Cosmetic surgery: An introduction
What is cosmetic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery refers to a surgical procedure undertaken to reshape and change the appearance of a body part. It may change the structure, position, colour or texture of a body part or feature and is initiated by an individual who is unsatisfied with their appearance, rather than by a doctor who thinks the surgery will improve the individual’s health. There are also many other treatments undertaken for cosmetic purposes which do not involve surgery, but change the structure of body tissues. These are known as non-surgical cosmetic treatments.
Body parts or systems operated
Surgeons can change the appearance of numerous body parts through cosmetic surgery. Some of the most common body parts which patients modify through cosmetic surgery, either changing the size or shape of, are:
Breasts;
Ears;
Eyes;
Face;
Hair;
Nose;
Abdomen.
Cosmetic surgery techniques and procedures
There are numerous operative techniques used in cosmetic surgery including:
Lipoplasty (liposuction): This involves the removal of fat from the body through small cuts in the skin using suction techniques;
Augmentation: This involves the implantation of devices to increase the size of a body feature (e.g. the breasts);
Body contouring including lifts and tucks: These are procedures in which loose skin is removed and remaining skin tightened to give a more toned appearance;
Reshaping procedures: The contour or shape of a feature is changed. These procedures might involve implants or removal or reshaping of bone or cartilage;
Dermabrasion: This involves the scraping away of layers of skin; and
Hair replacement: Skin with good hair growth is grafted onto bald areas where hair growth is desired.
Non-surgical cosmetic treatments
Non-surgical cosmfetic treatments are those which alter the appearance by changing the structure of body tissues, without surgery. Such procedures may be offered in non-medical settings including dental surgeries and beauty salons. While these treatments do not involve invasive surgery, they nonetheless carry risks and individuals should fully consider the risks and benefits of these treatments before consenting to undergo them.
Non-surgical cosmetic treatments include:
Botulinum toxin injections (Botox): Typically into facial muscles to reduce the appearance of wrinkles;
Dermal fillers: Dermal fillers include collagen derived from human and cow skin. In Australia collagen dermal fillers include the brands Cosmoderm, Cosmoplast, Zyderm and Zyplast. These are injected into the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles for 2–4 months;
Chemical peels: In which chemical solutions containing phenol, trichloroacetic and alphahydroxy acids are applied to the skin in order the remove the outer layers of the dermis.
How to become a plastic surgeon
Plastic surgeons serve high-profile clientele, like movie and TV stars, as well as people recovering from accidents and illnesses. They also help people born with birth defects. Whether performing cosmetic or reconstructive surgery, plastic surgeons make big bucks helping people. If you are willing to put in many years of hard work, you can become a plastic surgeon one day too.
Here’s how to become a plastic surgeon:
Obtain your bachelor’s degree in a premedical major, such as biology or chemistry.
Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). You might want to consider taking an MCAT prep course so you get a good score.
Complete a four-year doctor of medicine (MD) degree from an accredited medical school [source: Education-portal]. Choosing a school with a plastic surgery residency program could make your next step easier.
Undergo surgical residency training upon completing medical school. This three-year residency is a general surgery residency.
Undergo a second residency specializing in plastic surgery. This is also a three-year residency. Some programs combine everything into one long residency [source: ABPS].
Become familiar with the role of a plastic surgeon through the rules and guidelines of the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and connect with groups like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Choose a specialty upon completing your general surgery training, or during your second or third year of mixed training. Some possibilities include hand surgery, aesthetic surgery and cutaneous malignancy surgery.
Secure certification with the ABPS through examination and conformity with a code of ethics.
After completing your residency, you may decide to do a fellowship. This will help you further master your skills in your chosen area. After that, you will be ready to perform plastic surgery.
Why you should NOT get plastic surgery
Many of us are concerned with some aspect of our appearance. Maybe we don’t have the body we want, or we wish we could look younger. More and more, people are turning to cosmetic surgery to help them meet their goal of looking and feeling their best.
