Plastic surgery is a term that is met with fascination all over the world, but there are many myths surrounding it. This article dispels 5 of them:
#1 There’s nothing plastic about plastic surgery!
You might be forgiven for thinking that plastic surgery involves the use of plastics somehow. But this isn’t true at all! The term ‘plastic surgery’ comes from the Greek term ‘Plastikos’. This word means ‘to shape’ or ‘to mould’. A cosmetic or plastic surgeon does precisely this: they shape or mould the body to the desired shape and size, and hence any procedures that alter the appearance in any way are widely bracketed as plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery.
#2 There are two types of plastic surgeries.
The world over, most people think that plastic surgery is only about breast augmentation, nose jobs, removing excess fat from the body, reshaping the jaw, cheek and lip fillers, etc. However, plastic surgery goes (literally) much deeper than this superficial understanding of it. In fact, there are two branches of plastic surgery:
– Cosmetic surgery: This is a branch of surgery devoted exclusively to improve a person’s appearance and body shape. Often known as ‘vanity procedures’ these cover the gamut of surgeries, from lip fillers to ab fat removal, and from breast augmentation to cheek and chin implants. They improve a person’s look and reduce body image issues by correcting their features and body profile.
– Reconstructive surgery: This branch of plastic surgery deals with deformities and changes in appearance caused by illness, accidents, birth defects, blunt trauma, burns, etc. Reconstructive surgery is a highly advanced form of plastic surgery that requires deep expertise in working with malfunctioning or damaged tissues, tendons, bones and cartilage. Most reconstructive surgery procedures are covered by health insurance in Dubai provided they are certified and classified as life savings operations.
The earliest reconstructive surgery techniques were said to be carried out in India as early as 800 BC, though there is not much documentation to prove this claim. The earliest documented plastic reconstructive surgeries were carried out in the West when the world wars broke out. These procedures primarily involved skin grafting to cure burns, and limb reconstruction in case of amputations and limbs blown off during battle.
#3 Boob jobs are the most popular procedures
In the US and Middle East, it turns out that breast augmentation procedures are the most performed plastic surgeries every year. It would seem surprising that so many women are unhappy with the size of their breasts, but there you have it. In the US, there are about 3,00,000 breast augmentation surgeries done every year, on an average. Following close behind are breast reduction, panniculectomy (removing hanging and sagging skin and fat from the lower abs, also known as a ‘tummy tuck’) and upper eyelid surgery. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that Americans spent $16.5 million on various cosmetic procedures, most of them minimally invasive ones, in 2018 alone.
Interestingly, breast augmentation procedures are not entirely cosmetic in nature. If the surgery is done to reduce the pain in the back, neck and shoulders due to excess breast tissue, then it is considered an essential surgery and may be covered by insurance. Another surgery that most health insurance policies cover is Blepharoplasty or upper eyelid surgery. This surgery is done to lift droopy eyelids that may compromise vision and quality of life. However, for the surgery to be covered under insurance, the doctor must list the medically necessary part of the procedure as well as the non-surgical remedial measures carried out to support this part after the procedure is complete.
#4 Botox is the most used facial injectable.
The most commonly performed and demanded plastic surgery in the non-invasive category is injecting the face with Botox. Indeed, Botox is the most used facial injectable substance even in Dubai, one of the foremost destinations for plastic surgery in the world. Botox injections are most popularly used to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, however, it is not a filler substance. It works by relaxing the underlying muscle, thus smoothening the skin over it. Botox was first used to ease conditions like migraines (by relaxing the nerves that transmit pain messages) and even excessive sweating (by freezing the sweat glands). However, it is most commonly used in cosmetic procedures to ease fine lines. Again, it is not to be confused with filler injections, which are used to ‘fill out’ the lips, jawline and cheeks.
#5 Plastic surgery cannot halt aging, and it may leave scars.
Though plastic surgery may do a lot in removing fine lines and folds of skin with various procedures, it does not stop the aging process. It certainly has a lot of miracle procedures, but it cannot stop the natural halt of time and what nature can do. A lot of people expect to get cosmetic surgery done so that they may look several years younger. But in the end, surgery can only do so much and it cannot have the age-halting effect you seek.
Another fact that surprises people about plastic surgery is that it may leave scars. This is common in procedures like tummy tuck and even breast augmentation. It’s a surgery after all, and it is bound to leave a mark. However, most plastic surgeons are skilled enough to minimise scarring, or to suggest ways and means to reduce it.