Plastic surgery is sought out for a variety of reasons, and is actually divided into two categories: reconstructive surgery and cosmetic surgery.
Reconstructive surgery involves reconstructing or altering a part of the body in order to improve its functionality.
Cosmetic surgery’s purpose is often about the aesthetic of the body part being altered or rebuilt, helping to improve its appearance.
A plastic surgeon can help a patient enhance their quality of life through giving them the ability to move better or more comfortably, or instill a sense of self confidence through surgical improvement.
These are the most common types of plastic surgery that people undergo.
Breast Surgery
This is widely the most popular type of surgery, at over 300,000 procedures done in the United States yearly.
There are many reasons for this surgery. Augmentation can enlarge both breasts for those that did not develop during puberty or for people who simply want a larger cup size. An augmentation may also even breast size in the case where one is slightly smaller than the other.
Surgery can also be done to decrease the size of breasts in people who find the weight of their breasts a burden on their back and posture, which could lead to other health problems.
Breast surgery may also include a breast lift, with or without the use of an implant.
Though recovery time depends on a patient-by-patient basis, it is typically four to six weeks.
Tummy Tuck
This is also known as abdominoplasty. It creates a smoother, often flatter, abdomen section.
This is done by removing excess fat and skin in the area, and tightening the skin that remains.
A tummy tuck is ideally done by those who are suffering from excess skin and do not have large fat deposits.
The typical recovery time for this procedure is six to eight weeks.
Nose Job
Also known as rhinoplasty or nose reshaping, this is another popular choice for plastic surgery.
A rhinoplasty reshapes the nose so it is in balance with the face. This is often done for cosmetic purposes, but can also be performed to aid in better breathing.
A deviated septum is often a non-cosmetic reason for a rhinoplasty.
Facelift
This rhytidectomy removes skin wrinkles and sagging that comes along with aging.
Skin is gently pulled tighter to smooth lines and minimize dropping, giving the patient a more youthful appearance.
Eyelid Surgery
This is often done in conjunction with a facelift. Also known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery can improve the appearance of the upper and lower lids.
It can reduce puffiness or dropping, which improves the appearance of the face overall, or can also aid in better vision where eyelids may otherwise be obstructing the patient’s view.
Liposuction
Liposuction is an incredibly popular procedure that can be done on many areas of the body. It aims to suction fat to provide a slimmer look.
The most popular method is tumescent liposuction, wherein a saline solution is infused into the treated area and then suctioned out along with the fat.
