Although the economy has been less than ideal in recent years, cosmetic plastic surgery procedures continue to gain popularity. According to a study by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), the most popular procedure performed in the United States is now liposuction. In 2009, liposuction made up 18.8 percent of all surgeries, surpassing the previous title holder – breast augmentation, which was the top most requested procedure for multiple years.

Individuals who have exhausted natural means of weight loss, such as healthy eating habits and regular exercise, often turn to this body contouring procedure. With the advances in techniques and technologies, qualified cosmetic plastic surgeons have the ability to provide patients with a less traumatic surgery. New liposuction methods can lessen bleeding, bruising, and swelling during and after the procedure. Patients may anticipate a slimmer, better-contoured shape post-surgery. The best way to determine if liposuction is right for you is by consulting with a qualified plastic surgeon.

If you are in the Columbia, MD area, you may wish to visit the website of Daniel P. Markmann, M.D. to learn more regarding liposuction. Dr. Markmann also performs breast augmentation surgery. You may also schedule an initial consultation to further discuss your body enhancing options.

Many of us equate plastic surgery with the vanity, largesse, and elitism made famous by the perpetually sleek and youthful A-list Hollywood stars. But now, that perception is changing. As plastic surgery technology advances and becomes safer and more affordable, cosmetic surgery is making its way onto main street. This shift is embodied in shows like “Dr. 90210,” which seeks out ordinary individuals who feel that they are truly deserving of cosmetic surgery.

The most popular trend to emerge from the democratization of plastic surgery is the “Mommy Makeover.” Motherhood is a joyful journey, but it’s also marked by sacrifice. A woman’s body undergoes dramatic changes after childbirth, many of which are irreversible through non-surgical means. A mommy makeover is an umbrella term for a handful of procedures that are designed to undo these changes, including a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, breast lift, and liposuction. The goal isn’t to make the patient look like a movie star, it’s to make them look – and feel – like they did before childbirth. To friends and family, a Mommy Makeover is a subtle change. But for mothers, a makeover rewards their dedication to their family by potentially restoring their confidence and self-esteem.

Most mothers wait until they are at a stable weight and no longer plan to have any more children before having a Mommy Makeover. It’s not atypical for women to wait 10 or more years before undergoing procedures. However, as cosmetic surgery techniques develop, Mommy Makeovers can be performed with minimal disruption to the routine of a busy working mother. Under general anesthesia, tummy tucks, breast augmentations and other procedures can be performed all at once in as little as two hours; and with gentler, less invasive technology and smaller incisions, recovery time is much shorter. For example, at the office of Dr. Stuart Kincaid in San Diego, tummy tucks can be combined along with ZERONA or VASER liposuction treatments, which are far less intrusive than conventional liposuction methods, which are available throughout San Diego. Breast augmentation procedures can also be performed concurrently with a tummy tuck. In this way, a Mommy Makeover can be less painful, less time-consuming, and even less costly when performed during the same surgery setting.

Even though her recent 10 procedures in 1 day plastic surgery spree nearly killed her, Heidi Montag, the 23-year-old star of MTV’s The Hills told “Access Hollywood” that she is open to having more.

“I almost died after my procedure,” Montag said. “I had too much Demerol like Michael Jackson did and my breathing was five breaths per minute which is like almost dead. [I was] in an aftercare center, there were nurses that were supposed to be tending to me at all times.”

“So thank God, Charles, one of my security guys used to be an EMT, and he was timing my breath on his watch and he called the nurses,” she added. “They had to put oxygen on my face and called my plastic surgeon to come in for an emergency. So, it was a very traumatic experience for me.”

Montag began having plastic surgery in 2007, starting with breast augmentation, rhinoplasty and collagen lip injections. In late 2009, she had her second breast enlargement, liposuction on her waist, hips, neck and thighs, brow lift, Botox in forehead, rhinoplasty revision, fat injections into her cheeks and lips, chin reduction, buttock augmentation and had her ears pinned back. Montag also claims she is willing to take the risk in order to have even more surgery.

“I’m just starting,” she said. “Let’s just say there’s a lot of maintenance. Nobody ages perfectly, so I plan to keep using surgery to make me as perfect as I can be. Because, for me, the surgery is always so rewarding.”

Though Montag has stated that she is not addicted to cosmetic surgery, most psychologists and plastic surgeons would disagree after hearing her quoted saying “I’m beyond obsessed.”

“Even though you had ten surgeries in one day, that doesn’t seem very far down the continuum [of addiction],” said Tom Horvath, a psychologist who operates an addiction treatment center in La Jolla, Calif.

Patients interested in the risks and effectiveness of having multiple procedures can contact plastic surgeons such as Houston liposuction surgeon, Dr. Michael Eisseman.

Dr. Eisemann is one of several surgeons who offer specialized consultations for multiple-procedure patients. He reminds that its important for patients to remember that numerous factors, such as age, body type and health history are crucial in determining if a potential patient is eligible for even one or multiple plastic surgery procedures.

Since the surgeries, Montag is now starting to experience diminishing pain as well as regaining her ability to walk and move around effortlessly. Typically, liposuction surgery requires patients to stay off their feet for up to a month, on average. Montag has had mobility issues for about twice that average recovery time.

“I do love it and I appreciate it and I appreciate the science behind it,” she explained. “We [are] blessed to even have this surgery that we have. We’re so advanced. If Cleopatra were alive now, I’m sure she’d have triple D’s … there’s always been a struggle between pain and beauty. I feel like since the beginning of time.”

“I’m beyond ready to do it again,” she said.