-          Are you emotionally secure? Plastic surgery is only successful for those who are emotionally sound and secure. If you are not in the right state of mind, then you will likely not be happy with the results of your surgery.

-          Have you saved enough money? Plastic surgery is expensive, although worth the investment in most cases. Make sure you have saved enough for the surgery and are ready for the expense.

-          Are you mostly happy with your body? If you are happy with most parts of your body, but want to fix just a few small places, then surgery is a good option. If you look in the mirror and see that everything is out of place and un-proportioned, then plastic surgery might not be the best option for you right now. A plastic surgeon can fix flaws, but he can’t make everything perfect.

If you can answer these questions with confidence, then it’s time to take a trip to the plastic surgeons office. What kind of work will you have done?

 

Image via Wikipedia

Plastic surgery is unlike any other surgery in the fact that its intended purpose is to alter the patient’s appearance. It is important to have a clear idea of what you want done and have an idea how you want it to look. When you wake up from anesthetic the look you have is the look that will be permanent. This is why it is important to have many discussions with the physician performing your plastic surgery about what you want to change and keep. Take pictures to show the physician the look you are considering.

Be sure you pick a skilled plastic surgeon that has plenty of experience. Ask for referrals from your primary care physician and anyone you may know who has had a surgery they are pleased with. Check qualifications with your state’s licensing board.

It is important to know what your post operative life will be like. How long is the recovery time? What activities may be restricted? People are often surprised at the length of time it can take to recover from plastic surgery.

Be aware most insurance does not cover an elective surgery such as plastic surgery. Be certain you know what the costs will be up front so there won’t be any sticker shock when the bill is received.

Weigh your options carefully before you decide to undergo plastic surgery.

 

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to the topic of plastic surgery, you’ll find a wide range of opinions. In some cities, it’s not uncommon to work with co-workers who have each had a cosmetic procedure of some kind. Along with Dereon pants, other fashion crazes and the latest hairdos, going in for a lunchtime facelift is the trendy thing to do in some parts of the world. In other places and cultures, cosmetic procedures are considered over-the-top and represent an unhealthy obsession with physical beauty.

Overuse of Plastic Surgery

Criticisms of people who undergo too much plastic surgery persist. What about the woman who wants a butt implant to properly fill out her Dereon pants? When a big bootie is in, should everyone run out and get a butt implant? You then have the subject of Angelina Jolie’s lips. For some women, getting a lip job is a biannual event. The bigger the lips, the bigger the love life, or so the impression goes.

When Plastic Surgery Makes Good Sense

On the other hand, many examples exist of plastic surgery changing lives. The victim of a fire who needs surgery to improve the look of her scorched skin is one example. The child born with a cleft lip whose life is transformed by her new appearance is another example. The man who undergoes male breast reconstruction to feel more masculine is yet another instance of a life being transformed by plastic surgery.

In the end, the decision to get plastic surgery is a personal one. The best cosmetic surgery outcomes are those that result in a healthier and more functional life.

Women across the nation find comfort and friendship amongst other people in the same position as themselves through support groups like dailystrength.org where women can post questions, read information pertaining to the type of plastic surgery they are considering, as well as stories of other women that have chosen these procedures.

The site is connected to other social networking sites as well, including Twitter and Facebook, which allow more opportunities to connect with someone in your exact position, who is seeking to find information, share their story, or acquire friendship with someone in their shoes.

On the site you will find information on many plastic surgery procedures including reconstructive surgery, liposuction, skin grafting, botox, breast enhancement and others. The site also has resources for therapy related services, fitness, financial information, dieting, parenting, as well as physical and emotional health. This site is a great go-to for support, information, and updates on popular cosmetic surgery.

There are numerous articles compiled from members, who range from doctors to patients sharing their testimonies.

Women need a great deal of comfort when they are going through any experience that inflicts change and cosmetic surgery is definitely one of them, whether it is their own choice or not. Changing your physical appearance is a big deal and women need a safe place to vent, to share, to listen, and to have someone to share laughs and tears with.

