Plastic surgery is becoming more popular for people of color -- more African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American individuals are having plastic surgery, both to enhance the face and and the body. In 2011, there were 1,609,372 cosmetic procedures performed on Hispanics. This was an increase of 8% from 2010, in which 1,489,152 procedures were performed.
Every year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) publishes a report of the prior year’s procedure statistics. They consider both cosmetic procedures and minimally invasive procedures. They also categorize their statistics by gender, age, region, and race. The most popular surgical cosmetic procedures for Hispanics in 2011 were the same as in 2010; however, the order of popularity has changed.
- Liposuction
In 2010, liposuction was the second most popular procedure for Hispanics. In 2011, it moved into the number one position. Liposuction involves removing unwanted fat from certain areas to redefine the contours of the body. It can be done on body parts both above the waist and below the waist. While the ideal candidates are at or near their ideal weight, more and more liposuction is being used for heavier people for “debulking” purposes.
- Breast Augmentation
In the number one position in 2010, breast augmentation moved into the number two position in 2011 for the Hispanic population. Breast augmentation involves enhancing the shape and increasing the size of the breasts with saline or silicone implants. It can be done through various incisions -- armpit, areola, breast crease, and in some instances, even the belly button. A person’s own fat can also be used to enhance the breasts if enough fat is available. While the use of breast implants are more predictable and a larger breast size can be attained, the use of fat avoids the use of a foreign object.
- Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty involves surgical reshaping of the nose. It can narrow a wide nose, give definition to a bulbous tip, elevate a droopy tip, and remove a large hump.
The term Hispanic refers to a wide variety of peoples. People known as Hispanic in the United States can be descendants from Spain, Portugal, Mexico, or other countries, and the appearances between groups can vary widely. The “classic” Hispanic nose, however, is one that has some features similar to many African-American noses. The tip is not pointed and the nose and/or nostrils may be wider.
At one point in cosmetic surgery history, the goal of rhinoplasty was to make all noses thin with narrow nostrils, regardless of the other facial features. In present time, the goal of rhinoplasty is to make a nose that is in harmony with the other facial features. The goal of Hispanic rhinoplasty surgery, then, is not to create a Caucasian nose, but to create a nose that is compatible with the Hispanic face.
While the purpose of rhinoplasty in Caucasians is usually to make the nose smaller, so that the tip is not so far away from the face, nose surgery in Hispanics typically involves increasing the nose’s projection, so it is not as flat, and narrowing of the nostrils.
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