Common Plastic Surgery Procedures Explained By Dr. Chase Derrick

Let’s talk about the most common plastic surgery procedures. Some I don’t doubt you have heard of and others may be new to you. Let’s break it down:

Most Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures:

1. Breast Augmentation (Breast Aug, Breast Implants, aka Boob Job)

• What it is: Involves increasing a patient’s breast size through implants (silicone or saline in nature) or fat transfer where fat cells are removed from one area of the body and injected into a another. The fat undergoes processing so just the best fat cells are injected. 

• Why it’s done: To enhance breast size, restore volume after pregnancy or weight loss, or for reconstruction after mastectomy.

2. Liposuction (Lipo)

• What it is: Removes excess fat from areas like the abdomen, thighs, arms, and hips.

• Why it’s done: To contour and reshape specific areas of the body. Liposuction can be used to create a more toned physique, sometimes through abdominal etching where those six pack ab indentations can be created or further defined. 

3. Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping, Nose Job)

• What it is: Reshapes the nose for cosmetic or functional reasons, such as improving breathing.

• Why it’s done: To change the shape or size of the nose or correct nasal structural issues.

4. Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty, Bleph)

• What it is: Removes excess skin and fat from the upper or lower eyelids.

• Why it’s done: To improve droopy eyelids, under-eye bags, and overall appearance of the eyes. Can also assist with vision impairments caused by the excess eyelid skin.

5. Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

• What it is: Removes excess skin and fat from the abdomen and can also tighten the underlying muscles.

• Why it’s done: Often performed after pregnancy or significant weight loss to create a flatter, firmer abdomen. Genetics and aging also play factors in those who can benefit from a tummy tuck. 

6. Facelift (Rhytidectomy)

• What it is: Tightens the skin of the face and neck to reduce sagging and wrinkles.

• Why it’s done: To reduce signs of aging and improve facial contour. Can assist in crating a more youthful appearance. 

7. Breast Reduction

• What it is: Removes excess breast tissue and skin to reduce the size of the breasts.

• Why it’s done: To relieve discomfort caused by overly large breasts and improve proportion. Women report less back pain, neck pain, and that their clothes fit better.

8. Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

• What it is: Reshapes and lifts sagging breasts. Restores the nipple position. • Why it’s done: To restore a more youthful breast appearance, often after pregnancy or aging.

9. Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)

• What it is: Uses fat transfer from other parts of the body to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks.

• Why it’s done: To improve body contour and achieve a fuller, lifted appearance of the buttocks.

10. Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)

• What it is: Reshapes or repositions the ears, often for protruding or misshapen ears.

• Why it’s done: To improve ear appearance, often performed on children and adults.

        11. Labiaplasty

• What it is: A labiaplasty is a procedure where the length of the labia minora is reduced. It is the most often performed aesthetic genital plastic surgery. 

• Why it’s done: To ease the discomfort some women feel from the twisting or tugging of the labia. A labiaplasty can also improve one's self confidence in clothes. Especially with the rise of athleisure wear.

         12. Breast Reconstruction

• What it is:  A plastic surgeon can utilize different techniques including tissue expanders, breast implants, fat grafting, and DIEP (where's a patient's breast is recreated from stomach tissue) to assist in restoring one or both breasts' appearance, shape, and symmetry after breast cancer, a congenital deformity, or accident. 

• Why it’s done: To help restore one's appearance and body after undergoing treatment for cancer, potential cancer, a congenital deformity, or accident. 

         13. Gynecomastia (Male Breast Reduction)

• What it is:  Reducing the breast tissue in a male patient through liposuction and sometimes a removal the the gland as well. 

• Why it’s done: For some males, their breast tissue can grow in excess, making them uncomfortable physically. They can have the appearance of having larger breasts. Through undergoing surgery they report feeling more confident and comfortable both in their clothes and outside. 

Interested in learning more about any of these plastic surgery procedures? Give the office a call or message us through the online booking system to set an appointment to meet the team at Derrick Plastic Surgery and see how we can help you achieve your body goals.