The site provides numerous services that help shape decisions that women need to make during the period before and after cosmetic procedures and community, which is necessary in unique times of change. Daily Strength is a one stop forum.

In 2007, at the age of 21, Montag underwent her first plastic surgery, a breast augmentation that significantly enhanced her chest size. She also underwent rhinoplasty—better known as a nose job—as well as collagen lip injections. At first, Montag denied going under the knife, but as media speculation rose, and before and after photos of the reality TV star surfaced, Montag confirmed the rumors and spoke with US Weekly about her decision to pursue plastic surgery at such a young age. Not long after Montag made headlines again in an interview with People magazine in which she revealed that she had undergone ten intensive plastic surgeries in one day by esteemed plastic surgeon Dr. Frank Ryan. These procedures covered a variety of surgeries including a second breast augmentation and second rhinoplasty, a chin reduction, ear pinnings and brow lifts. In the interview Montag also revealed that while undergoing these surgeries she almost died due to an overdose of the drug demerol.

Later in 2010 Montag revealed to Life & Style Magazine a number of scars she now has as a result of the high number of plastic surgeries she underwent. Montag admitted in the interview that some of her body parts now actually look worse after plastic surgery than they did before. She also admitted that she wished she had been more informed when making such life changing decisions.

Image by Simon Harriyott via Flickr

Sir Harold Delf Gillies is largely considered the father of plastic surgery and is credited with performing the first successful skin graft in history. Originally born in New Zealand in 1882, Gillies primarily worked in London as an otolaryngologist—an ear, nose and throat specialist—and was educated at Cambridge University.

After studying under a number of leading surgeons, and witnessing the development of experimental skin grafting techniques and procedures, Gilles began to focus strictly on the repair of facial disfigurations. He was instrumental in the establishment of a facial injury ward at the Cambridge Military Hospital which would later be transformed into the world’s first facial injury hospital known as Queen’s Hospital. While working at Queen’s Hospital, Gillies and his team of esteemed surgeons developed many of the first techniques of plastic surgery. A number of these techniques, paired with more modern technologies, are still used in plastic surgeries today.

While at Queen’s Hospital, Gillies and his men performed more than 11,000 surgeries on more than 5,000 patients, many of whom has been severely disfigured during the war. Among his many accomplishments was the facial repair of Walter Yeo who was the first ever recorded patient to undergo successful skin graft surgery. The majority of injuries Gillies worked to correct involved gunshot wounds. Through his methodical research Gillies allowed for many veterans of the First World War to continue their lives normally after suffering serve cosmetic injuries. He also organized plastic surgery units throughout a number of British hospitals. For his work, he was knighted in 1930.

In addition to his work during wartime, Gillies also maintained a private practice in which he treated a number of famous patients. He also traveled worldwide promoting new techniques in plastic surgery as well as lecturing and teaching new medical professionals and surgeons. He and a colleague are also credited with performing the first ever sex reassignment surgery to transform first a female into a male and later a male into a female. During these surgeries Gillies pioneered a specific flap technique which would later become the standard for such procedures.

The extent of Yeo’s injuries were substantial. During the battle, Yeo lost all his upper and lower eyelids and therefore could not close his eyes or blink, a source of constant discomfort and distress, aside from painful and extremely visible scarring. Once admitted into Queen Mary’s Hospital, Yeo was operated on by Sir Harold Gillies, who is largely known as the first doctor to make use of skin grafts, or the use of sections of undamaged skin elsewhere on the body to repair damaged areas of the skin. Yeo is believed to be the first patient to undergo such skin grafting.

During the lengthy process of Yeo’s skin transformation, a mask of skin was laid across Yeo’s face and eyes which created material for new eyelids. Yeo would undergo one additional facial operation to better fit the mask, and while his medical diagnosis was listed as significantly improved yet still severely disfigured, he continued to live a normal life until his death at the age of 50 of natural causes.

