Cosmetic Surgery

[OHCowgirl]

Cosmetic Surgery: A Rundown of Procedures
by Jennifer Pitzi Hellwig, MS, RD

Are you one of the many people considering a cosmetic procedure? Here's a rundown of some of the most popular procedures and what they entail.

Side effects are generally temporary and the risks and recovery times may vary. Your physician can give you an estimated recovery time that is specific for you. Risk tends to be greater with the use of general anesthesia, which puts you to sleep (a temporary state of unconsciousness). Local anesthesia, on the other hand, is applied directly to the site of the surgery and doesn't put you to sleep.

Cosmetic procedures that are not necessitated by a medical condition are generally not covered by insurance.

Above the Neck
Nose Reshaping (Rhinoplasty)
Description: General anesthesia is administered. The skin of the nose is separated from the bone and cartilage, which is sculpted to the desired shape. The skin is redraped over the new framework and a splint is applied to keep the nose stabilized. Rhinoplasty usually takes 1-2 hours, but times vary with individual circumstances.

Side Effects: Swelling and bruising around the nose, headache, bleeding, nasal stuffiness, and discomfort

Potential Risks: Infection, small burst blood vessels, and incomplete improvement, requiring additional surgery

Recovery Time: Back to work in 1-2 weeks; more strenuous activity in 2-6 weeks

Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
Description: General anesthesia is administered. Incisions are made, usually just above the hairline at the temples, extending in a natural line from in front of the ear to behind the earlobe to the lower back part of the scalp. The skin is separated from the underlying fat and muscle. Fat may be trimmed or suctioned from around the neck and chin to improve the contour. The underlying muscle and membrane are tightened and the skin is pulled back, with the excess removed. Stitches secure the layers of tissue and close the incisions; metal clips may be used on the scalp.

Side Effects: Swelling, bruising, numbness, skin tenderness, dryness, and tightness

Potential Risks: Infection, bleeding, poor healing, injury to nerves that control facial muscles, excessive scarring, and changes in the hairline

Recovery Time: Back to work in 10-14 days; more strenuous activity in 2-6 weeks

Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty)
Description: Local or general anesthesia is administered. Incisions are made in the creases of the upper lids and just below the lashes in the lower lids. The incisions may extend into the crow's feet or laugh lines at the outer corners of the eyes. The skin is separated from underlying fatty tissue. Muscle and excess fat are removed and sagging skin and muscles are trimmed. The incisions are then closed with very fine sutures.

Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, eyelid tightness, swelling, bruising, dryness, tearing, itching, and sensitivity to light

Potential Risks: Blurred or double vision, infection, bleeding, swelling, dry eyes, whiteheads, asymmetrical healing or scarring, difficulty closing eyes, and blindness

Recovery Time: Reading allowed in 2-3 days; contact lenses prohibited for 2+ weeks; back to work in 7-10 days; strenuous activity in about 3 weeks

Below the Neck
Breast Augmentation (Augmentation Mammoplasty)
Description: General anesthesia is administered. An incision is made in the crease where the breast meets the chest or around the areola or in the armpit. The breast tissue is lifted to create a pocket, where the breast implant is placed, either directly behind the breast tissue, or behind the chest muscle. Tubes may be temporarily placed for drainage and the incision is closed with small sutures.

Side Effects: Soreness, skin wrinkling, swelling, changes in nipple sensitivity, bruising, and altered mammographic appearance

Potential Risks: Bleeding, infection, thick wide scars, implant rupture or deflation, unevenly positioned nipples, and loss of sensation in breasts or nipples

Recovery Time: Back to work in 7-10 days; more strenuous activity in 1 month; fading of scar in several months

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Description: General anesthesia is administered. An incision is made in the lower abdomen (just above the pubic bone) from hipbone to hipbone, and another small incision is made to free the navel from surrounding tissue. The skin from the abdominal wall is separated all the way up to the ribs and the underlying abdominal muscles are tightened by pulling them close together and stitching them into their new position. This provides a firmer abdominal wall and narrows the waistline. The skin flap is then stretched down and extra skin is removed. A new hole is cut for the navel, which is stitched in place. Finally, the incisions are closed with stitches, dressings are applied, and a temporary tube may be inserted to drain excess fluid from the surgical site.

Side Effects: Swelling, bruising, and discomfort

Potential Risks: Bleeding, infection, blood clots, and poor healing or scarring

Recovery Time: Back to work in 2-4 weeks; strenuous activity in several weeks; fading of scars in 9+ months

Liposuction (Lipoplasty)
Description: Local or general anesthesia is administered. A small incision is made in the skin and a narrow tube called a "cannula" is inserted through the incision to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is pushed and pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. More than one site may be treated during the surgery. Intravenous fluids are administered to replace the fluid that is being lost along with the fat. The incisions are closed and temporary drainage tubes are sometimes inserted to drain fluid that accumulates at the surgery site. After surgery, some patients are fitted with a snug elastic garment to wear during recovery.

