What are the benefits of cosmetic surgery?

Cosmetic surgery can quickly and dramatically transform your appearance. It can make you look younger and more attractive and feel more beautiful or handsome. But when performed by the wrong hands, your dreams of a shapely nose or sculpted body can quickly turn into a nightmare. That's why it's important to understand what cosmetic surgery is all about, including its benefits and drawbacks.

There are several factors you need to consider before taking the plunge and going under the knife. Research shows that 9 out of 10 people are misinformed about cosmetic surgery. We're here to tell you everything you need to know about cosmetic surgery to make an informed decision. If you've lately found yourself wondering - Is cosmetic surgery right for me? - we've got all the answers. Come on, let's dive right in!

What is cosmetic surgery?

First things first. Cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery are not the same thing. Cosmetic surgery is performed to improve a person's appearance. It can be performed on any part of the face or body but the sole purpose and primary benefit of the procedure is to enhance aesthetic appearance.

Examples of common cosmetic surgeries include rhinoplasty (nose job), breast augmentation (boob job), arm lifts, skin rejuvenation (Botox, dermal fillers, laser skin resurfacing), and facial rejuvenation (facelift, neck lift, eyelid lift, brow lift, etc.).

What is plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery is also called reconstructive surgery. The focus of a plastic surgery procedure is not on improving a person's appearance. Rather, it is to treat a medical condition, such as a birth defect, burns, or other problems.

Examples of plastic surgery procedures include breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery, burn repair, scar revision, tumor removal, laceration repair, hand surgery, cleft lip and cleft palate repair, etc.

What are the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the top 5 cosmetic surgical procedures in 2020 were eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, liposuction, facelift, and breast augmentation. Worldwide, breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), rhinoplasty (nose job), breast lift, breast reduction surgery, fat grafting, buttock augmentation, and facelift are the top surgical cosmetic procedures.

In addition, millions of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are performed each year. Some of the most popular ones include Botox injections, laser skin resurfacing, soft tissue fillers, chemical peels, and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments.

What are the positive effects of cosmetic surgery?

Enhanced Appearance

The primary goal and benefit of cosmetic surgery is to enhance your natural beauty, turn back the clock, and give you to a more youthful appearance. You can say cosmetic surgery helps you become an improved version of yourself.

Increased Self-Confidence, Improved Self-Esteem

When you're looking your best, you feel good. An improvement in your physical appearance as a result of cosmetic surgery can boost your self-confidence and self-esteem in the workplace and social situations. You might feel more comfortable wearing certain types of clothes and participating in certain activities that you previously avoided because you were self conscious about your appearance.

Physical Health Benefits

Certain plastic surgery procedures that are performed for cosmetic reasons can also lead to physical health improvements at the same time. For example, a rhinoplasty surgery may not only enhance the shape of your nose but also improve breathing. A breast reduction surgery may lead to a reduction in shoulder and back pain caused by the weight of overly large breasts. In this way, a surgery done to improve appearance can lead to a healthier body.

Weight Loss

Although the primary benefit of cosmetic procedures like liposuction is an improvement in body contour, some patients find it easier to keep the extra weight off after body contouring surgeries. This could be because the surgery allows one to become more physically active and lose weight. Or it could be because the procedure motivates one to make lifestyle changes, such as eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. This helps in losing extra weight, which, in turn, can have widespread health benefits with a reduced risk of conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

Mental Health

The improvement in overall appearance and increased self-confidence can have immense mental health benefits. For example, many people find they are more comfortable in their own skin and have less social anxiety after their cosmetic procedure. Or they feel like they have more control over their lives, are willing to try new things, take on new challenges, or feel unstuck from a rut after a cosmetic procedure has given them the desired appearance.

Greater Opportunities

Studies have shown that attractive people not only look good but have better personal opportunities, such as attracting life partners. They also enjoy more professional opportunities. Studies suggest, for instance, that good looking real estate agents sell properties at higher prices than agents who are not perceived as attractive. Studies have also shown that attractive people earn higher salaries and are more likely to be selected for promotions.

3 Things You May Not Know About Cosmetic Surgery

Minimal Pain and Physical Discomfort 

Many people are fearful of undergoing cosmetic surgery because they think it will be extremely painful. The truth is that while cosmetic surgery is not completely painless, the physical discomfort is not as bad as you might believe it to be. With the advances in techniques and technology, many procedures can be performed with minimal pain.

Permanent Results

Some people worry that the positive results of cosmetic surgery will be short-lived. However, certain procedures can produce permanent or long-lasting results. Keep in mind though that you will need to make some effort after your cosmetic surgery to ain the results. For example, a healthy diet and exercise program after a tummy tuck will help you ain a flat abdomen.

