Cosmetic Surgery: The Quest For Perfection

February 13, 2008

Photo by Jose Miguel Serrano
We want it all!

In the book, Facelift Hotel, the author Maggie Lockridge describes her experiences of tending to the rich and famous following cosmetic surgeries of all kinds. But celebrities aren’t the only ones seeking to beautify themselves. Women from everywhere, young to old, are seeking cosmetic enhancements. We want to control how we look and how we feel. So we look for the best cutting-edge cosmetic treatments.

How far will we go to achieve perfection?

In 2006 Botox was the number one cosmetic treatment, with more than 3 million procedures being performed, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. And 93% of those patients were women. But just take a look at other types of surgeries we will undergo:

Body lift, brow lift, breast lift, face lift, neck lift, thigh lift, suspension lift, tummy tuck, breast reduction or breast enlargement, liposuction, nose shaping, eyelid surgery, lip augmentation, and even vaginal augmentation.

Before going under the knife, be aware that there could be complications.

While it is true that complications from cosmetic surgery are not as common as they used to be, the fact is that they do occur. Consider the unfortunate recent death (Nov. 2007) of Kanye West’s mother, Donda West, who died following a tummy tuck and breast reduction procedure. If you are determined to follow through with cosmetic surgery, please take these precautions so as to lessen your chances of complications:

Make sure your surgeon is a board-certified plastic surgeon in good standing with your state’s medical board. (This was not the case with Donda West’s surgeon.)
Be sure to share your full health history with your surgeon to help avoid potential complications.
Never go into surgery without your doctor doing a complete health evaluation.
Prior to treatment, make sure your surgeon gives you pre- and post-procedure instructions.
Discuss with your surgeon all risks involved.

If your surgeon fails to provide any of the above, then you need to look for a new surgeon or reconsider surgery altogether. There are other signs to watch for as well that indicate you have a bad doctor:

Doctors who make unrealistic promises or minimize the risks involved.
Doctors who suggest additional procedures unrelated to what you are seeking.
Doctors who offer special prices as an incentive to surgery or who do not outline the cost prior to surgery.

In my opinion, a surgeon located in St. Louis, Missouri, said it best with this quote,

“A large part of looking youthful on the outside is dependent upon what you do on the inside.”

Technorati Tags: cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, Facelift Hotel

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Beauty, Blog

Comments

6 Responses to “Cosmetic Surgery: The Quest For Perfection”

Debo Hobo on February 13th, 2008 11:29 pm

I always invision myself with a bit of work done, but I figure if diet and excercise doesn’t fix it then I’m not going to throuw my hard earned cash at it.
Lazy Man and Health on February 14th, 2008 3:32 am

I have seen people take cosmetic surgery too far, but I’ve also seen it responsibly used. I have someone close to me that got liposuction for a problem area that had annoyed her for years. You can see the change in her attitude even now - a couple of years later.
Julie Alexander on February 14th, 2008 11:21 am

Debo Hobo,

I agree. Diet and health are the first route to take. Afterall, covering the problem on the outside doesn’t fix the more important ones on the inside.
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Lazy Man and Health,

Michael Jackson is a good example of going too far. For people who have an area that is ruining their self confidence, I can see surgery making dramatic changes for the better. Thanks for your comment.
Tuesday Links - Tax the Unhealthy Edition » Lazy Man and Health on February 20th, 2008 2:58 am

[…] Health and Wellness Post writes about cosmetic surgery and the quest for perfection. My thought on this is that everyone should want to be their best. It’s what advances […]
healthranker.com on February 22nd, 2008 9:54 pm

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