Cosmetic Procedures

Considering a cosmetic procedure?

Do you ever look in the mirror and think, "Why did my genes decide that my nose should look like this?" Well, you're not alone. Millions of people around the world ask themselves similar questions. And some of them decide to have a cosmetic procedure.

A cosmetic procedure is a procedure that alters a specific body part or area in order to remodel or improve its form or appearance. Some cosmetic procedures involve surgery; others don't.

People choose to have cosmetic procedures done for many different reasons. In 2019 , the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported 2.7 million people had surgical cosmetic procedures and 15.8 million people had non-surgical procedures. Wrinkles, aging skin, and imperfections caused by scarring or acne are only some reasons why many people turn to cosmetic procedures. A less-than-sparkling smile can lead people to have their teeth whitened. Excess fat accumulation might be reduced with liposuction. Features that are displeasing to the individual, such as an unusual nose or sagging brows, are potential areas for surgical cosmetic procedures.

If you are considering a cosmetic procedure, there are some things you should think about:

• How do I finance a cosmetic procedure?
  In most cases, the government plans do not cover surgical cosmetic procedures unless it is done for medical reasons. Check to see if you can purchase insurance to pay for a procedure that doesn't correct a medical problem. Some clinics provide advice on payment options as well.
• What results do I expect to get?
  Do you expect to look like your favourite movie star? If so, your expectations may be unrealistic. When talking to your doctor, make sure to discuss what can realistically be done to enhance your appearance.
• How do I find a surgeon or a doctor to perform the cosmetic procedure?
  You can find a surgeon through a number of resources. Check out the Canadian Society for Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery and the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons online. You may be able to get a referral from your own doctor.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures

Non-surgical procedures are performed on the surface of the body or with simple injections. They don't involve cutting into the body or removing parts of the body. Many non-surgical cosmetic procedures are very popular today. They are popular because they often offer:

• immediate results
• very short or no recovery time
• lower cost than surgical cosmetic procedures

The following are some of the more common non-surgical cosmetic procedures available today:

• Botox® injections: A toxin made by bacteria is injected into specific facial muscles. It paralyzes the muscles to prevent lines from appearing on the face.
• Fat deposit removal: Fat below the skin is removed either by injecting a bile acid that breaks down fat cells, or by freezing fat cells with a handheld device (CoolSculpting)
• Soft tissue fillers: These are used to smooth out facial wrinkles or add volume to a desired area. Soft tissue fillers can include collagen-based or hyaluronic acid injections, or can be injection of your own fat from a different part of the body.
• Chemical peels: A chemical solution is applied to the skin to peel away the top layers to remove small wrinkles, blemishes or unevenly pigmented skin.
• Microdermabrasion: Aluminum oxide crystals are flowed against the skin through a tube and hand piece, creating a vacuum. The crystals combine with dead skin cells and debris and are suctioned away.
• Dermabrasion: A spinning wheel with a roughened surface is passed across the facial skin to remove its upper layers. As the skin heals, a new layer of skin appears with a smoother surface.
• Laser skin resurfacing: Laser light is passed over the skin, resurfacing the skin and making it appear smoother. Laser skin resurfacing treats wrinkles, age spots, moles, tattoos, and warts.
• Laser hair removal: Laser light is passed over the skin, damaging the hair follicles. After several treatments, these hair follicles stop producing new hair.
• Tooth whitening or bleaching: A whitening or bleaching agent (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) is applied to the teeth for a certain amount of time to produce a whiter effect.

Surgical cosmetic procedures

Surgical cosmetic procedures belong to the branch of plastic surgery called aesthetic plastic surgery. Surgical procedures involve cutting into the body and changing or removing parts of it. They can produce more significant changes to a person's appearance. However, they have some drawbacks:

• They need to be done in a special sterile environment to prevent infections.
• They are usually done with the aid of anesthesia in order to avoid pain.
• They often require days or weeks of healing and recovery time.
• They can be quite expensive.

Some of the more common surgical cosmetic procedures are:

• breast augmentation (breast implants)
• breast lifting
• breast reduction
• brow lifting
• eyelid lifting
• face and neck lifting
• facial implant (e.g., cheekbones, chin)
• forehead lifting
• hair transplants
• lip augmentation
• liposuction
• nose job (rhinoplasty)
• tummy tuck
• varicose vein surgery

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Cosmetic-Procedures

Although cosmetic procedures are well developed and are performed without harm thousands of times a year, both non-surgical and surgical cosmetic procedures involve some risk.

Each cosmetic procedure has a special process that the doctor or surgeon will discuss with you. It is important to discuss the risks associated with the procedure with your doctor. Inform yourself by doing research and asking questions.

