Introduction
Plastic surgery is a specialty of medicine that deals with the esthetic recontouring, reconstruction, and restoration of the human body. Plastic surgery has been practiced since ancient times. The evolution of cosmetic surgery is rooted back in the ancient study of medicine and surgery. In 600 BC, an ancient Indian medical surgeon named Sushruta described the nasal reconstruction procedure using a flap tissue from the cheeks in his world-famous Sanskrit book “Sushruta Samhita.” This book served as the basic foundation for medical practitioners all across the world to practice plastic surgery procedures. The development of this surgical branch is believed to have occurred after the First World War. Since then, there has been no turning back. Today, plastic surgery has attained newer heights. With the advent of newer technologies, the latest trends, and increased esthetic demands among human beings globally, plastic (cosmetic) surgery is able to show immense advancements in the field of medical science for improved patient healthcare, esthetics, and concerns. This article will highlight the latest trends and emerging techniques that will further pave the way for the future of plastic surgery.
What Are the Latest Advancements of Plastic Surgery?
Since the inception of plastic surgery, rapid advancements in the fields of healthcare and technology have taken place. Due to these latest developments, plastic surgery has come a long way. Talking about these innovations have drastically made plastic surgery procedures safer, more effective, and more patient-friendly. Let us know about some of the latest innovations in plastic surgery technologies.
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Microsurgery - In general terms, microsurgery is referred to as a type of surgery that requires an operating microscope as a tool to perform complex restorative surgeries. It is a modern-day surgical procedure that demands high-precision tools, improved magnification, and accurate diploscopes. This technique has been utilized in nerve grafting procedures, blood vessel repair, and tissue grafting.
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Three-dimensional (3D) Imaging - Significant advances have been made in plastic surgery due to 3D imaging. Doctors are able to create a digital model of the patients to identify the outcome of surgery before it actually takes place. This technology is highly useful in patients undergoing craniofacial reconstruction surgeries. Meticulous planning and precise measurements are needed for such complex procedures, and three-dimensional imaging makes it possible.
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Three-dimensional (3D) Printing - Similarly, 3D printing has created a stir in the field of plastic surgery by allowing the creation of customized prosthetics and implants for plastic surgery patients. This technique has helped surgeons a lot. Since these are customized, they fit properly inside a patient’s body. For example, in breast cancer reconstruction cases, the customized implants are found to be more useful than the conventional implants.
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Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality- In the medical domain, augmented reality (AR) has been able to provide crucial information about the positioning of internal organs to cosmetic surgeons. Virtual reality has enabled patients to try different surgical procedures before the actual surgery takes place. Virtual reality has also enabled surgeons to simulate certain complex procedures to visualize the risks and outcomes of a complex surgery well in advance. Virtual reality analgesia is a new emerging technique that is being used in plastic surgery procedures to immerse the patient in a completely different virtual environment to alleviate the patient’s pain and reduce the dependency of these surgical procedures on pharmacological drugs and medications. Additionally, virtual reality helps in patient education.
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Lasers and Injectables in Facial Plastic Surgery - Laser therapy has played a significant role in the esthetic and reconstruction field. It is a noninvasive procedure that has become quite popular in recent years in facial plastic surgery. These are in-office procedures that can be performed without administering general anesthesia. For instance, laser therapy has been used in skin resurfacing cases. It is also used to remove unwanted hair and old scars effectively. Injectables are also a noninvasive technique that is popularly used to deliver injectable fillers to fill in wrinkles or plump lips.
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Advanced Imaging Techniques - Imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) have enabled plastic surgeons to get a better idea of the patient’s anatomy. This helps the doctors to make a conscious and informed decision about plastic surgery. Also, they can be used to check the post-surgery healing and recovery of the patients.
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Stem Cell Therapy- Stem cell therapy has shown promising results in the field of regenerative medicine. It has been possible to achieve natural-appearing results in facial or breast reconstruction surgeries.
What Will Be the Top Trends in Plastic Surgery in the Future?
Some of the top trends of plastic surgery in the future will be:
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The patients will prefer more natural-appearing facial esthetics. They will aspire to preserve their natural features while using plastic surgery procedures to enhance their facial structures rather than completely reconstructing them.
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Fillers and fat injections are here to stay. Their ability to get injected into various different areas of the body has made it feasible for surgeons to sculpt and restructure different parts of the body. They are, therefore, quite popular these days.
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Patients will opt for more noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures.
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Gender-affirming surgeries will become quite popular due to the acceptance of such people in society and with the implementation of certain laws.
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Penile enhancement will be another top trend in the cosmetic industry as the stigma revolving around plastic surgery has reduced.
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There has been a drastic increase in the BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) surgeries in the current years to create a visible waist-to-hip ratio difference. It rose to fame with its increasing demand among celebrities and social influencers.
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Height lengthening procedures will definitely become more popular, where both the femurs will be broken to increase the patient’s height and make them look taller.
Conclusion
The future of plastic surgery is quite interesting and fascinating. Over the years, plastic surgery procedures have stood the test of time. People will be more inclined towards natural-looking aesthetics rather than curves. In the future, to achieve incredible results, individual cosmetic procedures will be tailored based on the patient’s profile and requirements. There will be a remarkable expansion in the demand for plastic surgery procedures among the public. Subtle facial rejuvenation will become the paradigm (criterion) of plastic surgery procedures.
