Last year over 10 Million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in 2008. Of those having things done, women made up 92% and men 8%. But even Plastic Surgery was affected by our economy as we saw about a 15% decrease in the number of procedures performed in 2007.

Overall, the top five most common surgical procedures nationally and here in the Louisville Plastic Surgery community were 1) Breast Augmentation 2) Liposuction 3) Eyelid Surgery 4) Rhinoplasty and 5) Tummy Tuck

The top 5 non-surgical procedures were 1) Botox Injections 2) Laser Hair Removal
3) Hyaluronic Acid Wrinkle Filler Injections 4) Chemical Peel and 5) Laser Skin Resurfacing

The five most common procedures for Women were 1) Breast Augmentation
2) Liposuction 3) Eyelid Surgery 4) Tummy Tuck and 5) Breast Reduction

The five most common procedures for Men were 1) Liposuction
2) Rhinoplasty 3) Eyelid Surgery 4) Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia Treatment) and
5) Hair Transplantation

People aged 35 to 50 had most of the procedures. Most of the procedures (53%) were done in the office.

These are provided courtesy of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons for 2008.

Lee Corbett, MD
http://www.CorbettCosmeticSurgery.com
502-721.0330

All posts on this blog are authored by Kentucky cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett. Dr. Corbett specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery including facelifts, browlifts, blepharoplasy, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, body lifts, liposuction,  and tummy tucks.

 A lot, really. Your Louisville Cosmetic Surgery consultation is a key exchange between you and your surgeon. It is your opportunity to explain what you hope to accomplish and learn what options are available to treat your area of concern. From the surgeon’s point, we are working to make certain we understand your goals and then, based on your starting point, make a reasonable determination as to whether your goals are realistic and achievable. Most consultations will start out with a review of your medical history. It is crucial that you be thorough chronicling your history. It is best to tell your doctor everything, and let him or her decide if it pertinent to your care. Your doctor will then ask what your concerns are. This is not the time to hold back! Tell your doctor exactly what you hope to accomplish with surgery. We are not going to think you are being too vain, unreasonable etc…We need to know what you want. Perhaps surgery can produce the results you desire or maybe it cannot, but this is best determined before you have surgery. Trust me, it is every Plastic Surgeon’s goal to never hear a patient come back after surgery and start a sentence with“I thought….”  Unmet expectations are bad for all involved. You will then be examined and then your treatment options will be explained. Your surgeon will likely tell you what surgeries will benefit you, the details of the procedures and how they are different, your recovery, treatment alternatives, and the potential risks and complications that can result. In most cases your photo will be taken focusing on your problem area and if you request most Plastic Surgeons will have before and after photos of other patient’s who have had the procedure you are entertaining. Your final step is typically to meet with the Cosmetic Surgery coordinator who will explain your fees. The cost of the surgery is usually broken down into Surgeon’s Fees, OR fees, and Anesthesia fees. When you leave you should have a solid idea of the costs involved. So, in the end, a tremendous amount of information should be exchanged. If successful, you will leave your consultation well informed and more confident about your decision to undergo your procedure.

Lee Corbett, MD

https://www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com/

502-721.0330

All posts on this blog are authored by Louisville cosmetic plastic surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett. Dr. Corbett specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery including facelifts, browlifts, blepharoplasy, Botox, Juvederm, Restylane, breast augmentation, breast lifts, breast reductions, body lifts, liposuction,  and tummy tucks.

First, let me make you aware of things that may surprise you.

Anyone with a medical license can do cosmetic surgery. There is no one Board that oversees the “Cosmetic Doctors” that practice today. There is no requirement to have any formal surgical training. Many of these doctors took residency training in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Dermatology, and Emergency Medicine to name some of the more common ones. The doctor may have learned to do your procedure of interest at a weekend seminar. But, legally they have every right to present themselves to be a cosmetic doctor or cosmetic surgeon so long as they have a medical license.

As a Plastic Surgeon with a valid medical license, I can deliver a baby, do a hysterectomy, fix a broken leg, or even do brain surgery. I’d have to do it in my office O.R., but it’s legal!

I am Board Certified and I will tell you that being “Board Certified” is not a magic designation. It does not shield a surgeon or his patients from complications or less than perfect outcomes.

But, while there are no guarantees, your doctor being a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon does tell you the following:

• Your surgeon completed the proper training as prescribed by the leaders of the specialty, the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This usually amounts to 7 years of 100+ hour weeks of Surgical Residency training.

o After residency, only 80-85% of new Plastic Surgeons pass the first part of the certification process, the written exam.

o A year later, those that pass the written exam submit and have the surgeries they have performed reviewed by the leaders of the ABPS. If their practice patterns are deemed acceptable, they go on to take a series of oral exams administered over a 3 day period. The pass rate on this is also in the 80 to 85% range.

o In the end, only about 65% of all finishing Plastic Surgery Residents, men and women who have trained for 7 years, achieve Board Certification. It is not an easy process.

• In order to maintain privileges at hospitals, doctors are required to be certified in their specialty. So, the hospitals think it’s important.

• Insurance companies generally require participating doctors to be certified in their specialty. So, the insurance companies think it’s important too.

In order to be an Active Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the only National Society of Plastic Surgeons, one has to be Board Certified. Obviously, the ASPS find it important.

Why do the insurance companies and hospitals and governing bodies require certification? Well, because there is no substitute for proper training and experience. These, attributes, ones ensured via the certification process, maximize your safety and offer the best chance of achieving the surgical results your desire.

So, it isn’t a 100% guarantee, but Board Certification is important and is a factor you should consider as you choose your Plastic Surgeon.

Lee Corbett, MD
https://www.corbettcosmeticsurgery.com/
4121 Dutchmans Lane, Suite 305
Louisville, KY 40207
502-721.0330

All posts on this blog are authored by Kentucky cosmetic surgeon Dr. Lee Corbett.