Plastic Surgery versus Cosmetic Surgery
Plastic surgery is a term often used interchangeably with cosmetic surgery. For the most part that is acceptable but in some cases it is important to know the difference. Plastic surgery is a specific type of surgery that can involve not only a person’s appearance but also their ability to function normally. Plastic surgery is dedicated to the reconstruction of body and facial defects that may have been caused by a variety of things. These could include:
- Disease
- Trauma
- Birth Disorders
- Burns
Though these surgeries should improve a person’s appearance the primary goal is reconstructive and or for the purposes of restoring function.
Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic Surgery has also been called aesthetic plastic surgery. This specialty is targeted at improving a person’s appearance. This website is more focused on this type of surgery. Cosmetic surgery is a very popular. In 2006 the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported almost 11 million cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed in the United States. Cosmetic procedures cover a wide range of sub segments from liposuction to botox. The popularity of cosmetic surgery has also been rising for men having procedures like liposuction and breast reductions just to name a few. Though men undergo many of the same procedures as women there are differences because the structure of a man’s body is technically different so men should be sure to ask questions specific to their gender when considering the procedures.
Is Beauty a Driver For Choosing Cosmetic Surgery or Plastic Surgery?
Unfortunately outer beauty is a big reason for cosmetic procedures. We live in a society that values how good we look. It can determine the mate you can get. It even can be a factor in the job that you get. Inner beauty should be everyone’s goal and the choice to undergo cosmetic procedures is a truly personal one. External beauty is something that can effect inner beauty in the sense that you may feel more comfortable with yourself causing you to be more confident. Confidence has been known to be at least half the battle in succeeding in almost anything today. In true cases of plastic surgery though beauty may not be the primary motivator but it helps bring back the confidence and the well being that may have been lost.
In conclusion we can see that plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery coexist and at time intermingle. Whether you need plastic surgery after an accident or cosmetic surgery to fix that problem that has nagged you for years the first stop in your journey is your doctor. They can then direct you to the type of surgeon you need since there are so many sub specialties that surgeons focus on. You want to get the one that is right for you.
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Abdominal Liposuction : Cheating or Not?
Do you think abdominal liposuction is cheating? I had a conversation with my niece who told me she thinks it’s a cop out. Of course, she is in her early twenties with a metabolism that burns calories even when she is just breathing! This response was very interesting to me because as someone in their forties I don’t have that kind of metabolism anymore. I’m not someone who would be considered a couch potato. I try to exercise regularly and eat a good diet at least 80% of the time. Yet steadily over the years I have not been able to make progress in losing the weight on my abdomen. At this point abdominal liposuction is an option and a very legitimate one regardless of what my twenty something niece might think.
Liposuction has had instant success with men and women worldwide. They have dieted and exercised without the visible results that they want. We all have been faced with weight problems either for ourselves or with family or friends. Everyone has dealt with someone who has gained a few too many pounds and is not happy about it. Statistics show that even though the cost of abdominal liposuction is not cheap, it is also one of the most performed cosmetic procedures in the U.S.
The Abdominal Liposuction Procedure
Abdominal liposuction surgery takes approximately couple of hours depending on the person the amount of liposuction you will be undergoing and the type of liposuction equipment that will be used. Beforehand you will need to go through a series of physical examination before you have the operation in order to ensure that you are both physically fit and will not face any major complications. The doctors want to ensure that you can heal as quickly as possible.
The procedure itself is not complicated. What is more complicated is the healing process and the post operative instructions given to you by your doctor. The healing process can take a few months during which time you will have to be on a strict diet as prescribed by the doctor. Before you undergo surgery be sure to get an abdominal liposuction picture from your doctor so that you can see what to expect. Many patients are not prepared for the reality after the operation. After the operation the area is bruised and lumps may form where the fat was extracted. The good news is that it should be temporary and it will all disappear in matter is months.
Abdominal Liposuction Risks
Don’t expect miracles overnight and be sure that you fall into the right type of profile of someone who has a good chance of success with this operation. Abdominal liposuction can only relieve you of a few pounds at a time. It is highly recommended for those who have put on around 10 –15 pounds. The person should also be ready to diet and exercise in order to maintain a their form. Obese people may not see a great improvement unless they undergo multiple sessions during a wide period of time. Doctors can not perform another procedure unless the first one has healed enough to support another liposuction.
A statistically minor risk is fatality. Statistics also show that 1 person in 100,000 die due to abdominal liposuction. Most of those cases were because the patient did not follow the diet and post operative directions given. There are also other reasons like a surgeon conducting too much liposuction, the patient having multiple cosmetic procedures done in one day and general anesthesia related.
So am I still considering abdominal liposuction? Yes, because the more research I conduct the more common I know it is. I may give my ab lounge a couple more months but life is short. It is too short to be unhappy with the way that you look day in and day out.
