Saturday, February 28, 2009

FAQs and Answers about Plastic Surgery

By Ricardo Gibson

Here is some breaking news. Most of those celebrities are not really that pretty. Some have been under the knife more than a cutting board. Still, they seem to look better and better as the years pass. This is because plastic surgery has advanced in leaps and bounds.

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.

The plastic surgery you read about really only represents half of the field. The other half, reconstructive surgery, is less glamorous, but more important. It is used to return a body to a normal state. Doing skin grafts on a badly burned patient is reconstructive plastic surgery.

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.

A surgical procedure involves trauma to the body. When you pierce the skin, you are doing damage. While plastic surgery is designed to ultimately create a better look, there are risks. Any surgery has risks, so make sure to discuss them with your surgeon first.

Surgery is great and all, but how long before I am back on my feet? As you might imagine, the answer depends on the procedure. Some involve recovery times of a day or two while others take longer. Ask your doctor for advice on your specific situation.

I want to look good, but I hate pain! Well, this is true for everyone. There is going to be some discomfort with plastic surgery because you are modifying the body. There will be swelling, some bleeding and pain as well as pain medication.

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.

All surgeons must provide patients with full costs prior to surgery. The price that your surgeon gives to you should include any incidental costs in addition to their fee. In fact, ask for a detailed price list in writing before agreeing to any surgery.

As you can probably tell from the tone of this article, many of your questions are best answered by your doctor. The doctor should be willing to take the time to answer all of them. If not, find someone else. - 16083

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