The big reveal of each episode occurred when the transformed individuals were finally able to meet face to face with family and loved ones who had not seen the individuals since the start of the transformation process, which often times spanned more than six months. Later updates on contestant were also included in the show to track the lives and progress of the show’s transformed individuals.

Extreme Makeover served as the spinoff launch for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, a popular home renovation show in which builders and celebrities pitch in to provide dream homes for worthy contestants. However unlike Extreme Makeover, the Home Edition has continued to dominate the ABC Network in recent years. Extreme Makeover: Wedding was also introduced as an additional spin off idea, though the potential television show was only introduced to the network in a single pilot episode and never aired again.

Extreme Makeover received much criticism as it relied on potentially harmful plastic surgeries to correct body imperfections that could have otherwise been achieved through rigid diet and exercise. Due to television airing times and schedules, many of the surgeries and physical fitness regimes were also criticized as not allowing enough recovery time for each contestant to fully achieve their aesthetic goals in a safe and healthy manner. Extreme Makeover also underwent a lawsuit from the family of a former contestant who was dropped from the show, suffered severe emotional distress and subsequently took her own life. The legal battle waged for over a year and was settled for an undisclosed amount of money.

The Swan ran for two seasons and starred Amanda Byram, a former model and Irish television personality, as the host. The highly controversial program had a number of unique rules that each contestant had to abide by, including not being allowed to view themselves in mirrors for the entire three-month period. Each contestant was critiqued by a panel of judges that included former beauty pageant winners, model executives, fashion editors and photographers. The women were critiqued on qualities such as work ethic and personal growth.

Winners of the contest received a number of prizes in addition to a completely new face and body. Additional prizes included a modeling contract with a national modeling agency, a personalized designer wardrobe, a one-week all expenses paid vacation in Hawaii, a weekend publicity trip to Las Vegas, a $50,000 educational scholarship, $10,000 worth of life coaching, a new Jaguar and $50,000 in cash.

The Swan received major criticism from psychologists nationwide as a show that promoted plastic surgery and unrealistic perfection. Other critics believed the show preyed on insecure, emotionally unstable and vulnerable individuals who faced serious psychological disorders surrounding their physical appearances. Medical professionals claimed the show was unsafe due to the extreme number of plastic surgeries contestants were to undergo. Eventually the show was cancelled after two seasons.

All contestants on the show live together in a mansion where drama unfolds daily. Episodes test the overall compatibility of their brides and their fiancés; put the women through extreme physical challenges; test them on domestic duties and chores; and challenge them to design their perfect wedding days. Additional obstacles include dealing with incompatible mother-in-laws, taking lie detector tests and surprise eliminations.

Bridalplasty is one of the most controversial reality TV shows airing on the E! Network. Many psychologists and nutritionists denounce the show as promoting self destructive behaviors and body image issues, such as body dysmorphic disorder, a disorder where the individual maintains an excessive obsession about a perceived flaw in one’s physical appearance. Additional critics of the show warn that it glorifies plastic surgery and promotes it as a quick fix to problems otherwise solved by diet and exercise. Bridalplasty is also criticized for idolizing perfection. As each contestant is dismissed, they are warned that their weddings may not be perfect.

So, the risk of purchasing might seem daunting – do you choose classic colors that never go out of style, or do you choose patterns with the hope that they will remain in style long enough to don them for a few months?

The answer is probably both. You should have a good mix of items that will make your wardrobe complete, allowing you to have great versatility, making your outfits show your personal style, and add some vibrancy to your day.

Everyone has their own fashion rules that they like to stand by, whether that is to feel comfortable no matter what they’re wearing, or that they won’t wear anything that they can not chase their kids around in. Find what works for you.

Patterns are pretty common, regardless of how much they might change, you might find patterns with foliage, plaids, stripes, etc. You might also be more pulled to classic colors that work together in pairing outfits and easier for you to pick out your clothing on an everyday basis. This is why you have to go with your gut and find items that will work in conjunction with your existing wardrobe and choose pieces that will fill in the gaps, whether they are classic colors or patterns and prints.

