Cosmetic Surgery: A Comprehensive Guide To Achieve A Perfect Look

What is cosmetic surgery? “Cosmetic” procedures are a variety of techniques performed in order to help someone look and feel better about himself/herself. At the same time, the main dilemma with these procedures in all the Western countries is that they are expensive. Due to this concern, the “cosmetic” procedures are considered “elective” in many parts of the West. This means that they are not covered by most insurances. This can make the cost of procedures very expensive, and almost unaffordable for some people. So, the western countries people choose a best alternative to travel internationally to countries like India to receive these procedures at a much affordable rate.

5 Best Cosmetic Surgeries:

The following are some of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures people go out seeking:

a) Abdominoplasty:
This procedure is also known as a “tummy tuck”. An abdominoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to make the abdomen thinner and firmer. The surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the middle and lower part of the abdomen in order to tighten the muscle and fascia of the abdominal wall. Abdominoplasties are done to help ward off the abdominal’s saggy skin which usually occur due to aging, heredity, pregnancy, prior surgeries, and significant fluctuations in weight etc. The surgery generally takes between 1 to 5 hours, and that timetable depends on the complexity of the procedure being completed.

The procedure can be either an in-patient or an outpatient one depending on the extent of the procedure being undertaken. Abdominoplasties are done under general anesthesia. If you are an out-patient you will need someone who will be able to provide you with transportation as you will not be able to drive home. Full abdominoplasties will require hipbone-to-hipbone incisions, and an overnight stay. Many of these more invasive procedures may require drainage tubes to be inserted and removed a few days later as the surgeon sees fit.

Partial or mini-abdominoplasty only require lower stomach fat to be moved. These partial or mini-abdominoplasties are done through smaller incisions, and the belly button is rarely moved. This partial procedure usually takes about 2 hours to complete. Scars may take up to 9 months to a year to lighten up and fade away. Some risks of the procedure can include bleeding, fluid accumulation, poor wound healing, skin loss, numbness/change in skin sensations, anesthesia complications, skin discoloration, prolonged swelling, fat necrosis, asymmetry, looseness of skin, persistent pain, nerve damage, massive bruising, seroma, heavy scarring, sutures rupturing, and rarely even death.

b) Blepharoplasty:

Blepharoplasty is the plastic surgery operation for correcting defects, deformities, and disfigurations of the eyelids. Blepharoplasty procedure helps to improve the aesthetic modification of the eye’s region of the face. It involves removing or reshaping excess tissue and/or muscle/tendons of the eyelid to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing look. Women account for about 85% of all blepharoplasty procedures performed in the US, and 88% of these procedures performed in the UK. The goal of behind carrying out this procedure is to restore correct functioning to the affected eyelid and restore the aesthetics of the eye-region of the face.

Blepharoplasties can focus on the upper or lower eyelid, and sometimes both. This also focuses on the surrounding facial areas as well. Usually, these procedures are performed through incisions made along the natural skin lines of the upper and lower eyelids where creases hide the scarring. Blepharoplasties usually take 1-3 hours and recovery and swelling subsides within 1-2 weeks.

c) Breast Augmentation:

Breast augmentation is a plastic surgery also known as a Breast Implant or Fat-Graft Mammoplasty. This procedure helps increase the size, and change the shape or texture of the breast on a female. Implants are usually filled with either saline or silicon-based gels. A balloon-like cone filled with this solution helps expanding the size of the breast. Silicon-filled breast implant devices are aimed at creating smaller incisions to limit scarring and provide a quicker recovery for the person.

These new implants filled with either saline or silicon-based gels provide a smoother, more natural contour to the skin after the procedure is complete. Women can breastfeed with implants in, however, the effect of fluid leakage on the infant’s health and well-being is not entirely known. Larger breast implants may also impede the milk flow; however, smaller implants usually work fine. About 3-5% of implants burst within 5 years, and 7-10% rupture within 10 years. However, the longevity of most breast implant devices happens to be quite excellent.

d) Liposuction:

Liposuction is a type of cosmetic surgery that removes the fat from the human body in an attempt to change its shape. Serious complications including deep vein thrombosis, organ perforation, bleeding, and infection can occur when surgery is not performed by a qualified cosmetic surgeon. About 1 in 10,000 liposuction surgeries result in death. Only limited amount of fat can be removed in one session, or “lumpiness” can occur under the skin as a result. Operable areas include the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks to name a few.

Bruising can occur in some areas around where the liposuction has been carried out. Swelling can occur for a month or two after the procedure occurs. Scars will vary in size depending on the procedure done, and scars should fade over the few weeks following the procedure. Pain should be fairly temporary and be able to be stopped with over-the-counter or prescription painkiller drugs that are taken for a strictly limited time. Numbness, sometimes can last up to several weeks. Post-operative weight gain is possible. The limits to your mobility will depend on the procedure you have undertaken. Things like allergies to medications used, infections to the injection site, permanent damage to the skin, skin necrosis (dead skin), possible puncture of an internal organ, a non-asymmetrical look to the injection site, fat embolization, and/or burns from some tools used during the procedure may be risks included with liposuctions.

