Plastic surgery involves the restoration, reconstruction, or alteration of the face or body. It may be carried out for aesthetic reasons, to alter a part of the body the person is not satisfied with, or to reconstruct a physical defect such as a birth defect or traumatic injury. Choosing to have plastic surgery is a big decision and should never be rushed into without careful consideration.
Reasons Why People Have Plastic Surgery
The ultimate purpose of plastic surgery is to change a person’s appearance and/or ability to function. Advances in medicine have made plastic surgery safer, less invasive, and less expensive, with a faster recovery time, which has made this type of surgery increasingly popular for both women and men.
Cosmetic plastic surgery is done to alter the face or a part of the body for aesthetic reasons, such as surgery to:
- Increase or reduce the size of the breasts
- Gain a more youthful appearance
- Reshape part of the face, such as the nose or chin
- Remove excess fat from a particular area of the body (liposuction)
Reconstructive plastic surgery aims to correct defects on the face or body. People may have this type of surgery:
- To correct a traumatic injury such as from an animal bite, car accident, crush injury, or burn
- To correct a birth defect, such as a cleft palate, ear deformity, or Craniosynostosis
- Following disease treatment, such as breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery
There is a diverse range of reasons to motivate a person to get plastic surgery. The most common reasons for getting plastic surgery include:
- To increase self-esteem and body confidence
- To improve body/facial proportions
- To correct a deformity or defect
- To feel more feminine or masculine
- To feel more youthful
- To improve physical health
- To improve overall quality of life
Whether the reason is to improve looks and body shape, to improve the function of an area of the body, or to gain a more youthful appearance, it is important to consider the pros and cons of surgery before committing to a procedure.
Is Plastic Surgery Right For Me?
If you are thinking about having plastic surgery, you should never rush into anything without carefully considering all your options. Although revision surgery is sometimes possible, plastic surgery should be seen as a permanent option, so it’s important to be sure it is the right option for you to avoid costly mistakes.
Depending on what your overall goal is, there may be other suitable options available, and it pays to do your research. With many nonsurgical cosmetic procedures now available that can help to enhance the appearance of your face and body, surgery is not the only option to consider. These can include; fat transfer injections (to add volume to target areas), laser treatments (to enhance and improve skin irregularities), chemical peels, and injectables to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles or to restore lost volume.
When doing your research, ensure you use reputable sources to get accurate information about the benefits and risks involved with each procedure. Research should include finding out:
- What procedures are available that offer your desired results
- How long the results will last – some nonsurgical procedures may need to be done frequently to maintain results
- The overall costs (including aftercare and future procedures you may need to maintain the look) to ensure it is affordable
- Whether the benefits outweigh the risks
- What recovery will be like
Speak To An Expert For Advice
If you are considering plastic surgery, you should discuss your goals with an experienced, board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon. A good plastic surgeon will be able to help you determine whether plastic surgery is the right option for you.
At your consultation, the surgeon will discuss with you what you hope to achieve from surgery and which procedure may be best for your requirements to give you the desired results. They will help assess whether you are a suitable candidate and will take into account your age, overall health, and reasons for wanting the surgery, along with other factors.
The surgeon will also inform you of any risks involved, the cost of treatment, what results you can expect from the procedure, and what aftercare will be necessary to ensure a successful recovery.
After your consultation, you should allow yourself time to think about everything before making any commitments.
What Risks Are Involved?
No surgery is risk-free. Plastic surgery involves anesthesia, wound healing, and like with all types of surgery, there is a risk of complications, such as:
- Pain, swelling and bruising (usually only temporary)
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Nerve damage causing numbness or tingling
- Scarring
- Poor or undesired results
- Need for further surgery
Plastic Surgeon in Atlanta, GA
If you are considering plastic surgery and would like to find out whether it is the best option for you, contact board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Mackay for the expert care you deserve.
Dr. Mackay provides a wide range of nonsurgical and surgical cosmetic enhancements for your face and body to help you achieve the results you are looking for.
Call us today to learn more at (404) 777-9791 or to book a consultation. Alternatively, you can request an appointment online.
