Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Consumers opt in for surgical procedures in pursuit of youth

The rising urge felt by consumers to reshape and remove those stubborn fatty bulges is increasing the popularity of liposuction procedures both here and abroad.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital (AACSH), a reference centre in the Middle East, recently released a review of aesthetic medicine market trends in the first half of 2016.

It mentions that the leading procedures during this time correlate with the desire to look young, demonstrating a continued popularity for traditional treatments including: liposuction (46 per cent), breast surgery (18 per cent), abdominoplasty (15 per cent), cosmetic gynaecology (11 per cent) and rhinoplasty (10 per cent).

Dr Peter Cruse, CEO at The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, said: “Conducting analyses such as the ‘Aesthetic Medicine Market Trends’ report remain integral for us to grow our services to match patient demand. Although global trends offer a useful indication for us, we adapt services according to our market, catering for UAE residents as well as international visitors seeking quality care, with the rise of medical tourism.”

Botox and fillers (53 per cent) remain in the top spot for non-invasive procedures, followed by body contouring (17 per cent), skin rejuvenation with platelet rich plasma (14 per cent), facelift and rejuvenation (9 per cent) and fat reduction (6 per cent).

On a separate note, Dr B Venkata Ratnam, plastic surgeon, NMC Specialty Hospital, Abu Dhabi, told The Gulf Today the need to reshape after weight loss has increased the popularity of the liposuction procedure resulting in the patients gaining an incredible boost of self-esteem.

“During the liposuction procedure, fat is suctioned from the body under anaesthesia, through small skin incisions, utilising thin metallic tubes (or rods), and different types of energy such as negative pressure, ultrasonic energy, laser etc.

LIPOSUCTION

“Performed by experts, all such liposuction techniques tend to yield satisfactory results. Liposuction can be done on different parts of the body such as the face, chin, neck, trunk, extremities etc,” Ratnam said.

“Earlier, while performing liposuction along with tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) operation, it was fraught with several risks to the patient and the surgical sites. With advancements in technology and surgical techniques, now it is much safer to perform both of them during the same sitting (Lipoabdominoplasty),” Ratnam opined.

He adds: “While health aspects of each are added up in the combined procedure involving liposuction and abdominoplasty, called ‘Lipo-abdominoplasty’, the immediate benefits of liposuction can be both physical and mental. It is like sculpting the body when exercise and dieting fail.”

He explained, “Tightening of the muscles of the tummy can correct the spinal deformity that had resulted from the laxity of the abdominal muscles. This gives relief from the backaches that had resulted from the abdominal muscle-derangement.

“In addition, some of the female patients with laxity of abdomen, were also found to have menstrual disorders and urinary disorders such as urgency and frequency. Many of them, surprisingly, found these were corrected when the abdomen was restored to near normalcy. So, this is an added benefit of “Lipoabdominoplasty”. As a result, not only cosmetic benefits but also the quality of life improved. There are housewives and working women alike who are victims, so this is beneficial in the daily lives of those silent sufferers,” Ratnam observed.

Moreover, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, as the only hospital in the Middle East and an educational centre, last year welcomed more than 20,000 visitors from the UAE, the region and the world.

While different cosmetic trends come and go, one remains constant – the desire to look young and attractive will never wane, the release adds.

BODYBUILDING

Although more ‘traditional’ cosmetic surgery procedures continue to reign supreme in popularity – with liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast surgery, cosmetic gynaecology and rhinoplasty, the hospital’s top five cosmetic surgeries – patients are increasingly looking to new technologies to provide them with the same result.

According to statistics of the hospital for 2015 “Bodybuilding Sculpture” liposuction – during which fat is removed from areas such as the stomach, chest and flanks to create the appearance of more defined muscle – was the most popular procedure amongst the hospital’s male patients, making up 26 per cent of all male patient procedures performed.

In addition, over the past year the hospital has significantly improved patient convenience and safety by adding a hospital pharmacy and a clinical laboratory and by upgrading ICU and some inpatient rooms.

These infrastructure improvements now pave the way for the hospital to offer a broader range of surgical services which includes hair transplantation, urology, minor orthopaedic surgery, minimally invasive spinal surgery and more low-risk general surgery.

Shamila Jamaluddin


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