In 2017 17.5 million Americans had plastic surgery. If you’re interested in a tummy tuck, nose job or another cosmetic procedure, you’re not alone.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recently released its annual survey that reveals how many people are undergoing plastic surgery and what kinds of procedures they are seeking. The report showed a 2 percent increase in the number of surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in 2017 as compared to 2016.

“For some people plastic surgery probably still has a stigma attached to it, but millions more realize that improving yourself is okay and should be accepted,” says Dr. Deepak Raj Dugar, a world-renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon who specializes in the Scarless Nose™, or closed rhinoplasty, procedure that leaves no sign of an incision.

When researching plastic surgeon Dr. Dugar had this to say to identify a well-trained, professional doctor to suit your needs, “The best way to find a professional well-trained doctor is to search online and then correlate your search based on asking local doctors and physicians. Local physicians usually know of or hear of the work from any respectable surgeon in their area, especially if the doctor is well known for a specific type of procedure.  Reviews are also important but I wouldn’t rely on them solely.  Find the long intense reviews that are paragraphs long and read those – usually those are real patients writing about real experiences.  And most importantly of all for plastic surgery specifically, look and study the before and after photos and make sure the aesthetic results the doctor achieves are in line with the aesthetic concept you have yourself.  Local colleague reputation, online reviews and online presence, and before and after photos – correlate amongst all three to find your doctor!”

Here are Dugar’s top three things to keep in mind when considering plastic surgery:

1. Do you really need to change? Sometimes people are determined to change something about their bodies that really doesn’t need changing. “Not everyone needs surgery,” Dugar says. “I actually on occasion tell patients that their nose looks fine, they should leave it the way it is.”
2. Be sure you know what you’re getting. Patients can be disappointed if they and the plastic surgeon aren’t clear with each other on what to expect. “The patient needs to understand the limitations and goals of the surgery before undergoing it,” Dugar says. “For example, you might be expecting a dramatically different look, but the changes are actually much more understated. The only thing I get accused of is doing too little to a nose, and I’m totally okay with that.”
3. Safety is critical. “It’s important that your plastic surgeon picks safety over results,” Dugar says. “Safety has to and always should come first.”

The top five cosmetic surgical procedures in 2017 were, in order, breast augmentation, liposuction, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery and tummy tucks.

Meanwhile, the most popular minimally invasive procedures were Botox, soft-tissue fillers, chemical peel, laser-hair removal and microdermabrasion.

Dugar says one of the key features of successful plastic surgery is subtlety.

“The secret of Hollywood celebrities is doing Botox with plastic surgeons who understand the artistry behind the science – where less is more,” he says.

Many Americans don’t want to go under the knife to achieve the changes they seek. The ASPS reported 15.7 million minimally invasive procedures were performed in 2017.  Surgeries accounted for the remaining 1.8 million procedures.

Dugar says plastic surgeons often concentrate on specific procedures, as he does with closed rhinoplasty, so anyone considering cosmetic surgery should seek a surgeon whose experience lies in the procedure they desire.

“You don’t want the person who specializes in noses doing your breasts,” he says, “and you don’t want the one who specializes in breast augmentation doing your nose.”

About Deepak Raj Dugar, M.D.

Dr. Deepak Raj Dugar (www.scarlessnose.com) is a world-renowned, Beverly Hills plastic surgeon. Referred to as the “Celeb Scarless Rhinoplasty Plastic Surgeon” by E! News, has become famous for his Scarless Nose™ (closed rhinoplasty) technique and his non-surgical approach to the face and body. He has served as a medical contributor and advisor to E! News, Sirius XM Radio, Huffington Post and ABC News regarding cosmetic procedures used by Hollywood celebrities. His research in the medical field has been published in peer-reviewed journals and he continues to lecture and teach at national medical conferences around the country.