Dimpleplasty, cat-eye surgery, buccal fat pad removal—are these just the plastic surgery trends of the season, or are they going to stick around?
San Diego board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus recently participated in an American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) panel discussion about this topic with Dr. David Shafer and Dr. Jason Pozner. The three plastic surgeons pulled back the curtain on their experience talking with patients, and shared insights on navigating “trending” cosmetic procedures. Watch the video below, or read on for our recap of the major takeaways.
What are the current plastic surgery trends?
The top plastic surgery procedures include breast augmentation, tummy tuck, liposuction, breast lift, and eyelid lift (blepharoplasty), according to statistics from The Aesthetic Society. While these classic procedures top the charts year after year, the currently “trending” procedures include:
- Brazilian butt lift (BBL)
- Cat eye surgery
- Dimpleplasty
- Buccal fat pad removal
- Lip lift as a permanent alternative to lip filler
- Forehead reduction surgery (hairline lowering)
Many of these are new and not yet commonly offered in plastic surgery practices, but Brazilian butt lift is an exception: it has remained popular for years now. Not only have BBLs become much more safe due to improved fat injection cannula techniques, but the trend is evolving as more and more people are requesting modestly-sized, natural-looking BBL results whose aesthetic is likely to withstand the test of time.
Plastic surgeons’ approach to trends
When it comes to newly sought-after procedures, reputable plastic surgeons will not automatically agree to perform a trending surgery on any patient who requests it—just as they wouldn’t when it comes to classic procedures like breast augmentation. They take into consideration aesthetic principles, your safety, and your unique anatomy before recommending a procedure plan to meet your goals. Often, based on their experience, they will recommend a more ideal procedure or combination of treatments to help you reach your goals.
Ask yourself: What is the problem I want to correct with plastic surgery?
Today’s patients, ultimately, are better educated on the procedures that are available, and this can be a positive thing! If you’ve seen a procedure that you think will help you meet your goals for your face or your body online, that’s a great place to start as you learn about your options.
Still, plastic surgeons are creative problem solvers and well-trained experts, so it’s also important to be open to your plastic surgeon’s advice regarding what procedure is best to meet your goals. So instead of going into your consultation with a procedure you want in mind, go to your consultation with an explanation of the concern you want addressed. Be sure to ask yourself these questions before your consultation:
- What do I want to change?
- What would an ideal outcome look like?
- Can I find wish pics that show patients who look like me in the “before” photos with results I appreciate in the “after” images?
Plastic surgeons specialize in helping guide patients toward the right procedure for them, and scheduling a consultation is the perfect way to get expert advice that is tailored to your particular anatomy.
Whether you choose a trending procedure or not, it’s also important to trust your gut: does this procedure feel right? Take your time between consultation, pre-op appointment, and surgery date to ensure you feel ready to commit to this procedure.
Choosing a plastic surgeon
You’ll want to get beautiful results as well as have a comfortable, safe experience, so choose a surgeon who is experienced, reputable, and qualified. And if a trustworthy plastic surgeon advises you that the procedure you are looking for is unsafe or not likely to give you the results you want, avoid seeking out alternative surgeons with less experience and training simply to get a certain trending procedure.
Look for these signs of a skilled plastic surgeon:
- Extensive experience in your procedure
- Board certification
- Years of experience
- Positive patient reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, and Real Patient Ratings
- An excellent reputation
- A caring, listen-first approach to your consultation
Revising a plastic surgery that you regret
There are two kinds of revision surgery: one is when patients seek a “touch-up” to their facelift or their breast or body surgery because of changes that have happened over time. Another is less routine: a patient gets an unsatisfactory result and seeks a better-qualified surgeon to correct it. If you are dealing with the latter situation, you have options, but you want to find the best plastic surgeon possible to give you personalized advice.
Ask your surgeon about revision options
Before getting injectables or plastic surgery, it’s key to ask your surgeon not just what they can do for you, but also if the procedure is reversible! With hyaluronic-based fillers, for example, they can be reversed to a degree with an injectable enzyme, hyaluronidase, that dissolves HA safely. However, fillers that are made out of other materials are unlikely to be reversible, and you will have to wait for them to dissolve. And most surgical procedures give you results (and scars) that you are going to want to be comfortable with for many years to come.
Consulting with your plastic surgeon
Dr. Gallus and her colleagues all agree on an important point: talking with a plastic surgeon often leads patients to choose a procedure they otherwise wouldn’t have known was right for them! What works on a certain celebrity’s body may not have the same impact on your body, so when it comes to achieving your goals, nothing replaces the advice of an experienced aesthetic plastic surgeon.
Sharing “wish pics” with your plastic surgeon
Whether you’re looking for a trendy procedure or a tried-and-true one like breast augmentation, having plenty of “wish pics” of patients who look like you in the “before photos” is ideal! You may find these online, i.e. on social media or on surgeons’ websites. This eases communication and ensures you and your surgeon both agree on the goal of the surgery you are seeking—which is especially important with newer, trendy procedures.
About Dr. Katerina Gallus
Trends come and go, but the most important key to getting gorgeous results? Choosing a surgeon who is an expert! Female board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Katerina Gallus offers a full range of the most popular plastic surgery procedures for the breast, body, and face. Call our San Diego plastic surgery practice at 858-224-2281 or contact us online to schedule your one-on-one with Dr. Gallus and get a head start on your dream look ASAP.
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