Is Cosmetic Surgery for You?

Cosmetic surgery is ever-growing in popularity. But where it once was the domain of strictly the rich and famous, now people from all walks of life are seeking procedures. In America, it is reported that 11 million cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2006.

This field is also known as aesthetic surgery, and it refers to an elective procedure that is performed on healthy patients, not those with health problems. The goal is to improve one's physical appearance. These procedures can often give the patient a dramatic new look. Other times, they can make a subtle change that can be very pleasing to patients.
Plastic surgery is a broader field and includes the surgical repair of either genetic or accidental physical defects. Some examples of reconstructive plastic surgery are hand surgery, craniofacial surgery, and burn surgery. The best way to describe cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery is that the latter is a "need" while the former is a "want." Both disciplines have their appropriate places and usefulness.

Below is a list of popular cosmetic surgeries:

* Augmentation Mammaplasty - The most common procedure in cosmetic surgery is enhancing the size of a woman's breasts. In a world where many women do seek larger breasts, the surgery continues to be a very popular procedure. The procedure also often helps women who do not like the shape of their breasts, or whose shape and position has changed with time or pregnancy, or who have asymmetry. The implants used may be either saline or silicone.

* Abdominoplasty - Also known as "tummy tuck" this includes a reshaping of the abdominal area. Many people, especially women, experience sagging mid-sections after giving child birth. As the years takes their toll on the abdominal skin, this procedure can give people the confidence to once again show off their abs and wear more revealing clothing without the worries of a bulging tummy. We also are doing more and more of these procedures on men and for people who have had large weight loss and are left with loose skin.

* Liposuction - This is another procedure that continues to grow in popularity. It is minimally invasive and offers people the chance to remove unwanted fat. This of course carries great appeal to people. Los Angeles liposuction is also very good and bringing bodies into proportion and addressing stubborn areas that do not improve with diet and exercise.

* Chemical Peel - Facial enhancement is the goal of this procedure, reducing or eliminating pimples and acne, facial scars due to acne, pock marks, and even wrinkles and skin blemishes. The use of different chemical acids are used to perform this procedure. Trichloroacetic acid or TCA, salicylic acid or BHA, and carbolic acid or Phenol are the active ingredients in peeling in order to improve facial skin with a peel.

* Rhinoplasty - Also known as the "nose job," this procedure is common for people who want to make their noses proportionate to their faces. Sometimes the procedure is done to remove a bump on the nose, while other times it is done to make the nose more narrow. There are also occasions when the procedure can also improve breathing function by having nose surgery.

There are many other common elective procedures within Beverly Hills plastic surgery. These include laser surgery, eyelid surgery, facelift, breast lift, breast reduction, thigh lift, buttock augmentation, ear pinning and more. The field is constantly growing in its diversity of procedures and advancing in terms of their sophistication. The most important thing is to have reasonable expectations of what cosmetic surgery will accomplish, and then you are most likely to achieve a satisfactory result.

Los Angeles tummy tuck specialist Dr. Lloyd Krieger focuses on cosmetic procedures including Los Angeles rhinoplasty.