What procedures are people looking into?
By Mimi Greenwood Knight
Like many others, it’s possible you’ve thought about it for years. You’re not alone. According to The International Society of Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), in the year 2017 over 1,500,000 plastic surgeries were performed in the US by 6,800 plastic surgeons, with breast augmentation, liposuction, and eyelid surgery topping the list.
Meanwhile, many of us are researching procedures we’d like to have. The cosmetic surgery specialists at Flawless.org recorded 110,000 Google searches on liposuction last year, 74,000 tummy-tuck searches, and 60,500 on rhinoplasty (nose jobs). Other top plastic-surgery-related searches were for information on the Brazilian butt lift, blepharoplasty (eye lift), hair transplant, and facelift.
There’s a reason people are often looking into what’s most popular—it’s not always favorable to undergo a jarring change. Angelina Jolie’s lips or Cher’s cheekbones won’t necessarily work with your facial structure. The best results are always the most natural looking. Peruse before and after shots of procedures you’re considering. What do you think about the general results? Are they something you think you would be satisfied with?
The healthier you are before (any) surgery, the better. Read up on things you could be doing pre-surgery to ensure the best results. This may include weight loss or smoking cessation. Because patients typically go under general anesthesia during plastic surgery, if your body mass index is over 30, you’re at higher risks for deep vein thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening condition where a blood clot forms in a vein of your leg and can travel to your lung.
Nicotine in cigarettes makes blood vessels smaller, which can mean less blood to your surgery site and interfere with optimum healing. Most plastic surgeons recommend no smoking for at least a month before surgery. Likewise, make sure medical conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure are under control, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water before surgery as well as after, to aid in the healing process.
If you’re researching one of these—or another procedure—keep in mind that because most plastic surgery is elective, the benefits should outweigh the risks. While you’re planning and researching, do everything you can to get in good shape. Do your homework to find the most qualified surgeon. Keep your expectations reasonable. And be prepared to follow all pre and post-surgery instructions to decrease risks and optimize results. What may have once started with some online searches can ultimately make a positive impact in your life. But don’t just follow the trends—try to make the decision that’s right for you.
