Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Pros And Cons Of Cosmetic Surgery

By Adriana Noton


The first known case of plastic or cosmetic surgery was done on a soldier from Britain who was operated on to correct his facial appearance after he deformed by corrosive chemicals. It was verified that is was possible to use skin from one part of the body to cover up facial scars and wounds. It became point of interest and a lot of research was done into it. Further afield in India, reconstructive surgery was being done to rectify physical anomalies and flawed cataracts which was a common problem there.

There is often a confusion of terms. Plastic surgery is dedicated to correcting or restoring the form and function of a body part. The most common form of it is cosmetic or aesthetic but not all plastic surgeries are cosmetic. Also, plastic surgery describes different surgeries such as microsurgery and reconstructive surgery among other types.

Back then, it was done with patients bearing the pain because anesthesia was not being used by then. Also, back then, sterile conditions could only be assured by the use of disinfectants. Later on, when antibiotics like penicillin and sulfa drugs and anesthesia were discovered, plastic surgeries became elective with interest and appreciation for it growing.

Harvesting skin tissue from one part of the body to another or skin grafting remains a mainstay of cosmetic operations to date. This is how scars from burns, fractures, congenital oddities like cleft lips and wounds from cancer and other diseases are concealed. Sometimes, a procedure is done to restore function but sometimes it can be done to restore normal appearance.

As technological methods and equipment was developed, it became possible to do even more kinds of surgeries. Among the most requested procedures are breast augmentation, reduction or lifting, tummy tucks and surgical weight loss options like liposuction and lap band surgery.

Surgeries that alter or improve parts of the face have also become popular. Nose surgery or rhinoplasty is among the most requested kinds of facial procedures. Many also go for surgeries that reduces signs of aging like eye bag removal and also the removal of lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes and mouth. The jaws and neck surgical lifts are also often requested to stop sagging.

In the more recent past, surgery of both male and female reproductive organs is being done. It is possible to get surgery to boost their appearance and performance. Men can get phalloplasty whereby their organs are modified or reconstructed just for aesthetic purposes. Labiaplasty is the procedure for women where their labia are artificially reduced to tighten them. Buttocks can also be enhanced with silicone implants or fat harvested from another part of the body in a procedure christened a Brazilian butt lift.

Wanting to nip, trim and tuck to look better cannot be faulted. A problem arises when it becomes an obsession and wants to have one procedure after the other. That can be quite be costly, not only in terms of finances but the health as well as the frequent surgeries will begin to take a toll on the body with time. Ensure every surgery is done by a surgeon who is qualified and certified.




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