In St. Louis and Elsewhere, Cosmetic Surgery is Fast Becoming Commonplace

Considering prevalence among celebrities, evolving mindsets, and fading stigmas, it’s now more common than ever for people around the country to undergo cosmetic surgery. With board-certified centers handling cosmetic surgery, like St. Louis' West County Plastic Surgeons, which offers a range of options that allow men and women to achieve their ideal look, the choice is no longer an anomaly among American people. In fact, it is fast becoming the norm.

According to recent article in the Washington Post, the rates of cosmetic surgery increased yet again, year-over-year, in 2015.

“America's increasing obsession with beauty is fueling a surge in cosmetic surgery procedures,” the article states. “In 2015, there were 15.9 million surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures or about one procedure per 16 adults in the United States.”

That equates to an increase of roughly 300,000 cosmetic surgeries over 2014, which itself represented a 3 percent increase in cosmetic surgery over the prior year. In fact, since 2000, the number of cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States has more than doubled.

Most popular by far in 2015 were minimally invasive BOTOX® injections. Over the course of the year, approximately 6.7 million men and women elected to have BOTOX®. But other cosmetic surgery options have shown a wide appeal as well, such as breast augmentation, which was performed on nearly 300,000 people last year.

“The number of available providers, lower costs and the less-invasive nature of these procedures obviously appeal to a much broader range of patients,” said Dr. Song of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “However, we urge anyone who is considering a minimally-invasive procedure to consult with a board-certified, ASPS-member surgeon.” For patients seeking St. Louis cosmetic surgery, the board-certified surgeons at West County Plastic Surgeons provide a breadth of surgical options performed by their highly trained staff.

The increasing rates of cosmetic surgery span across both gender and other demographic lines. Unsurprisingly, the rising acceptance of cosmetic surgery as a cultural norm means that both women and men are opting for more procedures to achieve results that allow them to look and feel more youthful and attractive. In a survey of 700 people, when asked how they would like to feel after cosmetic surgery, 76 percent responded “confident.”

Some of the other common responses included “sexy” (39 percent), “peaceful” (17 percent), “appreciated” (8 percent), and “bold” (8 percent). According to the authors of the study, “As one woman put it, ‘I hope to feel whole again.’”

Many experts have commented on the disappearing stigmas that typically surrounded cosmetic surgery, particularly negative perceptions that were most common in the 1980s and ’90s. Today, it is not at all uncommon for women and men to openly talk about their plans to have cosmetic surgery. In fact, in the age of social media, it is increasingly common for patients—young and old alike—to post “before and after” photos of their cosmetic surgery. As one author pointed out in an article for the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons: “Perhaps the stigma in American culture has to do with disrupting antiquated, classicist ideals that beauty is something with which one is born.” Refreshingly, the opposite is increasingly true that it is up to the individual to decide what they feel is beautiful, and they can achieve their desired look at almost any age.

Surgeons in St. Louis know how to help patients achieve their ideal look through a variety of cosmetic surgery options. At West County Plastic Surgeons, the accessible and patient-friendly atmosphere allows men and women to feel at ease. And the clinic doctors and staff endeavor to maintain their reputation for innovative procedures. With a team of accomplished surgeons—such as Dr. Terry Myckatyn, who was voted among the "Best Doctors in St. Louis" and "Best Doctors in America" by Best Doctor's, Inc.—West County Plastic Surgeons has offices in West County and downtown St. Louis. To make an appointment, or to consult with a surgeon about your cosmetic surgery, call (314) 996-8800.