What’s the next big thing in cosmetic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery procedures have come a long way over the past decade. However, a recent survey conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has revealed that surgeons are now hungry for further developments.
Each year, the demand for cosmetic procedures increases. Over 17.5 million procedures, both surgical and non-surgical, were performed in 2017 in the United States alone. Now, plastic surgeons are keen to know what developments are in the pipeline to help meet the rising demand. So, what could be the next big thing in cosmetic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery trends: artificial intelligence
One of the most exciting developments within the cosmetic surgery industry is the use of AI and augmented reality. These will be able to help surgeons prepare for complex surgeries through imaging and surgery simulation technologies.
While imaging is currently available to help patients see how breast implants and facial reconstructive surgery could look, improvements being made will make these systems much more realistic. This will give patients a much better idea of how their results would look.
Cosmetic surgery trends: CRISPR gene editing
Another potential exciting development is CRISPR Gene editing. This technique, when fully developed, will be able to help with the introduction of new rejection-free transplant techniques, therapeutic skin grafts and help to prevent craniofacial malformations. It will have a huge impact on the plastic surgery sector thanks to its low cost, simplicity and efficiency.
Which areas do cosmetic surgeons want to see developments in?
According to the latest survey by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there are some particular areas surgeons want to see developments in. These include fat grafting, skin tightening and scar management. They also want to see an improvement in training, with certification becoming more crucial in the field.
The good news is, improvements within the cosmetic surgery sector are continuously being made. The introduction of artificial intelligence and CRISPR gene editing could have a major benefit within the industry
