Costs of Plastic Surgery Vary Worldwide

Plastic surgery costs is one of the most frequent plastic surgery related Internet searches.

Now, a global group of plastic surgeons, the 1700-member International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS,) has released, not only the costs of plastic surgery in other nations, but the amounts plastic surgeons earned as of January, 2008.

First, the prices paid in other nations for cosmetic plastic surgery:

• U.S. and Western Europe for rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, face lift, hip and thigh contouring and breast reduction: $5,000 to $10,000.
• South America - except Brazil - and all of Asia except China, Japan and Korea: all procedures under $5,000.
• Brazil: Charges for tummy tuck, facelift, hip and thigh body contouring: $5,000 to $10,000. All other procedures: under $5,000.

Prices were difficult to establish because ISAPS only has several members in China, Japan and Korea. Most members are in Western Europe, the U.S. and Brazil. Asian ISAPS members only make up 9.8% of the society.

Now, the 64,000-dollar question: How much do plastic surgeons make?

• Western Europe: 30.8% earn just under $250,000. 27.4% earn $250,000 to $500,000.
• United States: 17.3% earn over $2 million. The second highest, personal income between $750,000 and $1 million.
• Brazil: 50% earn less than $250,000 yearly. 32.2% reported gross income between $250,000 and $500,000.
• Australia and New Zealand: 20.3% reported earning between $750,000 and $1 million. 19% earned between $1million and $1.25 million. Another 19% reported over $2 million.

Some of those figures sound huge but don't forget the cost of operating a business - staff salaries and benefits, office rent, malpractice insurance, advertising and other overhead -- can be huge, easily consuming 80% of gross income.

How much do you think a plastic surgeon should make?

Plastic Surgery: Is It O.K. for Teens?

Teenagers also watch television shows like:

• Dr. 90210
• Nip-Tuck
• Real Housewives of Orange County

and other programs about cosmetic plastic surgery.

They see how others improve their looks and gain self-confidence by getting rid of ungainly features like a big nose, ears that stick out or acne scars.

If ever there existed a group of people who want to look good, it's teens!

Moreover, statistics show that more adolescents are having plastic surgery treatments.

In 2007, The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reveals that 330,000 people 13 to 19 had plastic surgery, with the top procedures being:

• Rhinoplasty (38,886)
• Male Breast Reductions (16,400)
• Breast Augmentation (10,505)
• Ear Pinning- Otoplasty (8,062)
• Liposuction (4,960)

The invasive surgeries on teens totaled 87,601.

But the real surprise: teens had more minimally invasive procedures like:

• Botox
• Laser hair removal
• Laser skin resurfacing,
• Leg vein treatment
• Microdermabrasion

That total? 224,658!

So what are the guidelines for teens?

Technically, plastic surgery patients should be over 18. But plastic surgeons will make exceptions if the disliked feature - like unflattering ears or a big nose - causes misery in the teen's life.

The youngster must also be able to understand all the consequences of surgery, such as:

• A slight chance for complications
• A healing period is necessary
• You will still look like yourself

The young man or woman must also be mature enough to understand a nose job or ear pinning is not a ticket to better life or all-around problem solver.

The desire for surgery must also come from the teenager him or herself.

Teens likely to be quickly shown the door are the ones taken to a plastic surgeon by a parent who wants certain features changed.

If the surgeon sees a young person with a "whatever" attitude, and the parent does all the talking, the surgery is very likely not to take place.

One of the most quickly granted cosmetic plastic surgeries on young people is otoplasty, or ear pinning. Why?

The procedure can be done at five years of age.

Many plastic surgeons understand a life-long self-esteem problem can be formed if a child starts school and is immediately hounded by teasing and harassment about the large ears.

Plastic Surgery in Politics

With the U.S. national elections over, we can summarize what part cosmetic and plastic surgery played in the election.

Everybody saw how good 44-year-old Sara Palin looked. But she was a beauty queen in her 20s so maybe her secret was being born with great genes.

Orange County plastic surgeon blogger John Di Saia, M.D., says the jury would remain out on the question of Palin's surgical rejuvenation without good, close up-pictures of her face now and at age 20.

Tony Youn, M.D., another plastic surgeon blogger, thinks Palin probably had Botox in her forehead, skin rejuvenation by lasers or laser peels and teeth whitening.

Stars Plastic Surgery agrees and thinks Palin's features show some facial fillers.

And while nobody has actual proof, the Huffington Post blog, tracked rumors to Palin's beauty shop in Wasilla, Alaska, and revealed that Palin has permanent Lip liner in the form of a tattoo.

Another doctor, John Lott, Ph.D., revealed on his blog that Sarah Palin has a tattoo of the Big Dipper (also on the Alaska state flag) on an ankle. No bloggers have turned up any actual pictures but there are many skin-colored cosmetic creams that hide tats.

Democrats did not escape bloggers' scrutiny.

The Jossip blog found close-up before and after pictures of Joe Biden that indicate the vice presidential forehead has been surgically rejuvenated - or at least had Botox.

Note how wide and bright his eyes seem for a 65-year-old man. That's a possible sign of an upper eyelid lift.

In Your Face, the Orange County Register's blog, asked plastic surgeons and dermatologists what they would do for the McCain face. Ideas included Botox in the forehead, around his eyes to soften crow's feet and other skin refreshing procedures like facial fillers and laser treatments.

The experts noticed that McCain has probably already had an upper eyelid lift, along with laser skin treatments.

An earlier In Your Face blog had a lot more to say about plastic and cosmetic surgery for Hillary Clinton. And as our secretary of state, Madam Secretary may think more about refreshing her 60-year-old appearance with a full face lift.


What about Obama?

Probably because he is only 47, cosmetic and plastic surgery bloggers had surprisingly little to say except for possible nasal surgery.

What do you think? Has Obama had a nose job?