With the wealth of unverified information online, many patients are misinformed about the procedure, recovery, and results that they should expect when pursuing a cosmetic procedure. This can often lead to disappointment with the outcome of the procedure, or it can create needless anxiety for patients considering cosmetic treatments.
In this article, we’ll demystify three of the most common cosmetic surgeries for women to help you decide if they’re worth pursuing.
1. Tummy Tuck
Also known as abdominoplasty, a tummy tuck is a surgery that removes excess skin from the abdomen. In some cases, the procedure can even tighten the abdominal muscles to provide you with a stronger core. Many women pursue this surgery after pregnancy, weight loss, or to reverse the sagging skin that develops with age.
There are several types of tummy tucks, each varying in its level of invasiveness. An experienced plastic surgeon will be able to recommend the best option for you after examining your stomach. In general, a mini tummy tuck and a full tummy tuck are the most popular variations of the surgery. A mini tummy tuck removes the excess skin just below the belly button through a small incision along the bikini line; a full tummy tuck involves a longer incision along the bikini line and around the belly button as it removes excess skin from both the upper and lower abdomen, and if needed, can repair separated abdominal muscles.
You can expect a tummy tuck surgery to drastically flatten and contour your abdomen. The surgery can even provide medical benefits for some women as the tightening of the abdominal muscles can alleviate back pain and other physical ailments. However, the surgery does entail a strenuous recovery period, as it takes around 4-8 weeks before patients make a full recovery from the surgery.
2. Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgery that sculpts the body by removing areas of excess fat. However, it is important to note that liposuction is not a weight loss surgery. Although you can expect to lose a few kilograms after the surgery once the excess fat is removed, the surgery will not help you go down a dress size as many patients expect. Rather, the surgery is ideal for getting rid of stubborn fat deposits that don’t budge no matter how clean you eat or how hard you exercise.
To perform the procedure, the surgeon will insert a thin suction cannula into the areas being treated. Afterwards, they will extract the excess fat and close the incisions. Liposuction also has an intense recovery period, with the treated areas being swollen for a couple of weeks. However, you can expect to see the full results of your surgery after 6-12 weeks, by which time the residual swelling will have dissipated. Overall, the liposuctioned area should appear slimmer and more contoured as the excess pockets of fat will have been permanently removed.
3. Breast Augmentation
Commonly known as a boob job, breast augmentation surgery is another popular cosmetic procedure sought after by many women. You can add volume to the breasts through implants, or through a fat transfer procedure. The former is the most common option as it can produce the most substantial enhancement, increasing the breasts by up to 4-5 cup sizes. Whereas, a fat transfer provides a more modest enhancement of around 1 cup size.
To insert breast implants, the surgeon will make an incision along the creases of the breasts or along the underarm. Afterwards, they will position the implants over, under, or partly over and under the pec muscle in the breasts. To perform a fat transfer, the surgeon will first perform liposuction surgery to extract the fat from targeted areas of the body. Afterwards, they will inject the fat into the breasts to recreate your desired shape and enhancement.
If you’re considering any of these surgeries, be sure to speak to a surgeon specialising in your chosen procedure. Take your time to research the procedure from reputable websites and ask your surgeon any questions you may have during your consultation.