Thigh Liposuction Preparing You for Summer
Are you ready to where your swimsuit yet? The thighs are one of those trouble spots that women have struggled with since the beginning of time. When the fat deposits itself in the inner thigh not only do you look bad but it may even bother you when you walk. Thigh liposuction is the cosmetic procedure of choice to get rid of that unwanted fat on your thighs.
Liposuction has been around since the 70s and is particularly useful in getting rid of fat in all sorts trouble spots. These areas are usually hard to get rid of even with diet and exercise. The trouble spots for men are usually the abdomen, neck, and love handles area. In women, the areas that liposuction is most performed on are the buttocks, hips, and the thighs. As people age, fat deposits redistribute themselves to different parts of the body. Sometimes the way the fat distributes in the body is based on your genes. If your mother had or has thunder thighs odds are you will to. Since this area is hard to affect even with diet and exercise people turn to thigh liposuction.
Reasons for Thigh Liposuction?
There are many reasons why women seek thigh liposuction.
- Fat thighs can make a woman look older
- May give the impression that you are unhealthy
- Difficulty getting clothes that fit properly
- Self Consciousness in the good weather because they need to wear shorts, bathing suits and sleeveless tops.
Thigh liposuction can solve the physical problems and alleviate some of the psychological ones.
What Should I Expect During Thigh Liposuction?
So what exactly will happen during thigh liposuction. Before the surgery, the surgeon will make precise marks on the thighs regarding where fat will be removed. An IV will then be inserted in a vein to ensure a balanced fluid level during the surgery. An imbalanced fluid level in the body can lead to severe complications. You may choose to go under a sedative to help you relax.
The surgeon will make tiny incisions in the skin and places a thin tube, called the cannula, into the area where fat will be removed. The cannula breaks up the deposits of fat. The surgeon uses the cannula to sculpt the areas of fat in the thighs to the desired proportions. The fat is removed using a high pressure vacuum. The vacuum leaves the skin, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves intact, only removing the fat. Thigh liposuction is considered a simple procedure where most patients can walk around shortly after the surgery.
Be sure to discuss the results you expect to get from your thigh liposuction. Your doctor should be able to show you before and after pictures so that you can have realistic expectations. Make sure your picture is taken beforehand as well. You also need to be sure to ask about the cost of the procedure including any extra costs outside of the straight surgeon fees. It is possible to finance these costs since they many not be covered by your medical insurance. Summer is around the corner and if you start now you may be able to coordinate the process of getting that thigh liposuction before you have to wear your bathing suit.
Your Liposuction Surgeon is Your Partner
Have you seen the commercial about the people that spend many months and hours picking which car they are going to buy and only 15 minutes on deciding which insurance? Choosing your liposuction surgeon can be the same thing. You go through days, if not months of researching liposuction and what it can do for you but then you don’t do homework about the liposuction surgeon that will actually operate on you. Where can you find one and what should you ask?
If you are considering getting liposuction performed, you may be nervous about all of the stories you have heard about surgeries gone wrong. You can see them plastered on the pages of the tabloids in the supermarket. There are many potential complications of liposuction it is after all a major surgery. But the truth is, complications and risks can be dramatically reduced if the surgery is performed by an experienced, qualified professional liposuction surgeon.
A liposuction procedure can be performed by a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon, although any licensed physician can perform a liposuction procedure as no training is required. Nonetheless you should always make sure to ask your doctor whether or not they have had specialized training in liposuction surgery, you truly want to review doctors that specialize in the type of liposuction that you are going to have.
Tips for Choosing the Right Liposuction Surgeon
There is no government agency that can recommend a liposuction surgeon to perform your liposuction. Areas to look at as a starting point are cosmetic surgery organizations like the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery but even then you should ask a lot of questions.
First, make sure you ask your doctor questions about liposuction so that you better understand the procedure. Your liposuction surgeon should be able to answer all of your questions about the procedure, as well as any questions you might have about potential problems with liposuction. Here is a list of most of the important questions to ask:
- What are the risks involved with a liposuction procedure?
- Were you trained in liposuction?
- Where did you attend and complete your liposuction training?
- Do you have certificates of training I can see?
- What result can I expect from a liposuction procedure?
- What is your policy on a liposuction touch-up or follow ups?
- What type of recovery time should I expect from the specific type of liposuction that will be performed?
- How much will the liposuction cost?
- How many liposuction procedures have you performed, how many of the type you are going to be performing on me?
- Can I speak with a former liposuction patient that you surgically performed?
- Do you have before and after pictures of the liposuction procedures you have performed?
- What is the typical recovery time of your patients with this specific type of liposuction?
- What different liposuction techniques are available?
- Any other questions you think apply to you specifically or to them specifically?
Do not be embarrassed to ask questions. You will be paying for this surgery not just with money but also your time and possible self esteem. Don’t fall for the advertisements that promise you the moon. They won’t tell you about possible complications or whether the liposuction surgeon is qualified!
Also, don’t decide on a liposuction surgeon based solely on cost. You should explore several options before making a decision. Keep in mind that liposuction is expensive and most insurance plans don’t pay for it unless your procedure can help a obvious health problem. Though as in many products and services “you get what you pay for”, higher prices do not guarantee success.
