Plastic surgery includes two broad fields, namely cosmetic (or aesthetic) and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery is performed to enhance the appearance of a person, who finds his/her body parts, though otherwise fully functional, to be unattractive. Thus cosmetic surgery is performed with a purely aesthetic intent. On the other hand, reconstructive surgery focuses on concealing the destructive effects of trauma, disease or accident. That is, it strives to improve function and impart a standard look so the patient may lead a normal life. Reconstructive surgery is a way of veiling defects by using skin implants and tissue flaps. Either local tissue is used or tissue is transferred from another part to the problem area. Reconstructive tissue flaps comprise of skin, muscle, fat, bone or a combination of these elements. The most common reconstructive surgery is to cover the defects of burn survivors and other accident victims. Another common reconstructive surgery is breast reconstruction for women who have had mastectomy – surgical removal of one or both breasts, either partially or completely. Mastectomy is performed to combat breast cancer, or to circumvent the disease if a woman is at a high risk of acquiring it. Rhinoplasty may also be considered as a reconstructive procedure if the extent of damage to the nose cartilage and bone is rather grave. In such a case, tissue is moved from another body part and grafted in the damaged area. One of the most prevalent uses of reconstructive surgery can be found in the field of professional contact sports. Players are likely to suffer injuries during vigorous contact sports, and such injuries can only be treated by reconstructive surgery. Though rare, sexual reassignment surgery is another example of reconstructive surgery. There is a certain gray area between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, and distinguishing one from another can be confusing at times. But in a gist, reconstructive surgery is usually performed to correct an abnormality, and not to enhance an otherwise normal appearance.
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Making the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery can be an overwhelming and life-changing decision. However, the question of choosing the right surgeon for the job can leave you equally perplexed. There is no dearth of cosmetic surgeons, but it is imperative that you chose a surgeon with loads of experience in the field of cosmetic surgery. You may find an expert surgeon in your vicinity, or you might have to travel a few hundred miles in your quest for the best. But the initial botheration will surely yield fruitful results. To expedite your search for an expert cosmetic surgeon, it is crucial that you crosscheck their credentials prior to undergoing surgery. Check if they are certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or some other prominent cosmetic surgery board. You could crosscheck your state’s medical board to verify the surgeon’s credentials. Having narrowed down on one or two superlative surgeons it is time for an elaborate consultation. The most common aspects that you may focus on during an initial consultation are as follows:- – You may inquire about the cosmetic surgeon’s area of expertise. – Ensure that the surgeon has performed a substantial number of cosmetic surgery procedures. – Make sure that the surgeon wields the best technological equipment available. – If price is a factor, check if the expenses incurred meet your budget. – Ask the surgeon for pictures of his/her earlier patients, depicting both pre and post-surgery images. – Cosmetic surgery, like any other surgical procedure, involves risks and complications. The surgeon must not dismiss the risks of surgery, and should be willing to discuss any possible complication of cosmetic surgery. – Most importantly, ensure that the surgeon will be actively involved in post-operative care. – And finally, shun away any sales gimmicks or unrealistic bargains. On the whole, an excellent result largely depends on the expertise of the cosmetic surgeon. Hence, choose a surgeon with discretion, since a successful cosmetic surgery could give you a huge boost.
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If you thought cosmetic surgery was reserved for Hollywood stars, you’re out of sync with the times. Nowadays it’s become a surprisingly affordable lifestyle choice for people from all walks of life. Here’s a look at some of the more common cosmetic procedures to help you decide if cosmetic surgery is for you.
Essentially, cosmetic surgery is a surgical procedure carried out to improve a person’s appearance. As such, it can be applied to any part of your body. But the most common are the various regions of the face, the breasts and the waist. Let’s look at each in turn.
The most famous facial surgery procedure is the facelift (rhytidectomy). The objective is to tighten up skin and smooth out the lines and wrinkles that time etches on your face. The end result is a more youthful appearance.
