subject: Plastic Surgery: The Norm Rather Than The Exception [print this page] Plastic surgery has become commonplace around the world. Male and females are using plastic surgery to raise their self-esteem and feel confident about their appearance.
Non-Invasive Procedures
The most popular non-invasive procedures consist of Botox injections and dermal fillers. Botox is the number one most popular procedure, followed by dermal fillers. Botox smoothes wrinkles by acting as a muscle relaxant. The Botulism Toxin bacterium is injected into the patient. Temporarily, the muscles that cause wrinkles and sagging are relaxed. More than one million individuals received this treatment in 2009. Dermal fillers are either animal-based or non-animal-based injections. Animal-based injections are typically human collagen or bovine collagen.
Non animal based injections consist of a hyaluronic acid solution. Products such as Restylane, Perlane and Radiesse are all non-animal-based injections. Macrolane is a non-animal-based injection designed exclusively for the breast and buttocks area of the patient. Non-animal-based injections, such as Perlane, do not tend to cause allergic reactions in some patients the way that bovine collagen might. Nearly 3 percent of patients experience allergic reaction with bovine collagen. However, this is the least expensive procedure. Those considering the procedure should speak with their California plastic surgery specialist if they are prone to allergies or have reservations about the process.
Human collagen is the most expensive and the longest lasting. However, this procedure requires that the cells be processed and removed of traces of HIV, hepatitis or other blood-borne diseases. Each of these procedures requires the patient to return up to four times per year for treatments.
Invasive Procedures
Feather/Thread Aptos face lifts are invasive procedures that lift the entire face for a more youthful appearance. This procedure will last from seven to 14 years depending on the person's metabolism, lifestyle and aging process. The procedure is minimally invasive and may require up to 18 Aptos stitches for a full face lift. The typical patient may resume normal activity between four to seven days after this procedure.
Although the face lift in California is a popular procedure, it did not make the top five in 2009. Instead, nearly 300,000, breast augmentation surgeries were performed in 2009. This procedure was following by nose reshaping. Liposuction was the fourth most popular procedure.
