Plastic Surgery – Erasing the Stigma

Bloomfield Hills, MI – There used to be a time when a visit to the office of a plastic surgeon was hidden and even lied about. For years, plastic surgery had a negative stigma associated with it. But that’s not the case any longer, as statistics show that the number of Americans seeking out cosmetic procedures continues to increase.

“In 2014 alone, Americans spent more than $12 billion on plastic surgery, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons,” says Dr. Ali. “Not only that, the number of male plastic surgery procedures increased nearly 43 percent. More people are realizing that there shouldn’t be any shame or embarrassment associated with having work done.”

Plastic surgery has been around for quite some time. In fact, ancient Egyptians are said to have played around with reshaping the nose, and in the 1700s British physicians visiting India brought back techniques that would lead to the modern day nose job. The first recorded breast augmentation was performed in 1895, and the first breast implant materials were used in 1899. The first formal training program in the United States was established at Johns Hopkins in 1924. And Hollywood stars were visiting the surgeon’s office as early as Hollywood’s golden age in the 1930s and 40s.

For years, people, especially those in Hollywood, tried to hide their visits to their surgeon’s offices, though.

“For some reason, in the earlier days, and even until rather recently, plastic surgery has carried a negative image,” says Dr. Ali. “While it can certainly be overdone, most people who get plastic surgery procedures are doing it to improve their lives. Certified and trained plastic surgeons work hard to better the lives of our patients.”

In 2014, Americans had a total of 15.6 million procedures, both minimally-invasive and surgical. The demand for plastic surgery continues to grow as we see great strides in technology and procedures. This creates more options for patients looking to improve themselves.

And for those who think people who turn to plastic surgery are simply trying to recapture their youth, that’s not necessarily the case. When asked why they opted for surgery, many women often state they have a desire to look more refreshed and to look on the outside the way they feel on the inside. That doesn’t necessarily mean looking like a 25 year old again.

“Plastic surgery has advanced so much that we can accomplish beautiful and natural looking results, without it even really looking as if you’ve had work done,” says Dr. Ali. “Years ago, it was much more obvious to tell who had visited a surgeon. But today, we can help you achieve a more refreshed look that will often leave people wondering if you had surgery, or if you’ve just been taking better care of yourself.”

And this, perhaps, is why we are seeing the number of procedures performed continuing to increase. When your best friend suddenly has a relaxed, glowing look and seems to be enjoying life more than ever, it can be hard not to want the same thing for yourself.

“I tell my patients all the time that plastic surgery should be done for one person and one person only – themselves,” says Dr. Ali. “It is such a joy to watch someone become truly happy once again after a procedure. If you hate looking in the mirror every day, your life will begin to suffer. And there is simply no reason why that should be, and I love seeing that the stigma associated with my work is falling away.”

If you’re ready to discover the power of plastic surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali today.