The ideal candidate for undergoing this procedure should be healthy and within the range of 30 pounds of his/her recommended, “ideal” weight. Liposuctions are ideal for the candidate who has a sensible diet and exercise regime in place. Liposuctions should never be done at the same time as a tummy tuck under any circumstance as more complications can occur, and the risk of mortality rises substantially.

e) Mentoplasty:

A mentoplasty is a chin augmentation procedure via surgical implants in order to alter the underlying structure of the chin to provide a balance to facial features. Mentoplasty is a chin reduction procedure and Genioplasty is a procedure to increase the chin size. Chin implants are used to build a better profile with bones donated from other parts of the patient’s own body. Chin augmentations are still relatively popular even today, as they are a relatively easy operation for the patients while producing noticeable changes to the silhouette of the face.
Complications are usually minor and may include mild swelling, hematomas, weakness/numbness of the lower lip, and possibly slight shifts in the implantation placement. Types of implants include those made of silicone, polytetrafluorethylene, a cellular dermal matrix, etc. to name a few.

Actual surgeries called as Surgical Chin Augmentations are procedures where an entire implant is inserted. There is a non-surgical augmentation as well in which the dermal fillers are inserted through injections. Results can last months to years based on the substance used in the filling. Some basic fillers include hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxy apatite.

Benefits Of Cosmetic Surgery:

a) Improves Or Erases Physical Defects:

Individuals who have suffered a trauma or severe injury may suffer from various physical malformations or defects. Cosmetic surgery can help fix these physical defects. These are often deformities severe enough to affect the person in their daily lives. There is also an entire branch that is dedicated to reconstructive procedures. Many are the result of illnesses or conditions like a breast reconstruction for someone who had a mastectomy, or a rhinoplasty for someone who had cleft lip. There can even be rhinoplasties or facial procedures for people with severe sinus infections or snoring issues that may arise. Considerable cost affordability can be found in countries like India compared to what is found in most Western nations. This makes the procedure and others like it more affordable to those without insurance.

b) Improves a person’s self-image:

Many people who are getting these cosmetic surgeries are those with a low self-esteem and self-worth to begin with. As they come closer to their “dream look” via undertaking these procedures, the patient will often experience a massive boost as they get closer and closer to how they really want to look. These procedures help a lot of people to learn to accept and love their own bodies, and can have positive effects on the person’s mentality, perspective, and attitude. Psychological studies have shown that generally the results really do help people feel more confident about themselves after the procedure has been undertaken.

c) Promotes Overall Health Improvements:

Cosmetic surgeries like tummy tucks or liposuctions can not only help people shed unwanted pounds, but it can also help with other health risks like lowering blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol. It can help someone who is currently on the verge of being overweight from becoming obese. It can help women who have had back pain relieve it with a breast reduction. People will often feel better about their bodies after undergoing such procedures, and are more likely to take better care of themselves than they were to before the procedure occurred. Losing their excess fat or weight can help people begin living a healthier, more active lifestyle moving forward.

d) Provides A Youthful Look:

Cosmetic surgeries have a long history of helping people look younger and feel better psychologically about themselves. It keeps signs at bay when people begin to get wrinkles, age marks, and facial creases, and also helps fade acne scars and helps improve the appearance of the sagging skin. Various procedures can lift various parts of the face from the eyebrows to the neck or face or eyelids. It helps lift droopy skin and reduce the age of the person’s face which helps the person look younger than they are. It rejuvenates the entire facial appearance.

e) Can Help Increase Productivity:

Increased functioning and productivity are other highlights of certain cosmetic surgeries. Rhinoplasties can help people quit snoring, provide better sleep/rest patterns, and provide a greater quality of life for the person. Plastic surgery will often enhance one’s appearance, leading to improved mental health and confidence. Less anxiety allows the individual to be more open to new experiences and trying things that help improve the person’s quality of life. Breast reductions will help people improve their posture and restore the quality of life by helping to reduce things like back pain and increase things like mobility and movement. Liposuctions help people live longer, healthier lives with a healthier weight rather than being overweight as they may have been before having the procedures done.

Cosmetic Surgery For Medical Tourists

There are countries such as India, Malaysia, Singapore etc. providing the same cosmetic procedures at a much affordable price than that in the Western countries. Cosmetic surgery facts state that these countries can provide most procedures at about 20% of the cost of what the Western nations can provide these same procedures at.

The advantages and disadvantages of Cosmetic surgery undertaken in countries like India, Singapore etc. are many, however, most people who have had these procedures done abroad agree that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. People traveling to countries such as India for medical treatment state that they have had little problems with the procedures, and that there are highly-qualified surgeons that have performed the procedures to the same standard as any “Western” doctor would perform it to. The prices are also much more affordable.

Conclusion

There are some cosmetic surgeries that are worth more of an investment than others. These are the surgeries that tend to have one of the highest success rates and permanent results. Most of these procedures include body parts that people are most often unsatisfied with, for instance, the size of the breasts or the chin of a person.

Given that the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle after the surgery, the results can be permanent in changing how the he/she looks. These procedures make the person feel better, look better, and act more confidently about their bodies.

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