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Cosmetic Surgery, An Introduction
By A. Kelly

Cosmetic surgery continues to grow in popularity across the globe. The age of people using the skills of the plastic surgeon seem to be decreasing and the numbers of teenagers wishing for surgery increasing.

Is this really what people want or is it a sign of the increasing pressures for the body beautiful?

Cosmetic plastic surgery has been available for thousands of years but it has only, relatively recently, become available to the masses. In the past plastic surgery was a means to correct a problem whereas now it would appear that this type of procedure is only a minor part of the work carried out by a surgeon. Certainly the most expensive plastic surgeons work mainly on people who are searching for the perfect body but they often enjoy working to help those in desperate need. Nip Tuck, the popular TV series gives us some insight into their world ;-)

There is a distinct difference between the two types of operations mentioned above. We can generally categorize the procedure into one of two groups, these are cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. It is cosmetic surgery that we will concentrate on in this article.

So What Is Cosmetic Surgery?

Simply put it is the use of surgical techniques and procedures to enhance the appearance of the patients body. The number of cosmetic surgeries carried out annually in the USA, alone, runs into the millions and these range from relatively minor operations to those which be dramatic. Such procedures are commonly referred to now days as extreme makeovers and have been popularized by several high profile television series.

Another name used for these procedures which is commonly used by clinics is "medical aesthetics" and involve the following procedures:

  1. Face Lifts. Rhytidectomy/face lift is possibly the most well known of the procedures and used to reduce the signs of aging, such as wrinkles from the face area.
  2. Nose Job. Rhinoplasty/Nose Jobs involve the reshaping of the nose and have been popular since ancient times.
  3. Tummy Tuck. Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tucks are becoming extremely popular, due, in part, by the increase in the number of people who are obese. However a responsible surgeon will ask the patient to lose weight first and only use a tummy tuck to remove the remaining excess skin.
  4. Ear Job. Otoplasty is the reshaping of the ear and is commonly used to correct the problem of ears protruding too far for the liking of the patient.
  5. Boob Job. Breast augmentation or Augmentation Mammaplasty, commonly refereed to as a boob job or breast enlargement is the augmentation of the breasts and usually involves the use of implants

There are many other cosmetic surgery procedures such as umbilicoplasty and chin augmentation which are routinely carried out in clinics and we will take a look at these in later articles.

Male Cosmetic Surgery

The use of cosmetic surgery amongst men is increasing with more men opting for breast implants to enhance their chest. The common procedures used on men today have actually been in use for a long time and developed, in part, from the demands made by Hollywood stars of the past. Many such male celebrities of today claim that they have not been surgically enhanced but comparisons of photographs taken throughout their careers clearly shows that surgery has been used rather than nature working backwards for these guys!

The most famous male user of cosmetic surgery is Michael Jackson and he is the subject of many cruel jokes as a result. While many use Michael as an example of the things that can go wrong with plastic surgery others claim that most of the work done around his face is reconstructive surgery. Whichever you prefer there is no denying that it has had a profound effect upon the appearance of his face.

I personally feel that the best surgery is that which can not be seen. An enhancement should be just that and NOT a total change in appearance. Use of procedures such as microdermabrasion offer solutions to problems such as Acne and other skin complaints while having drastic effect upon the appearance of the skin the overall face is the same. To me this is perfect and, in a similar way, the bridge of the nose being shaved to reduce a bump can have positive effects while keeping the overall appearance pretty much the same only better. I am sure that most would agree that this is the most beneficial type of cosmetic surgery and the goal of most surgeons.

In the articles below we will be looking at other areas of cosmetic surgery and the various questions raised about each. It is hoped that you find them useful and informative and we hope to continue adding to them. You will also find many articles relevant in our section about plastic surgery

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You will find many more articles about cosmetic surgery in our cosmetic surgery archive