Debunking Common Cosmetic Surgery Myths: Separating Fact from Fiction
Cosmetic surgery, more commonly mislabeled as “plastic surgery,” is surgery focused on enhancing appearance. The goal of cosmetic surgery is to improve a person’s appearance, self-esteem and self-confidence. Symmetry and proportion are desired key outcomes. This is elective surgery, and is not covered by insurance. It’s also one of the healthcare industry’s most misunderstood fields, leading to people avoiding what could be life-changing care due to faulty perceptions. So let’s set the record straight.
MYTH: Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Are the Same Thing
Plastic surgery is a broad term that encompasses both reconstructive surgery used to repair conditions caused by trauma, disease or congenital anomalies, as well as cosmetic surgery, which focuses on elective care designed to enhance one’s physical appearance. Moreover, cosmetic surgeons are not the same as plastic surgeons. Plastic surgeons are trained through a six to eight year residency program to be experts in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. A cosmetic surgeon is not. A cosmetic surgeon is only required to have one year of training in cosmetic surgery. At Northland Plastic Surgery, our plastic surgeons are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
MYTH: Plastic Surgery is For the Rich
Thanks to an increase in demand, growth in the number of cosmetic and plastic surgeons, new surgical methods and a variety of financing options now available, cosmetic surgery has become more affordable for anyone looking to improve their physical appearance.
MYTH: Recovery is Long and Painful
Modern, minimally invasive surgical techniques and improved pain management options have both reduced total recovery time and made the recovery process less painful. Many types of facial cosmetic surgeries only take a week or two to heal, and even the most significant body surgeries will have you back to your normal range of motion in a month to six weeks, with only a week or two off work.
MYTH: Cosmetic Surgery Makes You Look … Well, Plastic
When performed by a skilled and experienced surgeon, plastic surgery can produce results that enhance existing features rather than altering them. The goal of cosmetic surgery is to provide subtle corrections to physical appearance, not drastic changes.
MYTH: Cosmetic Surgery is a Solution for Weight Loss
Liposuction, sometimes referred to as lipo, is often mistakenly viewed as a solution for weight loss. In reality, it is designed only to slim and reshape specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits and improving your body contours and proportion. This is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise. It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite—the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips and buttocks—or loose saggy skin.
Contact Us For More Myth Busting
Cosmetic surgery is a complex field, but one who can provide results that provide meaningful benefits in a patient’s life. For more information about what cosmetic—and reconstructive—services we offer, please contact us to schedule an appointment.
