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What is cosmetic surgery?
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Cosmetic surgery, also known as aesthetic plastic surgery, is a branch of plastic surgery that involves techniques intended for the enhancement of appearance through surgical and medical techniques. Although cosmetic surgery may be concerned with maintaining a normal appearance, it often involves restoration or enhancement to reach some level of physical or aesthetic ideal.
The number of cosmetic procedures in the United States has increased by more than 50% since 2000. There were nearly 12 million cosmetic surgeries and procedures performed in the United States in 2007. The most frequently performed cosmetic procedures are breast augmentation, liposuction, nasal surgery, eyelid surgery and abdominoplasty. Others include buttock augmentation; cheek augmentation; chemical peel (to minimize the appearance of acne, chicken pox, other scars, or other photodamage); chin augmentation; collagen, fat or other injections; labiaplasty (the reshaping of the labia); laser skin resurfacing; lip enhancement; orthognathic surgery (reshaping of bone structure); otoplasty (also known as pinning of the ears); phalloplasty (the construction or reconstruction of the penis); and rhytidectomy (surgical removal of wrinkles).
There are 34 procedures recognized by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Nineteen are surgical procedures.
More than 80% of procedures in the United States were performed on white patients. However, increases have been observed among blacks and Hispanics, as well.
Patients are warned that psychosocial effects may accompany cosmetic procedures. Patients are encouraged to manage expectations for the results of the procedure, prepare for risks inherent to any surgical or invasive procedure, and understand that improved appearance may not relieve underlying psychological issues.
Additional information about cosmetic surgery may be found at these websites:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/plasticandcosmeticsurgery.html
http://www.cosmeticsurgery.org/
http://www.cosmeticsurgery.org/