For many of us, we go through most of our lives paying
minimal attention to our skin. Sure, we moisturize and
hopefully use our SPF30 on a regular basis but pampering
our skin on a daily basis is not practical for most people.
Then one day we wake up and notice that the face we’ve
paid little attention to over the years has just started
looking a little worn. We might begin to see a few more
noticeable lines or we might look a little tired with bags
under our eyes. Our eyelids may look a bit droopier
and our cheeks might sag a little more than they use to.
Ten to twenty years ago there weren't many options to
droopy, saggy, wrinkled skin but today we have lots of
them and cosmetic surgery is looming to the top of the
list as one of the most popular remedies around.
Did you know that according to the American Society
of Plastic Surgeons, men accounted for 1.2 million
cosmetic procedures in 2004? It's a known fact that
men don't want to look any older than women do.
According to the American Society of Plastic
Surgeons (ASPS) the top 5 cosmetic procedures
were:
For women:
1 Liposuction
2 Breast Augmentation
3 Eyelid Surgery
4 Facelift
5 Chemical Peel
For Men:
1 Nose Reshaping
2 Eyelid Surgery
3 Liposuction
4 Hair Transplantation
5 Breast Reduction
The new five-year trending data shows cosmetic
procedures are up 24 percent from 2000.
Also in the running are the non-surgical procedures
which have increased as much as 7% in 2004. They
include such procedures as:
- Botox
- Laser hair removal
- Chemical peels
- microdermabrasions
So is cosmetic surgery right for you?
Well, I can't speak for everyone but there are a few things
to consider and some questions you should ask yourself
before going under the knife..
First and foremost, cosmetic surgery is ‘surgery’ and it
hurts - ouch! As with any surgery, there is a healing
period and there is swelling and puffiness immediately
afterwards. Don't expect to look beautiful right out of
surgery. It's going to take some time and patience.
Understand that a nose job or a face lift won't necessarily
make you beautiful and it probably won't change how the
world feels about you. In fact, patients have been known
to feel a sense of disappointment after their procedures
and for this reason it’s important to understand how
significant the changes will be, they may only be very
subtle.
If you're considering plastic surgery ask yourself these
things first:
Why do I want cosmetic surgery? Who am I doing
this for?
If it's because your friend says you have a big nose or
if you think looking more beautiful for your husband he
will pay more attention to you then, you're a poor candidate.
Hoping to impress your friends or hoping your husband
will be more attentive are poor reasons.
A new face, nose or body won't change how others
feel about you and if it does, it will only be temporary.
Can I afford This?
Most cosmetic surgery is not covered by health
insurance unless it is health related. If you have to
scrape money together to do this you're better off
looking into non-surgical or less invasive treatments.
What if the results are not what I expected?
Again, there's a chance that expectations won't be
met. Be sure you are ready financially and emotionally
to undergo more treatment if you're results are underwhelming.
As with any high cost, risky procedure, think it through.
Don't act on a whim. Discuss the procedure with relatives
and friends. Get some outside opinions.
If you're still interested in pursuing cosmetic surgery be sure
you are in good health. A good candidate doesn't smoke, is
emotionally stable and does not experience any major health
disorders such as heart disease, diabetes or blood pressure
issues.
Elizabeth McGee is an online skincare consultant who
reviews skincare products and their benefits.
Visit Elizabeth's website:
http://www.fine-skin-care-products.com
and receive your free 'Beauty and Weight Loss Tips Guide'.
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