Choosing your liposuction surgeon is in many ways as important as choosing who you marry. You will be living with the results of your liposuction for a long time. I know some marriages that haven’t lasted as long. You want a partner not a one night stand!
The Liposuction Result You Want
The liposuction result you want may not be the one that you can actually get. Many people enter into this procedure with expectation that may not be realistic. You need to look beyond the liposuction result photo your surgeon gave you and think about whether you can live with some of the things that won’t be shown to you in a surgeons before and after pictures.
Liposuction is an extremely risky procedure, but many people choose to have it done because they feel that the long term liposuction result and benefits will outweigh the many risks, side effects, and complications of the surgery. This is a heavily debated topic and people differ in their opinions. Some people have unrealistic expectations regarding liposuction result, so it is important to be aware of what liposuction actually does to your body before making the plunge. Also, many people think that whatever complications they might encounter, their appearance will be improved no matter what. This is not necessarily true either.
Possible Problems
There are several things that could go wrong during liposuction, leaving you with a negative liposuction result. You could develop scars at the site where the doctor made the cut to insert the liposuction canula. While on most people these scars will fade, the scars could be more prominent depending on skin sensitivity and your genetic tendency to get scars. Another negative result is that your skin could appear bumpy or wavy after liposuction. Also, while most people assume that liposuction results are permanent, this is not necessarily true. If a patient gains weight, this could cause the fat to return in the general areas where it was removed or even to other places within the body. Lastly, many people are disappointed because their liposuction result is not as dramatic as they thought it would be.
The Promise of Liposuction
What liposuction is intended to do is to sculpt and smooth your body or body part into a more flattering shape. This is accomplished by removing small fat deposits. Most doctors will not perform liposuction as a weight loss solution. It usually does not work because of the amount of procedures needed and the candidate’s ability to stay on the strict diets required after liposuction. This would be unrealistic and if you go into the surgery expecting this as your liposuction result, then you will most likely be disappointed.
Here is a list of some things that people may expect from liposuction but liposuction does not do:
- It does not prevent you from gaining weight
- It can’t get rid of cellulite
- It can’t make you appear more fit or toned
The liposuction result you want may be possible but probably not by liposuction alone. Adjust your expectations and ask the right questions so that you can get the most out of a liposuction procedure. The realistic liposuction result you get may be a good start on the path of your vision of the perfect you.
Liposuction Procedure Continues to Evolve
Liposuction has been around since the 70s so there definitely has been enough time for the liposuction procedure itself to evolve and get better. If you are seriously considering liposuction you need to be sure that you are asking questions beyond what has been involved in the traditional method of this popular procedure.
Even with today’s advances there are still risks involved. Current liposuction procedures use various advances to assist in the process. Tumescent, laser assisted and ultrasonic assisted liposuction promise to remove more fat cells more easily than ever before. There is less blood loss, less discomfort, and less risk involved. Liposuction is currently the most popular plastic surgery performed in the US, which is not surprising since sixty-five percent of the United States is considered over weight.
The Best Candidate for a Liposuction Procedure
You are a good candidate for the liposuction procedure if you meet the following criteria:
- over eighteen
- good health
- skin is of good elasticity
- normal weight
Though liposuction is associated with very overweight people in the popular mindset, most doctors recommend liposuction for people who are of normal weight, but who want to tone up a few troubled areas.
You are a bad candidate for a liposuction procedure if you fall into these categories:
- not a risk taker(there are many complications involved)
- cost is an issue(liposuction is not covered by medical insurance)
- you are overweight or obese and trying to lose weight
- you have a disease or are on medication that affects wound healing
- your skin elasticity is not adequate
- you are diabetic
- you have a heart condition.
The Procedure Specifics
During the liposuction procedure, there are several things that must occur. First, the patient and the surgeon need to concur prior to surgery which areas will be worked on and what the results will most likely look like. On the day of the surgery, a consent form needs to be signed. About an hour before or after the surgery, the doctor will most likely give the patient an antibiotic (some doctors don’t do this) to avoid infection. The doctor needs to mark on the patient’s body what the target areas are. Once in the operating room, a sterilizing solution will be applied to the area that is being operated on. A local anesthetic is injected into the patient, and the patient might be given a sedative. The doctor makes very small incisions during the surgery; they are only about a quarter to a third of an inch. The patient will feel a scraping or rasping sensation, but other than that the surgery will not be painful. Blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored during the surgery. The patient is usually able to get up and walk around immediately after surgery.
The procedure itself will vary slightly depending on what methods are used whether it be traditional, tumescent, laser or ultrasonic. Please be sure to discuss the all the options available to you before you make a choice on which liposuction procedure is best for you. Though you may not fall into the ideal candidate category there are options for you that may include liposuction down the road. An honest discussion with your doctors will ensure you are on the right path to the health and look that you want.
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