Surgery News : Lasers bringing new life to cosmetic surgery business; 'non-invasive' procedures proving popular

Lasers bringing new life to cosmetic surgery business; 'non-invasive' procedures proving popular

Cosmetic surgery is more popular than ever these days thanks to advances in laser technology. Now that doctors can do many operations without cutting and sewing, consumers are chomping at the bit to do things like remove cellulite and get rid of grey hair. "Non-invasive" procedures using laser techniques are up an amazing 1,504 percent since 1993. More than 1.8 million were done in 2003.

In the hot field of cosmetic surgery, look for advances this year in the use of lasers for everything from improving the appearance of that dreaded cellulite to removing gray hair.
Botox treatments and soft tissue fillers such as Restylane will continue to be popular in the Pittsburgh market as consumers opt for so-called "lunchtime procedures" that are less invasive and require less recovery time than a face lift or liposuction.
"If you subdivide procedures into surgical vs. nonsurgical, nonsurgical procedures are booming," said Dr. Leo McCafferty, a Pittsburgh plastic surgeon and a spokesman for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
The number of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed has risen 1,504 percent from 1992 to 2003, according to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, with 1.8 million procedures performed in 2003.
They are made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in human skin.
Restylane is an alternative to collagen injections, and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery predicts that it will surpass collagen this year as the most popular injectable cosmetic treatment.
A syringe of Restylane or other hyaluronic acid product might cost $500 or up, while the national average surgeon fee is around $373 for collagen, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
To avoid this, consumers should ask their doctors to check the Botox bottle and should make sure their doctors are certified to administer it.
A few local practices have started performing Thermage, one of the newest treatments available.
In the initial clinical trials of Thermage, 80 percent of patients experienced improvement, and about 6 percent had slight burns.
Thermage "is pretty painful," because the frequency is conducted along nerve endings, said Dr. Suzan Obagi, director of the Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05018/443857.stm