Consumer Survey from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Shows Americans Want to Look Better, Not Different.

Despite the popularity of "makeover" reality shows, most Americans who might consider cosmetic plastic surgery would not want to drastically change their appearance, according to a national survey of 1000 American households sponsored by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). Among women and men who said they would consider having cosmetic surgery, 68 percent would prefer a subtle change in their appearance, while less than one-quarter (23 percent) would consider an extreme change desirable. This finding, says ASAPS, is consistent with the experience of board-certified plastic surgeons, whose patients often stress that they want natural-looking results that will make them look better but not extremely different.

You're right on there. As a plastic surgeon, I find my patients have a growing reluctance to choose elective surgery. A very large percentage of them asked if there is a nonsurgical option. I find myself reluctant to move in that direction since I think that surgical results are still superior in almost every way to nonsurgical results.

It's true that the reality shows have had little positive impact on the way my patients view surgery. they're all excited about the results but seeing a subsidized forhead scares them.

While some of the new devices have their place, I can't see surgery going anywhere anytime soon.

You'll get my scalpel when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

I agree. There is a need for non-surgical procedures and also one for surgery. Plastic surgery has no replacement.

Non-surgical procedures can only fix tiny cosmetic problems. A pt. with breasts sagging to their knees is not going to benefit from anything other than a surgical breast lift. I belive the two treatment modalities compliment each other very well.

I wish I had a plastic surgeon I could refer pts to that I can't help and that I had a PS to refer pts to me that surgery is over-kill for.

Unfortunately because of competition it's almost impossible to find a credible PS or dermatologist to refer to/from. What ends up happening is the PS has thier RNs doing the same procedures I offer and cut into my business. However, my overhead is so low, so my prices are too which makes it hard for them to compete. Hence a constant battle and no one wants to refer for fear of loss of business.

So what happens? The med spa or PS does the procedure and the poor pt. ends up getting surgery they dont need or wastes money on a non-surgical procedure that does not work.

This is not good for either the PS, the med spa or pt.

Can't we just all get along?

Non-surgical procedures can only fix tiny cosmetic problems. A pt. with breasts sagging to their knees is not going to benefit from anything other than a surgical breast lift. I belive the two treatment modalities compliment each other very well.

I wish I had a plastic surgeon I could refer pts to that I can't help and that I had a PS to refer pts to me that surgery is over-kill for.

Unfortunately because of competition it's almost impossible to find a credible PS or dermatologist to refer to/from. What ends up happening is the PS has thier RNs doing the same procedures I offer and cut into my business. However, my overhead is so low, so my prices are too which makes it hard for them to compete. Hence a constant battle and no one wants to refer for fear of loss of business.

So what happens? The med spa or PS does the procedure and the poor pt. ends up getting surgery they dont need or wastes money on a non-surgical procedure that does not work.

This is not good for either the PS, the med spa or pt.

Can't we just all get along?

Non-surgical procedures can only fix tiny cosmetic problems. A pt. with breasts sagging to their knees is not going to benefit from anything other than a surgical breast lift. I belive the two treatment modalities compliment each other very well.

I wish I had a plastic surgeon I could refer pts to that I can't help and that I had a PS to refer pts to me that surgery is over-kill for.

Unfortunately because of competition it's almost impossible to find a credible PS or dermatologist to refer to/from. What ends up happening is the PS has thier RNs doing the same procedures I offer and cut into my business. However, my overhead is so low, so my prices are too which makes it hard for them to compete. Hence a constant battle and no one wants to refer for fear of loss of business.

So what happens? The med spa or PS does the procedure and the poor pt. ends up getting surgery they dont need or wastes money on a non-surgical procedure that does not work.

This is not good for either the PS, the med spa or pt.

Can't we just all get along?

Non-surgical procedures can only fix tiny cosmetic problems. A pt. with breasts sagging to their knees is not going to benefit from anything other than a surgical breast lift. I belive the two treatment modalities compliment each other very well.

I wish I had a plastic surgeon I could refer pts to that I can't help and that I had a PS to refer pts to me that surgery is over-kill for.

Unfortunately because of competition it's almost impossible to find a credible PS or dermatologist to refer to/from. What ends up happening is the PS has thier RNs doing the same procedures I offer and cut into my business. However, my overhead is so low, so my prices are too which makes it hard for them to compete. Hence a constant battle and no one wants to refer for fear of loss of business.

So what happens? The med spa or PS does the procedure and the poor pt. ends up getting surgery they dont need or wastes money on a non-surgical procedure that does not work.

This is not good for either the PS, the med spa or pt.

Can't we just all get along?

Non-surgical procedures can only fix tiny cosmetic problems. A pt. with breasts sagging to their knees is not going to benefit from anything other than a surgical breast lift. I belive the two treatment modalities compliment each other very well.

I wish I had a plastic surgeon I could refer pts to that I can't help and that I had a PS to refer pts to me that surgery is over-kill for.

Unfortunately because of competition it's almost impossible to find a credible PS or dermatologist to refer to/from. What ends up happening is the PS has thier RNs doing the same procedures I offer and cut into my business. However, my overhead is so low, so my prices are too which makes it hard for them to compete. Hence a constant battle and no one wants to refer for fear of loss of business.

So what happens? The med spa or PS does the procedure and the poor pt. ends up getting surgery they dont need or wastes money on a non-surgical procedure that does not work.

This is not good for either the PS, the med spa or pt.

Can't we just all get along?

Non-surgical procedures can only fix tiny cosmetic problems. A pt. with breasts sagging to their knees is not going to benefit from anything other than a surgical breast lift. I belive the two treatment modalities compliment each other very well.

I wish I had a plastic surgeon I could refer pts to that I can't help and that I had a PS to refer pts to me that surgery is over-kill for.

Unfortunately because of competition it's almost impossible to find a credible PS or dermatologist to refer to/from. What ends up happening is the PS has thier RNs doing the same procedures I offer and cut into my business. However, my overhead is so low, so my prices are too which makes it hard for them to compete. Hence a constant battle and no one wants to refer for fear of loss of business.

So what happens? The med spa or PS does the procedure and the poor pt. ends up getting surgery they dont need or wastes money on a non-surgical procedure that does not work.

This is not good for either the PS, the med spa or pt.

Can't we just all get along?

Non-surgical procedures can only fix tiny cosmetic problems. A pt. with breasts sagging to their knees is not going to benefit from anything other than a surgical breast lift. I belive the two treatment modalities compliment each other very well.

I wish I had a plastic surgeon I could refer pts to that I can't help and that I had a PS to refer pts to me that surgery is over-kill for.

Unfortunately because of competition it's almost impossible to find a credible PS or dermatologist to refer to/from. What ends up happening is the PS has thier RNs doing the same procedures I offer and cut into my business. However, my overhead is so low, so my prices are too which makes it hard for them to compete. Hence a constant battle and no one wants to refer for fear of loss of business.

So what happens? The med spa or PS does the procedure and the poor pt. ends up getting surgery they dont need or wastes money on a non-surgical procedure that does not work.

This is not good for either the PS, the med spa or pt.

Can't we just all get along?