Side Effects: Swelling, bruising, numbness, soreness, and burning sensation

Potential Risks: Infection; bleeding; excessive fluid loss leading to shock; asymmetry, lumpiness, rippling, bagginess, or pigmentation changes of the skin; and fluid retention

Recovery Time: Back to work in 1-2 weeks; more strenuous activity in 2-4 weeks; full dissipation of swelling and bruising in 1-6 months

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[Messenger]

Why defeat something as beautiful as grandma. I loved all her wrinkles and soft skin. I look forward to being a grandma, in all of it's glory.

Yes, it is unsettling to change, to not be smooth, to have my hair turn white. But I think that is due to our artificial society.

In native cultures....it was considered an honor to age and you were looked upon as the tribal wisdom to be young was to have less responsibilty except for what you were in charge of. Ie "Elders council" The young were allowed to be apart, but were not permitted to speak unless they had something very important, or were asked of their opinion...and yet not many youth were asked to these meetings of the tribe.

What would happen if all these surgeries didn't exist and these magazines showed all age groups as fantastic? We would probably be more in touch l with our own looks just as we were.

I even bet there would be a lot more acceptance in our culture for young and old.

[Rev. Mommy]

I'd love to just 'grow old gracefully', but the fact of the matter is that people, and especially women, are judged by how they look.
There is another alternative to the traditional face lift. It's called a Threadlift, and is less invasive than traditional face lifts. If I had the $$, I'd probably go for it.

[Messenger]

So Mom, I am assuiming that you place your personal value upon what others think?

I would be okay if you just wanted to do this for yourself, that your not prepared to "grow old gracefully".

Society is so hard on our personal choices..how sad.

[Rev. Rex]

I suppose that I'm just old fashioned, or maybe it is the country boy in me, but I have never agreed with cosmetic surgery. To me, it is like taking a great statue and splattering it with paint. Put in another way, how can any man ever improve on the works of God or the Goddess? I know that many people have different reasons for doing the surgery, but I see as often nothing more than vanity. An exception, of course, is when someone has had a horrendous accident. Then it becomes a matter of self esteem.

I should also say that I think that far too many people are looking only at the surface, and not what is buried within. It doesn't surprise me that most of these people lead basically unhappy lives. (Some, not all.) They will not find happiness until they change the way they perceive things and what they are looking at.

[OHCowgirl]

Mommy...I understand completely...I think you and I are of the same mind and same generation...maybe it's the fact that we are beginning (ok...maybe I'm beyond "beginning") to see the lines and sags. I'd love to be the idealist, believing that aging gracefully is beautiful...BUT...I look in the mirror every morning...I see that it's just not as graceful as I'd like it to be.

If I had the money...I'd do everything on this list when I needed it...

I can tell you that getting some improvements are wonderful for your self-esteem...I know this from experience!!!

[Rev. Mommy]

Originally Posted by Ravenheart

So Mom, I am assuiming that you place your personal value upon what others think?

I would be okay if you just wanted to do this for yourself, that your not prepared to "grow old gracefully".

Society is so hard on our personal choices..how sad.

I see that at age 39 you are 12 years younger than me. I am glad that you are secure in your personal value. Let us know how you feel about the sagging and wrinkling that will happen to you too in not so many years.
Since I can't change society singlehandedly, I'm willing to change what I can.
Having been considered attractive for most of my life, I'm annoyed by the success of gravity in altering some of my facial features. Fortunately, since I've avoided the sun, wrinkling hasn't been a problem.
I agree with you wholeheartedly:

Society is so hard on our personal choices..how sad

It is, however, a fact that most people, when they hear that one is "of a certain age" they assume certain things. Someone once said that when one assumes, one makes an ass of you and me. People are always assuming, rightly or wrongly, so I'd just like to throw a small monkey wrench into that machinery.

[Rakehel]

There are many valid reasons to have cosmetic surgery performed. Sometimes a mole needs removed, a scar made to look better, or even in the case of a burn victim skin needs grafting. I say if you have the insurance and/or money go for what you want. We deserve to be the person we set personal goals to become. Also, what percentage of people are having cosmetic surgery everyday in the way of their teeth? In this country it must be very high.

[lexi4]

I picked none of the above. I am generally happy with my body the way it is.

[UncleMike]

Originally Posted by Rev. Rex

I suppose that I'm just old fashioned, or maybe it is the country boy in me, but I have never agreed with cosmetic surgery. To me, it is like taking a great statue and splattering it with paint. Put in another way, how can any man ever improve on the works of God or the Goddess? I know that many people have different reasons for doing the surgery, but I see as often nothing more than vanity. An exception, of course, is when someone has had a horrendous accident. Then it becomes a matter of self esteem.

I should also say that I think that far too many people are looking only at the surface, and not what is buried within. It doesn't surprise me that most of these people lead basically unhappy lives. (Some, not all.) They will not find happiness until they change the way they perceive things and what they are looking at.

I'm with you Rev.Rex all the way. I especially dislike Breast Augmentation, look at the effects:
Side Effects: Soreness, skin wrinkling, swelling, changes in nipple sensitivity, bruising, and altered mammographic appearance

Potential Risks: Bleeding, infection, thick wide scars, implant rupture or deflation, unevenly positioned nipples, and loss of sensation in breasts or nipples.

and this is usually done to please some guy. Personally I find sylicone sisters a turnoff.

UncleMike