Sunday, November 30, 2008

Plastic Surgery 101

By Ricardo Gibson

Here is some breaking news. Most of those celebrities are not really that pretty. Some have been under the knife more than a cutting board. Still, they seem to look better and better as the years pass. This is because plastic surgery has advanced in leaps and bounds.

There is a certain element of any area of medicine that carries a mythical quality. Most of us cannot understand the terminology much less the things happening. In this article, we try to answer some of the basic questions that come up frequently with plastic surgery.

The first step is to define plastic surgery. There are actually two general classifications. The first is reconstructive and is focused on returning the body to its natural shape, such as when skin grafts are used on a burn victim.

The second field of plastic surgery is the one we are all more familiar with. It deals with altering the shape of a part of your body that makes you unhappy. Perhaps you have a large bump on your nose and decide to have it taken off. This is known as elective surgery.

A surgical procedure involves trauma to the body. When you pierce the skin, you are doing damage. While plastic surgery is designed to ultimately create a better look, there are risks. Any surgery has risks, so make sure to discuss them with your surgeon first.

A very common question has to do with recovery time. Simply put, how long are we talking? It depends on the procedure. Botox injections take an hour. A full facelift can take two to four weeks for bruising and swelling to go down.

Will it hurt? Ah, we get to the heart of the matter. The short answer is it probably will hurt. No pain, no gain as they say. The reason is most plastic surgery introduces trauma to the body. This will cause pain, swelling and bruising. It will take time for all three to resolve.

I want to look like Angelina Jolie? Plastic surgery will enhance your look, but it cannot turn you into someone else. A good strategy is to use virtual plastic surgery software to see estimated before and after views of your surgery.

What kind of schooling must a surgeon go through? Becoming a plastic surgeon is not an easy feat. Doctors must go through postgraduate teaching courses lasting from five to seven years prior to becoming a plastic surgeon. The best surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

What will my surgery cost? Well, your doctor can tell you. Make sure to get his fee as well as any incidental costs so you know the grand total. This fee total should also be put in writing for your benefit.

General questions and answers can only go so far when discussing medicine. The real fountain of knowledge is your surgeon. Make a list of questions and run them by him or her to get answers about your specific situation. - 15439

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