There appears to be an increasing acceptance of cosmetic surgery procedures among minority populations in America. Our objective was to determine trends in elective cosmetic procedure utilization as they apply to racial/ethnic differences. A retrospective analysis was performed using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Adult patients undergoing elective cosmetic procedures defined by the appropriate International Classification of Disease 9 Clinical Modification procedure codes were included. Demographic characteristics and hospital course particulars were evaluated. There were 71,775 patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Median age was 48 years. The majority were female (90%), and white (65%). The median household income for the patient's zip code was most commonly in the highest economic quartile (4th quartile, 40%). The most common cosmetic procedure was liposuction (67%). The overall mean percentage change in the frequency of these procedures showed a 1.8 per cent decline among white patients, whereas Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American patients had an increase of 7.5 per cent, 4.7 per cent, 14.5 per cent, and 105.5 per cent, respectively. We conclude that there is an identified increasing trend in the proportion of racial/ethnic minorities represented among the recipients of cosmetic surgery procedures.

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Abstract:When initiated by the devastating diagnosis of cancer, post ablative breast restoration has at its core the goal of restoring anatomic normalcy. The concepts of body image, wholeness, and overall well-being have been introduced to explain the paramount psychological influence the breast has on both individuals and society as a whole. Hence, a growing subspecialty has been established to recreate or simulate the lost breast. At least one third of breast cancer victims consider breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction post mastectomy may be offered at the time of mastectomy or delayed post mastectomy after adjuvant therapy. This may be utilizing autologous tissues or implants and each has risks and benefits, especially when considering adjuvant therapy. In addition, there has been a move away from a traditional mastectomy to less invasive, but still curative procedures, such as skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomy. These procedures provide the breast envelope to facilitate reconstruction. This paper reviews the primary issues in breast reconstruction, as well as their psychologic, oncologic, and social impact. Keywords: breast restoration, body image, breast reconstruction, mastectomy History of breast reconstructionBreast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among females in the US, and affects one in eight women in their lifetime.1,2 Advances in medical research have dramatically improved the treatment of this disease over the last 50 years. In addition to chemotherapy and radiation therapy, partial and complete mastectomy of diseased and contralateral breasts has become more frequent. However, these surgical modalities often leave patients with anatomical deformities and altered body image, along with the psychologic impact. 3,4 Breast reconstruction is a dynamic and multidisciplinary approach that has grown into a solution for many breast cancer patients treated with surgery. Breast reconstruction began as a means to reduce chest wall complications and deformities from mastectomy, with the goal to recreate symmetry and contour while avoiding delay in adjuvant cancer treatment.1 Breast reconstruction was introduced over a century ago as a surgical modality for rebuilding the anatomic breast using autologous tissues and prosthetic implants. 2,5

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