Cosmetic surgery is an increasingly popular option for those looking to improve the way they look; statistics have shown a consistent annual rise in the number of people going under the knife in the name of looking good. Cosmetic surgery involves a number of different procedures, which are designed to alter the appearance of the individual; the conditions which are treated have no risk to medical health and are purely carried out to make the patient in question feel better about the way they look.
Why is cosmetic surgery so popular?
The rise in popularity of cosmetic procedures has been largely attributed to a greater public awareness of the way we look; coupled with a growing impetus on looks in the media, the result is that we are now more image-conscious than ever before. The media constantly shows the public images of perfect looking models and celebrities and many people feel pressure to try and look like them; changes in society mean that material goods and looks are now a sign of success. Cosmetic surgery provides a quick and easy solution to the issues we have with our bodies; in just a few hours cosmetic surgery enables us to look completely different.
People have different reasons for having cosmetic surgery, but many share the belief that it will provide a solution to issues that make them feel anxious, insecure and unattractive; for many, a cosmetic procedure can boost their confidence and retain their sense of self-worth. In some cases, people feel they are being held back because of the way a certain part of their body looks; this is often the case with patients undergoing breast augmentation surgery; many say they don�t feel feminine because they don�t have big breasts.
The falling costs of cosmetic surgery also mean that more people can afford the treatments; these is now so much competition between providers that cosmetic surgery is more affordable than ever before; payment plans also benefit patients as they can pay for their treatment over a period of time instead of paying one lump sum.
How safe is cosmetic surgery?
Cosmetic surgery is becoming safer as it becomes a tried and tested process; thousands of successful operations take place each year across the world; however, there are risks involved.
Anaesthetic
Many of the cosmetic procedures available involve a patient being sedated either by local or general anaesthetic; procedures under anaesthetic always carry risks, as some patients react badly to anaesthetic and the side-effects can be very unpleasant. In some cases, patients can have allergic reactions to anaesthetic; however this is rare and in almost all cases the risks of not having an operation far outweigh the risks of anaesthesia (this is not the case with cosmetic surgery as the surgery is non-essential). General anaesthetic is not suitable for everyone; your doctor should assess whether you are able to have anaesthetic by looking at your medical history. Although there are risks, most patients are fine after anaesthetic and just feel slightly confused and a bit drowsy.
Complications
All surgical procedures run the risk of complications, although these are increasingly rare thanks to improvements in technology and training. Possible complications may include decreased blood pressure, excessive blood loss, blood clotting and infection. Your surgeon should discuss all the possible risks and complications associated with the treatment you are having prior to the operation; following this, you will have to sign a disclaimer to confirm you understand there are risks involved with the procedure you are about to undertake. The risk of complications with procedures carried out by approved, registered surgeons is extremely low; a survey in America revealed that the rate of serious complications over the course of over 40,000 operations was less than half a percent.
Unsatisfactory results
While many people are delighted with the results of their cosmetic surgery, many also feel disappointed that the operation hasn�t performed the miraculous transformation they had hoped for; it is important for patients to be realistic about what can be achieved in just a few short hours and not expect the impossible. Many patients have experienced unsatisfactory results following a cosmetic procedure and have subsequently gone on to have further surgery to try and get the results they hoped for initially; the best way to avoid this is to be clear about what changes you want from the outset. In cases where the operation has clearly been bodged and the results are particularly shocking patients may seek to claim compensation; this is rare but it does happen.
Healing
Healing can take a long time after major cosmetic surgery and it can be a very painful process; to begin with the skin will often be inflamed, bruised, sore and red and the results of the operation can be hard to see. However, in time, the swelling, bruising and redness should go down. The speed of healing varies between each individual person.
What you should find out before
It is important to research the procedure you wish to have thoroughly; talk to different specialists, read books and articles and discuss the operation with people who have had it done. Once you have decided what you want, choose which surgeon to go to; make sure they are registered with the Healthcare Commission, discuss your treatment with them, look at pictures of their work and read testimonials of other patients.