Cosmetic Surgery – The Facts
Posted on December 12, 2009
Filed Under Natural therapy | Leave a Comment
These days, for better or worse, appearance matters. An underwhelming appearance, which can result from what may seem to others like “small” deviations, is certain to result in some social consequences and other problems, and can often have devastating effects.
The major factors that have an impact upon appearance are genetics and aging. When it comes to genetics, of course, every person’s experience is unique. Everyone’s features are unique, and in some cases these features are cause for concern. Beyond just things like the features of the face, body shape, too, is determined by certain genetic factors. Although most people may have the idea that body shape can be accurately controlled through diet and exercise, the truth is that some people accumulate fat more in some areas than others. In other words, even with a healthy diet and rigorous, regimented exercise, most people find it hard to completely get rid of certain problem areas of excess fat; usually among these are the abdomen, thighs, and below the chin. Aging, of course, is something that affects everyone, and time makes its mark on virtually every area of the body.
In some cases, a cosmetic procedure is the only option. Luckily, the advancement of methods and technologies means that cosmetic surgery is actually a not inconvenient way of approaching these issues. Pretty much any aesthetic problem can be addressed thanks to surgical methods.
Cosmetic surgery isn’t as new an idea as it may seem. It was first practiced in India around 2000 BC. It wasn’t until the emergence of the Hollywood movie industry, though, that cosmetic surgery became truly popular among people of all walks of life; as today, many film actors and actresses achieved their “sculpted” features at least in part through cosmetic surgery. Today, a wide variety of procedures are widely available, and are affordable enough that millions of people have been able to undergo cosmetic surgery in recent years.
In the United States alone, in the year 2008, over 1,760,000 cosmetic surgical procedures were performed (all statistics collected by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). Although women accounted for 90 percent of all recipients, the number of men seeking cosmetic surgical procedures continues to increase, perhaps as stigmas involved become less pronounced and males are now expected to take care of their looks as well. The most common cosmetic surgeries are breast enhancement, liposuction, blepharoplasty, which is cosmetic surgery for the eyelids, abdominoplasty (also known as a “tummy tuck”), and breast reduction, while procedures most commonly performed on men are liposuction, rhinoplasty (cosmetic surgery for the nose), blepharoplasty, gynecomastia, or male breast reduction surgery, and hair transplantation.
In terms of age, the group most likely to seek cosmetic surgery are people aged 35-50; this is due to the fact that the main factor leading to people seeking cosmetic surgery is aging, as genetics or features present from birth are, in most cases, addressed at a younger age. Over 70% of people state that they are not ashamed to say that they have undergone cosmetic surgery, which indicates that cosmetic surgery is a socially accepted practice.
Cosmetic surgical procedures themselves require varying amounts of time. Similarly, the period of time needed in order to achieve full recovery from a specific procedure is directly related to the nature of the procedure itself; some procedures may require as little as two weeks of rest before the patient can get back to his or her previous daily activities, while some operations call for several months of recovery time. During recovery, it is imperative that the patient adheres to the directions given by the surgeon with regard to how to treat the area (which may involve using dressings, compression garments, ointments and so on), which activities to avoid (strenuous exercise or physical activity must usually be avoided for two weeks at the least), clothing considerations (loose-fitting clothing is almost always recommended following any type of surgery; following a face lift, the patient must wear button-down shirts as opposed to articles of clothing such as t-shirts and sweatshirts, as these can cause damage to the face when being put on), and dietary and similar issues (smoking must be ceased after any type of surgery).
Complications are always possible following cosmetic surgery, as with any type of surgery. Any procedure involving the use of incisions will cause scarring, which becomes more difficult to see over time, but can leave permanent marks. Swelling may occur in the short term, while swelling or irritation that remains or worsens after the period indicated by the surgeon indicates a problem. Allergic reaction to the anaesthetic used for the procedure may also occur for some individuals. People with certain medical conditions, such as cardiovascular problems, may not be eligible for cosmetic surgery. Please consult with a physician if you would like to determine whether you are a good candidate for cosmetic surgery.
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