Cosmetic Surgery and Procedures – Why Do it ?

What are cosmetic surgery and procedures?

Cosmetic surgery and procedures change, restore, or enhance your appearance. There are many reasons for wanting to change or enhance your looks. If you have had burns or other injuries,, were born with a birth defect, or want to change parts of your body for other reasons, you may choose to have a cosmetic surgery or procedure.

What are the general types of cosmetic surgery and procedures?

Cosmetic surgery commonly includes:

• Reconstructive surgery. This is typically done to improve a visible scar, skin condition, or malformed body part caused by an injury, a surgery, a disease or a birth defect. These problems can affect your day-to-day life, including your job, your relationships, and your self-esteem.
• Elective cosmetic surgery. Being unhappy with something about your appearance- such as a large nose, small breasts, wrinkles, or fat around your belly or hips is a common reason for choosing to have cosmetic surgery. These kinds of flaws don’t bother everyone who has them. Many people don’t think of them as flaws at all. But for other people, these things can affect self-image and confidence. Cosmetic surgery is one way to address them.

Nonsurgical cosmetic procedures include:

• Filler injections, which include soft tissue fillers
• Botox injections
• Laser hair removal
• Laser resurfacing to improve acne scars
• Teeth whitening
• Sclerotherapy injections for small varicose veins and spider veins

Why are these surgeries and procedures done?

For most of us our physical appearance affects how we see ourselves and how others see us. The size, shape and look of our bodies may affect how we feel about ourselves and even how we live our lives.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to change the way you look. Some people do this through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. Other have cosmetic surgery, especially if they are unhappy with a certain part of their body or appearance that can be changed.

What are the risks?

Think carefully about the decision to have cosmetic surgery. Surgery always involves some risk. The risks depend on your health and the type of procedure you have. They can range from slight scarring to infection and even death. Serious problems are rare, but they can occur.

Also, there is no guarantee that you will get the results you want. More than one procedure may be needed. Results are lasting unless you have surgery again.

Who pays for this surgery?

Insurance rarely covers the cost of elective cosmetic surgery and procedures. Unless the surgery is done for medical reasons, you will probably have to pay for it yourself.

These surgeries and procedures can cost a lot. Be sure that you know the total cost of the surgery, including the costs of the procedure itself, any medicines you’ll need before or after the procedure, follow-up treatments, office visits, and other expenses.

Are cosmetic surgery and procedures right for you?

Surgery should not take the place of good health habits. There are steps you can take to help you look and feel young and healthy.

• Eat healthy foods
• Get plenty of exercise
• Limit how much time you spend in the sun
• Protect areas of your skin that get the most sun such as the face, back of the hands, and upper chest or neck
• Manage stress
• Don’t smoke
• Avoid drugs and excess alcohol

Be sure to have realistic expectations about how cosmetic surgery may or may not affect your life. For people who are unhappy with their overall appearance rather than just a certain part of their appearance, cosmetic surgery is probably not the answer. These people are unlikely to be happy with the results of just one cosmetic surgery procedure. They may end up having one procedure after another, which can be harmful and expensive.