General knowledge about Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is now more popular that ever with reality TV shows such as extreme makeover increasing public awareness about cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery procedures. Although in the past cosmetic surgery was only availble to the rich and famous, it is now becoming popular amongst the general public.

The Medic8 guide to cosmetic surgery aims to provide a comprehensive non-biased overview of cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, the benefits, the risks involved and what you could expect from the cosmetic surgery procedure that you are intrested in.

What is Cosmetic Surgery?

Cosmetic surgery involves having a surgical procedure carried out by a plastic/cosmetic surgeon to improve the "look" of a particular part of your body. Cosmetic surgery can not only improve physical appearance but it can also have emotional and psychological effects. Procedures such as breast enlargement or a facelift could have a great influence on an individual's self esteem and confidence levels.

Cosmetic Surgery has its risks

As with any surgical procedures there are risks involved and it is important that before undergoing any cosmetic surgery procedures that you are fully aware of all the potential risks and potential side effects and discuss these with your surgeon.

Your Questions answered in our Cosmetic Surgery Guide

In this Guide to cosmetic surgery we have tried to cover all your questions and the links below give an overview of the most common cosmetic surgery questions asked by patients that are considering going under the knife. If you would like to learn more indepth information about individual cosmetic surgery procedures then take a look at the links to the left.

Popular Cosmetic Surgery treatments

Cosmetic surgeons are able to provide many life-changing treatments to enhance a person’s appearance. Listed below are the most popular cosmetic treatments available:

Breast implants

Breast implants are a well-known cosmetic surgery, undergone by women who desire larger breasts. Also known as “breast augmentation”, implants filled with silicone gel are placed either above the main chest muscle or beneath to vastly improve the appearance of the breasts. Breast implant surgery is a great form of cosmetic surgery to improve your confidence.

Breast reduction

Breast reduction is often performed for physical reasons rather than cosmetic ones. Women who have larger breasts find that they are too heavy and this can cause physical problems such as severe backache and mental issues in terms of low self-esteem. The procedure is also known as a ‘mammaplasty’, and involves a portion of fat and skin being removed from the breasts to make them smaller.

Eyelid lift

Eyelid lift surgery, also known as blepharoplasty, involves the removal of ‘bags under the eyes’. These puffy bags appear very unsightly for those who have them, but by having them removed you can be made to look younger and the surrounding eye firmer and fresher. Eye bags can occur for many reasons such as: ageing, genetic reasons or environmental factors such as too much sun exposure. A removal of excess skin from above and below the eyelid is performed in the surgical procedure, reducing the ‘bag’ effect.

Facelift

The well-known facelift is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world. This procedure is also known as ‘rhytidectomy’and involves the removal of excess skin from around the cheeks and neck. The overall intention of this procedure is to present the patient with a younger and fresher look, which is why the surgeons tighten the skin. There is also something known as a mini facelift, which includes the reduction of incisions made.

Nose reshaping

Nose reshaping is currently the number one cosmetic procedure undergone by men. The nose job surgery includes the removal of any large bumps and can make the nose appear straighter and stronger. Many people undergo this surgery for reasons including: an accident may have left the nose misshapen; various medical problems related to the nose may have left it looking unsightly; and other cosmetic reasons. A simple re-shape of the nose can give someone a huge boost in confidence.

Chin augmentation

Chin augmentation includes the placing of cosmetic implants within the chin to give it a greater proportion in regards to the rest of the face. Many men wish they had a “stronger chin”, so undergo this very simple procedure. Usually the incisions are made inside the mouth, which means there are no apparent scars left outside the chin for all to see. Other people who have very prominent features may wish to undergo this surgery also; this is simply to make the rest of the face look natural in proportion.

Brow lift

A brow lift, often referred to as a “forehead lift”, is a cosmetic procedure that is very popular especially among the older population. The brow lift involves a procedure that lifts the skin on the forehead and removes some of the tissue to give a more youthful look to the patients overall appearance. Wrinkles on the forehead and loose skin may easily be tightened to regain a more fresh and younger looking face.

Liposuction

Liposuction is also one of the most popular cosmetic treatments around today and is used to remove any excess fat, which the patient would like to be rid of. Liposuction is a common procedure for those who have lost a vast amount of weight quickly and have a lot of extra skin, which needs to be removed for cosmetic reasons. The surgical procedure is usually a straightforward one, allowing the patient to go home after a day or so. Several areas of the body can be “liposuctioned” at once and the common areas include: the thighs, abdomen, and buttocks.

Tummy tuck

Tummy tuck surgery also known as “abdominoplasty” refers to the removal of fat from around the waist area for both cosmetic reasons and health risk reasons. Often, regular exercise, dieting etc cannot remove stubborn fat, which means a tummy tuck is ideal for those who struggle with the extra fats around their waists. Other forms of tummy tuck surgery, includes a “Mini tummy tuck” which is a less risky procedure and doesn’t involve the repositioning of the navel and the “Partial abdominoplasty” which also doesn’t involve the repositioning of the navel. All three tummy tuck procedures are designed to give the patient a smaller, firmer looking waist.