What is Cosmetic Plastic Surgery?

Plastic surgery is no longer frowned upon as it was in the past. Recently, it has become a large part of our society, with more and more people partaking in the various procedures. While some individuals choose plastic surgery for health reasons, others use it for self-improvement and greater self esteem. A large part of the growing popularity of plastic surgery is due to advancements in technology. In the past, patients had no way of determining what the result would look like. Now, many surgeons have computer-imaging, to give a better indication of what the outcome will be. Though plastic surgery is becoming more and more routine, there are several things that people should consider before going ahead with the procedure.

The most common plastic surgery procedures are rhinoplasty (nose surgery), breast augmentation (breast enhancement), liposuction (removing fat deposits from the abdomen), blepharoplasty (eye lid surgery) and face lifts (firming and tightening the skin of the face and neck). There is no strict limitation on the appropriate age to have plastic surgery. In fact, the appropriate age varies depending on which procedure is desired. Most surgeons will advise people to wait until the specific body part has fully matured. For example, the nose is almost fully developed at age 15, whereas the breasts are not fully developed until about age 18.

Before going ahead with plastic surgery, patients should think long and hard about whether they are really making the right choice. There are many benefits to plastic surgery; however, no surgery is risk free. There is always the possibility that plastic surgery will backfire. Some patients have regretted attempting to fix small imperfections, because the result turned out worse than what they began with.

Finding a good plastic surgeon in your area can be difficult, especially when you don’t know where to look. Some common ways of searching include personal references (friends or family who have had cosmetic surgery in the past, or past patients of the surgeon), website searches (will allow you to search by geographic location or specialty, which is a good way to get started), the media, or a cosmetic surgery consultant (this is a good place to seek help when you don’t know where to start). The most important thing when choosing a surgeon is to make sure they are adequately trained and experienced, and that you feel comfortable with them.

The cost of cosmetic plastic surgery will vary depending on what procedure you are having done; however, most surgeries will cost anywhere between $3,000 and $10,000. The variation in price depends on your surgeon, the location, the technique and the difficulty of the procedure being done. You will also have to consider the cost of anesthesia, the operating room facility, your hospital stay, and other related expenses.

Before the actual surgery you should have a consultation with your cosmetic surgeon. At the consultation the surgeon can discuss the procedure and answer any questions that you might have about it. At the consultation you will also have a thorough physical examination of the specific area. You must provide any history of trauma to that specific area.

On the day before and on the day of the procedure, there are certain precautions you will want to take:

	Avoid some medications
	Arrange transportation to and from the surgery
	Wear loose fitting clothing
	Do not eat or drink after midnight on the night of the surgery
	If you develop a cold, flu or other illness, contact your doctor/surgeon right away.

The actual surgery will likely take place in a surgical suite. There may not be any need to have it done in a hospital (unless there will be a need to stay overnight). The surgery will take approximately 1-3 hours, and generally you can leave several hours after it is done. The type of anesthesia used will vary depending on the routine of the doctor, preference of the patient, the procedure being done, and past reactions to anesthesia. Some anesthesia will simply numb the body part, while others will render the patient unconscious (making the patient completely unaware of pain). The amount of pain will depend on the type of procedure that was done, but generally there will be very little pain. It is common to feel dissatisfied with the results of the procedure at first, because the body part will be swollen, bruised and red. The swelling will gradually diminish after several days. Recovery from plastic surgery will take several weeks, and you will gradually be able to resume physical activity. You should not return to work/school for a number of weeks after the procedure.

For more information on cosmetic plastic surgery, contact a cosmetic plastic surgeon in your area.