Maybe you’ll even surprise yourself and find a piece that you never would have picked for yourself and end up falling in love with after you try it on. Shopping with friends is also a great way to find something new and refreshing to match your wardrobe, since friends are honest when you try on clothes.

Some people, haphazardly dress, not caring about style – yet still this becomes their personal style.

Where do you fit in? Are you in the category of busy mom that just wears something that doesn’t have baby residue on it and smells clean, or do you prepare yourself carefully for the day, ready to make a statement?

Style shapes us in ways that we never truly could have imagined. You might not coo at magazines to find latest fashion finds, but might browse the clearance racks of last season’s items to make a hip style that is uniquely yours.

In trying to create a style, consider:

How much money you have to spend on clothing. This will help you decide where you can look for new items. Shopping in thrift stores and clearance racks might offer you a wide selection, but take more time. Shopping through catalogs or higher end stores, however, might prove too wasteful of resources.

Browse through magazines and catalogs to figure out what you like and then start shopping. Look for items that flatter your body, and that you are comfortable wearing. How many times have you purchased an outfit, only to find later that you just don’t like how it hugs your butt when you try to sit down for an important meeting, or find yourself drooling over a pair of shoes that you just can’t grocery shop in?

Try on clothes! This is important, so you know if items truly fit you and how likely you are to live your busy day in them, no matter how long that might be.

In seeking implants, women generally seek support. A great resource for women would be to check out yourplasticsurgeryguide.com/breast-implants/. This site explores through a questionnaire if you are in fact a good candidate for this procedure, as well as can connect you to local mentors as well as practicing doctors in your area.

Prior to seeking cosmetic surgery, it is important to research breast implants as well as what you would be looking for in appearance from having this procedure done. Understanding the type of implants you would want to get includes more than size, but also shape and will need to be chosen also based on your physical activity throughout your day. By researching more about implants, you will learn about the anatomy of the breast implant, where they would go inside of your breast and you will go over the implications of having breast implants.

There are many to be aware of including leaking, physical changes over time, replacement, having them removed, as well as continued breast care. Breast implants make it more challenging to complete breast examinations at home, as well as in the doctor’s office. Mammograms can be more challenging to read as well. All of this information needs to be considered before having the cosmetic procedure complete. Visit the plastic surgery guide for more information.

What is your favorite accessory? All women have their favorite accessories that make their outfits complete, and it is likely that you feel naked without it. Accessories come in all different varieties, forms, and styles, to make them a shoe-in to help your outfits stand out.

Shoes – Most women have more shoes than they can count on their hands and feet. Shoes help give variety to a wardrobe, and allow women to feel confident. Coming in every shade of color imaginable, with as many styles as you can muster, shoes definitely headline a woman’s favorite accessory. Flats, thongs, high heels, Mary Janes, sling-backs, peep toes, the list for shoes is endless.

Purses – If purses are your favorite accessory, you surely have a great selection in your closet, and covet more. From backpacks, clutches, classics, leather, satchels, shoulder bags, and evening bags, the style of purses is almost never ending. Purses come in a variety of fabrics, styles, strap lengths, and patterns, allowing you to ensure that your purse matches every favorite outfit.  One great thing about purses is that the right style can not only enhance your outfit, but your body’s shape as well. Just like earrings!

Jewelry – Which brings us to jewelry. Every girl’s jewelry box is her best friend. In a jewelry box, what will you find? Dozens of earrings, short necklaces or long? Shades of silver and gold, platinum rings, or bracelets? A jewelry box can be such a mixing pot filled with variety of accessories that shine and make every outfit do the same. You can bring life to an otherwise simple and plain outfit with several pieces.

Scarves – Don’t forget scarves, that can help add dimension and flavor to an outfit for a nice punch.

