Plastic Surgeons Note Advances in Cosmetic Procedures for Ethnic Minority Patients, Advise Awareness During Treatment

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of cosmetic procedures performed on ethnic minorities has increased exponentially in recent years, jumping by 243 percent from 2000 to 2010 alone, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The reasons for this increase may include greater awareness of the aesthetic improvements that plastic surgery can provide, but improved technology and the refinement of surgical approaches for ethnically specific areas such as the eyes and the nose are also factors.

Patients of color are now able to consistently receive desirable outcomes from a wide variety of cosmetic procedures. The plastic surgeons from the Center for Plastic Surgery note several important factors that must be considered when treating ethnic patients:

1. Scarring. Cosmetic procedures for ethnic patients require a careful approach to avoid scarring due to the amount of melanin, or brown pigment, in the skin. Unsightly, raised hypertrophic scars and keloid scars can form in patients with deeper skin tones, making today's less invasive surgical approaches very desirable. Many common procedures have been refined to strategically place incisions in less visible locations or to allow for smaller incisions. Scarring issues have also been reduced by significant advancements in post-operative scar treatment.

2. Pigment Irregularities. For some patients, hyperpigmentation or dark spots are an issue while others experience hypopigmentation, which leaves white or faded spots. While technological advances have made treatments with lasers safer for patients of color, all cosmetic procedures such as laser treatments, chemical peels, and dermabrasion that affect the surface of the skin should be approached with caution. Patients considering any of these treatments should consult with an experienced plastic surgeon and request a skin test to help assess the risk of an adverse result.

3. Preserving Ethnic Characteristics. While patients may desire a change through cosmetic surgery, most want to retain their hereditary characteristics while making an aesthetic improvement. In planning a facial procedure, surgeons consult extensively with patients to understand their concept of beauty before attempting to restructure a nose or reshape the eyes. For example, ethnic rhinoplasty describes an approach to the nose reshaping procedure that achieves a patient's desired results while retaining the cultural identity of the face. Rhinoplasty is a particularly complicated procedure involving the bone, cartilage, and skin of the nose, and persons of color should seek a specialist for this surgery to avoid scarring or pigmentation issues.

Advances in plastic surgery for ethnic patients have helped fuel the boom in procedures performed on persons of color. While many cosmetic treatments are completely safe for all skin types, such as injectables like dermal fillers and BOTOX®, other aesthetic treatments should be approached more thoughtfully. Ethnic patients can expect reliable outcomes by selecting an experienced plastic surgeon and making strategic choices among products and surgical techniques.

About The Center for Plastic Surgery: The Center for Plastic Surgery serves the greater Washington, D.C., area with offices in northern Virginia and Maryland: 3299 Woodburn Road, Suite 490, Annandale, VA 22003, (703) 560-2850; and 5550 Friendship Boulevard, Suite 130, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, (301) 652-7700. For more information, visit http://www.cpsdocs.com.

Media Contact: Debbie Barwick, (877) 427-7888

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SOURCE The Center for Plastic Surgery