In today's world, whether we like it or not, appearance is
important. An unsatisfactory appearance, which can be a result of any of a
number of factors, can have severe consequences on the day to day life of the
individual.
The major factors that have an impact upon appearance are
heredity and aging. When it comes to genetics, of course, different people have
different experiences. Everyone's features are different, and in some cases
these features are a source of trouble for the individual. Facial features
aren't the only thing affected by heredity. While most people may have the idea
that body shape can be largely controlled via diet and exercise, the fact is
that some people accumulate fat more in some areas than others. This means
that, even with a healthy diet and extensive, targeted exercise, most people
have a hard time eliminating excess fat from particular areas; common ones
include the abdomen, thighs, and below the chin. Aging, naturally, is something
that affects everyone, and time makes its mark on virtually every area of the
body.
In many cases, cosmetic surgery is the only way to tackle
these issues effectively. Luckily, the progress of technologies and techniques
means that cosmetic surgery is actually a not inconvenient way of tackling
these issues. Virtually all aesthetic issues can be addressed using cosmetic
surgery.
Cosmetic surgery isn't as new an idea as it may seem. It was
first developed in India around 2000 BC. Surgery for aesthetic purposes crossed
a major threshold in terms of popularity with the development of the Hollywood
film industry; as today, many film actors and actresses achieved their
"sculpted" features at least in part through cosmetic surgery. Now, a
wide variety of procedures are practiced around the world, and are priced in
such a way that millions of people have been able to undergo cosmetic surgery
in the last few years alone.
In the US alone, in the year 2008, over 1,760,000 cosmetic
surgical procedures were performed (all statistics collected by the American
Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery). 90 percent of patients were women, but
the proportion of men undergoing cosmetic surgery continues to increase yearly
as well, which may be at least partly because corresponding stigmas have become
less pronounced and males are now expected to be concerned about their
appearance as well. The top procedures for women in terms of popularity are
breast augmentation, liposuction, blepharoplasty (cosmetic eyelid surgery),
abdominoplasty (also known as a "tummy tuck"), and breast reduction,
while the most common procedures for men are liposuction, rhinoplasty (cosmetic
surgery for the nose), blepharoplasty, gynecomastia, or male breast reductionsurgery, and hair transplantation.
People aged 35-50 years are most likely to seek cosmetic
surgery; this shows that aging is the biggest factor leading to people taking
an interest in cosmetic surgery, perhaps because genetics or features present
from birth are usually taken care of at a younger age. Over 70% of individuals
state that they are not embarrassed to say that they have received cosmetic
surgery, which indicates that cosmetic surgery is a socially accepted practice.
Each type of surgery for cosmetic purposes takes its own
amount of time and requires attention to its own concerns. Similarly, the
amount of time needed in order to recuperate from a given operation corresponds
to the extensiveness of the procedure itself; some operations call for no more
than two weeks of rest before the patient can get back to his or her previous
daily activities, while certain procedures call for several months of recovery
time. During the recovery period, the patient is required to adhere to the
instructions outlined by the surgeon with respect to how to treat the area
(which may involve applying dressings, compression garments, ointments and so
on), what kind of activities to avoid (strenuous exercise or physical activity
must usually be avoided for two weeks at the least), wardrobe considerations
(after any type of surgery, loose-fitting clothing is almost always
recommended; following a face lift, the patient should wear button-down shirts
as opposed to pull-over articles of clothing such as t-shirts and sweatshirts,
as these can cause damage to the recovering face when being put on), as well as
dietary and other considerations (smoking, for example, must be ceased after
any type of surgery).
Complications are always possible following plastic surgery,
as with any type of surgery. Scarring results from any procedure which requires
incisions. Swelling can remain in the short term, while long-term swelling or
irritation is a sign that a more serious problem may be present. Some
individuals will experience an allergic reaction to anaesthetic, which is used
in virtually all surgical procedures. Individuals with certain medical
conditions, such as cardiovascular problems, may be considered unsuitable for
cosmetic surgery. Consult with a physician in order to determine if cosmetic
surgery is a good option for you.
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