The first thing that may surprise you about plastic surgery is that it is type of surgery that is much older than most people think. Evidence indicates the ancient Egyptians practiced a primitive form of reconstructive surgery, and the Romans were adept at performing basic surgery for repairing damaged ears, among other things. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) which is the oldest such society in the world, celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2006. Today, as techniques improve and costs decrease, plastic surgery – seemingly once the exclusive domain of movie stars with too much money – has become increasingly popular and acceptable. An estimated 3.5 million procedures are performed each year in the United States at a cost of almost $5 billion. Plastic surgery was once practiced almost exclusively by middle class Caucasians; now it increasingly attracts people from all income brackets, races and social groups. Around a third of plastic surgery procedures are performed on people aged between 35 and 50. Reality TV shows such as “Extreme Makeover” and “The Swan” have also put plastic surgery in the public eye. And if you really want to see how it is done, you can now find live “webcasts” on the internet featuring such fascinating procedures as stomach stapling and eyebrow lifts. Plastic surgery can mean many different things. It can be anything from the ever-popular tummy tuck or breast enlargement; to facial implants which significantly alter the shape of a person’s face. Contrary to popular belief, most plastic surgery today is used for medical, psychological or health reasons, rather than just for pure vanity. A recent trend is the increasing numbers of plastic surgery procedures being performed on men. Men have become more comfortable with cosmetic surgery, which for a long time was mostly undertaken by women. The most popular procedures for men are hair transplants, liposuction and eyelid surgery. The “neck lift” in which excess sagging skin is removed from the neck and jaw areas, is also becoming a popular procedure with men. Most plastic surgeons themselves are men too – only about 1 in 9 are women but that number is slowly increasing. A huge advance in plastic surgery techniques in recent years has been the increased use of a laser instead of a scalpel. Lasers can be used to remove or minimize several different conditions such as birthmarks, warts and of course, tattoos. The use of a laser tends to leave behind less scarring and bruising on the affected area than conventional surgery. Plastic surgeons have played a role in treating injured soldiers ever since World War I. Today, plastic surgery is still a great advantage to many soldiers injured while fighting the war in Iraq. Surgery has helped to prevent amputation of the arms and legs of hundreds of soldiers who have been injured in suicide attacks or land mines. One of the most controversial plastic surgery procedures may also be making something of a comeback. Silicon breast implants, which were banned in 1992 due to safety issues, have again received conditional approval by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and may be commonplace again before too long. One of the visions of plastic surgery practitioners is to be able to successfully reconstruct an entire face. Surgeons in France have already successfully performed the first partial face reconstruction and the ASPS are confident that full facial reconstruction will soon be commonplace for victims of severe burns or other accidents. This innovative technique involves the complete facial tissue transplant from one person to another, rather than just partial transplanting, which is the usual procedure today. But how does a person pay for plastic surgery, when the average cost of a procedure is around $3500? As this type of surgery becomes more acceptable, there are more and more financing options available. Some necessary procedures are covered under medical insurance; some procedures that aren’t strictly necessary require a loan from companies who specialize in financing for plastic surgery. And if you are thinking of taking the plunge and going under the knife, you are in excellent company. Celebrities such as Kenny Rogers, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vivica A. Fox, among others, have all undergone plastic surgery at one time or another – or at least are rumored to have done so.
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In the present day, even the slightest of flab around the belly can be a source of embarrassment and social discomfort. Moreover, flaunting a protruding tummy won’t help you much in wooing the opposite sex. Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure to reshape and firm the abdomen. Abdominoplasty involves removing excess flab and skin around the belly button, thereby tightening the abdominal wall. This lends a slender appearance to the tummy, making the overall figure to be more appealing. Though tummy tuck surgery is carried out on both women and men, the procedure is usually sought by women who have no plans to conceive any more children. People who have excessive fat deposits, which cannot be curtailed through diet and exercise, may also opt for tummy tuck plastic surgery. Abdominoplasty is a complex procedure that can be classified into two broad categories – complete and partial. Complete abdominoplasty involves a series of incisions, tightening of muscles, removal of extra flab and skin, and replacement of skin flap to allow healing. The complete process may take around 2-5 hours. The partial procedure requires less and smaller incisions and takes around 1-2 hours. Tummy tuck surgery may be performed in combination with liposuction treatment. Abdominoplasty, being complex, requires a significant amount of time for recovery – nearly 4 to 6 weeks. The patient is recommended to avoid undue stress or exertion during the recovery period, since this might lead to unnecessary complications. Patients might experience mild discomfort and contusions around the abdomen. But, such complications subside with time as the patient recovers completely. However, smoking is strictly prohibited both prior to surgery and during recovery, since smokers are at a higher risk of facing complications. On the whole, abdominoplasty is a superlative procedure that could help you attain the much desired slender look and awesome appeal.