Listed below are some examples of risks associated with some non-surgical cosmetic procedures:

Botox® injections

• swelling and bruising at the injection site
• facial pain
• flu-like symptoms
• mild headaches
• muscle weakness

Fat deposit removal

• aches
• bruising
• swelling
• numbness
• skin sensitivity
• a paradoxical growth of fat cells (for CoolSculpting)

Soft tissue fillers

• bruising
• swelling
• redness
• vision loss (rare; can occur if the filler is accidently injected into certain arteries in the face)
• scarring
• infection
• itching
• peeling
• rash
• filler migration, causing uneven shape

Chemical peels

• infection
• skin discolouration
• prolonged or areas of intense redness
• scarring

Dermabrasion

• allergic reaction
• flare up of acne or small cysts (milia)
• skin discolouration
• thickened skin or scarring
• increased sensitivity to the sun
• redness
• infection

Microdermabrasion

• bruising
• redness
• swelling
• dry, flaky skin
• increased sensitivity to the sun
• infection

Laser hair removal

• pain
• bruising and swelling
• redness
• skin discolouration
• excess hair growth in area of treatment
• changes to skin texture
• increased sensitivity to the sun
• scarring

Laser skin resurfacing

• burning
• bumps
• rash
• infection
• redness and swelling
• scarring
• skin discolouration

All surgery must be taken seriously. Generally, the risk involved in a surgical cosmetic procedure is low if a well-trained surgeon performs the surgery and if proper precautions are taken. However, complications that may occur include:

• bruising
• bleeding
• swelling
• complications or side effects due to anesthesia
• infection
• injury to nerves
• blood clots
• damage to internal organs
• numbness
• scarring
• skin discolouration
• whiteheads or enlarged pores

Bruising, swelling, infection, bleeding, numbness, and whiteheads or enlarged pores often disappear with time. If there are complications related to nerve injury, blood clots, organ damage, or scarring, further surgery may be required.

Before a surgical cosmetic procedure

If you are planning a surgical cosmetic procedure, your doctor will discuss what you should do before and after the surgery to get the best results and to minimize risks or complications. Your doctor will consider your general health and your health history and may:

• ask you questions to determine how to help you achieve the best possible result
• ask you to do a number of things in order to obtain the best possible result
• show you some pictures from actual patients who have had the same surgery

If possible, speak to someone who has had the procedure done. Your doctor may have patients that are willing to discuss how they felt and go over the process with you.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Cosmetic-Procedures

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. This means that they are performed in the doctor's office with either no anesthesia or local anesthesia. The individual returns to regular activities immediately or after a very short recovery period.

Some of the effects of non-surgical cosmetic procedures are temporary, and a person may choose to repeat a treatment.

Other non-surgical cosmetic procedures may require the individual to make certain changes to their lifestyle. For example, to lengthen the benefit of tooth-whitening procedures and to prevent re-staining the teeth, an individual should avoid:

• drinks such as coffee, tea, or cola
• foods such as blueberries or balsamic vinegar
• habits such as smoking

Surgical cosmetic procedures require a longer recovery time than non-surgical cosmetic procedures. The amount of time will depend on the procedure that is performed. After a surgical cosmetic procedure, an individual may experience some of the following signs:

• swelling
• changes in skin colour
• pain

The healing process is gradual and depends on the individual and the type of surgery performed.

After a cosmetic procedure, your body continues to age and change. Even after a face lift or other wrinkle-removal procedure, signs of aging will over time reappear in the face or on the body. In cases such as liposuction, for the results to remain long lasting, a sensible diet and a regular exercise program must be followed.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Cosmetic-Procedures

Choosing to have a cosmetic procedure is a personal decision that needs to be made in consultation with a doctor or surgeon. It's necessary to have all the relevant facts.

Are you a good candidate for a cosmetic procedure?

In order to determine if you are a good candidate for a cosmetic procedure, your doctor or surgeon will consider several things, including:

• your general health
• your current and past medical history
• your state of mind
• your reasons for wanting the procedure done

You need to have realistic expectations of the outcome of the procedure.

What are your alternatives?

If you are looking for alternatives to cosmetic procedures, some do exist.

For example, to remove unwanted hair, you may prefer to use wax, depilatory creams, or shaving. Alternatives to tooth-whitening cosmetic procedures include whitening toothpastes.

If you are considering liposuction to reduce excess body weight, you may wish to look first at other means of losing the weight through diet and/or exercise – a certified nutritionist or dietitian may guide you to approaches you hadn't been aware of.

If you want to keep your facial skin toned, facial exercises may help. To help your skin remain young and healthy, you should:

• wear a daily moisturizer with a minimum of SPF 30 to protect from UV damage that causes premature wrinkles and fine lines
• avoid smoking, which deprives your body of oxygen
• stay hydrated to retain moisture in your skin

Many people find that changing their clothing, hair, or makeup can minimize an apparent flaw or even present it as a positive distinctive feature. Some things that are undesirable to some people are even positive attributes in the eyes of others – a certain shape of nose, for instance, or physical features that give an air of maturity. And what may seem like a terrible defect to the person who has it may be virtually unnoticeable to others – and may seem much less important at a later time.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Cosmetic-Procedures