There are two main types of gastric by-pass surgery, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and extensive gastric bypass. In the Roux-en-Y bypass procedure, this is completed as minimally invasive as possible, often being completed by utilizing laparoscope. The procedure limits how much food a person can eat by stapling a small portion of the stomach together and adhering a Y shaped section of the small intestine to the stomach. This procedure reduces calorie absorption as well as nutrient absorption. The main feature of this type of bypass surgery is that it restricts food intake.

In an extensive gastric bypass a portion of the stomach is removed, rather than stapled. The small intestine is then attached to the remaining portion of the stomach. This procedure is not as widely utilized because it has severe restrictions to nutrients that the body needs to remain healthy. While the procedure does drastically allow a person to lose excess weight over a period of about two years, the body goes through significant shock.

The main risks that are associated with any gastric bypass surgery include the stomach stretching back to its normal size, erosion of the band that was sutured to close off the stomach, or breakdown of the staples within the stomach, which reverses the procedure. One of the most fatal of the risks is that the stomach contents leak and spread throughout other organs. The acid from the stomach would harm the other organs.

Exercise and diet are still essential after gastric bypass surgery, and this should be used only as a last resort for weight loss.

Start fresh! Take some time to clean out your closet. The goal is to get rid of anything that you haven’t worn in the past six months. Chances are, if you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in that time frame, you probably won’t be wearing it in the next six months and it’s just taking up room in your closet. Take the time to sort and get rid of anything that you just don’t use. Pass it along to a friend, or donate it.

What every woman should have in her closet:

Black pants. Black pants are versatile and can be worn with almost anything. Because of their versatility, you can dress up or down and make them function for any situation.

White tailored blouse. Just like black pants, a white tailored blouse will function for almost any outfit, because you can add accessories or layer underneath or over, depending on the season you’re in.

Blazer – every lady needs a nice blazer to wear for professional meetings and to wear on frigid nights when you’ll be out after dark. Blazers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, so find one that matches your style and that can be worn for more than one season.

A simple dress. Find a dress that you can make versatile – a button down dress might function well with jeans underneath, or buttoned half-way with another top underneath. A simple dress can be worn multiple ways and be a fresh change to pants.

A great pair of jeans that flatter your body are an essential. Jeans go with almost everything!

Accessories. Find accessories that help your simple wardrobe turn into a different wardrobe for every day of the week.

The best way to ensure the right fit is to take your measurements. Measure your natural waist line, your hips, your thigh, and the rise of your pants (the area from the crotch to the bottom of the hem of a leg). This will give you an accurate figure for what your size is. Next, take your favorite pair of pants and do the same. The measurements should be a little different, unless you wear extremely tight pants. This will give you a better idea of what you are looking for in a pair of pants, without bringing your favorite pants along while shopping.

You can take a measuring tape with you when shopping to get a better idea of sizes at a particular store, before trying on several different sizes of the same style of pants.

Several stores, such as Lands End, affiliated with Sears, has options where you can customize pants based on your sizes. Ever thought of custom-made pants? This might be a route for you. Petite and Plus sizes are also available. While the pants run around $50 or more, they are guaranteed.

Several stores now even have specific sizes, as well as customized lengths and styles, such as midrise, bootleg, or low-rise. This will help when locating a particular style that you like so you can continue to look for that particular style. Even Target stores are now carrying color coded labels with these features, making finding the right fit in pants a bit easier.

Doctor’s that are providing these services have specialization in the field and are being certified through the American Society of Gynecological Cosmetic Surgery to perform and stay up to date on certain procedures as well as changes to these procedures.

Women feel more secure visiting their gynecologist practices for cosmetic procedures because they have already verified their credentials, already have an established relationship with the doctors and staff, and know the level of service they have received. Most people like customer service that is tried and true and women can have several needs met in one location, which is a huge perk.

Doctors are also able to provide specific financial plans for women seeking special cosmetic services that are not covered by insurance plans. Women find specific payment plans that work for their needs as well as the financial needs of the office that they are visiting. This benefits both parties involved, the provider as well as the patient.

