Technological advances have paved the way for us to spend more time on our cell phones, surfing the web, and engaging in social media interactions. Increasingly, we are seeing that these trends influence the types of plastic surgery procedures patients are requesting. For instance, recent statistics show that the popularity of chin augmentation procedures has surged. This may be partly attributed to the amount of “face time” spent using cell phones, and the way our faces and chins appear when looking down into our phones. The ease with which photos can be shared via internet social media sites also fuels our awareness of our appearance and our desire to look better in front of an ever increasing web audience.
Another emerging cosmetic surgery trend revolves around the “thigh gap” or “inner gap” between a woman’s inner thighs. This has garnered so much attention there are websites dedicated solely to posting photographs of “the gap”. For some women, a noticeable gap between the inner thighs may be achieved with diet and exercise. Part of the bulk in that area however, is due to muscle mass – thus athletic, muscular build does not lend itself to a significant thigh gap. If despite appropriate diet and exercise, there remains fat localized to the upper inner thigh area, liposuction may be considered as an option to thin out the thighs and help create the gap. As with any cosmetic procedure, realistic patient expectations and proper patient selection are extremely important before embarking on plastic surgery for this purpose. Very young women, especially teenagers, need to be thoroughly evaluated to determine if there are any underlying issues with body image prior to undertaking aesthetic surgery.
Dr. Olivia Hutchinson is a female board certified plastic surgeon whose Manhattan practice is dedicated to aesthetic surgery of the face, breast and body. Her NYC office boasts a fully accredited AAAASF operating room for the safety, privacy and comfort of her patients. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hutchinson, please contact us or call us at (212) 452-1400.
