Cosmetic surgery is increasingly becoming popular, especially with women in the world of showbiz or those always in public eye who don’t mind going under a doctor’s knife for that lifting, reducing, filling in or sucking out. Research has shown that more and more people are opting for cosmetic surgery to improve their appearance or for purely health purposes. Unlike plastic surgery which is generally done to improve functions, cosmetic surgery involves reshaping body areas which otherwise may be functioning normally.
Data released earlier this year by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) say that cosmetic procedures have increased 115 per cent since 2000! And the annual plastic surgery procedural statistics indicate that the US witnessed a 2 per cent increase in 2015 from the year before and witnessed 15.9 million cosmetic procedures performed in the country alone.
The difference is also seen in the type of cosmetic treatment people are now going for when compared to the years before. For example, the facelift was always a popular surgery since 2000 but in 2015, it slipped out of the top 5 to be replaced by a tummy tuck.
Scores of cosmetic procedures are done on a daily basis all over the world. Types are botox, chin reduction, tummy tuck, gynecomastia, liposuction, breast enlargement, nose surgery, laser hair removal, chin reduction, neck lift, rhinoplasty, forehead lift, breast reduction, dermabrasion, facial implant, breast implant, chemical peel, buttock lift and much more.
Here, we shall discuss some of the common ones.
Liposuction, also lipoplasty, is among the most common type of cosmetic surgery and involves removing pockets of fat like ‘saddle bags’ and ‘love handles’ from specific areas. Also referred to as body sculpting, liposuction helps to slim and reshape certain parts of the body, like hips and thighs, buttocks, abdomen, waist, calves, ankles, chin and neck, by removing deposits of excess fats from there.
A tiny cannula, connected by a tube to a vacuum pressure unit, is inserted into the fat tissues beneath the skin and fat is suctioned out allowing the body to become shapely and contoured. This procedure can be performed on several areas of the body at the same time.
This aesthetic procedure helps in increasing or restoring the size of the breast which may have reduced due to weight reduction or pregnancy. Breast augmentation or breast enhancement requires the surgeon to place saline or silicone-filled implants either above or below the pectoral muscle.
Eyelid surgery also referred to as blepharoplasty, is done either to improve the appearance of the eyelid/eyelids or to correct the function. It may be done on either one or both eyelids.
Nose job or rhinoplasty is a surgery of the nose to correct its shape or improve its function. Rhinoplasty is also the treatment for deviated nasal septum and helps improve airflow. From the aesthetic point of view, a crooked, bulbous, flat nose or a nose with humps or large/upturned nostrils can be corrected via a nose job.
Facelift or rhytidectomy is performed to get rid of the wrinkles and creases on the face and is usually wanted by men and women who are ageing and not comfortable with their sagging skin. The idea is to give them a younger looking face!
Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is done to give a flat and firm abdomen. Surgery is performed to remove excess fat and skin from the tummy and tighten the muscles in the abdominal wall. This, however, should not be confused with liposuction.
In conclusion, cosmetic surgeries not only enhance your appearance but also promote a healthier lifestyle. Consult a cosmetic surgeon on whether issues you are facing can be easily rectified by some commonly adopted procedures.