Some people question the motivation of doctors that have resorted to providing cosmetic services in addition to their specialty. They are concerned that doctors are involving themselves in practices to only provide more financial security for their offices and not the well-being and safety of the women that come to their office for well women procedures. The retaliating remarks are that women are seeking out these services elsewhere anyway and that they can visit practices with certified doctors who do genuinely care.

The question many people ask is if these procedures are really worth the money, the pain, and are the effects lasting for the cost?

Some procedures, such as liposuction and tummy tucks are necessary for women that have undergone serious weight loss, and need to have excess skin or fat cells removed to accommodate their new figures. These procedures help give women a better way of life for their transformed selves and remove excess skin that otherwise has no place to go.

Some women after having mastectomies also prefer implants of some kind to help mask the loss of their breasts. They feel like strangers in their own bodies without having breasts that have made them womanly. Other women might even have breast reductions for health reasons, since larger breasts cause back problems and can weaken bones in the lower body.

Many women that want procedures for the value of their image and enhance their bodies find that they do feel better for a while, but their deeply rooted issues of having low confidence or self-esteem are the factors that they need to address. Changes within our bodies can definitely help us to feel better, more confident, self-assured and esteemed. However, the effects of procedures and surgery do not always measure up to the cost in our pockets and to our emotional significance.

Doctors are making efforts in consultations with women to ensure that they are choosing procedures for the right reasons and that low self-esteem or even depression are not at the cause of them choosing to enhance their bodies or make changes. It is important for women to weigh the pros and cons of any procedure completed to change their bodies.

Fashion as a whole is an ever changing industry and cycle for women in their lives. For wedding dresses, the white and ivory colors are classic, and there are many selections in these colors for 2011. Surprisingly, there are also other colored dresses on the market for spring, including blacks, greens, and other vibrant color selections.

The style of dresses that have great popularity for the spring 2011 lines for wedding dresses include asymmetrical neck lines, short mini skirt dresses, lots of flowers, lace, and organza galore. Many designers have fashioned beautiful dresses with asymmetrical neck lines which look stunning and will make any bride look sophisticated and classy. The décor that is provided on dresses with the flowers and lace additions also make dresses shine and will make any bride flourish as she walks down the run-way in her perfect prized dress.

Belts have made their way into many designers dresses for the spring also, helping add dimension to dresses and to the women wearing them.

The selection of wedding dresses for this spring are amazing. Every bride will no doubt have fun picking out the dress of her dreams. Every lady wants to feel stunning as she makes her way down her aisle and there are many dresses that can help provide that allure.

Dresses for this spring will certainly entertain, delight, shower, dazzle, and allure people (at your wedding or not) to look and see the lady behind the gorgeous dress.

Other fashion trends for the year across the runway include multiple tie-dyed fabrics, along with animal prints and loads of color. The runway has showcased many dresses and tops that have great flare and will definitely help showcase a woman’s figure.

It seems that as a trend, it is going to be an explosive year for accessories, shoes, rings and bracelets with the adage, the more the merrier, as well as, the bigger, the better.

Every lady will want to accessorize her wardrobe this season with incredible shoes that include many buckles, belts, and bling. Yes, that’s right. Bling. The runway models for the season made huge statements with their shoes.  Shoes can make such a great statement alone, yet the additional fashion helps bring style to any outfit.

Stripes, tailored suits, non-skinny jeans, biker shorts or anything leather, and the punk look are all fashionable this 2011. Pick your style, any way you like it and make it unique to your style and taste. There is a little bit of everything as the year emerges for every woman to find some style that suits her and to run with it.

Like stylish shoes? These can help make your outfit, add a great handbag, and you will surely knock down the show.

If you like to accessorize, there are new jewelry pieces that have made their way on the necks of models and Hollywood stars that include natural wood and bone, which will add some kick to your wardrobe.

Check out the latest styles.

