Introduction to Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery comprises a combination of procedures used to change or improve the aesthetics of a patient. The two most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures are rhinoplasty (nose surgery) and liposuction. Other commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures are facelift (face-lift), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and weight loss surgery (bariatric surgery, gastric bypass surgery). The most commonly performed breast enhancement surgery procedures are breast augmentation with breast implants, breast lift, breast enlargement and breast reduction. Botox injection was the most common non-surgical cosmetic procedure. Overall, cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures increased by 33% from 2002 to 2003, with over 8.7 million procedures being performed.
With the emphasis on health and staying younger, many people also want to look younger. Cosmetic surgery procedures offer the opportunity to push back the effects of age on the body contour, the face and the skin. New and better surgical techniques are reducing the level of invasiveness of surgery, allowing for quicker recovery times. Many new developments in breast implants have also aided the field of plastic surgery. New types of plastic surgery procedure provide for less scarring and help to maintain the privacy of the procedures. Many people are choosing plastic surgery that would avoid it in the past.
Many plastic surgeons have expanded their practices to include less invasive procedures that improve beauty and offset the effects of aging. Common laser procedures include laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing and laser scar removal. Many new ointments and lotions are available for anti-aging and facial rejuvenation.
Plastic Surgery is Not For Everyone
Each person's appearance greatly affects his or her self-confidence. It also influences how others perceive and interact with that person. Improving your appearance through plastic surgery can increase your self-confidence. Although the surgery can enhance your appearance, it may not be able to completely return you to your youth or create an ideal figure, face or body contour. Also, the way others treat you after surgery may not change or be exactly as you anticipated. It is important to think carefully about your expectations before having plastic surgery. Discuss these expectations with a qualified plastic surgeon, along with the other risks and potential benefits of surgery.
About the Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery
The Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery website provides detailed information about plastic and cosmetic surgery, including information about who makes the best candidates for each procedure, the recovery time after surgery and the proper expectations. This site also describes how to best choose a plastic surgeon and the training and qualifications of the various types of physician specialties that perform plastic surgery. Information is included on liposuction, facelift, breast augmentation, tummy tuck, rhinoplasty and other cosmetic surgical procedures. Non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox, other injectables and many other skin care treatments are also discussed. Hopefully this website can provide sufficient information, or can direct you to other sources of information, to allow the proper decision about plastic surgery.
For more information about plastic surgeons, visit Plastic Surgery Markets or the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. For resource information concerning Breast Augmentation, visit Breast Resources.
MediaFact is an important online resource about drug side effects related to Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Primary Pulmonary Hypertension.