Do you still feather your hair? Would you bring photos of yourself from 20 years ago with you on a first date? Surely there are some holdouts, but generally the answers to these questions are “no way” and “never.” We all get wrapped up in trends, but almost as quickly, we shed them. All it takes is a new haircut or a quick drop off at the Goodwill.
Not so with plastic surgery trends; these can follow you around forever. Not even another surgery is guaranteed to reverse a previous procedure. That’s why Dr. Charles Slack urges his patients to slow down and think long and hard before opting for certain “trending” plastic surgery procedures.
If you want to find the trends, all you have to do is look at popular culture; which increasingly exists online and through social media. One online magazine claims, “Overly plump cheeks and Kylie Jenner lips are so 2016.” In 2017, larger breasts are also losing favor, with more women opting for implants that are smaller, perkier, and more athletic looking.
An article in The Guardian last month revealed that since the US presidential primaries, women have started asking plastic surgeons to make them look like Ivanka Trump or requesting what’s being called the “Melania Makeover.”
If you spend any time on Instagram, you may already know that dimples are in right now, with the popularity of dimpled celebrities like Harry Styles and Miranda Kerr. People are now going under the knife to get their own dimples put in, mostly in the cheeks but sometimes in the chin. The procedure is called a dimpleplasty, and it is apparently the “newest millennial plastic surgery trend.”
Fashion outlets aside, you can also see trends in the plastic surgery statistics regularly released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. For example, let’s talk about what has been happening with people’s lips. Since the year 2000, lip augmentation procedures (to puff up the lips) have gone up 53 percent, but that trend slowed way down to just four percent between 2015 and 2016. On the other hand, lip reductions increased a whopping 283 percent in that same year (2015-2016).
Plastic surgery trends move so quickly that depending on when you read this article, the trends listed above may have already passed. The mercurial nature of these trends should be evidence enough to caution you against using them to set your plastic surgery goals. At the very least, surgery should be reserved for cosmetic issues that have bothered you for longer than the latest news cycle.
Modern plastic surgery procedures — with all the state-of-the-art techniques, pain medications, and ways to prevent infection (never mind the miracle of anesthesia) — can sometimes seem like no big deal. You might think, ”If I go with D-D-D breast implants this year and I don’t like them the next, I’ll just get a different pair.” They are not shoes. It’s just not that simple; all surgical procedures come with risks and need to be taken seriously.
That is why cosmetic procedures should only be done by trained surgeons, board certified in plastic surgery. Their extensive medical training enables them to give you the best result in the safest setting, with all the right medication and equipment. It also prepares them to make the best choices if something unexpected happens when you are in surgery and at your most vulnerable. A good plastic surgeon will also perform a full health screening on you before agreeing to do your surgery. Be very wary of procedures, especially trendy ones, offered by anyone without the proper medical credentials or training.
When looking for the right plastic surgeon, also put good communication at the top of your must list. You will be most happy with your results if you and the doctor are on the same page and set your goals together. Someone who talks about trendy procedures too lightly or dismisses your concerns is not the right surgeon for you. Don’t be afraid to shop around.
Whoever you end up going to, take your time in deciding on a procedure. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. Don’t have plastic surgery because someone else wants you to, or because you think more people will like you if you look a certain way. A new chin will not ensure you get that new job and a facelift won’t save your marriage. Having more followers on Instagram, because of some cute new (surgically created) dimples, probably won’t make your life any more fulfilling — and they just might be out of style next year anyway.
If you are considering plastic surgery (trendy or not), call Dr. Slack and schedule a consultation today.