First Lady, Michelle Obama, is fond of sleeveless dresses. It’s obvious that this “Lady” works out. She has strong arms, showing a nice triceps ‘bump’. American women have noticed this in big numbers. There are no statistics about increase in gym memberships, but there are about an increase in plastic surgery.

There has been 4,400 percent increase in upper arm plastic surgery. The quick fix is worth a few quick bucks for surgeons.

“In 2012, 15,457 patients, 98% of them women, spent a total of $61 million to have liposuction on their arms, or what’s known as a brachioplasty (a surgery that involves making an incision from the armpit to the elbow, usually along the back of the arm, to remove excess skin),” reports the Los Angeles Times. “The number of procedures was up 4,378% since 2000, when only about 300 women opted for it, the group reported.”

But don’t worry, you plastic surgeons that specialize in breast augmentation and Botox injections, they continue to remain the most popular.

ASPS Public Education Committee chair Dr. David Reath: “We are genetically programmed to have different accumulations of fat in different areas, and for some women the arms can be a problem area,”

Doctors do emphasize that a healthy diet and frequent exercise is the best way to maintain muscle tone. Surgery is merely a quick fix. A fit and vigorous body will determine the length of time the procedure lasts, and the overall effectiveness of the surgery.

Americans had nearly 14 million cosmetic procedures in 2011, spending $10.1 billion in the process on collagen and botox injections, breast implants, buttock lifts and nose jobs. These figures are from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

These figures were up 5% from the previous year, and up 87% from the year 2000.

Although it’s only 2% of the overall number, it is quite shocking that plastic surgery performed on teenagers is on the rise. That figure accounts for 230,617 procedures in a year. Some of these include liposuction for obese young men and women.

I had an accident which resulted in my nose being split down the middle, and a large section of my upper lip was missing. The plastic surgeon treated me in my hospital bed. The results were no less than artistic.

When I was a hairdresser I worked in conjunction with a plastic surgeon who primarily treated young men and women with natural deformities such as large ears which stuck out, noses that were overly large, and other minor procedures. He changed their lives.

The majority of plastic surgery is elective and cosmetic. America has long been known as the country of the “quick fix”. If we’re not feeling well, take a pill. If we’re emotionally upset, there’s a drug for that. If we don’t like our appearance, a scalpel can fix it.

I think it was Ann Richards, the former governor of Texas, who said in an interview on a morning talk show, that “we’re not supposed to feel good all the time. It’s not normal”. And for the most part, plastic surgery to change appearances simply makes everyone look like everyone else. And phony breasts are just balloons.

The average cost of surgery to change the shape of upper arms is $12,000. A gym membership is often as little as $20 a month, or less. Do the math, and get off of your couch and do something.

James Turnage

Columnist-The Guardian Express