This can vary tremendously depending on the circumstance. For example, it can depend on whether the surgery was covered by insurance or completely cosmetic with money out-of-pocket. It also depends on why the patient is dissatisfied. With cosmetic procedures, surgeons will often not charge for any revisions necessary to repair or correct a complication. However, the patient may incur additional facility or anesthesia fees. These issues are dealt with on a case by case basis but we usually try to accommodate our patients to the best of our ability.
14.6 Million Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedures Performed in 2012
Courtesy of PlasticSurgery.org
Minimally-Invasive, Facial Rejuvenation Procedures Fuel 5% Growth
As economic indicators such as auto, retail, and home sales saw gains in 2012 – so too did plastic surgery. According to statistics released today by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), 14.6 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures, including both minimally-invasive and surgical, were performed in the United States in 2012, up 5 percent since 2011. In addition, 5.6 million reconstructive plastic surgery procedures were performed last year, up 1 percent.
“Our annual statistics serve as a snapshot regarding the plastic surgery industry,” said ASPS President Gregory Evans, MD. “For the third consecutive year, the overall growth in cosmetic surgery continues to be driven by a significant rise in minimally-invasive procedures, while surgical procedures remain relatively stable. We are aware, however, that patients who begin with less invasive treatments with a plastic surgeon may opt for more invasive, surgical procedures once required.”
Cosmetic minimally-invasive procedures increased 6 percent, with more than 13 million procedures in 2012. The top five minimally-invasive procedures were:
- Botulinum toxin type A (6.1 million procedures, up 8 percent)
- Soft tissue fillers (2 million procedures, up 5 percent)
- Chemical peel (1.1 million procedures, up 2 percent)
- Laser hair removal (1.1 million procedures, up 4 percent)
- Microdermabrasion (974,000 procedures, up 8 percent)
Cosmetic surgical procedures decreased 2 percent, with nearly 1.6 million procedures in 2012. The top five surgical procedures were:
- Breast augmentation (286,000 procedures, down 7 percent)
- Nose reshaping (243,000 procedures, no change)
- Liposuction (202,000 procedures, down 1 percent)
- Eyelid surgery (204,000 procedures, up 4 percent)
- Facelift (126,000 procedures, up 6 percent)
About Face
Interestingly, facial rejuvenation procedures, both surgical and minimally-invasive, experienced the most growth in 2012. Facelifts and eyelid surgeries were up, while 2012 marked the highest number of botulinum toxin type A (Botox®, Dysport®) injections performed to date. Other facial rejuvenation procedures like soft tissue fillers, laser skin resurfacing (509,000 procedures, up 9 percent) and microdermabrasion also saw sizable increases.
Cosmetic Breast Surgery
Female cosmetic breast surgeries such as breast augmentation and breast lifts (89,000 procedures, down 2 percent) dropped last year, while male breast reduction (gynecomastia) shot up. Nearly 21,000 male breast reductions were performed, up 5 percent.
“Female cosmetic breast surgeries such as breast augmentation, as well as body contouring procedures like tummy tucks, were some of the most popular procedures performed in 2012, although they saw declines,” said Dr. Evans. “Facial rejuvenation procedures to eradicate wrinkles, refresh, or tighten sagging skin experienced growth, as more consumers chose to maintain or restore a youthful appearance with these procedures.”
Reconstructive plastic surgery, which improves function and appearance to abnormal structures, increased 1 percent in 2012. The top five reconstructive procedures were:
- Tumor removal (4.2 million, up 1 percent)
- Laceration repair (291,000, down 4 percent)
- Maxillofacial surgery (209,000, up 7 percent)
- Scar revision (171,000, down 2 percent)
- Hand surgery (123,000, up 3 percent)
Reconstructive breast reduction rates continue to rise, with more than 68,000 procedures performed last year, up 8 percent.
“Although breast reduction has many physical and psychological benefits for women with overly large breasts, obstacles remain in acquiring insurance coverage,” said Dr. Evans. “It’s promising to see gains in this and other beneficial, medically necessary surgeries.”
ASPS members can report procedural information through the first online national database for plastic surgery procedures, Tracking Operations and Outcome for Plastic Surgeons (TOPS). This data, combined with the annual survey sent to American Board of Medical Specialties certified physicians most likely to perform these procedures, results in the most comprehensive census on plastic surgery.
View the 2012 National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics report, a blog post authored by ASPS Public Education Chair Committee Chair David Reath, MD, entitled, “ASPS Annual Statistics-Plastic Surgery in 2012,” or to download a “2012 State of Plastic Surgery” infographic.
About ASPS
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is the world’s largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons. Representing more than 7,000 Member Surgeons, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 94 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. ASPS advances quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. You can learn more and visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at PlasticSurgery.org orFacebook.com/PlasticSurgeryASPS and Twitter.com/ASPS_News.
What is the difference between outpatient and inpatient surgery?
