Cosmetic surgery is a form of corrective surgery that is used to enhance appearance through the use of medical and surgical techniques. Since 2000, the number of people who have had cosmetic surgery has increased by fifty percent in the United States alone.
With a society that is focused on always looking your best, it’s no wonder that so many people turn to surgery, regardless of the amount of money it costs. The most common types of procedures that are performed are the ‘tummy tuck’, breast implants, breast reductions, breast lifts and ‘butt implants’. Not surprisingly, it’s mainly women who have surgery done, but it is not uncommon for men to have procedures done too.
Although millions of people have had cosmetic surgery and the industry has been up and running for a while, this does not mean that every procedure is risk-free. In a survey that was carried out in 1997, it was found that the number of serious complications that occurred during cosmetic surgery was less than .5 percent, and it was noted that the mortality rate was extremely low, only one in 57,000 patients died. If you use a top certified surgeon then these risks are less likely to occur but every surgical operation always carries risks. It’s up to you to be aware of these risks before you go into theater.
Top risks include anesthesia complications: where people react badly to being under anesthetic. This can result in temporary paralysis, nerve damage, blood clots and in extreme cases it can cause death. Most side effects that occur as a result of surgery are easily treatable if you follow doctor’s advice. Sometimes, it is necessary to undergo a second operation if the first one did not completely go as planned, for example, if there is moderate or severe asymmetry – a little bit of asymmetry is completely normal. Make sure you understand that this might happen, and be prepared for such an event.