cosmetic surgery is a type of
plastic surgery that aims to improve a person’s appearance, but it should be approached with caution.
procedures are available for almost any part of the body, but the choice to undergo cosmetic surgery should not be taken lightly. the results are often permanent, so it is important to be sure about the decision, to use an appropriate practitioner, and to have the right motivation.
a surgeon may refer a patient for counseling before surgery if they believe there is an underlying problem that cannot be solved by the surgery, or if the patient shows signs of body dysmorphic disorder (bdd).
bdd can cause a person to perceive that there is something seriously wrong with their appearance, when objective evidence suggests otherwise.
reconstructive surgery is another type of
plastic surgery. it aims to improve function and to give a normal appearance to a part of the person’s body that has been damaged, for example, after a
mastectomy. this article will focus on cosmetic surgery only.
types and uses
a variety of aesthetic procedures is available for different parts of the body.
breast surgery
breast implants can be used to increase breast size or in reconstruction after surgery.
women may seek breast surgery to improve their body shape. mammoplasty procedures may include:
breast augmentation, or enlargement, traditionally performed using saline or silicone gel prosthetics, and now occasionally with fat
grafting.
it may be carried out if the woman feels her breasts are too small, if one breast is larger than the other, or if the breasts have changed after pregnancy or breastfeeding. some older women opt for this treatment when the breasts being to droop due to the skin losing elasticity.
in some women, a breast enlargement can boost self-esteem and improve their feelings about their sexuality. in some, however, existing problems remain. this is why women are encouraged to undergo counseling first.
breast reduction can help provide relief from physical discomfort, while the aim of augmentation more often relates to appearance.
breast reduction may also reduce the risk of
breast cancer in women who are at high risk of the disease.
mastopexy, or a
breast lift, involves removing skin and glandular tissue to make the breasts smaller and rearranging the remaining tissue to make the breast appear lifted.
depending on how much volume a patient has lost or desires,
mastopexy can be combined with an implant. while it is similar to a
breast reduction, which removes a much greater amount of tissue,
mastopexy is not usually covered by major insurance carriers as it is not deemed medically necessary.
liposuction, or suction-assisted lipectomy, uses thin cannulas, or hollow metal tubes, to vacuum fat from various parts of the body, usually the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, hips, backs of the arms, and neck.
liposuction may also be used for male
breast reduction.
tools used in
liposuction include standard, ultrasound, mechanical, and laser devices. they all tend to involve suction of fat through a tube.
to prevent complications, there is a limit to the amount of fat that the surgeon can safely remove, depending on whether the patient will be discharged immediately after surgery or admitted to the hospital.
liposuction should not be intended as a weight-loss procedure. when performed in the right patient, the goal is to improve contour and decrease limited areas of fat deposits.
complications are rare but possible. they include the accumulation of blood under the skin, known as hematoma, infection, changes in sensation, allergic reactions, damage to underyling structures, and unsatisfactory results. the doctor must discuss these with the patient beforehand.
liposuction does not reduce the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure.