Types of Cosmetic Surgery
Monday, January 3rd, 2011Just about everyone has wanted to change some part of their body at some point. Some people are only looking for small adjustments that they can make on their own, but others require medical help to give patients the look that they want. This article provides a general overview of available types of cosmetic surgery. Procedures are categorized by the area of the body that they modify.
Head/Face
Because the face is often the most visible area in social situations, it has also been the biggest target for revision. Common procedures include nose adjustments, lip augmentation, and facelifts. Other less known facial surgeries include chin and cheek augmentation, hair transplants, and forehead lifts. If you have large, unusually shaped, or distended ears, you may be a candidate for ear surgery. Eyelid surgery may be an option for those seeking to reduce droopiness, puffiness, bags, or excess skin. To combat the effects of aging or help reconstruct the face after illness or injury, facial implants are also available.
Skin
Chemical peels can help correct wrinkles, damage from sun exposure, or unevenly distributed pigmentation. Fat injections and some other types of injectables can be safely used in many areas of the body—like the face, depressed skin, hands, or lips—where the individual might desire a fuller, firmer look. Micropigmentation is a procedure done to give the appearance of “permanent make up” and enhance certain areas of the body. Other common skin-related treatments include microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, and spider vein treatments.
Breasts
Cosmetic surgery related to the breasts includes breast reduction, breast reconstruction, breast lift, and breast augmentation. Breast reduction is most common in women whose breast size causes pain in other areas of the body. If a woman has severely asymmetrical breasts (one breast is much larger than the other), breast reduction or breast enlargement with implants may be considered. Reconstruction (including of the breast, nipple, and areola) is an option for women who have lost one or both breasts because of an accident or illness like cancer; or for women whose breast development was severely impeded because of an abnormality. Implants (breast augmentation) can help women who have felt self-conscious about small breast size to gain more confidence. Breast lift is often an option for women who are happy with the size of their breasts but prefer that they be positioned differently.
Other Areas of the Body
Most other areas of the body are targeted for removal of excess fat. This includes tummy tucks, general liposuction, lower body lifts, and arm lifts. In some cases, individuals who have undergone weight loss surgery may want to have extra, loose skin removed in a post-bariatric surgery procedure






