Cosmetic surgery is plastic surgery for the purpose of improving appearance. It's not something anyone wants, so it's well worth scrutinizing before you book. Below are the 10 most frequently requested operations and each of these operations is a solution to a particular problem. In simple terms, here's what each one involves, so you can be at your consultation armed with intelligent questions.
- Rhinoplasty: Nose surgery, or rhinoplasty, gives a new shape to the nose. The surgeon uses small incisions inside the nostrils or a very small incision between the nostrils to make the changes to the bone and cartilage that modifies the bridge, tip or width. Many have it for both effect and aesthetics, some for breathing difficulties like deviated septum. It should have a splint for approximately 1 week and swelling will slowly decrease. It may take a year for the tip to take root completely.
- Liposuction: Liposuction can be used to get rid of stubborn fat deposits in the back of the neck, abdomen, thighs, flanks and under the chin. The fat is loosened and suctioned out with thin tubes (cannulas) that are inserted into small incisions. It hugs your body into a shape but doesn't help with weight issues and is most effective for skin that has some elasticity. A compression garment will be to be worn for a few weeks to help prevent swelling.
- Fat grafting: This is a process where fat is transferred from one area to another. The surgeon removes fat with liposuction, cleans the fat, and injects it into the face, breast, buttocks or hands to volumize them. There is no implant since it is using your own tissue. However, some of the transferred fat doesn't last, and you may require a second session to achieve the desired outcome.
- Blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery): During blepharoplasty, excess skin and fat may be taken out of the upper or lower eyelids, as necessary. Too heavy of upper lids gives a tired appearance to tired people, and to some people they get so low on the eyes that you can't see it anymore. The cuts are inside the natural crease of the lid or under the lashes. Bruising is for a week or two and eyes feel dry and tight as healing.
- Facelift: A facelift is used to firms up the lower face and neck. The surgeon lifts the deeper tissue layers, places them back in place, cuts away excess skin and sutures the incisions around the ears. It is a treatment for jowls and loose neck skin, and not for fine lines and wrinkles on the skin surface or sun damage. About 2 weeks off before one is presentable and good results generally last for years, but the face continues to age.
- Tummy tuck: During the tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), loose skin and fat are removed from the tummy and the muscles under the skin are tightened. After pregnancy or significant weight loss, when the skin no longer fits the body will be stretched, which is normal. Scar is low and located in the lower abdomen, typically covered by underwear. Recovery involves walking with a slight bend for several days and avoiding heavy lifting for several weeks.
- Breast implants: Silicone or saline implants are used for breast augmentation to provide size and shape. They are either inserted behind the breast tissue or under the chest muscle, in a cut under the breast or around the nipple or in the armpit. Your surgeon should discuss with you the size, shape and the necessity of post-implant monitoring. Implants are not permanently placed. Many of women's need a replacement or revision at some point.
- Breast lift and reduction: A reduction takes away tissue, skin and weight from overly large breasts, if they are causing any back or shoulder pain, rashes or difficulty exercising. Both leave scars around the nipple and frequently down and along the crease under the breast. If you have plans to breastfeed, raise an early warning of the possibility of reduced sensation and, in some instances, breastfeeding ability due to reduction.
- Scar improvement: Also known as scar revision, scar surgery decreases the visibility of a scar. It can't delete one of them. These may include widening or lifting the scar and closing it up in a more discrete manner or rearranging it to follow the natural line of the skin, laser treatment, steroid injections and micro-needling. Once the scar has matured, which is typically after a year, surgeons will generally wait until then to perform an operation, since many scars will soften on their own.
- Hair transplant: In a hair transplant, a surgeon takes hair follicles from the back and/or sides of the scalp (the areas where the hair does not tend to thin) and places them into the balding area. Follicular unit extraction is where the surgeon extracts the follicles one by one. The strip method involves removing a narrow strip of scalp and dividing it into grafts. The transplanted hair will fall off during the first few weeks, and regrow in the following months. It takes approximately one year to get the full results.
What recovery looks like
There is no standard answer for the recovery. Depending on the procedure a few days may be spent at home after a hair transplant or eyelid surgery, and two to four weeks after a tummy tuck or facelift, before feeling normal. Schedule time off, assist at home and no intense exercising until cleared by your surgeon. Some swelling and bruising should be expected. Increasing pain, fever, a wound that opens or one breast or eyelid changing suddenly are reasons to call the clinic that day.
The common denominator of all procedures
Bleeding, infection, scarring and anaesthetic reactions are all potential risks for any surgery. Those risks increase with smoking and the healing process is delayed, so it is important to quit well before surgery. Honestly with regard to your well-being, your medicines and your reasons. When someone guarantees a 100 percent result, it's a warning sign.
Choosing the right surgeon
Check for credentials in plastic surgery and find out the surgeon's experience level. Request photographs of actual patients, and ask what you will do if you're not pleased with the results. Sometimes a good surgeon can tell you that you don't need the surgery.
Dr. Anup Dhir's office is located at 101, Ansal Tower, 38 Nehru Place, New Delhi. To book an appointment, call +91 93123 77554.
