When it comes to the highest cosmetic surgery, South Korea leads the way with liposuction, nose surgery, and blepharoplasty being the most popular procedures. Greece follows closely behind with breast augmentation being the most sought-after procedure. Italy rounds out the top three with Botox Dysport being the most popular choice.
No matter what type of cosmetic surgery you choose, it's important to understand that all surgeries come with risks. If you have a body mass index of 30 or higher (obesity) or have diabetes, you may be at a greater risk of developing complications such as blood clots in your legs or lungs. Smoking also increases your risk and can interfere with healing.
When considering a cosmetic procedure, there are many options available. After weight loss, back stretch, body lift, Brazilian butt lift, breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, breast revision, brow lift, cosmetic injections, chin augmentation, eyelid surgery, facial fat transfer to face breast fat transfer gynecomastia labiaplasty breast liposuction neck rejuvenation/neck liposuction, nonsurgical allotoplasty, rhinoplasty, skin care and thigh lift/abdominoplasty are all popular choices.
Liposuction is one of the most popular types of cosmetic surgery and involves sucking fat from specific areas of the body to create a slimmer silhouette. Tumescent liposuction is the most common type and involves infusing a saline solution, drug to constrict blood vessels and an anesthetic agent into the area to be treated. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) is another option that releases ultrasonic energy to melt fat before it is extracted from the body by suction. UAL carries more risks than tumescent liposuction and can result in internal and external burns as well as longer surgery times. Other options include laser-assisted liposuction, energy-assisted liposuction, air-assisted liposuction and suction-assisted liposuction.
Abdominoplasty (also known as lower body tightening) removes excess skin from the abdominal area and tightens the remaining skin. This procedure is often performed on people who have excess skin after pregnancy or significant weight loss after bariatric surgery.
Breast reduction surgery for women is one of the few plastic surgeries that insurance routinely pays for as it has many benefits beyond just improving appearance. Women with very heavy or too large breasts often have difficulty finding clothes that fit them well and can experience chronic back pain, neck pain, chronic rashes and poor posture.
Nose surgery (rhinoplasty) changes the shape of the nose and balances it with the rest of the face. The surgeon can reduce the overall size of the nose or refine certain areas to achieve a more pleasant appearance. A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a surgical solution for wrinkles and sagging that accompany aging. It tightens facial skin to give it a more youthful appearance by gently tightening the skin, smoothing deep lines and minimizing sagging.
A breast lift repositions breasts for a more cheerful appearance and is often done after significant weight loss or pregnancy that leaves breasts deflated. Blepharoplasty (eyelid remodeling surgery) may be covered by health insurance if done for medical reasons such as sagging skin on eyelids obstructing vision.
Breast enlargement surgery is considered a cosmetic procedure and is not covered by insurance. Breast reduction surgery for men may be covered by insurance if considered medically necessary to treat gynecomastia.
Despite being informed and prepared for cosmetic surgery, you may be surprised by bruises and swelling that follow it and its duration. The surgeon helps patients understand this so they can fully appreciate their true appearance and how this can change with cosmetic surgery.
Facelift (rhytidectomy) is a cosmetic surgery that aims to improve signs of aging in areas of the face and neck. A neck lift is a cosmetic surgery that aims to remove excess skin and fat from the jawline and neck area to create a well-defined neck appearance.
Eyelid remodeling surgery may be performed for cosmetic reasons or to improve vision in patients whose eyelids obstruct vision.
Because cosmetic surgery can cause dramatic and long-lasting changes in your external appearance, it's important to understand how these changes can affect you inside.