Cosmetic Surgery For Blondes

Cosmetic surgery procedures are practices that alter, repair or improve your appearance. There are many reasons for changing or augmenting your looks. Aging, birth defects, burns or other trauma and having other surgeries due to illness are all motivations to reconstruct or enhance parts of your body with a cosmetic surgery procedure.

There are two types of cosmetic surgery procedures:

Reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive surgery is normally performed to improve visible scaring, a skin condition, or abnormal body part caused by injury, surgery, disease or a birth defect. These circumstances can have a deep-seated impact on your life by affecting your social, work and recreational opportunities, as well as your sense of worth.

Elective cosmetic surgery. Some cosmetic surgery procedures for changing the way you look are liposuction, breast enlargement, breast reduction, breast lift, eye surgery, face lift, rhinoplasty (nose job) or cosmetic dental surgery to improve flaws or reverse the signs of aging.  Some popular cosmetic surgery procedures that are nonsurgical alternatives are microdermabrasion and laser surgery to include laser hair removal, Botox and dermal fillers to just name a few.  Cosmetic surgery procedures in one way can improve self image and confidence.

For some of us our physical appearance influences how we see ourselves and how we feel others view us.  The way our bodies look may affect our confidence and how we function in society.  People may change their appearance through diet, exercise, beauty treatments and/or other lifestyle changes. Cosmetic surgery procedures are just another way to alter a specific area of their body.

There are new cosmetic surgery procedures coming in the next few years that are currently in clinical trials.  The latest cosmetic surgery procedures in trial are “gummy bear” breast implants and Dysport an alternative to Botox and should be available later this year (2009).

The Top Cosmetic Surgery Procedures:

BREAST ENLARGEMENT OR BREAST LIFT WITH IMPLANTS

Procedure: Enhance the size and shape of breasts using artificial implants or raise and reshape sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning remaining tissue and nipples.
Length: 1 to 2 hours
Anesthesia: Local, with sedation, or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient for enlargement, overnight for breast lift
Side Effects: Temporary soreness, swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising permanent scars.  Breasts maybe sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks. Permanent numbness from nipple repositioning
Risks: Infection.  Asymmetry.  Tightening and hardening of scar tissue around the implant (”capsular contracture”), or rupture of implant; either may require surgery to release the scar tissue or to remove or replace the implant.  Increase or decrease in sensitivity of nipples or breast skin, occasionally permanent.  Accurate mammogram requires special technique.  (Note: Some women have reported symptoms similar to those of immune disorders.  Ask your doctors about these and other FDA concerns.)
Recovery: Back to work: a few days for enlargement, up to a week for a breast lift.  Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4 weeks.  Fading of scars: several months to a year or more.
Duration of Results: Variable.  Implants may require removal or replacement.

LIPOSUCTION

Procedure: Improve body shape using tube and vacuum device to remove unwanted fat deposits that don’t respond to dieting and exercise.  Locations include: chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles.
Length: 1 to 2 hours or more, depending on extent of surgery.
Anesthesia: Local, epidural, or general.
In/Patient: Usually outpatient.  Extensive procedures may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation.
Risks: Infection. Excessive fluid loss may lead to shock.  Fluid accumulation. Injury to the skin. Rippling or bagginess of skin.  Asymmetry.  Pigmentation changes (may become permanent if exposed to sun).
Recovery: Back to Work:  1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks.  Swelling and bruising: 1 to 6 months or more.
Duration of Results: Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise.

RHINOPLASY (NOSE JOB)

Procedure: Reshape nose by reducing or increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of tip or bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle between nose and upper lip.  A nose job may also relieve some breathing problems.  (Maybe covered by insurance.)
Length: 2 hours
Anesthesia: Local, with sedation or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, bruising around eyes and nose, headaches.  Small bleeding and stuffiness.
Risks: Infection.  Small burst blood vessels resulting in tiny, permanent red spots.  Incomplete improvement, requiring additional surgery.
Recovery: Back to work or school: 1 to 2 weeks.  More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks.  Avoid hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks.  Final appearance: 1 year or more.
Duration of Results: Permanent

FACELIFT

Procedure: Improve sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, redraping skin.  A facelift is most often done on men and women over the age of 40.
Length: 2 to 3 hours
Anesthesia: Local, with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin.  For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned.
Risks: Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles, feeling (usually temporary but may be permanent).  Infection. Poor healing; excessive scarring. Asymmetry or change in hairline.
Recovery: Back to work: 10 to 14 days.  More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months.

The decision to have cosmetic surgery should not be taken without due consideration because there are some risks involved. Cosmetic surgery procedures do not come with a guarantee that you will get the results you want, so please talk to your surgeon and weigh the benefits against the risks before you elect to have cosmetic surgery.

It is important to have realistic expectations and not fall into a pattern of having more than one procedure.  Not only is this risky, it is also quite costly.  Make sure your surgeon knows all about your medical back ground and what you want from cosmetic surgery. In addition, make sure you know all about your surgeon qualifications and experience before having a cosmetic surgery procedure.

Reference for Top Cosmetic Surgery Procedures: Medical College of Wisconsin