Dermatologic cosmetic surgery is a subspecialty of dermatology that has rec
ently been developed. In this four-part series, we describe many of the pro
cedures performed in our ambulatory surgery setting. We also highlight the
significant changes in the techniques and treatment environments or these p
rocedures over the past three decades. In part one, we focus on liposuction
and face lift operations, Patients increasingly expect less invasive proce
dures, decreased "down time," and superior results. These expectations crea
te a greater demand for the dermatologic surgeon. The trends and prospects
for dermatologic cosmetic surgery in the next millennium are illustrated.