It was once the most shocking of revelations, the unbelievable truth: a celebrity was finally forced to admit the reinvention of nature, the defiance of genetic strands. She was not born with her now famed beauty. She had instead had chosen it. A body had been shaped by a knife, stripped of all excess inches. Features had been sculpted carefully, seeking out the needed symmetry. It had been a long and difficult process — a necessity due to the pressures of her career, her fans. She had to be perfect and perfection, she knew, had to be paid for.

Such an explanation would have stunned the world once. Now, however, it is considered common.

Plastic surgery used to be a topic that couldn’t be easily broached. It bordered on the taboo, with the public unfamiliar with its procedures and uncertain of its advantages. It wasn’t understood — and because of this it sparked controversy whenever mentioned.

The years have offered a change, however. No longer is this process considered flawed. No longer are individuals afraid to confess it. Instead it’s offered often in the media, spoken of fondly.

Plastic surgery has become accepted — and celebrity influence is to be cited.

Our lives are dominated by our passions: the films and shows, the endless entertainments. We devote ourselves to learning all we can about them, to examining every facet of Hollywood royalty. And, as cinema stars became more obviously effected by surgery, it suddenly became known to the public. The corrective procedures were recognized.

And that allowed them to then be coveted.

Individuals began to demand their own changes, wishing to appear as their beloved celebrities did. Collagen was craved; reconstruction was needed; and the result was a sudden burst of popularity — one that hasn’t waned.

The media has left an indelible impression on surgery, and the public is now aware of what can be accomplished and how it can be applied to them.

It’s an assumption of immediacy, of easy transformation. You’re seeking to change yourself with the aid of a scalpel, the precise cuts and stitches. Too long have you suffered from the burden of being… you. There has been no relief. There has been no assurance. You’ve had a lifetime instead of wilted confidence. Every day has been a challenge. Every hour has been lamented. You can’t remember happiness. You think perhaps it never existed.

And so you wish now to discover something new, something better — and plastic surgery seems to be the perfect solution. It can take away the worry and shape it instead to kindness. You can have the appearance you always knew to be hidden inside. It will simply require a doctor to reveal it. You can finally be content.

This logic is common. Individuals flock each year to demand reinventions. They wish to defy all flaws, shifting them instead into conveniences. It’s a simple thing now to create a new identity and surgery has become accepted among all.

This can’t be denied — and shouldn’t be. The advantages of this specialty are innumerable and must be celebrated.

Individuals should understand, however, that no amount of clever knife-work will soothe an emotional problem. Surgery is meant to correct the perceived faults of the body. It won’t cure the troubles of the mind.

Too often is it believed that all concerns will fade once this change has been completed. A damaged ego will become suddenly whole. The truth, however, is that this isn’t a substitute for healing; and some will receive far better results from counseling instead. The reasons for seeking this procedure must therefore be understood.

You cannot mend a broken mentality (despite how easy it would seem) through surgery. This must be recognized. While the practice is a worthy one, it is not enough to rectify all of your past worries.

Know this and decide what will truly aid you most.

It is a modern philosophy. It is a current trend. Plastic surgery — the process of transforming skin, correcting flaws — is believed to be a practice of the 21st century. What else, it’s argued, could it be? The need to defy nature, to fix all tiny concerns, has been formed from the recent decades. Science therefore was surely created to address this need. The ability to change a body must be a recent one. It’s far too compelling to be anything but new.

This is a common assumption. It is also an incorrect one.

Plastic surgery was not formed in the present. It instead was created in the past — offering a history that is as impressive as it is essential. Through the slow evolution of techniques and instruments, this process was able to reach the standards of today. With the aid of constant experimentation (and an understanding of the potential importance), surgery has become an undeniable specialty. And its origins therefore deserve to be understood.

The first attempt of this idea — that has been recorded — dates back to the sixth century. During this time, the world was reliant still on herbs and alchemy. All procedures were limited to home-brewed remedies, vague guesses. In India, however, a change was coming. Revolutionary physician Sushruta (who is often named the father of Indian medicine) created a new form of healing when he redefined the nose of a disfigured solider.

