ELKHART -- When kids took a toll on her body, Aimee Richards had surgery.
She didn't get a breast lift and augmentation for vanity and doesn't feel guilty about reversing nature's course.
"I say there's plastic surgeons available. Why not take advantage of them?" she said.
Richards works for The Centre, P.C., Elkhart County's only cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery office. She talks to potential patients and helps schedule their own procedures. But the 28-year-old mother of two can speak from experience.
"Women are very rarely ever happy with their bodies," she said, adding that she's resisted the urge to have other procedures. "Times have changed. There are so many opportunities for people."
As surgeries become less invasive and technology improves, more people are seeking out plastic surgeons, said Dr. Ronald Downs, founder and president of The Centre, P.C.
Ten years ago, sagging facial tissue required a facelift. Now it can be repositioned without one.
"Most people want to do the least they can with the least invasion," he said. "We can offer patients more options now than we could say even a year ago."
Patients come from all over the world to Elkhart for surgery, he said. With three doctors here and three in a separate practice in South Bend, northern Indiana is better served than most communities.
Liposuction and breast augmentation are the most popular procedures The Centre does, said Lain Downs, executive director and wife of Dr. Downs.
In addition to non-invasive procedures such as Botox injections done in a spa setting, the office's doctors perform an average of 800 to 1,000 major surgeries a year. Those are split nearly evenly between elective cosmetic surgery, not usually covered by insurance, and reconstructive surgery done to fix defects or trauma, she said.
"For the most part, people seek out plastic surgeons to improve some part of themselves," Dr. Downs said.
He operates on people who do it for themselves. He's less likely to do so on people who want it to improve relationship with a spouse or get a better job.
"That's not really a good reason to get cosmetic surgery," he said.
Cable television shows about plastic surgeons and a wealth of information online have given patients and potential patients more information about what's available and who can do surgeries they desire.
Many patients refer to shows they've seen, but also have already learned about the doctor, his certification and how to pay for it.
"Plastic surgery is more touchable, more accessible, than it's ever been," Dr. Downs said.
A rhinoplasty usually costs around $5,000. Breast augmentation is around $6,000. Liposuction depends on the areas and how much is done.
As people live longer, they want to feel good and look good, Lain said.
"I think wanting to look better and feel better about yourself is not vanity," Dr. Downs said.
More patients are getting multiple procedures done at one time to save money and combine recuperation time. And a growing number of people are coming in for body reconstruction after bariatric surgery resulted in significant weight loss. Insurance covers costs in some of those cases.
Dr. Downs cautions patients of the risks of any surgery and works hard to manage patient expectations.
Complications occur occasionally, but most patients are pleased; and though some desire confidentiality, a lot of them talk about their procedures. Richards said she sometimes hears five different prospective patients talk about one friend who told them.
Contact Marshall V. King at mking@etruth.com.