Patient Safety

Like all surgeries, cosmetic procedures carry some risk. The risk is higher in people who are overweight or obese, those who are smokers, and those with a health history of diabetes. Another thing to keep in mind is that the risk of cosmetic surgery has been trivialized to some extent. Many people do not realize they are having surgery which carries risks like any other operation.

The most important thing that will ensure your safety during and after a cosmetic surgery is picking a board certified cosmetic surgeon who will go through all the risks with you. Remember, some cosmetic surgeries are more risky than others (more on that later). You should carefully weigh your options before going under the knife. Also, know that "cosmetic surgery holidays" (going abroad for treatment) may sound appealing because of lower costs but can be riskier due to lower quality standards in some countries.

Are cosmetic procedures beneficial? What are the disadvantages?

Cosmetic surgery procedures have pros and cons. We've discussed some of the key benefits above. Now, let's take a look at some of the disadvantages.

Expense

Let's be honest - cosmetic surgeries don't come cheap. You may have to save for years to afford one or take a loan which can lead to crippling debt. Talk to your cosmetic surgeon about financing options if the cost of a procedure is something that is concerning.

Recovery Time

The recovery period after cosmetic and plastic surgery can be quite long, up to 3 weeks. This is a factor you should keep in mind when deciding on a surgical procedure, i.e., you may need to take time off work, have someone help with housework and childcare, etc. In general, non surgical cosmetic procedures are typically associated with shorter recovery periods than surgeries.

Addiction

The dramatic transformation in physical appearance after a successful procedure can lead to addiction - meaning it can play on a person's mind and cause them to pursue more and more surgeries. In its most severe state, this condition is known as body dysmorphic disorder. People with body dysmorphic disorder continue to find flaws with their appearance and want to get rid of them through multiple cosmetic surgeries. However, surgery is not the right treatment for this type of mental health condition.

Complications

When performed by experienced surgeons in patients who are in general good health, cosmetic surgery is safe for the most part. However, like all surgeries, these procedures carry a risk of side effects and complications, including permanent disability and death. For this reason, it is highly recommended that you choose a board certified surgeon who will discuss the risks with you before the procedure and perform it according to the best safety standards.

Expectations

Another disadvantage of cosmetic surgery is that there is no guarantee you will be happy with the outcome. Your cosmetic surgeon will show you before/after pictures of other patients and carefully discuss your aesthetic goals with you to ensure you have realistic expectations. Nonetheless, the results may not be what you expected and you could end up disappointed. If you dislike the results, it can lead to post-procedure depression. In any case, many patients find it takes some time to get used to their new look. Also, other people's reaction to a new look can be upsetting for some people.

Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of cosmetic surgery procedures, let's talk about some of the most dangerous cosmetic procedures in the world - these are the surgeries you should be especially careful before undertaking.

What is the most dangerous type of cosmetic surgery?

The Brazilian Butt Lift tops the list of dangerous cosmetic surgeries. This procedure, which is done to augment or enlarge the buttocks with fat injections, can be especially dangerous if silicone is used as a filler. This is because the injected material can migrate into the blood vessels and enter the circulation, causing potentially lethal complications. A surge in counterfeit fillers and unqualified doctors performing illegal Brazilian Butt Lifts has caused this to become one of the most risky cosmetic procedures worldwide.

Other cosmetic surgery procedures that can be potentially dangerous include abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), which carries a risk of blood clots; large-volume liposuction, which can lead to dehydration and hypovolemic shock; and liquid silicone facial injections, which is a type of dermatologic surgery that can cause infection, lumps, and skin irritation resulting in a foreign body reaction. (There are many safer options such as hyaluronic acid (Juvederm) and calcium hydroxyapatite (Radiesse) dermal fillers).

How to make cosmetic surgery a positive experience?

All this talk about the dangers of cosmetic procedures may have left you feeling like it is not for you. It is true that many factors need to be considered before you have cosmetic surgery. But with a little research and the right surgeon, it can be an overwhelmingly positive experience.

The most important thing is to have realistic expectations about what the cosmetic procedure can do for you. For example, while many cosmetic procedures can dramatically improve your appearance, they cannot fix all your problems.

You should work with your cosmetic surgeon to carefully evaluate your reasons for undergoing the procedure. Also take some time to understand the risks and weigh the pros and cons of a procedure before making your decision. And if you decide to go ahead with a cosmetic procedure, be sure to follow your surgeon's instructions before and after the surgery - this can make a huge difference in your results.

Whether it's something as common as facial wrinkles, a crooked nose that has always embarrassed you, large breasts that make you self-conscious, or just about anything in your physical appearance that you'd like to improve, the significant benefits of cosmetic surgery might just surprise you.

Ready for a new you? The MeTime app makes it easy. You can choose the area you want to improve, learn about specific cosmetic procedures, and connect with experienced cosmetic surgeons in your area. Got more questions? You can chat with experts, send photos across, do a video consult, receive quotes, and book an appointment, all from the comfort of your home. What are you waiting for? Download the MeTime app today.