Dads Turn to Cosmetic Surgery to
"Trim the Fat"

Arlington Heights, Ill. -
More and more dads want to be trim and are turning to cosmetic surgery for a little help. In fact, liposuction continues to be the number one cosmetic surgery procedure among men, according to new statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

A total of 19,789 liposuction procedures were performed in 1998, more than tripling the 1992 figure of 6,138 procedures. Liposuction is a technique to remove unwanted fat deposits from specific areas of the body. It is not a substitute for weight reduction, but a method of removing localized fat that doesn't respond to dieting and exercise. Statistics show that 9 percent of all cosmetic procedures are performed on men. "Women are no longer alone in their desire to look and feel younger," says ASPS President Paul Schnur, MD. " More and more men are having cosmetic surgery, not only to look and feel younger, but also to sometimes give themselves a competitive edge in the workplace."

The second most popular procedure among men is blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), with 15,564 procedures performed in 1998. This number is nearly 75 percent higher than in 1992 with 8,919 procedures. Rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping, continues to remain the third most common cosmetic procedure among men, with 13,143 procedures performed. This figure represents more than 3,000 additional rhinoplasty procedures on men since 1997 with 11,624 procedures. The fourth most common procedure among men is gynecomastia, or breast reduction. With 9,023 procedures performed in 1998 it bumps facelifts out of fourth and into fifth place with 5,960 procedures performed.

More information on 1998 statistics can be found in the National Clearinghouse of Plastic Surgery Statistics on the ASPS website or by contacting ASPS at (847) 228-9900 ext. 414.

ASPS represents 97% of all physicians certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). ASPS members also include physicians certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. By choosing an ASPS member plastic surgeon, patients can be assured that the physician has graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of additional residency, usually three years in general surgery and two years of plastic surgery. To be certified by the ABPS, a physician must also practice plastic surgery for two years and pass comprehensive written and oral examinations.

With thanks to the
Plastic Surgery Information Service
Media Center