More individuals are turning to cosmetic, plastic surgery to enhance their appearance

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Lisa Larson - thespectrum.com - Dec. 11, 2008

Magazines, movies and other media often tout the perfect body image - an image that, for most, is difficult to obtain. However, with plastic surgery, many people are getting closer to their personal ideal.

"It's more people, and not necessarily who you'd expect," said Dr. Robert Rhodes of The Center for Advanced Plastic Surgery of St. George. "It's just people across the board".

Unlike Hollywood dramatizations of Rhodes' profession, such as Dr. 90210 and Nip/Tuck - which Rhodes said is "As realistic as 'Indiana Jones' " - the cosmetic plastic surgery business in Southern Utah is more about helping people look and feel their best. In the past it's been a business patroned mostly by women seeking everything from face lifts to liposuction, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and more.

Today, more men are getting in on the plastic surgery scene, and for both genders plastic surgery is becoming more socially acceptable.

"It's a cultural phenomenon," Rhodes said, citing the baby boomers who, as a group, "don't take getting old lightly."

The term "plastic" in plastic surgery is actually derived from a Greek word meaning "to form or mold," Rhodes said. Those who specialize in reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery are board certified surgeons who then go on to obtain additional training. Though regular surgeons can legally perform plastic surgery, Rhodes recommends finding someone who specializes in the area.

Depending on the procedure, the demographics of those generally seeking cosmetic surgery vary greatly. Dr. Kent E. Gardner of Coral Desert Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in St. George, said he typically sees women ages 40 to 70 who are seeking some sort of face lift, while other facial surgeries, such as rhinoplasty, are requested by people as young as 16.

"Everybody's skin ages at a different rate," Gardner said, so some patients requesting face lifts, injection treatments like Botox and others, are much younger than 40.

Ironically, both Rhodes and Gardner agree society places too much emphasis on the perfect body image, but both view plastic surgery as just another way for people to try and look their best. Rhodes used the example of a woman getting ready in the morning by showering, brushing her teeth, putting on nice clothes and doing her makeup - all in an effort to maximize her appearance. Adding plastic surgery to the list of self-care doesn't mean you've crossed the line into vanity, Rhodes said.

Both Rhodes and Gardner screen patients seeking surgery to determine their motivation and anticipated results.

"People have to be realistic about it," Rhodes said, regarding people's expectations about what plastic surgery will bring, not just in terms of the physical results, but the social ramifications some people expect after making such a physical change. Those with unrealistic expectations - thinking that a better nose will get a certain girl's attention, for example - will ultimately be disappointed.

"It's not magic or painless," Rhodes said, "it's real surgery... People have to be realistic about it."

As with any procedure, there are risks involved in cosmetic surgery such as bleeding, infection and possible permanent numbness, but Gardner said these things are only seen occasionally. Rhodes said in some ways the risks are lower with plastic surgery than with other procedures because it can be scheduled for a time when your body is most healthy, and is done when the surgical team is fresh mentally and physically.

"All things that are possible to control are controlled with cosmetic surgery," Rhodes said.