New cosmetic surgery statistics show almost all forms of cosmetic surgery continue to be on the rise. Breast augmentation and liposuction have more than tripled in the last five years. The number of men having cosmetic surgery has increased substantially for all procedures studied, and almost all procedures are more frequently performed than even last year.

Cosmetic surgery today includes almost anything involved with improvement or enhancement of the body or body image, literally from head to toe. Advancements in hair transplantation have made many older techniques obsolete (not to mention laser hair removal). Forehead and browlifts have continued to evolve through endoscopic and open procedures, and even non-surgical approaches such as botulinum toxin ("bo-tox") are finding a place in wrinkle treatment. Even the "standard" facelift and eyelid surgeries have made room for the addition of laser technologies, retin A, glycolics, and newer facial peel formulations.

Breast enhancement still includes lifts and reductions in addition to the more popular implants alluded to above. Although still in the future, newer implant technology may be on the way to replace the silicone gel implants taken off the market in 1992. Different alloplast and implant technologies also now allow for the enhancement of everything from noses to cheekbones and chins.

Body contour surgery now encompasses a spectrum from "mini" abdominoplasty through the "standard" tummy tuck to total lower body lift techniques. And still most popular of all is liposuction which has evolved from old large cannula approaches to finesse procedures and body sculpting using smaller cannulas and able to adapt ultra-sound energy (ultrasonic liposuction and endermologie). Even the good-old "before and after" pictures are making way for digital information storage and computer imaging.

With a greater variety of cosmetic procedures available, and proliferation of practitioners offering cosmetic services, it is becoming even more important now than in the past to be an educated consumer. We will do our best to help you keep abreast of current advances with descriptions of techniques, devices, and treatments in cosmetic surgery.