According to American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, our nation spent more than $13.5 billion on a variety of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures last year—the highest amount ever. Why; Some credit developments in medical science. Others point to the “selfie”—that narcissistic instant self-portrait that brings out every facial flaw in stark detail. For people over 50, the long-term surgical facelift remains the gold standard. But people decades younger adopt a wide range of procedures. Here are some of the most popular:
Neck lift (Inferior rhytidectomy)
A neck lift removes excess, sagging skin and fat and tightens and restructures the underlying muscles.
Candidates: The neck is one of the first places where signs of age start to show—think double chins, ticks, turkey neck, and excess loose skin.
Benefits: The procedure restores the contours of the lower face and neck providing a more youthful and better defined appearance.
Disadvantage: Some people experience permanent numbness, tightness and skin abnormalities. Full results may take up to six months to achieve.
Recovery time: Expect to take one to two weeks off work and avoid vigorous activity for a month or more.
Estimated cost: $6,500 and up.
Wow Factor: People look thinner and younger—without any obvious “work” done.
Lipoplasty
Labiaplasty reduces the size of the labia minora – flaps of skin on either side of the vaginal opening.
Candidates: Women with excessively long lips who are either ashamed of their appearance or feel discomfort during sex and sports activities. Benefits: Women report feeling more confident and comfortable during sex.
Disadvantage: This surgery is relatively safe. But it has minimal risk of infection and painful urination.
Recovery time: You will be sore for a few weeks and are advised to avoid sexual intercourse.
Estimated cost: $2,000-$6,000.
Wow Factor: Now you can look like Barbie too!
Diplectomy
Dimples make a sweet smile even sweeter. just ask Shirley Temple. When you’re born with them, they’re a gift (even though they’re actually a genetic defect). Now your plastic surgeon can make them for you. After making a tiny incision, the doctor passes a stitch through the cheek and closes it. After the suture is dissolved, a natural-looking dimple remains.
Candidates: Whoever wants. People with a dimple on only one cheek can use it to complete a symmetrical look.
Benefits: Bottom line—the point is (yes!) to look younger.
Disadvantage: As you age, those designer dimples could turn into dimples as the skin loses its elasticity. Diplectomy also has a high failure rate.
Recovery time: The procedure only takes about 30 minutes, with local anesthesia, but swelling and bruising may last a few days.
Estimated cost: $2,000-$5,000.
Wow Factor: Carey Mulligan did the procedure and smiled to get an Oscar nomination.
Lip reduction surgery
The surgeon makes a horizontal incision inside each lip. After removing excess fatty tissue, he closes the incisions.
Candidates: The surgery is especially popular among African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics.
Benefits: The human face has its fads and fads—as arbitrary as ties broad and narrow. The craze for bee-stung lips is fading. The minute is in.
Disadvantage: Hidden or not, there will be scar tissue. This is to be expected if the operation goes well. If it doesn’t, expect uneven bumps and lumps.
Recovery time: About one week.
Cost: $2,000-$5,000.
Kybella (Injectable Double Chin)
After your doctor injects Kybella—a synthetic fat-absorbing acid—the underlying fat cells lose their ability to store lipids, and your double chin recedes.
Candidates: Anyone who has a double chin wants to get rid of it.
Benefits: Avoids the use of liposuction or surgery.
Disadvantage: This is still a relatively new procedure in the United States.
Recovery time: Injections may cause temporary redness, swelling and bruising. Typically, treatments are spaced at monthly intervals to allow for healing. Recovery should be complete one month after the final treatment.
Cost: $1,200-$1,800 per treatment.
Wow Factor: You can shed years without a double chin.
Ear pinning or reshaping (Otoplasty)
After exposing the cartilage with an incision behind the ear, the doctor reshapes it and removes any excess skin. If necessary, the ear is placed closer to the head and the incision is closed with permanent sutures.
Candidates: Anyone who is not happy with the size or shape of their ears.
Benefits: Can correct a wide variety of ear imperfections with natural results.
Disadvantage: The risks are minimal. Occasionally, permanent scarring or numbness of the ear or face may occur.
Recovery time: You can resume most normal activities about a week after surgery. You will need to wear a brace for a few weeks.
Estimated cost: $3,000-$4,000.
Wow Factor: No one can ever call you Alfred E. Neuman again.
Fat grafting (autologous fat transfer)
Fat grafting (using fat from other parts of the body) is used for a number of procedures, including buttock and breast augmentation, as a filler to add volume to the face and fill in laugh lines, crow’s feet and acne scars. Fat grafting is also used to rejuvenate wrinkled hands. Men also undergo fat grafting to achieve bigger abs, shoulders, arms – even six-pack abs.
Candidates: Anyone looking for a beach body or youthful face—and a more permanent solution than temporary fillers can provide.
Benefits: This procedure uses the patient’s own tissue, so there is no risk of an allergic reaction. The results are usually natural and long lasting.
Disadvantage: Although rare, pain and swelling may occur. Unsatisfactory results may require additional procedures. The procedure is often more expensive than synthetic facial fillers.
Recovery time: Expect two weeks of limited activity. You may need to wear compression garments in the areas where the fat was removed.
Estimated cost: This depends on the area being treated. Facial fat grafting ranges from $500 to $5,000.
wow factor: Who doesn’t love a chubby and adorable baby face?
