Once the financial concerns of undergoing a cosmetic procedure dissipated, there was still the social stigma of electing a cosmetic procedure in the African American community, a practice held as taboo for many years.

African Americans had begun to accept that plastic surgery was not exclusive to other ethnicities and that they also could benefit from cosmetic treatments. There were, however, several myths about cosmetic surgery that needed to be dispelled before this realization occurred.
They have always been fearful of unsightly keloids and conspicuous scars, but with good client selection, many of the untoward complications of plastic surgery may be averted. The black don’t crack mantra is no longer interpreted as lack of facial aging in people with a darker complexion, but that the process simply takes place at a slower rate. Accordingly, more African American clients are using skin care products and requesting chemical peels for even-toned skin. Safer laser options are also available for skin resurfacing.
Cosmetic breast surgery (including breast lifts, reduction and augmentation) have become a more common request, especially with access to the new gummy bear implants which boast cohesive silicone technology to create a more natural breast. Body contour surgery is also popular among these clients as is the request for buttock augmentation. Currently, there are new breakthroughs in liposuction surgery procedures in which a laser actually melts the fat and extracts it. The triplex laser used in these treatments has three different laser wavelengths, which specifically coagulate blood vessels, target water in the skin, and disrupt fat cells. This combination of features results in a tighter, shapely figure.
As far as facial procedures are concerned, the facelift is requested by older ethnic clients and there are nonsurgical neck lift procedures that offer scar-free options. Eyelid lifts and excess fat removal around the eyelids leads to a more youthful look and certain African American clients opt for fat removal from the inside of the lower eyelid resulting in an invisible scar. Furthermore, minimally invasive plastic surgery techniques, such as Botox® and fillers, offer excellent results with minimal downtime. Botox is so widely accepted for facial rejuvenation today.
While many still insist that African Americans do not need any enhancements, Black men and women are gradually embracing plastic surgery as an alternative to aging gracefully. It is important for them to obtain a surgeon who specializes in ethnic skin so the doctor is able to protect the client’s natural features while enhancing their look and achieving desired results. Fortunately, like many things that were once exclusive to other races, the stigma regarding African Americans and plastic surgery is disappearing and men and women have a more stigma-free choice on whether or not they want to undergo cosmetic procedures.