I came across a fascinating article the other day on Realself.com that found a shift in attitudes about cosmetic surgery. The poll of 2,148 adults saw a heightened interest in cosmetic surgery among consumers. Specifically, the article found a 15 point increase among the number of people who stated that they would choose plastic surgery if money weren’t an issue (from 54% in 2009 to 69% in 2010).
The positive shift in perceptions regarding plastic surgery is comforting because it assures me that people are becoming more informed about the realities of cosmetic procedures rather than succumbing to hyped-up media messages.
As a physician involved in plastic surgery in Dallas for many years, I know that men and women who choose plastic surgery are thoughtful, reasonable people, who want to look more refreshed, and like just a slightly better version of themselves. The images portrayed in the tabloids of young men and women who are over-done, is not the image seen by the vast majority of plastic surgeons, and that’s especially true in Dallas. Millions of people choose plastic surgery every year with outstanding, positive results. Our goal for each patient is for them to be more confident, content individuals who are happy with themselves and their appearance. I’m glad that more of the general public is recognizing this too.
