Fall is rapidly approaching with all the color, temperature, clothing, and sports changes that go along with it. For me, it is one of my most favorite times of the year. Over the past 30 years or so, there have been many changes. It seems as though summer rages for at least a month longer than it used to. Clothing styles have changed and now seem to be revisiting the past, only different. College football has turned into a semi-pro league where team and loyalty have been replaced by the dollars. Yet the season continues and the leaves will become colorful then fall in prelude to winter.

Change is the only constant in life said Heraclitus, the ancient Greek philosopher, and this edition of “The Consult” celebrates the changes we have seen in our cosmetic surgery profession. Over the past 30 years, we have traveled light-years away from where it all began. From the official founding of the AACS in 1985, we have seen significant growth in the field of cosmetic surgery and in the cosmetic space in general. What was once a very secretive thing, experienced only by the few, has become mainstream; and now with social media, cosmetic procedures of all types have moved to the next level: being experienced by the masses.

We have seen the use of toxins and filler materials explode to the point it is difficult to find a person who hasn’t used them. We have seen liposuction grow from a bloody hospital procedure to what is now a safe, outpatient experience with consistently good results in the right hands. Body contouring has expanded our use of liposuction with ultrasound, laser, radiofrequency, and now plasma revolutionizing minimally invasive skin contracture. These devices don’t replace skin removal when needed, but they fill a gap that desperately needed filling.

Microneedling, RF microneedling, fractionation of lasers, and other external skin tightening technologies have also come a long way in promoting skin contracture, reducing rhytids, and improving texture and color. In my opinion, in the right hands, all of the above-mentioned tools make cosmetic enhancement safer, which is the most important thing followed by results.

And here it comes folks… all that being said, everything is still compared to surgical remedies as the pinnacle of rejuvenation in most parts of the body, for those who need it. As we all know, minimally invasive tools will not help someone in need of a body lift, a breast or face lift, or an arm reduction. Poor patient selection is something we all have to deal with as more providers enter the market with little or no training or experience. This is bad because it makes a good technology for the right patient seem bad when used on the wrong patient forming preconceived notions that are sometimes propagated on social media. The good news is, with better anesthetic techniques, better tools, better surgical training due to the expansion of our collective knowledge and experience, more attention to principals of patient safety, ERAS protocols, and better patient selection, the whole surgical process is well, just better. And most importantly, in the right hands safer, with better results.

After 30 years, we have come a long way. We are collectively better at what we do. We have better technology and are focused on patient safety. All good things.

And now for a plug: Please join the Campaign of 100 if you are not there already. Sign up for an AACS committee or, if you are an ABCS diplomate, an ABCS committee. Get involved however you can and help promote our trade.

And above all… have a great fall!

– Jeffery Swetnam, MD, FAACS | President, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery

JOIN US TODAY: https://www.americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org/surgeons-join-us/