There is one basic difference between outpatient and inpatient surgeries. Outpatient refers to any type of procedure that does not require an overnight stay in a medical facility while inpatient procedures require a patient to be hospitalized for at least one night in order to receive the necessary medical treatment for their surgery.
There are very few situations for which we would admit a cosmetic patient to the hospital. But one example would be for a weight loss patient who is undergoing multiple procedures on the same day such as a lower body lift combined with either breast surgery, arm lift or thigh lift. Multiple surgeries, such as these, performed on the same day can make for a very long surgery.
More commonly, reconstructive patients are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient. One example would be breast reconstruction. Dr. Tarola will further discuss all your options with you during your consultation.
What is the difference between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery?
Cosmetic surgery is when nothing but the patient’s desire to improve their outward physical appearance necessitates their want for plastic surgery. Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed to change or enhance a healthy, normal, functioning part of the body.
Reconstructive surgery is when the surgery is performed to restore proper functionality to a body part or to achieve physical normality. Reconstructive surgery is intended to correct a physical abnormality caused by a birth defect, tumor or disease, infection, or physical trauma.
Questions about breast augmentation…
What is breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is increasing the size of a normal breast, usually with a saline or silicone gel breast implant. This is accomplished by placement of the implant above or below the pectoralis muscle through an incision usually either in the fold under the breast, around the lower half of the areola, or in the axilla. Placement of the implant under the muscle is preferred in women with little breast tissue, is associated with a lower capsular contracture rate, and makes mammography slightly more accurate, however, submuscular placement can cause implant movement with more physical activity. Your plastic surgeon
can further discuss the pros and cons of each option during consultation.
What is the difference between saline and silicone gel implants?
Both saline and silicone implants are composed of an outer silicone shell and come in varying shapes and sizes. In the event of rupture, the damage is almost immediately noticeable with saline implants as the saline is absorbed by your tissue, as opposed to silicone implants which make rupture detection more difficult. Silicone gel implants have a more natural feel and appearance, are less prone to rupture and rippline and have been proven safe by the FDA. According to the FDA, you must be 22 years of age to receive silicone implants and 18 years of age for saline implants. Silicone gel implants are more expensive than saline.
What is breast reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction is a physically and emotionally rewarding procedure for women who have lost a breast, usually do to cancer, that is aimed at restoring a woman’s sense of normalcy and breast symmetry in clothing without the need for an external breast prosthesis.
Who is a candidate for breast reconstruction?
Most women are candidates for some type of breast reconstruction procedure but there are a number of factors to consider and determining which procedure is most appropriate for each woman. These factors include the stage of breast cancer, the need for radiation therapy, overall health status and the amount of recovery time a woman will allow herself.
What should I expect after breast reconstruction?
There are several plastic surgery techniques pain at restoring a breast to a near normal size and shape after mastectomy. Each one of these techniques will achieve a slightly different result. A woman can expect that the reconstructed breast will not have the same sensation and feel as her original breast. There will be visible incisions of varying size or shape from either the mastectomy and/or the reconstruction. Some reconstruction techniques believe scars from the incision lines at a donor site separate from the breast such as the abdomen, back or buttocks.
What should I expect in my consultation with a plastic surgeon?
Be prepared to discuss your goals and expectations of reconstruction. Your plastic surgeon will ask you general medical questions including any medical conditions, prior surgeries, current medications and drug allergies and the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs or herbal supplements. Your surgeon will inform you of your available breast reconstruction options and the associated risks and potential complications. Your surgeon will perform an examination and take photographs for your medical record. Finally, you and your surgeon will decide on a treatment course and discuss the likely outcomes including what to expect before and after surgery, the expected recovery and any risks or potential complications.
What are the options for breast reconstruction?
Your reconstruction can be performed in either an immediate or delayed setting. If immediate, your reconstruction will be performed in the same setting as you are mastectomy. If delayed, the reconstruction can be performed weeks to years following the mastectomy. Basically, there are 3 forms of reconstruction: Implant based reconstruction; autologous reconstruction; and a combination of autologous and implant based reconstruction. Implant based reconstruction is usually a 2-stage technique in which a tissue expander is placed during the first operation and the tissue expander was replaced by a permanent implant with a second operation. Autologous reconstruction involves using tissue from another area of your body, usually your back or abdomen, to replace the skin and tissue loss by the mastectomy. An implant is used in conjunction with autologous reconstruction if additional volume is required above and beyond that which is supplied by the tissue flap.
How much does breast reconstruction cost?
The cost for breast reconstruction can vary widely but is always a factor in any surgery. Once a diagnosis of breast cancer is made or a woman is found to be at a significant increased risk for developing breast cancer, breast reconstruction following mastectomy and any subsequent revisions related to the reconstruction are almost always covered by health insurance.
For more information on breast surgery, you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Nicholas Tarola by calling 615-624-8914 or go to www.tarolaplasticsurgery.com.