23 Mar How Much Do You Know About Plastic Surgery?
Whether you’ve had plastic surgery in the past, are thinking about your next procedure, or getting ready for your first, everyone thinks they have a good idea about what these surgeries entail. However, the field of plastic surgery has a long history and it’s a specialty that’s always evolving. At John Park MD Plastic Surgery, we’re committed to providing patients in Newport Beach with the most incredible results for breast augmentation, facelifts, tummy tucks, and liposuction.
You’ll learn everything you need to know about the plastic surgery of your choice during a complimentary consultation with Dr. Park and during any of your pre-surgery appointments. But if you want to know everything about plastic surgery, it’s a good idea to start by digging into its history and explore some of the lesser-known facts about these procedures.
- Plastic surgery has ancient roots. You might think of plastic surgery as a relatively new specialty or at least one that began in the past 100 years. However, plastic surgery dates back to ancient periods in India. We’ve always wanted to look and feel our best! During the Renaissance, plastic surgery usually took place in barbershops and fortunately we’ve come a long way since then (but a great haircut is still a fabulous complement to plastic surgery).
- The word “plastic” stems from the Greek “plastikos,” which translates to “to form or mold.” As you can see, there really is plastic in plastic surgery!
- There were big innovations in plastic surgery during World War I and World War II. These include skin grafting and reconstruction. Today we would call this “reconstructive surgery,” and these innovations were paramount in helping soldiers live a fuller life after the trauma of war. However, cosmetic plastic surgery is often derived from cosmetic reconstructive surgery.
- Men get breast reductions, too. There’s a condition called gynecomastia, where men grow excessive breast tissue. Fortunately, a breast reduction—or a male breast reduction in these cases—can safely and permanently remove this unwanted tissue.
- Breast augmentations are the most popular plastic surgery in the US. Plenty of people, men and women alike, opt for breast reductions. However, nothing compares to the popularity of increasing breast size. Breast augmentation includes the placement of breast implants, and it’s been the most-requested cosmetic surgery in the US for years. The first breast augmentation in the US was performed in the 1960s.
- Men are getting a lot more than breast reductions. As patients, women still dominate the world of plastic surgery but men are starting to catch up. One of the most popular procedures for men is liposuction. Men tend to harbor excess fat in the belly, making it one of the most-requested sites for liposuction.
- Injectables are also picking up steam. From dermal fillers to Botox, the injectables market is trending. These non-surgical options can be a great complement to plastic surgeries like a facelift.
- Liposuction is the most popular option for body contouring in the US. Other types of body contouring include tummy tucks and body lifts, but liposuction reigns supreme because it is comparably much less invasive and boasts shorter downtime. There are virtually no incision scars afterward.
- Becoming a plastic surgeon is no easy task. In order to become a board-certified plastic surgeon, these specialists must achieve much more than an MD. This specialty requires more training, more tests, and these professionals must show proven results to get and keep their certification. You should only trust a plastic surgeon who is board-certified with your procedure.
- Sometimes teenagers get plastic surgery, but this is rare. Of course, teens who are 18 or 19 years old are adults, and often very healthy adults who might be prime candidates for plastic surgery. However, only two percent of plastic surgeries performed in the US involves teenage patients. That’s around 224,000 teens per year.
- Most plastic surgeries are performed on those 40 – 54 years old. This age group is the most likely to choose plastic surgery, and they make up 50 percent of all patients. A person’s fourth and fifth decade are famous for showing the signs of aging, and women, in particular, opt for surgeries at this time because they are often done having biological children (which can be a consideration for tummy tucks).
As you can see, there’s a lot more to plastic surgery than meets the eye. If you’re ready to take the next step, schedule your complimentary consultation today. Contact John Park MD Plastic Surgery at (949) 777-6883 and get ready to look and feel your best in 2020.