If, like many people facing the aging process, you find yourself unsatisfied with your current appearance, you may have considered undergoing cosmetic plastic surgery. We’ve put together some important facts in this article from the Doctour website, so you can make the best choice that fits your needs.
What is cosmetic plastic surgery?
Cosmetic plastic surgery is done to change your appearance. There are numerous types of cosmetic surgery procedures that men and women choose from, to create their ideal appearance to feel more confident and comfortable with their overall image. For some, it may mean redesigning the body's contour and shape, smoothing wrinkles, or eliminating balding areas. Others may choose varicose vein treatment or breast augmentation.
What are the most common plastic surgery procedures?
Since beauty has different definitions in different parts of the world, a variation of cosmetic surgeries have made their way into the list of most common plastic surgeries, here are some of the most reoccurring ones:
Breast augmentation or enlargement (augmentation mammoplasty).
Breast lift (mastopexy) with or without the placement of an implant.
Chin, cheek, or jaw reshaping (facial implants or soft tissue augmentation).
Dermabrasion
Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)
Facelift (rhytidectomy)
Forehead lift
Hair replacement or transplantation
Lip augmentation
Liposuction (lipoplasty)
Lower body lift
Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
Upper arm lift (Brachioplasty)
Cellulite treatment
Chemical peel
Plumping, or collagen or fat injections (facial rejuvenation).
As you may already know most health insurance rarely covers the cost of cosmetic procedures, yet that seems to not affect the number of people deciding to have these cosmetic plastic surgeries the number continues to grow. A huge portion of these surgeries is in the facial and abdomen area.
What are the types of plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is a surgical specialty involving the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the human body. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.
Reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery includes craniofacial surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, and the treatment of burns. In general, this surgery corrects functional impairments caused by burns, traumatic injuries such as facial bone fractures/breaks, congenital abnormalities such as cleft palates/cleft lips, developmental abnormalities, infection/disease, and cancer/tumors. Reconstructive plastic surgery is usually performed to improve function, but it may be done to approximate a normal form or appearance.
Some Plastic Surgery Procedures
Burn Repair Surgery.
Hand Surgery.
Reconstruction of Breasts (after a mastectomy; also involves enhancement and reduction).
Repair of Congenital Defects – reconstruction and repair of cleft palate, repair of extremity defects (extra digital appendages and so on).
Reconstruction of Lower Extremities.
Scar Revision Surgery.
Aesthetic or cosmetic plastic surgery
Involves techniques intended for the “enhancement” of a person’s appearance through surgical and medical techniques, and is specifically concerned with maintaining normal appearance, restoring it, or enhancing it beyond the average level toward some aesthetic ideal. Cosmetic Surgery Procedures include:
Body contouring: this includes Gynecomastia treatment, Liposuction, and Tummy Tuck.
Breast enhancement: Enlargement, Reduction, and Lifting.
Facial contouring: Cheek enhancement, Chin, and Rhinoplasty.
Facial rejuvenation: Brow lift, Eyelid lift, Thread lift, Facelift, and Neck lift.
Skin rejuvenation: Botox, Filler treatment, and Laser resurfacing.
Though both plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery procedures are performed to improve a patient’s body, the overall philosophies that guide their goals, training, and research for patients’ results are different.
Who should have cosmetic surgery?
Since cosmetic surgery can bring lasting and dramatic changes to your appearance on the outside, it’s important to understand how these changes might affect you on the inside. You should consider your motives for wanting to change how you look before making an appointment to see a cosmetic surgeon. Many physical characteristics can be successfully changed through cosmetic surgery; others cannot.
Good candidates for cosmetic surgery
Have realistic expectations about what can be accomplished.
Understand the medical risks, physical effects during healing, how the surgery will affect them personally and professionally, what lifestyle changes may accompany the recovery period, and the expenses involved.
Have chronic medical conditions under control.
Have no history of smoking or commit to abstain from smoking and nicotine products for four to six weeks before and after surgery.
Have had a stable weight for six to 12 months, for certain procedures.
Possible complications for any surgical procedure
Complications related to anesthesia, include pneumonia, blood clots, and rarely, death.
Infection at the incision site, may worsen scarring and require additional surgery.
Fluid buildup under the skin.
