The market for cosmetic procedures is no joke, having grown to a roughly $10 billion industry per year in the United States alone. On a worldwide scale, this number is expected to hit more than $40 billion by 2025.
Women account for about 90 percent of patients turning to these surgical and minimally invasive procedures. Older women traditionally have been the segment most likely to pursue cosmetic surgery, often done to help a patient recapture a feeling of youthfulness.
Nowadays, however, it has become increasingly common for younger women (and even men) to go under the knife as well. Thanks to constant medical and technological advances, cosmetic surgery has become an increasingly safe and efficient experience.
It’s telling that 30 percent of all female cosmetic procedure patients fall between the ages of 20 and 30. The next generation does not seem afraid of taking an extra step toward perfecting their appearance.
Nevertheless, various surgeons say that patients do not fully consider risk and other factors when deciding on receiving a cosmetic procedure. One concern raised is that prospective patients view this surgery as a trivial occasion that can be done during their lunch break.
Despite society’s ever-increasing positive attitude toward cosmetic procedures, it should be noted that these procedures are serious. A couple of the risk factors associated with the various types of operations are described below.
Unexpected Botches following Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgeries of all types permanently alter the body’s balance, creating the risk of new areas developing potential complications or problems.
For instance, liposuction can safely remove fat from one specific area in your body, but can also cause uneven growth in different body parts if any weight is put back on.
Some surgeons report that getting cosmetic surgery on a specific area can throw off the appearance in another. For example, getting fat removed from your abs can occasionally cause your thighs to look much bigger if you do not stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine after your procedure.
Even more severe is the potential for a botched surgery that results in a deformity. Every cosmetic procedure carries this risk. In an extreme case, a patient suffered a complication during eyelid surgery, causing them to lose the ability to blink that eye.
Mental Health Complications
If the patient is not emotionally stable or secure, suffering a botched surgery can result in disastrous consequences.
People usually opt for cosmetic surgery because they feel dissatisfied with their appearance; imagine how they’ll feel as a result of an operation that not only fails to address their problem area(s), but possibly even makes them look worse.
Reactions to Anesthesia
Procedures that involve wide incisions or extensive cutting require the administration of general anesthesia. This medication can occasionally result in complications, including lung infections, stroke, heart attacks, and rarely, death. Such reactions are quite infrequent, but still possible. More common adverse reactions to anesthesia include shivering, nausea and vomiting, and confusion or disorientation upon waking up.
Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolisms
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when blood clots form in deep veins, typically in the leg or thigh. A pulmonary embolism is a condition that follows a DVT, happening when the clot breaks off and travels to the lungs. Such a risk is quite unlikely but can be fatal.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage can occur following any surgical procedure. Temporary numbness and tingling are the most common signs of nerve damage. In some cases, this damage can be permanent.
Infection
Your doctor and nurses will several take steps to limit the risk of infection. Nevertheless, this potential danger is one of the most common risks cosmetic surgery patients face. Roughly 1 to 2.5 percent of people who receive a breast augmentation, for example, will develop an infection.
Blood Loss
You have probably picked up that many of these risks are quite unlikely to occur and exist for all types of surgery. A limited amount of blood loss will happen during any surgical procedure, but uncontrolled blood loss can result in severe outcomes.
Suggestions
We highly recommend that before any cosmetic surgery, you conduct the proper research and preparation you would give to any serious health matter.
Liberally ask your surgeon about his or her credentials and the procedure itself. Doing so is the best way to become thoroughly informed and confident before going under the knife.