In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery, patients increasingly come from all income levels and ranges, with more than 70 percent of patients reporting a household income between $30,000 and $60,000. Age ranges also vary widely. In my practice, I commonly see patients from 18 to 80 years of age, and this reflects national trends.
Seek plastic surgery for you —not to please someone else.
Plastic surgery will not change your relationships or save your marriage. You should have cosmetic surgery for yourself — to make you feel better about yourself or to change something you’re not happy about with your appearance.
Think twice before letting pop culture drive your decision.
You should not have a cosmetic procedure just because it’s the latest fashion. We all follow the stars and watch plastic surgery reality shows, and this may entice you
Looking for a quick fix to drop some pounds?
Plastic surgery is not a weight loss procedure. A sensible diet, exercise and healthy lifestyle are the keys to maintaining a fit figure. For extreme weight loss, bariatric surgery is the specialty of medicine that helps patients lose weight by restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold.
Cosmetic surgery holidays
Cheaper, better?
A large international study, the Sun, Sea, Sand, Silicone Project, estimated that spend $300m a year on cosmetic surgery tourism, with an estimated 15,000 heading offshore each year to go under the knife. Dr M from the University of Technology, who worked on the study, told Associated Press, “Most people are attracted to it because it is cheap overseas but the agents are beginning to tell us that they are servicing people who are choosing to go overseas because they think they will get better work done.”
health insurer NIB is become a player in the market, offering ‘NIB Options’. NIB Options is not a health insurance product but a fee-for-service which, according to their website, provides “safe and reliable choices for consumers wishing to undertake cosmetic and major dental procedures in overseas”.
Tourist traps
“Surgical procedures and tourism should not appear in the same sentence,” says Dr J, the ACCS’s chief censor. “Surgery used to be very well considered and a serious proposition. It’s not something that you can add on to a holiday and it’s not something you do simply because this is the cheapest way to go.”
Risky business
Surgery is a risky proposition regardless of where it’s done, but experts say there are additional risks to getting surgery in countries where regulation may not be as stringent as our own. The outcome could be results that you are unhappy with, or that cause a lot of pain and distress.
So, how much can you save?
Often in cosmetic surgeons do not list pricing on their websites, with the caveat that costs will vary between patients and procedures. There are many costs associated with surgery – not just the surgeon’s fee – such as hospital or surgical facility costs, anaesthesia fees, medication and medical tests.
Mini Lift Recovery – Helpful Things to Know
Many people refer to the mini lift as a “weekend facelift” due to its minimal invasiveness and quick recovery time. This title may mislead you, however, as mini lift recovery for some people may take longer than just a couple days. The choices a patient makes before and after the surgery can impact how long the recovery takes, but if done right, it can make the procedure easy and simple. Our experts want you to have all the information about what to expect after your procedure so that you can make an informed decision.
What is a Mini Lift?
A mini lift is the most common form of facelift performed today. It is a less invasive form of procedure than a full facelift and involves only a series of smaller incisions. Excess skin can then be removed. The procedure pulls the remaining skin tight across the face, eliminating sagging and reducing the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles. This helps users look like their younger selves without the involvement of a full facelift procedure.
A Closer Look at the Mini Lift Recovery
After the procedure, patients will be discharged and allowed to complete their recovery at home. The most important tip for speeding recovery is not to rush it; everyone’s bodies heal at their own pace, and trying to come back too quickly can cause further damage and set the process back days, weeks or longer.
Though patients can generally leave the facility the day of the surgery, they are typically advised to give themselves at least a week before needing to do any strenuous or public activities. Doctors also advise them to follow all their recommendations regarding aftercare.
Most doctors will do a follow-up meeting within just days to make sure that everything looks correct and your mini lift recovery is going well. They may perform another after one or two weeks although many patients recover quickly enough that this may not be necessary. It all depends on the unique situation.