Terri Ramsey Beavers Investing in yourself seems to be what most people want to do, after a year of collective trauma following the worldwide pandemic.
Surprisingly though, be it due to countless Zoom calls or other reasons, cosmetic procedures seem to be right up there with the things that people seem to want to be done in the post-pandemic landscape.
Cosmetic surgery is a $66.96 billion industry, but what procedures are most people spending their money on?
Have a look as we run down some of the most popular cosmetic procedures.
Can you guess what they are?
1. Botox
Right at the top of the most common cosmetic procedures is Botox.
We’ve all heard of it, and according to the figures, it is likely that you know someone who has had it done, even if they haven’t spilled the beans. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 4,401,536 procedures were carried out in 2020. While that was an understandable drop on the previous year it is still miles ahead of any other popular cosmetic procedures.
Perhaps one of the most simple cosmetic procedures out there, the wrinkle-free after-effects of an injection usually last between 3 to 6 months.
Interestingly, Botox is the name of the brand and not the solution used (Clostridium botulinum), with other options available such as Xeomin and Dysport. You learn something new every day!
2. Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation is perhaps viewed as the most glamorous of all cosmetic procedures. Yet the real reason that they are so popular lies in their more practical benefits.
Rather than just wanting to go up a bra size, symmetry and loss of volume to breast tissue, particularly after childbirth, rank high among reasons for getting it done. Another reason is reconstructive surgery after mastectomy or underdeveloped breast tissue after puberty (micromastia).
The recovery after a boob job can take up to 8 weeks and during this time a support bra is needed as well as avoiding any heavy lifting.
3. Tummy Tuck
Often mistaken for the procedure following this one, tummy tucks are not done to help you lose weight. The focus of this procedure is removing excess fat and skin from your abdomen.
So who needs a tummy tuck? Prime candidates are those who have lost a lot of weight but still have some overhang in the midriff. Pregnant women are another group who often chose this over other cosmetic procedures because of a condition called Diastasis Recti when the weakening of the walls of the abdomen causes them to separate.
The results are a firm ab region that will have most looking forward to showing it off when summer comes around.
4. Liposuction
Liposuction or “Lipo” is often thought of as a quick way to shed the pounds, but in reality, it is designed to target areas that haven’t responded to diet or exercise.
This is important to note because, in comparison to other, more simple cosmetic procedures, it is far more invasive.
There are 2 ways that liposuction is carried out. Tumescent liposuction is when cannulars (the thin hollow tubes) are inserted along with a liquid solution to suck out the fat. Ultrasonic-Assisted liposuction in contrast uses the cannulas to melt the fat and then suck it out.
5. Rhinoplasty
After Botox, rhinoplasty is definitely next among popular facial cosmetic procedures.
The main reasons for these nasal refinements are medical for issues such as sleep apnea, trouble breathing, etc. But you can probably guess the most common words every plastic surgeon hears in a consultancy from their patients.
“While you’re up there….”
After 2 weeks, patients should be able to return to normal activities, yet full healing can take up to a year.
Getting Filled in About Cosmetic Procedures
The marvels of modern medicine have meant that so much is possible in the world of plastic surgery. We hope us filling you in on the ins and outs of these cosmetic procedures helped you learn something new!
If you did please share it with a friend and check out the other great healthcare content on our site.