The second most common is the nose job (rhinoplasty). This works to bring balance to the face by changing the shape of your nose, by making it wider or narrower, for example. It’s also used to remove bumps in the nose.
Then there’s eye enhancement. This procedure centres on removing unsightly bags under the eyes.
Lesser known is ear surgery. This is for people who feel their ears are too prominent. The operation adjusts the shape of the ear cartilage so that the ear lies closer to the head.
Next is breast surgery which involves altering the size and/or position of the female breast. The most sought after procedure is breast enlargement which is achieved through implants. Another popular procedure is the uplift which corrects sagging breasts. Finally there’s breast reduction for women who suffer from back or shoulder pain due to excessive breast weight.
Finally, body surgery involves ways to improve the shape of the body, particularly the waist. The two most popular procedures here are tummy tucks and liposuction. The tummy tuck involves removing folds of overhanging skin and fatty tissue from around the midriff to give that smooth, tight, youthful look. For moderate weight reduction, liposuction is available. This involves the selective removal of fat cells by vacuum suction through a small metal tube inserted into the affected areas.
These are the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. But in addition to the above, there are also more specialized procedures such as weight loss surgery, cosmetic surgery for men and anti-aging cosmetic surgery. Your surgeon can give you details of these.
In deciding whether to go ahead with cosmetic surgery, the first step is to consult a surgeon to determine whether you are a suitable candidate. The surgeon will take many factors into account such as your age, state of health, skin texture, bone structure and healing ability. Though most cosmetic surgery procedures are safe and carried out under local anaesthetic, there are risks involved and your surgeon will make you aware of them.
Another key factor is how realistic your expectations are about the results of your surgery. If you’re expecting to be transformed into a clone of Julia Roberts, you’re probably setting yourself up for disappointment. Results tend to be subtle rather than transformational and it’s important to remember this. However, they can be life changing too.
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Considering getting traditional liposuction? Well, if you are, you might want to reconsider because with the amount of pain and downtime you go through, traditional liposuction isn’t worth it. You see, if you go through traditional liposuction, you’re not going to be back on your feet and to work for up to two weeks and two weeks is a long time to be out of commission. And most activities considered strenuous are off limits for up to a month. A month! That’s a huge chunk of time that you’ve been unable to work, move around, and even work out! And that’s more than just a hassle when you consider everything you’d be able to do in that time, and all that you’ll be missing out. But what can you do? If you want the quick and impressive results that traditional liposuction gives you, you have to take the good and the bad and the bad, in this case, being a month or more of restricted living. But now, there’s another option one that puts much less of a strain on your life. SmartLipo is a new process using a system of lasers to give the same results of traditional liposuction, but with less side effects, and a much faster recovery. How much faster, you ask? Well, the recovery process of SmartLipo is much easier and starts right away. Directly after the procedure, the patient is taken to a recovery room. There isn’t the nauseating, disorienting feeling that many get after traditional liposuction, because SmartLipo only needs to numb the specific area, not put you to sleep entirely. Most patients are able to go home within an hour of completing their procedure, and are sometimes given a prescription for a light pain medication, along with compression bandages. The compression bandages encourages blood flow while preventing clots, and are key to a speedy recovery. Several visits to the office afterwards are needed, of course, to ensure that the patient is healing properly and while it’s almost natural to push these appointments to the side, these are vital to having healthy, scar free results. And it’s about that simple during the first few hours of leaving, you’ll experience very minor bruising, and numbness to the area which you had the surgery to. That will go away within hours, leaving you with a bit of swelling. Within a week, your swelling should be completely gone. And you’re done! SafeLipo has been proven not only to be incredibly safer, as it reduces the risk of scaring and infection, but extremely faster. You can cut nearly all of the recovery time of traditional liposuction, and experience the same results if not better! Safer, faster, and easier and chances are, you can get it done in your area. Why would you ever want to deal with traditional liposuction?
