knife to get a third breast because she desires to be a reality star. According to US Magazine on Monday, the woman even hired a camera crew to follow her around to capture how this idea of a third breast became a reality.

Apparently the third breast was part of a surgically procedure that Jasmine Tridevil decided to have done. The star was looking to make her mark in reality TV and came up with an idea that is seen at the circus. It’s also going to be seen on the show “American Horror Story” this fall as Angela Bassett plays a character with three breasts.

The Huffington Post is reporting on Monday that the 21-year-old Florida woman claims to have paid $20,000 for the cosmetic surgery to add a third breast. Looking to attract attention, the idea has really shocked most people. Trying to figure out how the star would have proper clothing and what she would look like in a bikini appears to top the list of questions people have.

There is no doubt that Jasmine Tridevil is going to be famous for her odd plastic surgery decision. The real question is if the surgeon who did the surgery should be questioned about the decision to put another breast on Tridevil. Done for more of a freak element, it’s hard to believe it has helped Jasmine’s confidence.

source: examiner.com

Plastic surgeons, cosmetic surgeons: What's the difference?

MANILA - The term "cosmetic surgeons" or "cosmetic doctors" have become so popular, sometimes even more popular than plastic surgeons.

Now, the Philippine Association of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeons (PAPRAS) wants to educate the public about the difference between a cosmetic and a plastic surgeon.

"Plastic surgeons specialize in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. When I reconstruct a burn patient's face, there is a cosmetic angle to it," said Dr. Carlos Lasa, president, PAPRAS.

Lasa lamented that many don't want to undergo rigorous training to become a plastic surgeon, which requires another 3 years of general surgery and another 5 years of plastic and reconstructive surgery for a total of 8 years on top of a medical degree.

PAPRAS reminded the public to do their research well when they want to undergo cosmetic enhancements. Instead of going through the tough training of becoming a plastic surgeon, others get certificate courses abroad and then become cosmetic surgeons.

"Some doctors would take short cuts. That's where the problem lies. We're not saying we're free of complications. We are board- certified plastic surgeons. We underwent full rigorous training and we are members of the Philippine Board of Plastic Surgery," said Dr. JJ Cruz, VP of PAPRAS.

PAPRAS is pushing for regulations so that government will recognize who are the specialists in the field.

Lasa said, under the old Medical Act of 1959, any doctor who passed the board exams can do any kind of treatment of surgery in the Philippines even without proper training.

"This is advantageous in rural areas where there are very few doctors but Metro Manila is highly urbanized. There is no reason why surgeons who do not specialize in cosmetic plastic surgery in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao can do plastic surgery," he added.

He appealed to doctors to train to be able to do a kind of specialty. Otherwise, they should leave the plastic surgery to plastic surgeons.

"What business do you have doing boobs when you are an EENT (Eye, ear, nose, throat doctor)? Respect our specialties. We have been abused. Our specialty is from head to foot. We overlap with certain specialists but stick to our anatomic boundary."

Former PAPRAS president and now national secretary of the international society of aesthetic plastic surgery (ISAPS) Dr. Florencio Lucero clarified that cosmetic surgery is not a specialty.

"It is a small aspect of the specialty of plastic surgery. It is not a simple procedure like going to a beauty parlor. It's a surgical procedure. Cosmetic surgery is something to be done by a surgeon that is familiar with wound healing."

The plastic surgeons made the statements at a press conference during the first international conference and instructional course for plastic surgeons sponsored by ISAPS.

"We planned out our program to benefit our practicing plastic surgeons and teach them the current techniques and latest in cosmetic surgery," said Lucero.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Angeline more confident after lipo, cosmetic surgery

MANILA – Angeline Quinto justified the cosmetic procedures she underwent last year as they helped boost her confidence.

Quinto explained that she has grown tired of being teased about her sad-looking eyes.

“Pinagawa ko 'yung sa mata ko kasi halos lahat ng nakakatrabaho ko, napapansin nilang medyo malungkot ang mata ko kahit hindi naman ako malungkot. Minsan nao-offend na ako kasi feeling nila, ayaw ko daw silang kasama. Nagsasawa na ako sa ganun. Para medyo maging mas masaya tignan ang mata ko,” she said in an interview with ANC's "Belo Beauty 101" which was aired on Sunday.

Aside from the "enhancements" on her face, Quinto said she also approached celebrity doctor Vicki Belo to perform liposuction on her arms and back.

“Gusto ko naman magpa-lipo sa likod kasi medyo nahihirapan ako kapag 'yung mga soot kong mga blouse, fitted. Minsan nahihirapan kami kasi sa likod medyo may taba na lumalabas. Naisip ko naman, if lipo, mas mabilis na mawawala,” she said.

“Sa arms din po. Kasi sa TV parati nilang napapansin na mataba akong tignan kahit sa personal naman hindi. Siguro kapag nagpa-lipo ako, mas malaking tulong na mas maganda ang kalabasan ng itsura ko sa telebisyon,” she added.

Asked why she is open about her cosmetic surgeries unlike other celebrities, Quinto said she sees the move as helpful to her career.

“Actually nung umpisa natakot din ako… Sobrang talagang mas lumakas ang loob ko na makapagsuot ng magagandang blouse. Hindi na ako mahihiya sa ibang tao na humarap kahit wala na akong make-up sa mata,” she said.

Apart from the cosmetic procedures, Quinto stressed that she also did her part by working out and going on a diet which resulted in a weight loss of over 20 pounds.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com