Common Plastic Surgery Procedures

Common Plastic Surgery Procedures : The popularity of plastic surgery is growing, with millions of surgical procedures taking place every year. In the last decade alone, the number of plastic surgeries has increased by over ninety percent. And, it’s not just women anymore, men are increasingly contributing to this boom. Unlike cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery is reconstructive in nature, meaning it is intended to correct dysfunctional areas of the body.

To enhance chances of success, and also for safety, reconstructive surgeries should be done by a physician with a certain level of training. A plastic surgeon must be board-certified and have sufficient training that combines both general surgery and a few additional years of plastic surgery. If you find yourself in need of a plastic surgery procedure, consult Michael Macdonald MD, a trained, qualified and licensed plastic surgeon. He will help you decide which of the many plastic surgery procedures outlined below is suitable for you.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a common plastic surgery procedure that involves suctioning fat from specific areas of your body to improve your shape and general appearance. There are two types of liposuction procedures; Tumescent Liposuction and Ultrasonic Assisted Liposuction (UAL). Between the two, Tumescent Liposuction is the most popular one. It involves infusing a saline solution, a numbing agent, into the area to be treated and sucking it out together with the fat through hollow metal instruments called cannulas. A UAL procedure uses ultrasonic energy to melt the fat so that it can be suctioned easily.
Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation refers to the surgical enhancement of women’s breasts. It has become hugely popular and is done for many reasons including enlarging, replacing or equalizing asymmetrical breasts to increase self-confidence. Some of the risks involved include breast pain, infection, implant rupture or changes in nipple sensation. Incisions are made and the breast implants placed beneath the breast tissue or chest muscles. Recovery may take a week or two but sometimes, additional surgery may be required.

A breast augmentation can bring big changes, if you find out that you’re not happy with your results, there is still hope. A breast revision surgery can help to adjust implant size, shape, or position to ensure you’re happy with your results.
Abdominoplasty

Popularly known as lower body lift or tummy tuck, abdominoplasty is a surgical process where excess skin from the abdominal area is removed and the rest is tightened. The ideal candidate has excess skin hanging from the abdomen. The procedure is particularly popular among women who have excess skin after delivering a baby or who have lost lots of weight after bariatric surgery. The recovery period for most patients is two or three weeks though they may still have limits on carrying out strenuous physical activity.
Rhytidectomy

Also referred to as a facelift, this is a surgical procedure that helps remove wrinkles and sagging by tightening the tissues beneath the jaw, cheeks, and neck. The platysma muscle is tightened to rejuvenate the neck and is secured to the mastoid bone behind the ear. This pulls back the skin making it tighter, minimizing sagging, smoothing deep lines, and creating a more youthful appearance. A facelift is usually combined with another procedure such as eyelid shaping or forehead lift, to further enhance your appearance. Patients recover within two weeks, but healing will be complete within 3 months.
Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty also known as a nose job surgery, rhinoplasty helps reshape the nose, bringing it into alignment with the rest of the face. If done for cosmetic reasons, one has to pay out-of-pocket but if done for health reasons such as improving breathing (deviated septum), then insurance will likely cover it. Bruising, redness and swelling should subside within two weeks.

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