Cosmetic surgery can improve your appearance and self-image,
but find out what it entails before deciding on an operation.
Few people entirely satisfied with the way they look but
some people find that one particular aspect of their appearance is so
unacceptable that they feel they must have it altered surgically. Cosmetic
surgery can change not only a person’s physical appearance but it may also
change the way they feel about themselves. However, before you decide to have
any kind of cosmetic surgery, make sure that you know exactly what it will
involve.
Making the decision
Cosmetic surgery is not something to be entered into
lightly. Ask yourself if the ‘defect’ you want altered is so bad and worries
you so much that it is worth the expense and possible discomfort of the
operation. Discuss the matter fully with
your family and friends; they might after all reassure you that surgery is not necessary.
On the other hand, if you are so disturbed by the defect
that you become obsessive about it and your mental health suffers, then perhaps
cosmetic surgery will be the only option.
Your doctor is the best person to consult initially and he
or she will be able to judge what benefits cosmetic surgery can offer you and
may be able to tell you about the techniques that are used. He will probably
also be able to advise you about a specialist surgeon. In some countries,
cosmetic surgery is not as closely regulated as other types of medicine so it
is best to get a personal recommendation if you can.
Depending on what type of operation you are having, you may
need preliminary consultations with your surgeon.
Make certain you understand exactly what the operation
entails and what the possible side effects and after-effects will be. If you
are not satisfied with the results of the operation you may find yourself back
where you started, spending more time and money for further charges.
Types of cosmetic surgery
One of the simplest types of operation is the removal of an
unsightly mole. This can be done under local anesthetic by cutting or freezing
out the flaw; the operation leaves only a small scar. Birthday marks are often
more difficult to remove than moles and it is worth checking - procedures such
as scraping the skin or tattooing with skin-colored pigment will not create
worse effect than the original blemish.
Some women have cosmetic surgery to change the shape of
their breasts or to make their breasts larger or smaller. Breasts are made
larger by implanting a thin bag of silicone gel or saline into the breast
tissue. It provides padding, pushing the breasts outwards and making them
larger and firmer. The operation leaves permanent scars and there may be some
pain after surgery.
A smaller technique may be used for sagging breasts. If the
sagging is severe, excess skin and tissue behind the breast maybe removed. This
operation usually takes several hours and requires three to six days in
hospital.
Loose skin and fat on the buttocks, stomach and thighs can
also be removed by cosmetic surgery.
Scarring on the face because of acne may be improved by
cosmetic surgery. This can be done either under local or general anesthetic by
a process called dermabrasion. The skin is frozen and a rapidly rotating brush
is stroked across it to remove the outer layers of skin. The crusts, which form as a result usually,
fall off within a fortnight, leaving behind only minor scarring.
A face-lift can remove wrinkles and excess fat, making you
look five to ten years younger, though the results are not permanent and the
operation will not reduce the effects of subsequent ageing.
The nose can be altered in a variety of ways to change its
shape. A hooked nose for example, can be remedied by lifting the skin and
shaving off the excess cartilage. If
your nose is too short or too long, the surgeon will alter the septum, the soft
fleshy part that divides the nostrils. Reshaping the nose sometimes also involves
fracturing the bones and resetting them.
Nose surgery generally requires only a short stay in
hospital. Bandages can be removed within a fortnight, though there may be
considerable discomfort afterwards with bruising and swelling around the area
operated on. In such cases, it may be some time before the results of the
operation become fully apparent.
Cosmetic surgery can also be helpful in remedying drooping
eyelids and sagging neck tissue and in removing unwanted tattoos. The method
used to remove a tattoo is usually to clean the area and scrub it out with a
brush using saline and surgical soap. In some cases, large particles of pigment
may be removed with blade and forceps.
Always bear in mind that cosmetic surgery can bring some
improvement, but it cannot work miracles - a change in appearance will not make
you a completely new person, but it may help you to feel better about yourself.
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