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

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

Grace Lee admits having liposuction

MANILA, Philippines -- More than a year after she underwent the procedure, television host Grace Lee admitted she had undergone liposuction to look slimmer on screen.


"I really wanted to lose some weight, kasi that's the issue for us," Lee told ABS-CBN News on Tuesday during a press conference for the medical services of the Belo Medical Group, where the TV host sought the procedure.

"Kasi sa television, we [appear to] gain weight, usually it's 10 to 15 pounds heavier than when [you see us] in person. So  lagi ko concern 'yun," added Lee, who currently hosts a number of TV programs.

Her concern was largely over her "flabby" arms -- the target of her liposuction procedure -- as it appeared to "frame" her when she'd go on TV.

"Alam niyo naman sa TV, waist up 'yung mga shots, so ang nangyayari, 'yung arms ko, nagiging frame siya ng katawan ko," Lee said.

"'Pag nakikita ako ng televiewers [in person], ang unang sinasabi nila sa 'kin, 'Ay, hindi ka pala mataba in person.' 'Yun ang comment sa 'kin all the time, and I really believe it was because of my arms," she added.

According to Lee, the insecurity came to her well before she became a TV personality. In college, when she had a dramatic weight loss, the fat around her arms remained prominent in comparison to the other parts of her body.

"Even when umabot ako sa 108 pounds na lang when I was in college at one time, kahit ganoon na ako kapayat, 'yung arms ko pa rin flabby, chubby pa rin, ayaw mawala," Lee said.

Her chance encounter with Vicki Belo, founder of the Belo Medical Group, made her aware of her options to address her concern over her "chubby" arms. But it wasn't until three years later when she finally underwent the procedure upon prodding from the celebrity doctor.

"I was so scared in the beginning talaga to do liposuction, kasi takot talaga ako sa injection, so it took me a while to decide on the procedure," said Lee, who emphasized the operation happened "long before" she dated President Benigno Aquino III.

"Three years ako nagmatigas, and then when I finally did it, I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. My arms are so much smaller, and I've maintained it so far," she added.

source: abs-cbnnews.com