Plastic surgery 2011 predictions

Its the time of year that we reflect on the past year and plan for the next.  The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) recently announced their predictions for plastic surgery for 2011.

1. With economic recovery, facial rejuvenation surgery will increase.
2. The popularity of cosmetic injectables (Botox, Dysport, Sculptra, Radiesse, Evolence, Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane etc.) will continue to increase.
3. The number of patients seeking plastic surgery procedures for body contouring after dramatic weight loss (abdominoplasty, body lift, arm lift, etc.) will rise in 2011.
4. There will be continued growth in experimental techniques for non-invasive fat removal (freezing, zapping, lasering, etc.) as an alternative or adjunct to liposuction, although liposuction will remain the standard.
5. Many baby boomer women with aging implants and/or breast droop will replace their implants or have breast lifts.
6. There will be an unfortunate increase in horror stories about “discount injectables” bought offshore and cosmetic surgical procedures performed by untrained or poorly trained practitioners.
7. There will be an increased focus on the back side.  Patients will be seeking posterior body lifts, buttock lifts, surgical and nonsurgical buttock augmentations.
8. Patients are becoming smarter and will increasingly want to know if the latest procedure or device really works and is safe. Evidence-based medicine will make it easier for both doctors and patients to determine fact from fiction.

These have generally been the trends in recent years, and it looks like they will continue.

I would add a few of my own predictions to the list.

1. There will be increased awareness of the value of 3D photographic simulation for breast augmentation and rhinoplasty.  This will show up in a number of plastic surgeons offices and become a standard for communication and planning.
2. There will be a trend towards conservatism in plastic surgery, particularly in facial rejuvenation and breast augmentation surgery.
3. Along the same lines, there trend will be towards smaller breast implants.  Overdone celebrities will downsize their implants, the public will follow.
4. Social media and the vast amount of information on the internet will  increase patient understanding and knowledge of procedures and options.  The value of choosing a board certified plastic surgeon will become increasingly recognized.
5. Liposuction technology will continue to be confusing to surgeons and patients.  However, there will finally be a few non-biased studies comparing different liposuction technologies head to head.  If there is a clear winner in these studies, this will become the “must have” in every liposuction surgeons practice.  I don’t think there will be a clear winner.
6. The FDA will re-evaluate the current recommendation for frequent MRI evaluation of silicone implants looking for rupture.  These studies are expensive and only helpful for that small percentage of patients with a rupture.  There will be momentum towards a more common sense approach to this.  Something like “MRI or replacement of silicone implants at 10 – 15 years”.
7. TV programming and internet sites about plastic surgery gone bad and overdone plastic surgery will reflect poorly on plastic surgery and plastic surgeons as a whole.  Sad but true.

Thank you to all the fine patients we have seen and treated in the past year.  Thank you for sharing my general philosophy that natural results are the goal.  I look forward to another great year!