It has been reported that over 12 million cosmetic surgery procedures are carried out every year in the United States, with breast augmentation, liposuction, abdominoplasty, nasal surgery and eyelid surgery being the most common procedures. This represents a 50% increase in surgery since the year 2000. Procedures are also said to be very common in Europe and Asia.
Breast augmentations are the most common procedure. During these procedures the size and/or shape of the breasts are altered, most normally by using saline filled or silicone gel filled implants. There was a significant controversy about silicone implants (most notably in the US) during the last two decades, but extensive research into side-effects and complications has now been carried out.
Other operations often done on the breasts include reductions and lifts. Breast reductions (reduction mammoplasty) remove skin, fat and breast tissue from women with large breasts. This can significantly help with back and shoulder pain for these women. Some women with large breasts may also need help with psychological problems caused by the unwanted attention they may receive on account of their breasts.
Breast lifts (mastopexy) can be done to alter the shape of the breasts. This is often done to make them less saggy, for example after pregnancy. In mastopexy procedures skin is removed, but no breast tissue or fat tissue is removed.
Liposuction procedures remove fat from various sites on the body, such as the abdomen, the thighs and the buttocks. Generally there are many factors limiting how much fat can be sensibly removed in one procedure. These include lumpiness and dents in the skin when too much fat is removed. As the fat is removed from very specific parts of the body is it possible that the contouring effect improves the patient's appearance much more than the actual weight loss might suggest.
Generally liposuction should not be considered as an alternative to good diet and regular exercise. The removal of large volumes of fat (large defined as more than 5 liters or 8 pints) is potentially life-threatening. Liposuction is most suitable for removal of the last 10 or 15 pounds which might persist after a diet and exercise regime has been carried out. Older people have less elastic skin, which will not tighten around the new body shape as well as young people's skin.
Many people presenting for cosmetic surgery have suffered, or are suffering, psychological distress due to their appearance. For example studies have found that women who choose breast augmentation are more likely to have had psychotherapy than other women, and may have lower levels of self esteem. Mental illnesses such as depression and suicide attempts are more prevalent in cosmetic surgery patients.
Surveys carried out after the procedure showed that most patients reported improvements to their mental health and quality of life. These improvements included increased self confidence and self esteem. Although not all the health improvements continued in the longer term, most patients remained satisfied with the results of the operation. Doctors and researchers are however aware that some patients suffer from a so-called plastic surgery obsession, or body dismorphic disorder, and they can allow their obsession with altering their appearance to dominate their lives.
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