Cosmetic Surgery: Facts, Procedures, Mistakes & Complications

Introduction to Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery encompasses a broad range of surgical procedures designed to improve personal appearance, from relatively simple operations to highly complex ones. In the United States, any qualified physician is legally permitted to perform cosmetic surgery. However, a doctor certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is best suited for such procedures, particularly for operations such as liposuction, tummy tuck, or breast augmentation. Facial plastic surgery may be performed by an ABPS board-certified plastic surgeon or by an Otolaryngologist (also known as an ENT, or Ear, Nose & Throat specialist) who is certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology ("Avoid Bad Plastic Surgery," 2007).

Who Performs and Who Undergoes Cosmetic Surgery

Almost anyone is a candidate for cosmetic surgery, as reflected in the large numbers of procedures currently being performed. Statistics released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show that in the United States alone, 11.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed in 2005 — a staggering 444% increase in the overall number of cosmetic procedures since 1997 ("Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Research," 2006). At the same time, people with health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, lung disease, heart disease, high cholesterol, arthritis, and emphysema, or those who are malnourished, severely depressed, obese, and/or smokers are generally not good candidates for cosmetic surgery. Good candidates, by contrast, are those who are within approximately 30% of their ideal weight, are non-smokers, emotionally stable, exhibit low stress, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy lifestyle ("Who is a Good Candidate?" n.d.).

Since women are generally more concerned about their physical appearance than men, statistics show that most cosmetic surgeries are requested by women. According to ASAPS, 91% of all cosmetic procedures carried out in the United States in 2005 were performed on women, while only 9% were carried out on men ("Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Research," 2006).

Reasons for undergoing cosmetic surgery vary considerably, as each individual may have deeply personal motivations for wanting to change their appearance. However, the majority of people undergo cosmetic surgery either to look younger or to alter a physical feature they are unhappy with.

Reasons for the Growing Demand

The desire to look younger is not a new phenomenon. Human beings in most societies have long strived to appear more youthful, resorting to measures such as dyeing grey hair. Contemporary Western society has become even more youth-focused than previous generations. The aging baby boomer population in the United States and other Western nations is more health-conscious than earlier generations and feels a heightened need to look younger in a culture that prizes youth. Advances in medical technology and increased disposable incomes have made cosmetic surgery an accessible option for more people. The media has also contributed to the upsurge in demand, as television programs, fashion magazines, and websites increasingly promote and provide information about cosmetic procedures.

Most people who undergo cosmetic surgery expect to achieve greater self-confidence and a sense of well-being. Some achieve this goal, while others are disappointed because cosmetic surgery is not a cure-all for psychological problems. This is largely because some people choose surgery for the wrong reasons and harbor unrealistic expectations. The "wrong reasons" include expecting surgery to resolve serious personal problems such as a failing marriage, hoping that it will transform one's life entirely, or wanting to look exactly like another person. The "right reasons" for seeking cosmetic surgery are self-motivation — doing it for oneself rather than for someone else — and holding realistic expectations about the procedure's outcomes (Grayson, 2003).

Another major driver of the growing trend toward cosmetic surgery is intense competition in the workplace and a widespread bias against older employees — the perception that an older person is less current and less efficient. As a result, more people, including men, have turned to cosmetic surgery in an effort to maintain a youthful appearance. In addition, stressful modern lifestyles often contribute to eating disorders and obesity, making procedures such as liposuction increasingly sought after.