Cosmetic Surgery Advancements to Look for in 2014

by Health Blogger Erika Fitzgerald

Last year, a total of more than 1.6 million cosmetic surgery procedures were performed according to recent statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS). With so many people opting for surgical enhancements these days, many are curious what the next “big thing” is going to be.

In 2013, we saw an increase in a number of procedures as well as some new products. Buttock augmentation with fat grafting saw a 16 percent increase from 2012, while minimally invasive facial soft tissue fillers saw a 13 percent increase. With this increase, a new filler for cheeks, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA™ XC, was introduced. BOTOX® Cosmetic also saw some advancement with its newly approved use for crow’s feet.

The operating room saw some exciting advancements last year, as well. In December, a plastic surgeon used Google Glass for the first time in the operating room while performing a rhinoplasty. Medical students are also being able to see procedures as they happen thanks to new technologies.

So, what advancements are expected in 2014? Naples plastic surgeon Dr. Kent Hasen provides a list of up-and-coming advancements to watch for this year on his blog:

Developments With Fat

Non-invasive body contouring methods, such as CoolSculpting® and Vanquish™, have been gaining popularity in recent years. These non-surgical liposuction alternatives offer patients a way to slim down smaller areas of stubborn fat deposits without going under the knife or dealing with lengthy recovery periods.

“I expect to see more amazing innovations in this field in the future, as I do with treatments on the other end of the spectrum: fat grafting,” Dr. Hasen on his blog.

Fat grafting, which has also been increasing in popularity, takes unwanted fat from one area of the body and moves it to a more desirable place. For example, breast enhancement with fat transfer allows patients to move unwanted fat from the abdomen or thighs to their breasts.

Non-Surgical Face Treatments

According to the ASPS statistics, BOTOX and soft tissue fillers are among the most performed cosmetic minimally invasive procedures. Last year, more than 6.3 million botulinum toxin (BOTOX and Dysport®) injections were performed. Soft tissue fillers weren’t too far behind, with more than 2.2 million procedures performed.

With a number of advancements in 2013, Dr. Hasen recommends patients who have been choosing these enhancements over surgery to keep an eye out for more news.

New Operating Techniques

Surgical recovery periods are also becoming easier and shorter as a result of developments in short-scar incisions. No doubt we will likely see more technology in the operating room, as well. Dr. Hasen says he expects “more innovative uses for that technology to appear soon.”

Pain & Recovery Management

Not only is the future of the operating room seeing improvements, but so is pain and recovery management. Dr. Hasen explains that recent innovations with products such as Exparel® and Xarelto® “are impressive and indicate that more exciting things will soon come to help make patients more comfortable during and after surgery.” [link: http://www.exparel.com/what-is-exparel.shtml]* Exparel [/link] is a local anesthetic for postoperative pain, and  Xarelto prevents blood clots after surgery.

If you’re considering a cosmetic procedure this year, stay tuned for up-to-date advancements in the industry.