The average woman spends about $313 on her appearance every month. Over the course of a lifetime, a woman can spend over $225,000 on products, services, and procedures. That’s enough to send a student through four years at Harvard!
Instead of wasting time on ineffective products, consider these different types of cosmetic surgery. After reading this cosmetic surgery guide, you can determine which procedures suit your needs and goals.
Discover an easier way to realize and maintain a state of physical and mental wellness with these common types of cosmetic surgery.
Abdominoplasty
An abdominoplasty is also called a lower body lift or tummy tuck. The procedure removes excess skin from the abdominal area. Your surgeon will then tighten the skin that remains.
This procedure is ideal for people who have excess skin after pregnancy or significant weight loss (perhaps after bariatric surgery). Ideal candidates don’t have excess fat deposits in the abdomen. Rather, they have too much skin hanging from the abdomen.
Your surgeon will also consider your age, smoking habits, and obesity to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for this procedure.
It’s important to note that an abdominoplasty isn’t a substitute for weight loss. Rather, it’s used to improve the body’s contour by narrowing and flattening the abdomen.
Before the procedure, your cosmetic surgeon will complete a visual examination. They’ll gather your complete medical history, too. Your consultation appointment will help you gain a better understanding of what to realistically expect from the procedure.
Make sure to discuss what type of anesthesia your surgeon will use, as well as possible risks and complications. Your doctor might prescribe antibiotics beforehand to prevent infection.
During the procedure, your surgeon will make a U-shaped incision below the hip bone and across the pubic area to the other side. They’ll make a second incision around the navel. Then, they’ll expose the loose tissue covering your abdominal muscle.
Once the excess skin and fat are removed, your surgeon will close the incision with small sutures. They’ll reconstruct the navel and eliminate fluid buildup with drains.
Aftercare
This procedure is performed as an outpatient surgery. The drains will need to remain in place for up to a week.
It’s normal to experience some pain and discomfort after this procedure. Your doctor might prescribe oral medication to ease your symptoms. Any bruising or swelling should subside after a few weeks.
Refrain from heavy lifting, over-activity, or straining. Talk to your doctor to determine when you can resume normal activity.
Blepharoplasty
If you’re unhappy with your baggy eyelids, talk to a surgeon about blepharoplasty.
Your eyelids can look baggy due to age or genetic predisposition. Bulging fat, wrinkled, or excess skin can cause the skin to look baggy.
Before the procedure, your surgeon will gather your medical history and complete a physical exam. They might also consult your eye doctor to look for any eye-related issues. For example, poor eye closure, dry eyes, and other issues that could affect the procedure.
You’ll remain under a local anesthetic (usually with no or minimal sedation) during the procedure. Your surgeon will make an incision in the crease of the upper eyelid. Then, they’ll remove all excess skin and bulging fat. The scar will remain hidden in the crease.
Aftercare
For the first three days after the procedure, you can use cold compresses to minimize swelling. However, it’s rare for patients to experience pain following this type of surgery.
Apply an antibiotic ointment to the incision site twice a day. Your surgeon will remove the sutures about a week after the procedure. The bruising should subside in two to three weeks.
Breast Augmentation
Breast procedures like breast augmentations increased by 48% last year.
Breast augmentation is used to contour a woman’s body by implanting silicone gel or a saline solution implant beneath the breast. Some women choose this procedure for small, asymmetrical, or underdeveloped breasts.
Before the procedure, mammograms and photos are taken. You’ll remain under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will mark the breasts to indicate where they’ll make the incisions.
They’ll likely make an incision in the lower portion of the breast (near the chest wall or around the lower portion of the areola). Some surgeons prefer making the incision in the armpit.
Once the incision is made, breast tissue is raised. The surgeon will then place the implant into the pocket under the tissue. They’ll close the incision with small sutures.
Aftercare
Your surgeon will remove the sutures in five to seven days. Swelling, discoloration, and numbness should subside after a few days or weeks. Scars, while permanent, can fade over time.
You can control any pain you experience with oral medication. Take antibiotics as prescribed to prevent infection. Following the surgery, limit activities and make sure to rest to ensure proper healing.
Liposuction
Liposuction can fix small areas of the body that are resistant to dieting and exercise. This isn’t a weight loss solution.
Tumescent liposuction is considered the gold standard for liposuction procedures. Parts of your body will remain numb with local anesthetics. Your surgeon will make small punctures with a cannula to inject a solution that will break down fat.
A solution of saline, a numbing agent, and a drug to constrict blood vessels are infused into the treatment area. The solution and fat are then suctioned out of the body using the cannula. The infusion can cause short-term fluid retention (which should diminish over the next few days).
Aftercare
Rest following your procedure. You could experience leakage in the first few days following your liposuction surgery.
Most patients return to work within a few days (depending on the area treated).
Beautiful Results: Explore These Types of Cosmetic Surgery
Want to accomplish your beauty goals this year? Consider which types of cosmetic surgery align with your needs. Schedule a consultation appointment with a certified cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon to determine which procedures are right for you.
Eager to discuss your options with a member of our staff? We’re here to help.
Schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (402) 391-4558 to get started.
