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Many Athletes Seek to Become Modern-Day Adonizes
Cosmetic Surgery
The quest for perfection is about as American as apple pie. And the latest manifestation of the American dream is the pursuit of a body that's as finely chiseled as one of Michelangelo's masterpieces. And some people are willing to have themselves literally chiseled to achieve perfection.

Large numbers of fitness fanatics want six-pack abs, tight buttocks, toned arms, and cut calves and will do just about anything to get them -- including such body contour surgeries as thigh lifts, buttock lifts, "tummy tucks" (abdominoplasties), and arm lifts, according to many leading plastic surgeons.

Concepts of beauty have been continuously evolving throughout the history of mankind. The voluptuous figures that were idealized by artists in the past have been substituted by skimmer forms. Medical advances in this century have permitted safe and efficient surgical correction of contour abnormalities.

It's the "look better, feel better" mentality, there are increasing numbers of people turning toward liposuction to get rid of that last, diet- and exercise-resistant inch -- whether it's love handles, the outer thigh in women, or the breasts in men. It's ? that one final correction.

There was a 264% increase in liposuction from 1992 to 1998, and there was a 57% increase from 1996 to 1998. During liposuction, a plastic surgeon removes localized deposits of fat to recon tour one or more areas of the body. Through a tiny incision, a narrow tube is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The tube is pushed, then pulled, through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out.

Body contouring surgery makes clothing fit better and improves a patient's attitude toward [him/herself].

It's important to remember that perfection is not attainable, but improvement is, Liposuction is commonly performed on men's 'love handles,' abdomens, or breasts. In women, the most common areas for liposuction are the outer thighs and the abdomen, followed by the upper arms, knees, or inner thighs.

Body dissatisfaction is increasing due to cultural pressures and media coverage. Men think they are too small, and women think they are too fat. According to the American Psychological Association, as many as 40% of Americans are somewhat unhappy with their appearance.

Among athletes, the trend toward body-contouring surgery goes along with increased use of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and supplements of DHEA. There are more than 20 magazines on how to get the perfect body, so people think they can do it. And when they find out they can't, they turn toward drugs or surgery. It's becoming more common because the fitness craze has really increased in our society. It definitely can be dangerous because all surgery has potential adverse effects. People are finally beginning to realize that proper nutrition and regular exercise, while very healthy for us, will not change our genetics. And our genetics control much of our body shape and our aging potential. Sad, but true.

Body contour surgery is recommended only for the treatment of problems not corrected by diet and exercise. This can be minimal finesse problems in an athlete or very significant, dramatic problems in others.