Glossary of Terms Relating To Cosmetic And Plastic Surgery

The definition of cosmetic surgery, in the medical world, is "surgery that modifies or improves the appearance of a physical feature, irregularity, or defect". It has proven to be very beneficial to thousands of men and women worldwide, for both medical and personal reasons, and has improved some people's quality of life dramatically. However, whilst there are many benefits, there are also many risks involved with surgery; as well as moral reasons why cosmetic surgery is not necessarily the best course of action.

Firstly, the vast majority of cosmetic surgery is safe and monitored, by medical boards and governments, and if a doctor is readily certified to perform that specific surgery on a patient, they are usually in good hands. However, black market plastic surgery is still a problem needing to be dealt with, especially in the United States. There are many accounts of surgery going drastically wrong under these circumstances; for example, in 2010 five women from Essex County were seriously infected when a black market doctor used industrial silicone to inject the patients, instead of a certified silicone for the procedure. While many people considering plastic surgery to not compromise on the quality due to the cheaper price, some do and end up getting seriously hurt, and can even be fatal.

As with any surgery, again the procedure is usually safe, but there can be complications in the operating theatre. Blood loss, blood clots, blood pressure problems and infection of the operating area are all possible complications that could arise; however cosmetic surgery has its own problems, for example procedures involving the skin of a patient can lead to skin death or "necrosis" (the death of body tissue) - a condition that usually arises after an infection and can be much more likely among smokers.

One of the biggest risks with cosmetic surgery is the fact that the outcome of the procedure may not be what the patient was expecting - especially if something goes wrong in the operating theatre. Physical asymmetry can be seen if the procedure is unsuccessful, however the problems can be corrected if the patient is willing to go through a second operation. The asymmetry of disfigurement may cause disappointment and frustration in the patient if they have not seen what they wanted, and may cause further self esteem issues until the problem is addressed. After surgery, the problem of "Seroma" can be present, where fluid collects under the skin - especially after such procedures as breast enlargement/reconstruction or tummy tucks.

Overall, the benefits of cosmetic surgery more often than not outweigh the risks. This can be seen in plenty of women who have come out of hospital happy with their alterations. However, patients do need to be informed of the potential risks beforehand, to let them decide whether cosmetic surgery is right for that individual.

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The information on my website is intended as an introduction or guide to Plastic and Reconstructive surgery. It should not be used to replace a formal consultation with a qualified surgeon and no liability is accepted for the misuse of this information.

The area's covered for both Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Surgery are: Nottingham | Midlands

Glossary of Terms Relating To Cosmetic And Plastic Surgery

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