Evidence-Based Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery procedures are incredibly popular and a plethora of practitioners offer a tremendous diversity of procedures. However, much practice has been based on historical preference, tradition and non-evidence based decision-making. This book demystifies the decision-making process for common cosmetic surgical procedures by examining their evidence basis. Each chapter deals with a different subject of cosmetic surgery -- facelift, breast augmentation, liposuction and so on -- and investigates the formal evidence that exists for each. Should a surgeon be using drains after facelifts? What is the best anatomical plane for placing a breast implant? Which hand rejuvenation procedures work, and which do not? These questions, and many more, are addressed in an objective manner based on peer-reviewed evidence in the medical literature. Recognising that best evidence will change constantly, the book also introduces the hashtag -- #ebcs -- to enable easier debate of the subject on social media. This is a subject of fast-growing international interest at the moment. Professional societies and politicians in the United Kingdom are calling for increased scrutiny and regulation of the cosmetic surgery industry, particularly in the wake of the most recent breast implant scandal. Incredibly there currently exists no resource collating the best available evidence for cosmetic surgery procedures, as already exists for other surgical disciplines and for non-cosmetic plastic surgery. This book is aimed at surgeons with an interest in cosmetic surgery -- including Plastic Surgeons, Maxillofacial Surgeons, Ear Nose and Throat Surgeons, Breast Surgeons, General Surgeons, Dermatologists and General Practitioners as well as affiliated professionals such as nurses and therapists. It would also be of interest to medical students, prospective patients and those interested in a succinct summary of existing research, such as journalists.