Patients seek breast augmentation, wrinkle relaxers, surgeons say

Reported by: Jaime Hayden Email: jhayden@mynews4.com

http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/playlist/25504/5448954

News 4 looked at what neighbors in northern Nevada are turning to plastic surgery to change. “The typical patient that comes in to see me has been thinking about whatever procedure they’re coming to see me about for years,” said plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Kiener.

Kiener sees around 15 new patients a week and 80 percent of his surgeries are cosmetic. “People, their motivation is typically that they don’t like something about themselves, and fortunately in my practice most the time it’s the patient that is motivating themselves to come here as opposed to a significant other.”

That is exactly why 60-year-old Janet Baron of Reno said she got a facelift three years ago. “I was taking care of my parents, I had a horrible marriage for 10 years, and I wanted to do something for me.”

Baron said she did not like the extra skin under her chin, but it was more than just changing her face. “I feel better, it’s almost like a new me.”

Now, she said strangers often think her 31-year-old son could be her husband. “Okay that’s kind of cool, he’s really upset, he goes that’s gross, but I go, you have to understand that makes me feel good.”

Although Baron said the selfie phenomenon did not affect her decision to go under the knife. Kiener said social media is playing a role for many, including opting for non-surgical procedures. “Things like Botox, the fillers, laser hair removal, as well as other laser and light based treatments.”

Still, Reno plastic surgeon Dr. Phillip Dahan said the number one cosmetic surgery on women’s wish list is breast augmentation. “The majority undergo breast implant surgery, such as augmentation to enhance the size, shape, projection of the breasts, and even to improve two breasts that don’t match, so to improve symmetry.”

Dahan said Botox, fillers, nose jobs and pec implants are popular options for guys, but men still only represent 10-percent of his plastic surgery patients. “Every now and then I have males that are very concerned that they try to exercise and improve the bulk and tone of the chest muscles and they can’t or they want to take it to another level, so it’s a great operation to do it.”

Kiener said he sometimes has to say no, but it is not easy. “You also have to be the patients advocate and say to them, ‘Well, I don’t think this is a good idea for you,” now the problem with that is that they’re so motivated that you know they’re going to go down to street and see somebody else, so where do you draw the line and that is a very difficult thing to do.”

Kiener said over the last two years he has seen the biggest increase in butt surgery. He also said plastic surgery is most popular among women ages 35 to 50, followed by women ages 50 to 65, and then women between ages 20 and 35.