Evolution and Trends of Facial Plastic Surgery and Facial Aesthetic Procedures in India: From Awakening to Revival

Facial aesthetic surgery is an emerging branch worldwide. India, a torchbearer country in facial plastic surgery, has seen tremendous growth in medical technology, resources, and clientele over the past century. This study aims to study past practices and current trends in facial plastic surgery and aesthetic procedures in India by individually addressing commonly performed nonsurgical procedures (Botox, Kybella [Allergan, Irvine, CA], fillers, threads, micro-focused ultrasound, and nonsurgical hair restoration), and surgical procedures (rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, hair transplant, and facelift). It also aims to further elaborate on the scope of facial aesthetics and make recommendations on prospects in the field. A structured scoping review and a subsequent evidence-based synthesis were done following an extensive literature search on various databases such as PubMed (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD), LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information, SAo Paulo, Brazil), MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD), EMBASE (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and Cochrane (Wiley, Hoboken, NJ). The initial search yielded 703 articles, out of which 20 were found to be relevant to the present study and discussed. It was found that there is an upward trend in the growth of facial plastic surgery in India, and a gradual shift in patient attitude toward nonsurgical aesthetic procedures was seen. This article affirms the growth of facial aesthetic surgery in India by highlighting the recent development and trends in the practices of surgeons. It also addresses the shortcomings in the current administration and makes recommendations to fill the existing loopholes in plastic surgery.