If you pay close attention to the media, you might come to believe that Elvis is alive and well and deities make their presence known via mold patterns. But even if you don’t buy into this kind of sensationalism, the media does have a way of creating lasting impressions about some of their favorite topics.
Here are some top myths about plastic surgery fueled by the media.
Myth: Celebrities Are the People Having Plastic Surgery
It probably is true that celebrities have more cosmetic procedures per capita than any other group of people, but the vast majority of plastic surgery patients are average folks. In fact, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that more than 11 million surgical and non-invasive procedures were performed last year, and only a tiny fraction involved people named Kardashian.
Myth: Plastic Surgery Often Goes Very, Very Wrong
Like any kind of surgery, cosmetic surgery can result in a poor outcome, and on rare occasions, even death. But for a healthy person in the hands of an experienced, board certified provider, the chances of disaster are miniscule. Think about it: for every one tragedy the media highlights, there are tens if not hundreds of thousands that go well.
Myth: It’s All About Vanity
Ask most any plastic surgeon and you’ll find sheer vanity very low on the list of reasons patients give for seeking a procedure. You might be surprised to learn that a good number of people visit a plastic surgeon seeking functional as well as cosmetic improvement. Breast reduction for women is a great example, as the surgery normally relieves physical symptoms associated with heavy breasts as well as creating a new silhouette. Rhinoplasty is another procedure patients often choose for functional reasons—whether they’re looking to fix a broken nose, improve airflow or both.
Myth: You Can Spot Plastic Surgery Results A Mile Away
The field of plastic surgery has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years. Well trained, board certified plastic surgeons can be relied upon to produce natural looking outcomes. Gone are the days when facelifts occasionally resulted in a cat-like appearance, for instance, or eyelid surgery created a look of permanent surprise.
In addition, contrary to what the media tends to report, patients generally seek reasonable, realistic results that either rejuvenate their appearance or fine-tune a feature or features that are out of whack. Women interested in mommy makeovers usually say they just want their pre-pregnancy bodies back. Even patients seeking breast augmentation usually select implants that are in proportion with the rest of their body.
Myth: Many Patients Want to Look Like Someone Else
For some reason, the media loves to report on the latest individual who shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to look like their favorite actress or singer. It’s even more bizarre—and newsworthy—when the target is a fictional character like Barbie or Ken.
Of course there will always be patients who choose to make spectacles out of themselves and plastic surgeons who will accommodate them. But this is far from the norm.
There you have it—today’s plastic surgery patients are generally average people looking for incremental improvements in their looks for appropriate reasons. And they number in the millions.
