Top Cosmetic Surgery Procedures for Women

From breast enhancements to face lifts, many women decide on cosmetic surgery to reshape their physical appearance or erase the effects of aging.

If you’re in your 20s or 30s, you might want changes to your breasts – going larger or smaller. In your 30s and 40s and once you who have finished having children, you might seek out a procedure, such as a tummy tuck, to contour your body.  Once you hit your 50s and beyond,  giving your face a more youthful appearance could be appealing.

Demand for procedures can vary substantially by geography. Here in Florida, where shorts and short-sleeved shirts are standard apparel for much of the year, you may choose a different procedure than someone living in a colder northern state.

And in the era of social media influencers, they can affect what’s popular at any given time. With that in mind, let’s look at some recent trends in cosmetic surgery and some of the top procedures.

Breast Augmentation: This is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries from year to year. But while some procedures are enjoying strong growth, this one has been slowing alongside changes in the national aesthetic. In the 1980s and 1990s, larger breasts were more popular than they are today. In this era, women are increasingly likely to pursue more natural appearing breasts. To be clear, breast augmentation is still very popular, though demand is slowing.

Abdominoplasty: Also known as a “tummy tuck,” the procedure removes extra fat and skin, while tightening muscles in the abdominal wall.  Abdominoplasty has long been popular with women after pregnancy. But now, the procedure is also attracting the attention of rising numbers of women who have experienced weight loss through surgery and anti-obesity medications. The procedure is poised to become the most popular cosmetic surgery in the country.

Breast Lift: During this procedure, your surgeon removes excess or stretched skin and reshapes breast tissue. A breast lift is often sought by women who aren’t necessarily interested in larger breasts but would prefer more natural and youthful-appearing breasts. As with abdominoplasty, this procedure is seeing a surge in demand, driven both by post-pregnancy and post-weight loss makeovers.

Eyelid Surgery: Also known as blepharoplasty, this procedure rejuvenates the area around eyes and deals with several complications that occur as a result of aging. As you get older, your skin naturally loses its elasticity and becomes looser. Think of it as a rubber band that’s been stretched too many times. This may give your eyes a droopy or tired look and could even block your vision as it worsens. The procedure is most common among women over the age of 45. Among the issues it can address:

• Loose or saggy skin creating folds around your eyes
• Fatty deposits making your eyelids appear puffy
• Bags under your eyes
• Drooping lower eyelids
• Extra skin and wrinkles on your lower eyelid

Is Cosmetic Surgery Right for You?

Deciding on a cosmetic surgery procedure isn’t like walking into a restaurant and ordering something off the menu. If this is something you are seriously considering, you should meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon. There are many health-care providers who claim they do plastic surgery. But often they do not have the extensive training needed to help you make such an important decision.

Your surgeon should meet with you in person – not over the Internet – for a detailed consultation about your likes, dislikes, wants, concerns and questions. The surgeon should do a physical exam and explore your medical history. There should be a conversation to help you understand whether your expectations are realistic and whether the doctor thinks your desired results are achievable. This should also include consideration of whether you are a good candidate – health wise – for the procedure.