Being that at this time of year there is an intensified media interest in predicting what might happen in plastic surgery over the coming year, here are a few Dr D predictions:

(1) The flow of money still rules supreme certainly in the cosmetic plastic surgery market but also to an extent in the medically necessary plastic surgery market as well.

(a) This means cosmetic work will still be in low numbers relative to historical figures and the smaller scale procedures will be outnumbering the larger procedures. This translates to more non-invasive surgery and more liposuction over bigger operations like tummy tucks and body lifts.

(b) Even reconstructive business will be a bit depressed in that people are more commonly going uninsured. We spoke of this recently in discussing breast reconstruction numbers being on the low side. When breast cancer patients hold off on breast reconstruction, the money supply is pretty low indeed!

(2) As the money will be in short supply in cosmetic surgery, there will be fierce competition in that market as well as cosmetic doctors finding their way back towards “real” medicine to pay their bills. Watch for more ridiculous advertising!

(3) Patients who cannot afford real plastic surgeons will play the “cosmetic surgery roulette” game in greater numbers as they trust their surgical results to cheaper less qualified doctors. This means more freaky news stories of plastic surgery done by the local butcher leading to catastrophe.

(a) As I consult for the medical board as well as the occasional attorney on these cases, my side business might be going up some more. I was pretty busy in 2011 for court testimony.

So that none of this potential negativity affects you, please heed my general advice:

(b) Listen to advertising claims with a doubtful ear. Expecting liposuction done by a gynecologist to yield the same results of a tummy tuck done by an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon at a third of the price is probably expecting too much.

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD