What is cosmetic surgery and procedures?

Cosmetic surgery can be done on many different areas of the body. These are some of the more commonly done surgeries.

Facelift (rhytidectomy).

This removes excess skin and fat and tightens the muscles to smooth the face. Improvement is especially seen along the jawline and in the neck.

Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).

This removes excess skin, fat, and muscles from the eyelids to correct drooping eyelids and remove bags and puffiness. Surgery may be done on the upper and lower lids.

Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty).

This reshapes the nose by removing or rearranging its cartilage and bones. Rhinoplasty is done to change the appearance of your nose, improve breathing and nasal function, or achieve a combination of both.

Breast enlargement (augmentation).

This places an implant under the breast tissue or the chest muscle to make the breast larger. Or fat from your own body can be removed with liposuction and injected into your breasts. This is called a fat-transfer breast augmentation.

A breast lift (mastopexy) may be done at the same time as the enlargement if needed. A breast lift raises breasts up by removing extra skin and tightening the nearby tissue.

Breast reduction.

This removes excess breast tissue and skin to reshape and lift the breast. Women may seek breast reduction to change their appearance, reduce back pain, and reduce limitations of activities caused by large breasts. Men may want a chest that looks more firm and flat.

Liposuction.

This involves removing fat from the body. Areas often treated include the face, neck, breasts, belly, upper arms, hips, thighs, knees, and ankles. During liposuction, other techniques such as laser, ultrasound, or pressurized water spray may be used to tighten the skin and reshape the body.

Liposuction may be used in other surgeries, such as a facelift, breast reduction, or tummy tuck. It is also used in fat grafting. This means fat is removed from one part of the body and injected into another, such as the breasts or buttocks.

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).

This removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tightens abdominal muscles. When a large weight loss or several pregnancies leave behind extra folds of skin, some people use this surgery for a flatter, smoother stomach. As with liposuction, the purpose of a tummy tuck is to reshape the area rather than to reduce body weight.

Hair transplant surgery.

This reduces the appearance of bald spots or hair loss by moving small pieces of hair-bearing scalp from one part of the head to another. Other types of hair transplant surgery include scalp reduction surgery and tissue expansion surgery.

Insurance rarely covers the cost of elective cosmetic surgery done to improve appearance. Reconstructive surgery may be covered if it will improve your physical function or will correct a problem present from birth (congenital) or caused by an accident. But unless the surgery or procedure is done for medical reasons, you will probably have to pay for it yourself.

Examples of reconstructive surgery done for medical reasons that may be covered (or partially covered) by insurance include:

• Treatment of severe scars or disfigurement caused by disease, injury, or birth defects.
• Breast reduction when large breasts cause pain or severely limit a woman's activities.
• Reshaping of the nose (rhinoplasty) to improve breathing and nasal function.
• Breast reconstruction after surgery to remove breast cancer (mastectomy).

Cosmetic surgery can be quite expensive, especially when you are paying for all of it out of your own pocket. Be sure that you know the total cost of the surgery. This includes the costs of the procedure itself (such as surgeon fees, anesthesia fees, and operating facility fees), any medicine before or after the procedure, follow-up treatments, office visits, and other expenses.

Also be prepared to cover costs resulting from complications during or after surgery or the need for "touch-up" surgery. Insurance may not cover treatment for complications that arise from cosmetic surgery. Some procedures, including skin treatments, liposuction, and breast enlargement, may have to be repeated as time goes by, to maintain the results. You will have to pay for these repeated treatments just as you paid for the first treatment.

Think carefully about the decision to have cosmetic surgery. Surgery always involves some risk. The risks depend on your health and the type of procedure you have. They can range from slight scarring to infection and even death. Serious problems are rare, but they can occur.

Also, there is no guarantee that you will get the results you want. More than one procedure may be needed. Results may or may not be lasting. Talk with your doctor about the possible risks and benefits of the surgery.

Cosmetic surgery and procedures change, restore, or enhance your appearance. There are many reasons for wanting to do this. If you want to change your appearance, you may choose to have a cosmetic surgery or procedure.

For many of us, our physical appearance affects how we see ourselves and how others see us. The size, shape, and look of our bodies may affect how we feel about ourselves and even how we live our lives.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to change the way you look. Some people do this through diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes. Others have cosmetic surgery, especially if they are unhappy with a certain part of their body or appearance that can be changed.

If you are thinking about having cosmetic surgery or a cosmetic procedure, consider the following questions before making a decision.

Why do you want cosmetic surgery?

This is an important question. Take the time to think it through. Cosmetic surgery involves risk and expense. It can permanently change your physical appearance, possibly in a way you didn't expect. But most people are pleased with the results.

What are your expectations?

You are more likely to be happy with the results of cosmetic surgery if you have clear, realistic expectations and a clear understanding of why you want to have surgery. Your doctor can tell you if your goals are realistic and how best to achieve them.

Get the facts about what to expect from a certain procedure. Have your doctor show you photographs and explain the possible results. With some types of surgery, the final results may not appear for several weeks or months after the procedure. It may take several sessions or a combination of procedures to achieve the look you want. And results are not always permanent.

Remember that the effects of time, gravity, aging, and sun exposure continue after cosmetic surgery. Getting proper nutrition and regular exercise, guarding against sun exposure, managing stress, not smoking, and avoiding drugs and excess alcohol can go a long way toward helping you look and feel young and healthy.

Talking with someone who has had cosmetic surgery may raise issues that you had not considered. Ask how the person felt about the results, whether the surgery achieved the results hoped for, and what the total experience was like. Doctors who have experience with cosmetic surgery can also provide perspective on the issues involved.