What is Cosmetic Surgery?
What is Cosmetic Surgery?
Written by Paulla Estes
Cosmetic surgery is usually performed to correct a physical abnormality or to enhance an otherwise normal physical feature and thus improve appearance. Cosmetic surgery is an extremely broad field that may offer reconstructive surgery for a patient after a damaging burn or other physical trauma, yet can also be used to smooth out wrinkles, enlarge breasts, or reshape a nose. In the not so distant past, cosmetic surgery was confined only to surgery which was absolutely necessary to the health and well-being of the patient -- for instance, skin-grafting for serious burns, reconstructing a dislodged eye, repairing a broken nose or jaw, or treating an unseemly birthmark across the face. Cosmetic surgery was first used regularly after World War I, when treatment and reconstruction of war injuries gave hope to young soldiers.
As recently as fifty years ago, as the rich and famous began opting for elective cosmetic surgery, the subject was whispered about and considered taboo. Celebrities and others in elite circles would disappear for months and then emerge after secret cosmetic surgery looking younger, prettier, and thinner. Over time, cosmetic surgery has become accepted and even encouraged in some circles. Today there is open acceptance of cosmetic surgery to the point that there are even television reality shows about it. There are a wide range of choices for cosmetic surgery, from tiny tucks and snips to full-blown face lifts.
Some of the more popular forms of cosmetic surgery are liposuction, in which excessive fat is sucked out of the body with a tube and vacuum device; laser facial resurfacing, which smoothes lines on the face around the eyes and mouth and eliminates facial blemishes; facelift, which pulls back the skin around the face, jowls and neck; breast enlargement, which enhances the size of the breasts using saline implants; and hair replacement surgery, which fills in balding areas using a patient's own hair. There are many more forms of cosmetic surgery, including variations of these.
Anyone interested in cosmetic surgery should consider the risks and remember that it is, ultimately, surgery. Not all procedures come out exactly the way doctor and patients foresee, and recovery is just like any other surgery, complete with pain and the possibility of infection. While cosmetic surgery is an option, patients should choose doctors wisely, obtain several references, and keep realistic expectations.
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