Plastic Surgery Goes Mainstream by Lloyd M. Krieger, MD

Plastic surgery has historically been viewed as an exclusive and costly service only the rich and famous could afford to pursue. Not anymore.

With even the most dramatic and promising cosmetic surgery procedures becoming safer, more common and far less complicated than ever as well as a growing inventory of options now available for financing, plastic surgery of all forms is becoming an increasingly popular life-enhancement choice for the middle class.

As a plastic surgeon in California I can say that our plastic surgery center in Beverly Hills is a good case in point. People in the entertainment industry seeking enhancement surgeries and other cosmetic reconstruction now share seats in our waiting room with mothers from the suburbs, college coeds and a growing number of men from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds. At our center, we may have many clients from the entertainment industry, but we treat everybody like a celebrity.

There is a distinct demographic shift taking place today. Plastic surgery is becoming a growing phenomenon among the middle class because the perception that it is exclusively an option for rich white women is waning. We are seeing people from all walks of life seeking cosmetic surgery - people from a wide variety of age groups, ethnicities, family situations, and economic stations.

Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery also offers our patients customized financing packages to cover individual procedures, such the "Rodeo Drive Mommy Makeover" a popular choice for large numbers of Latino women in their 20's and 30's. The mommy makeover includes a tummy tuck, breast lift and frequently a breast augmentation with a small breast implant. The procedure helps the moms get their body back to the way it was before they began having babies.

Financing surgery is becoming a popular option for those who do not have cash set aside. Others are socking money away for a variety of procedures, much as they would for any luxury item or family vacation. A lot of people save up for the surgery, and others chose to do financing. They are shifting their views on the expenses involved and see surgery as an important investment and first step toward an enhancement plan for the rest of their lives.

Part of the change comes because today's plastic surgery is performed using improved technology. This results in less expensive and safer procedures with less down time. So now people with responsibilities both at work and at home can take time out for procedures, removing plastic surgery from the exclusive provenance of the leisure class. We also are doing most cosmetic surgery procedures in outpatient surgery centers which greatly improves the ease and convenience of procedures when compared to those done in the hospital setting.


About the Author
Lloyd M. Krieger, MD is a plastic surgeon in California and founder and medical director of Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills, which specializes in breast augmentation.

Plastic surgery for men correcting male breast enlargement by Clint Jhonson

Correcting male breast enlargement, a condition known as gynecomastia, has become the third most requested procedure of plastic surgery for men in the United States.

San Francisco plastic surgeon, Dr. Scott W. Mosser, reports a steady increase in male patients in the Bay Area seeking many plastic surgery procedures once performed only on women. As a result, plastic surgery for men will frequently include one of the following procedures. Liposuction for facial and body contouring leads the way, followed by rhinoplasty. Nevertheless, situated third in the demands and rising fast is the procedure to correct male breast enlargement, a condition much more prevalent than generally known.

Gynecomastia is a condition that is present to some degree in about a third of the male population. Gynecomastia is a term describing the condition itself, regardless of the nature of the cause leading to the development of such a problem. The condition may be pathological, physiological, or a side effect of taking certain drugs (for instance, various treatments including hormones). In any of the circumstances, patients feel uncomfortable about the way they look. Fortunately, correction is possible with male plastic surgery procedures.

Often a reason for embarrassment and concealment, male plastic surgery can achieve a life changing result in many cases. The feeling of discomfort related to your appearance will no longer burden you. A consultation with Dr. Scott W. Mosser, a Board-Certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast surgery, could answer many of your questions and explain the types of male plastic surgery you may undergo for correcting this disorder. Dr. Mosser will examine the symptoms and together with you determine the possible causes of your gynecomastia. Then you can opt for the type of plastic surgery for men, which suits you best.

Three are three general approaches to correcting gynecomastia. The first procedure is liposuction . With such a procedure, the purpose is to remove excess fatty tissue that may be causing the overall uncomfortable feeling, and reshape the breast and chest area. The second male plastic surgery procedure is a combination of surgical incisions made around the nipples to remove excess glandular and fatty tissue plus liposuction of the surrounding area to reshape and sculpture the chest area.

The third procedure is surgical breast reduction achieved by surgical incisions made in the natural skin folds of the chest and around the nipples. This third option is a general recommendation in the cases where there has been extreme weight loss resulting in loose or sagging skin, and a repositioning of the nipples may be necessary to achieve an esthetic result.

The type of plastic surgery for men indicated depends on the type of tissue contributing to the male breast enlargement condition. This can include the following types: glandular tissue, which requires surgical removal of glandular tissue; fatty-glandular, which requires surgical removal of glandular tissue with or without removal of adjacent fat to give the best overall shape; simple fatty, which requires diet/exercise for weight loss, with auxiliary surgical removal of fatty tissue.

You will discuss with your surgeon the type of tissue at the basis of your breast enlargement condition and then decide on the best surgical procedure to approach. Remember that you need to be aware of your options and consult with a surgeon who is ready to answer all of your questions concerning such a procedure.


About the Author
Dr. Mosser performs male plastic surgery (male breast reduction procedures included) in several locations in San Francisco. You can register for plastic surgery for men at his office at 450 Sutter Street on Union Square, as well as at the California Pacific Medical Center and St. Mary's Medical Center in San Francisco.