Are more women going under the knife to get Michelle Obama’s arms?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, people in the U.S. spent $11 billion on the cosmetic procedures alone. But the society chose to highlight one procedure that is less familiar: the upper arm-lift. 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.
Some say Michelle Obama has been the inspiration behind this increase.
In a statement, the The American Society of Plastic Surgeons 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” and First Lady Michelle Obama’s arm are the most admired.
Of course plastic surgery is not the only way to get arms like the First Lady. Surgeons say diet and exercise should be a part of a woman’s plan to tone her triceps although getting the look they want may be difficult.
“We are genetically programmed to have different accumulations of fat in different areas, and for some women the arms can be a problem area,” Dr. David Reath, chair of the ASPS Public Education Committee and a surgeon in Knoxville, Tenn tells the LA Times.
He cautioned, however, that brachioplasty often leaves a visible scar so women may want to think twice before opting for surgery.