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Basic background Cosmetic surgery consists not just of enhancing someones beauty, but also to help those who have been badly damaged in an accident or who have physical birth defects. Many believe that women are the main gender that go for cosmetic surgery. Yet studies have shown that 11% of men are also getting cosmetic surgery – in fact since 1992, the percentage of men getting cosmetic surgery has gone up by 50%. Middle aged men see plastic surgery as an investment in their career prospects. It is important to know that it is neither sex nor age which makes some type of aesthetic surgery procedure feasible, but what is important is a good general health condition. The stress of being beautiful is taking a strain on many people. People are spending about 10% of their gross income on cosmetic surgeries. Regarding age, there are some procedures such as facelift which are more frequently done on people over 40; however there are people over 55 who still may not need it. On the other hand, there are also patients under 40 who may benefit from this surgery. Talk to a cosmetic surgeon to see whether you really need extensive changes in your appearance. Learn if a face lift is right for you. Talk it over with partners, friends, spiritual counsellors or life coaches if need be. Cosmetic surgery covers a wide range of procedures, including obesity and weight loss surgery, breast augmentation, liposuction & face surgery. A facelift can be done alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as a forehead lift or an eyelid surgery. Alternatives to surgery exist. Laser cosmetic surgery may be performed around the eyes or the mouth. More consumers are considering injectables to prolong or avoid facelifts, forehead lifts and eyelid surgeries. Eyelid surgery Sagging upper eyelids or bags under the eyes can be one of the clearest signs of facial ageing. Patients interested in eyelid or eye brow surgery may have noticed drooping or sagging of the skin around the eyes. Eyelid surgery, technically called blepharoplasty, corrects not only the eyelids but also eyebags. Often, the procedure is done with another cosmetic operation, such as a facelift. To remove your eyebags whilst lifting your face is only a matter of more time for the surgeon. The goal of eyelid surgery is to remove excess skin gravity and sun exposure damage. Patients usually request for surgery to remove eyebags and to firm the lower eyelid area. In lower eyelid surgery, the surgeon makes the incision in an inconspicuous site along the lashline and smile creases of the lower lid. This is a very effective way of performing the surgery without leaving any obvious scarring. Facial surgery The face as a whole must be considered if the optimum outcome of cosmetic surgery is to be achieved. A facelift can help rejuvenate the lower face, giving it a fresher, healthier appearance. The face lift works well for the jaw line and the neck. By improving facial muscle tone, you can literally lift years off your face. Muscles, fat and deep tissues of the face are all lifted and repositioned so skin is draped over more youthful contours. Most surgeons agree that the best time for the first facial cosmetic surgery is whenever it is needed. Microdermabrassion and non surgical face lifts are alternatives to surgery, in conjunction with a natural facial with elements such as green tea that promote skin wellness. It is also recommended to use facial and body massage therapy after treatments to relax you and speed your recovery. Face aerobics are terrific and can save money in cosmetic surgery. Personal testimony of facial surgery The following is a true personal testimony written by a good friend of mine, Bethany Lee, specifically for this article and with her full permission. She is keen to share her experiences with others who may read it. I had cosmetic surgery some years ago – my first operation was for my eyes. I had very many creases around them and was unhappy with my appearance. I contacted an agent for cosmetic surgery, thinking about whole face surgery. After a discussion with her, she convinced me to start by having correction around my eyes. The operation I had was performed under local anaesthetic although this method isn’t entirely suitable for many people as it is quite painful. It is possible to have it done under general anaesthesia, or ‘twilight anaesthesia’. Some tie it in with other surgery such as a facelift procedure. Still, I opted for the local anaesthetic – I found it comforting to be able to talk to the surgeon and his nurse and know what was going on, but it is not for the faint hearted. The operation itself took about one and a half hours and I was able to have a cup of tea, don dark glasses and go home. I was given pain killers, antibiotics and eye ointment . The painkillers were hardly needed. Although very bruised and swollen when I arrived home, my husband could see a remarkable difference in that the operation had completely removed my eye bags and wrinkles around the