This year we celebrate the twenty-year anniversary of plastic surgery practice in Albuquerque. When I look back, there have been many trends in my plastic surgery practice as well as in the specialty in general.
1. Non-invasive Procedures. Neurotoxin (such as Botox and Dysport) and fillers (such as Restylane and Juvederm) have become common treatments for men and women seeking facial rejuvenation. While they are not necessarily a substitution for surgery, they have changed significantly how plastic surgeons evaluate and practice.
2. Silicone Implants. After over 30 years of absence from the US market, silicone implants finally became available here. This has really expanded the options for our patients. There are many profiles and surface textures as well as different viscosities for various applications. Overall, we find the silicone implants softer and more similar to the feel of real breast tissue than their saline counterpart. In addition, they are less likely to show ripples in thinner people.
3. Trends in Facelift. In the 1990’s there had been more interest in extensive and deeper (i.e., subperiosteal) facelifts. My plastic surgery practice has embraced MACS (Minimal Access Cranial Suspension) and short-scar techniques for quicker surgery time, less bruising and swelling, and minimal pain. This also translates to faster recoveries and less time off from work. We have also done many limited facelift (mini facelift) procedures for those patients who are good candidates. As usually, I generally do these surgery under local anesthesia or sedation instead of general anesthesia.
4. Body Contour Surgery After Massive Weight Loss. As gastric bypass, banding, and sleeve procedures become more common, there has been a significant interest and demand for body contouring operations in my plastic surgery practice. The most popular operations (in the descending order) are abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), mastopexy (breast lift), brachioplasty (arm lift) and thigh lift. The patients are generally extremely satisfied with their outcome.
Of course, somethings have not changed in my plastic surgery practice over the last two decades. We still have the same knowledgable and caring staff. Our mission to provide the highest standard in plastic surgery remains steadfast.