Sunday, January 4, 2009

FAQs and Answers about Plastic Surgery

By Ricardo Gibson

How realistic is it that a 45 year old celebrity looks like she is 25? It is not realistic at all. Although pictures in magazines can be brushed up, the real answer if often found in plastic surgery procedures.

The world of plastic surgery is filled with a lot of assumptions and myths. Does it hurt? Does it last? Will I look like this person in a magazine? There are so many questions, that it is hard to know where to start answering them, but we will try.

What does plastic surgery mean? Plastic surgery falls into two categories: reconstructive and cosmetic. Reconstructive surgery procedures are meant to heal the body due to trauma, growth, or illness. A procedure done after a mastectomy is a reconstructive procedure.

The second field of plastic surgery is the one we are all more familiar with. It deals with altering the shape of a part of your body that makes you unhappy. Perhaps you have a large bump on your nose and decide to have it taken off. This is known as elective surgery.

Surgery is still surgery regardless of whether it is for the removal of a tumor or excessive fat. There are benefits to both surgeries, but there are also risks. Do not just undergo surgery with the belief there is no risk. As with any surgery, things can go wrong.

A very common question has to do with recovery time. Simply put, how long are we talking? It depends on the procedure. Botox injections take an hour. A full facelift can take two to four weeks for bruising and swelling to go down.

Will it hurt? Ah, we get to the heart of the matter. The short answer is it probably will hurt. No pain, no gain as they say. The reason is most plastic surgery introduces trauma to the body. This will cause pain, swelling and bruising. It will take time for all three to resolve.

If I bring a surgeon a picture, will I look exactly like it afterwards? No. Everyone has different anatomical structures. Some of us have thin faces while others of us have wide ones. Your surgeon will tell give you a reasonable approximation, but that is all. You should look for improvement, not perfection.

What about the doctor behind the mask? A licensed plastic surgeon goes through a lot to reach their position. How about medical school and then five to seven years of post graduate training? The also continually keep up on new developments.

The cost of plastic surgery is also a bit issue with patients. The fees range widely depending on where you are and what type of procedure you are getting. Make sure to get a written estimate of the fee of the surgeon and any other costs as well.

General questions and answers can only go so far when discussing medicine. The real fountain of knowledge is your surgeon. Make a list of questions and run them by him or her to get answers about your specific situation. - 15634

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