eyes. After the bruising and swelling finally went down (less than a week) the difference was amazing. I could see better and I looked so much younger. I was absolutely delighted. It set me off. I was worried about my developing jowels. There was no doubt about it – the cosmetic surgery loomed. I contacted the same agent I had seen before, and she showed me how my face would look after surgery. This time I opted for a full face lift. The operation took 4 hours and this was done under general anaesthetic. I must admit I suffered a lot of bruising – more than most and it took about a week to settle down but after fortnight I was transformed. I found chewing sugar free dental gum useful, it helped me exercise my jaw and kept things moving. I looked better, felt better and started to look after myself more. It gave me the incentive to start exercising again. People were complimenting me on how well I looked. The incision lines were in well hidden places in my hair line and behind my ears, so there was no way anyone could actually tell that I had undergone surgery. I was told the eye surgery would last 7 years but it is 15 years now and they still look good. Just a very slight wrinkling on the left side, which is easily correct with makeup. I have regularly used creams to keep my skin in the best possible condition. I know that people say that a cheap cream is as good as an expensive one but I refute that totally. I have bought most of the creams on the market and find that Syence is by far the most effective. This is one of the few creams that has scientifically documented proof that it thickens the skin – useful in the more mature lady! I find it invaluable, as it has kept my face very soft and near on wrinkle free. Finally, I would say find a good cosmetic surgeon. Ask around, do not go for the cheapest or the most expensive – go for reputation. See photographs of his work if possible and ask questions. It’s your money and your face – you have the right to demand the best. Naturally things can go wrong but rarely do and they can be put right. I find yoga is a great help as it keeps mind and body in tune. A good balanced diet of fresh organic fruit, vegetables and olive oil add to a healthy skin, which will always help set you on a good road to quick recovery. You will experience a little pain but speak up and it can soon be eased. At the end of the day it will be worth it!
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Cosmetic surgery is an increasingly common way for individuals to improve their appearance in a way that might otherwise be impossible. Cosmetic surgery is not to be mistaken with plastic surgery, though the two can be very similar. Plastic surgery is used to repair deformities, or correct appearance from after an accident or injury. Cosmetic surgery is concerned with improving the appearance of an otherwise perfectly healthy individual. The science behind cosmetic surgery has continued to advance, and an amazing variety of different procedures are available. Botox is a popular treatment for both men and women, reducing wrinkles and tightening the muscles in the face to increase youthful appearance. This treatment became widespread in the United States during the 2004 election with John Kerry, though it is a practice among politicians, the wealthy, and movies stars. There are several other cosmetic surgeries for the facial area, as well. Everything from a face lift, to rhinoplasty (nose job), laser eye lid surgery, lip augmentation (for those ladies looking for the gorgeous Angelina Jolie look), facial minisculpture, or the great one for middle aged men: hair transplants. Almost any facial feature can by altered or modified in a way more pleasing to the individual. The options are amazing, and information is easy to find. Beyond the face there are all types of procedures. Sharon Osborne, wife of famous rock singer Ozzy Osborne, is very open about the multiple cosmetic surgeries she has had, and is a great example of a now common celebrity practice. For the body there is liposuction, butt lifts, breast lifts, breast augmentation, and breast reduction (which is also available for weighted men unhappy with upper body flab). There are so many procedures that can be undertaken that it can be intimidating to someone just beginning to look around. If everything seems overwhelming, just take it one step at a time. Which trait would you most like to see changed? Lips? Stomach? Nose? Choose the one feature you would like to take care of first and meet with a cosmetic surgeon to see what your options are. With how common cosmetic surgery has become, the procedures are safe and done by professional doctors who often specialize in even just the one treatment. This is a field where there is something for everyone, but consider your options carefully. Like getting a tattoo, work may be reversed, but it may lead to more headaches than you care for. Still, if it’s time for a change, the options are all there at your disposal, and your happiness at an improved appearance may be a phone call away.