Plastic surgery has become mainstream in recent years. This happens as techniques have dramatically improved and plastic surgeons are able to pull off precision procedures with a high degree of safety and patient satisfaction. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there were more than 2 million surgical cosmetic procedures completed in 2020 alone. This is in addition to another 6.8 million reconstructive surgical and over 13 million non-surgical cosmetic treatments. Based on these statistics, more and more Americans seem to be comfortable turning to plastic surgeons in order to achieve both aesthetic and functional goals.

If you have thought about having plastic surgery yourself, it is important to make sure that you are having it for the right reasons. This article highlights the pros and cons so you can make a better-informed decision.

Pros of plastic surgery

Some of the main advantages of going to a plastic surgeon in Baton Rouge include the following:

1. Boost Confidence

Many people who have plastic surgery in order to alleviate an aesthetic concern end up feeling more confident about their appearance. This in turn helps to enhance their sense of self-image and thus self-esteem and confidence. Ultimately, the procedure may end up resulting in an improved quality of life.

2. Hide Flaws

The main reason people pursue cosmetic surgery is to conceal specific aesthetic flaws. For instance, women with small breasts may choose to have breast enlargement in order to enhance their size and shape. Similarly, an individual who is bothered by under-eye bags can benefit from eyelid surgery to reveal a refreshed and youthful facial appearance. Plastic surgeons have a variety of techniques and procedures that they can use to address diverse cosmetic flaws. The specific treatment method is determined by the problem at hand.

3. Look Younger

Many plastic surgery procedures result in a refreshed and youthful appearance that removes years from your perceived age. Examples of cosmetic procedures that are very good at accomplishing this include facelifts and neck surgery. It is not unheard of for patients to look as much as 15 years younger than they actually are after this kind of treatment.

4. Improve Scarring

Nasty scars resulting from injuries or car accidents may leave you looking deformed and even eat into your sense of self-confidence. Cosmetic surgeons have mastered techniques to improve unsightly scarring in order to give the patient a higher quality of life.

5. Treat Obesity

Diet and exercise and the primary interventions to alleviate obesity. However, these do not always work. In extreme cases, plastic surgeons can perform a type of plastic surgery referred to as bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery) to help patients shed off those excess pounds and overcome obesity. Additional cosmetic procedures may also be performed in order to remove excess skin and fat (in order to reveal a better-contoured appearance).

Cons of plastic surgery

Despite the benefits, plastic surgery is not without its drawbacks. These include the following:

1. Expensive

Many cosmetic surgeries are considered to be elective in nature. For this reason, health insurers typically do not pay for the treatment. Patients usually need to foot the cost of treatment out of pocket. This can be a disadvantage given that the costs of even the simplest treatments can easily run into thousands of dollars.

2. Surgical Risks

There are inherent risks associated with any surgical procedure. These include the risk of bleeding, blood clots, or infections. Patients also have to deal with side effects of the surgery, which often include discomfort, bruising, and swelling. The best safeguard you can take to lower the risk of complications is to work with a highly qualified Baton Rouge plastic surgeon.

3. Unsatisfactory Outcome

The majority of patients are happy with the outcome of their plastic surgery treatment. For instance, breast enlargement (one of the most common cosmetic procedures) has a satisfaction rate of over 95%. That means that, still, 5% of women who have this type of treatment are not entirely happy with the outcome of the procedure. Taking the time to thoroughly prepare, and choosing to work with a highly skilled plastic surgeon, can go a long way to ensure that you are pleased with the outcome of your surgery.

4. Recovery Downtime

Once your treatment has been completed, you can expect to go home to continue with recovery. This recovery duration can range from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on the specific procedure that you’ve had. Regardless, this requirement can be inconvenient, especially for individuals who have very demanding schedules.

Conclusion

Before you choose to move forward with plastic surgery, it is absolutely important that you conduct thorough research and consider both the positives and negatives. Attending a consultation visit with a board-certified plastic surgeon can also help get some personal questions answered.