Nowadays, for better or worse, appearance matters. An underwhelming appearance, which can result from even otherwise seemingly “small” deviations, can have devastating effects on the lifestyle of the individual.
The major variables affecting appearance are genetics and aging. In terms of genetics, naturally, each individual’s experience is unique. Everyone has different features, and this in itself can be worrisome for some individuals. Genetics determine the appearance of both the face and body. While most people may believe that body shape can be completely controlled via diet and exercise, the fact is that some people experience fat deposits more in some areas than others. In other words, even with rigorous, regimented physical activity and a nutritious diet, most people have a difficult time eliminating excess fat from particular areas; most frequently among these are the abdomen, thighs, and below the chin. Aging, of course, is something that affects everyone, and time makes its mark on virtually every area of the body.
In some cases, cosmetic surgery is the only way to tackle these issues effectively. Thankfully, the advancement of technologies and techniques means that cosmetic surgery is actually a reasonable way of tackling these issues. Pretty much any aesthetic issue can be rectified through surgical methods.
Cosmetic surgery has actually existed for over 4000 years. It is thought to have originally been practiced in India around 2000 BC. Cosmetic surgery crossed a major threshold in terms of popularity around the time that the Hollywood film industry emerged; as today, many celebrities gained their famous features at least partially through cosmetic surgery. Now, many cosmetic procedures are available to the public, and are affordable enough that millions of people have been able to undergo cosmetic surgery in recent years.
In 2008 in the United States alone, over 1,760,000 cosmetic surgical procedures were performed (all statistics provided by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). Although women accounted for 90 percent of all recipients, the number of men seeking cosmetic surgery continues to increase, perhaps as stigmas involved diminished and males are now expected to take care of their appearance as well. The most common cosmetic surgeries are breast augmentation, liposuction, blepharoplasty, which is cosmetic surgery for the eyelids, abdominoplasty (also known as the “tummy tuck”), and breast reduction, while the most common procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty, which is cosmetic surgery for the nose, blepharoplasty, gynecomastia (male breast reduction), and hair transplantation.
In terms of age, the group most likely to seek cosmetic surgery are people aged 35-50; this is due to the fact that the main factor that motivates people seeking cosmetic surgery is aging, as genetics-related aesthetic issues are usually taken care of at a younger age. Over 70% of people state that they would not be embarrassed to say that they had undergone a cosmetic surgical procedure, meaning that cosmetic surgery is accepted by society.
Cosmetic surgical procedures themselves require varying amounts of time. By the same token, the amount of time required to recuperate from a given procedure corresponds to the extensiveness of the procedure itself; some procedures may require as little as two weeks of recovery time before the patient can get back to his or her daily activities, while some procedures require several months of recovery time. During the recovery period, it is imperative that the patient adheres to the instructions outlined by the surgeon with regard to how to care for the area (which may involve applying dressings, compression garments, ointments and so on), which forms of activity to avoid (for example, strenuous exercise or physical activity usually has to be ceased for two weeks at the least), clothing considerations (loose-fitting clothing is almost always recommended following any type of surgery; following a face lift, the patient is almost always instructed to wear button-down shirts because t-shirts and sweatshirts must be pulled over the face to be worn and can cause damage to the recovering face when being put on), as well as dietary and similar considerations (smoking must be avoided after any type of surgery).
Complications are always possible following cosmetic surgery, as with any type of surgery. Any procedure involving the use of incisions will cause scarring, which becomes less visible over time, but may leave permanent marks. Swelling may remain in the short term, but swelling or irritation that persists past the period indicated by the surgeon is a sign that a more significant problem may have occurred. Some individuals will experience an allergic reaction to anaesthetic, which is used in most surgical procedures. People with certain medical conditions, such as cardiovascular issues, may be considered unsuitable for cosmetic surgery. Consult with a physician if you would like to determine if cosmetic surgery is a suitable option for you.