Want Michelle Obama Arms? There’s A Surgery For That
I’m pretty sure Michelle Obama worked hard for her arms. They’re toned and sculpted without an ounce of fat hanging from them. Lucky her. Not that my arms in horrible shape, they’re just not Michelle Obama arms, and they probably will never look like hers. But am I going to rush out and pay thousands on plastic surgery? I think not, but that doesn’t mean other women aren’t opposed to doing it.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released its latest cosmetic and reconstructive surgery statistics on Monday.
Many of the trends were familiar. In all, the group reported, Americans underwent 1.6 million cosmetic surgeries, including face-lifts, liposuction and rhinoplasty; 13 million minimally invasive procedures (think Botox injections) and 5.6 million reconstructive procedures (including tumor removal and scar revision). People in the U.S. spent $11 billion on the cosmetic procedures alone.
The society decided to highlight one surgery in particular that has risen in its popularity. 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). The number of procedures was up 4,378% since 2000, when only about 300 women opted for it, the group reported.
In a statement, the ASPS said that doctors didn’t point to a single reason for the increase, but took note of poll data indicating that women “are paying closer attention to the arms of female celebrities” including Jennifer Aniston,Demi Moore and Kelly Ripa. The most-admired arms of all? Those of First Lady Michelle Obama.
Most plastic surgeons will try to tell patients that diet and exercise should be a part of their daily regimen but if you’re interested in dropping about $4k for surgery and end up with a possible scar for life, those same surgeons will gladly pull out their scalpel.
While speaking in Chicago at a conference on youth violence this week, Michelle Obama compared herself to Hadiya Pendleton, the honor student from her hometown who was shot to death a week after performing as a majorette in the presidential inaugural parade.
