Plastic Surgery an Attractive Option

Concurrent with the success of shows such as "Dr. 90210" and "Nip/Tuck," cosmetic surgery is becoming more popular than ever, with an estimated 11.5 million procedures in 2005, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

As it is becoming more common, plastic surgeons in the Santa Clarita Valley are getting busy, with several doctors unable to be reached due to surgery schedules.

"It's almost doubling every year," said Howard Hu, M.D., owner of Valencia Plastic Surgery.

He started his own practice a year ago. For three years before that, he was in another practice and found the numbers were just as strong.

Since 1997, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery estimates there has been an increase of 444 percent in the total number of cosmetic procedures.

Edward A. Pechter, a plastic surgeon who practices in Valencia, said when he opened 24 years ago as a full-time surgeon in Santa Clarita, he did more reconstruction work, dealing with trauma and hand surgery.

However, in the past several years, he's focused on aesthetic surgery and sees 400 to 500 new patients a year, with older patients also coming back for other procedures.

He said there are several new things in the field of plastic surgery.

"Liposuction's been around for about 20 years," he said. "Now it's the most common operation nationally."

However, for the Santa Clarita Valley, there seems to be one particular request: Breast augmentations.

Hu said the requests for it have also changed in age range: 20 years ago, he said a woman in her mid-30s would be more likely to request the procedure, whereas a woman patient now is often in her mid-20s.

In addition, clients who are not ready for breast augmentations often come into the office.

"You see more frequently teenagers coming in, high schoolers," Hu said. He said with his practice, he tells them they are too young and need to finish developing.

Pechter said he only gives breast implants to 16-year-olds in "exceptional" circumstances.

One example was that he gave implants to a girl with cystic fibrosis, mainly due to the fact she didn't have many years to live.

"She was very happy with the results, and it improved her quality of life," he said.

Although there are those who would happily provide surgeries, there are also those who are concerned about plastic surgery and the reason people are going under the knife.

Teresa Morris, a psychologist in Valencia, said that people undergo surgeries such as weight-loss procedures in order to improve their relationships.

"While they feel good about it, it doesn't improve relationships," she said.

She said surgery is often done to please someone else, which is not the reason to have a surgery in the first place.

"Turning them away ... is the best thing," she said.

Both Hu and Pechter said they have turned patients away due to that fact.

Pechter added that many people who want to get cosmetic surgery have unrealistic expectations of what it can do for them, such as liposuction taking care of being overweight.

However, neither of them deny that cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery can help make a person feel better about themselves.

Pechter thinks that people who attack plastic surgery lack empathy.

"People might be sensitive about things that affect their quality of life," he said.

Hu said that plastic surgery improves self-confidence.

"Surgery should not just heal the body," he said. "It should buoy the spirit."

By Reina V. Slutske
Source: www.the-signal.com