Mild bleeding, which may require another surgical procedure, or bleeding significant enough to require a transfusion.
Abnormal scarring due to skin breakdown.
Separation of the surgical wound, which sometimes requires additional procedures.
Numbness and tingling from nerve damage, which may be permanent.
What are the risks of plastic surgery?
While some people may seek plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons, others may need it for medical or reconstructive purposes. However, plastic surgery is not without risks, and anyone considering it should be aware of the potential complications. These risks include:
Infection: Any surgical procedure involves breaking the skin barrier, which exposes the body to bacteria and other microorganisms. Infection can cause pain, swelling, redness, fever, and even sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the infection spreads throughout the bloodstream. To prevent infection, patients should follow the surgeon's instructions on wound care, take antibiotics as prescribed, and report any signs of infection to their doctor.
Bleeding: Bleeding can occur during or after the surgery, and can result in bruising, hematoma, or hemorrhage. A hematoma is a collection of blood under the skin that can cause pressure and pain. A hemorrhage is a severe loss of blood that can lead to shock and organ failure. To reduce the risk of bleeding, patients should avoid taking blood thinners, such as aspirin, before and after the surgery, and inform their doctor of any bleeding disorders or medications they are taking.
Nerve damage: Nerve damage can occur when the nerves are cut, stretched, or compressed during the surgery. This can result in numbness, tingling, weakness, or paralysis of the affected area. Nerve damage can be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity and location of the injury. Some examples of nerve damage that can occur after plastic surgery are facial nerve damage, which can affect the ability to make facial expressions, and breast nerve damage, which can affect the sensation and function of the nipples.
Scarring: Scarring is the body's natural response to healing a wound, and it can vary in size, shape, color, and texture. Scarring can be unsightly, uncomfortable, or even disfiguring, depending on the location and extent of the scar. Scarring can also interfere with the movement and sensation of the skin. To minimize scarring, patients should avoid sun exposure, smoking, and infection, and use scar creams or silicone sheets as recommended by their doctor.
These are some of the major risks of plastic surgery, but there may be others depending on the specific procedure, the patient's health, and the surgeon's skill. Plastic surgery is not a decision to be taken lightly, and anyone considering it should weigh the benefits and risks carefully, and consult with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon.
What are the benefits of plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is not only about enhancing one's appearance but also about improving one's quality of life. There are many benefits of plastic surgery, both physical and psychological, that can have a positive impact on one's well-being. Some of the benefits are:
Increased self-confidence: Plastic surgery can help people feel more comfortable and confident in their skin, especially if they have been unhappy with a certain feature or aspect of their body. Plastic surgery can also help people overcome social anxiety, low self-esteem, or depression caused by their appearance.
Improved physical health: Plastic surgery can also address functional issues that affect one's health or comfort. For example, rhinoplasty can improve breathing and nasal function, breast reduction can relieve back and neck pain and eyelid surgery can enhance vision by removing excess skin.
Enhanced mental health: Plastic surgery can also have a positive effect on one's mental health by reducing stress, increasing happiness, and boosting mood. Plastic surgery can also help people cope with trauma, illness, or injury by restoring or reconstructing their appearance.
Gender affirmation: Plastic surgery can also help people who identify as transgender or non-binary to align their physical appearance with their gender identity. This can help reduce gender dysphoria and improve their self-acceptance and mental health.
Personal satisfaction: Plastic surgery can also help people achieve their personal goals and desires, whether it is to look younger, more attractive, or more unique. Plastic surgery can also help people express their personality, creativity, or individuality through their appearance.
These are some of the benefits of plastic surgery, but there may be others depending on the person's motivation, expectations, and outcome. Plastic surgery can have positive effects on one's physical and psychological well-being, as long as it is done for the right reasons and with realistic expectations.
Conclusion
Plastic surgery is a broad and diverse field of medicine that encompasses both reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. Plastic surgery procedures aim to alter or improve the appearance or function of the body. Plastic surgery can help patients with various conditions, such as congenital anomalies, trauma, burns, cancer, and aging, to restore or enhance their appearance and function. Plastic surgery is a complex and controversial topic that has many advantages and disadvantages. Plastic surgery is not a decision to be taken lightly, and anyone considering it should weigh the benefits and risks carefully, and consult with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon.
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