Shaping the wound back to its original form, Sushruta developed the first rhinoplasty — a then unheard of notion. Reconstructing the skin proved difficult but he managed still to succeed; and in doing so became the founder of plastic surgery.

Other procedures would follow this one: from battling war wounds to correcting impairments, the years would be filled to careful exploration. Surgery spread throughout Asia, Europe and eventually to the United States; and now it represents a convenience that could have never before been dreamed.

It’s a sudden curiosity, a search through ink: you stand at the checkout counter, bored with the debates of paper and plastic, waiting for your groceries to be tallied. It’s a dull afternoon (as so many are) and you find yourself needing a distraction, however brief. So you reach out to the bevy of magazines lined along the walls, are met by slick pages and slicker photographs.

Your favorite celebrities are gazing back at you — with their flawless faces and easy smiles. Words are crowded beside the pictures, though, offering proof that such smiles aren’t true. They’ve instead been manufactured: lips stuffed with collagen; teeth wetted with bleach. It’s an illusion. You find nothing wrong with this, however. A transformation has, after all, served them well. They have the beauty all crave, the fine-boned aesthetics. There’s no fault to find in that… unlike the faults you find with yourself.

It’s a simple thing to desire the celebrity styles, to consider them the answers to all problems. They are the idols of today. It’s only natural, you know, to want to mimic them.

And there is nothing wrong with this. Wishing to seek plastic surgery is an understandable (and achievable) goal. You can discover the same looks and procedures that beloved cinema stars have. This can’t be chided.

It should, however, be recognized still as a danger. This is a medical specialty. It is not the convenience many assume it to be. There are risks — such as infection, internal bleeding, scarring and nerve paralysis — and these must be noted. Wanting a celebrity experience is possible, but it is also potentially damaging. Too few individuals remember this and fling themselves toward a notion without fully understanding it.

There can be no denying that plastic surgery should be considered. It offers value. It is still a difficult process, though, and shouldn’t be demanded casually.

Don’t disregard safety when trying to be like celebrities.

There is one truth with science: it never ceases to evolve. What was once a limitation of skin, the hesitant traces of a knife, has become a public ease. Plastic surgery — once believed to be purely for those suffering from birth defects and physical impairments — is now common. Individuals throughout the world seek it every day, wishing to indulge in the convenience of a scalpel. Bodies can be transformed; faces can be reshaped; and confidence can be gained with startling simplicity. It’s the choice of many and the relief of millions.

There’s still some confusion, however, of what can be offered through this practice. Most are familiar with breast augmentations and Abdominoplastys (typically referred to as ‘tummy tucks’). There’s a wealth of other procedures, however, and these should be noted by all. The possibilities are endless and the rewards can be immense.

The practices often overlooked by the public are:

One: Otoplasty. Ears are usually unnoticed by most; they require little thought. Some offer unfortunate angles, however: veering too far and creating a wide appearance. An Otoplasty can correct this, though, by pinning them back and redefining the shape.

Two: Blepharoplasty. Eyes are meant to offer all humor, all secrets. Individuals with weakly formed lids, however, may only be able to provide a sleepy stare. Blepharoplasty can strengthen the natural crease lines, remove sagging skin and increase a youthful appearance.

Three: Abdominal etching. The desire for toned stomachs and a proof of muscles has been forever prevalent. Achieving such proof is difficult, though, even for those of good health. Abdominal etching allows for the body to be sculpted, however. The stomach is contoured and restructured to offer an illusion of athleticism.

Plastic surgery isn’t limited by the usual choices, the expected treatments. It can instead offer options that are tailored to the individual. Almost any part of the body can be changed; and this provides hope to those once trapped by their troubles.

It’s an unfortunate reflection — without the needed smiles, the expected celebrations. You stare at yourself, scrutinizing every perceived fault, every consequence of time. Your body isn’t what it once was. Age has shifted it into a new stretch of skin and wilted muscles (flesh sculpted from laughing with your child rather than the aerobics you were once dedicated to). You don’t approve of a mirror’s image. You don’t enjoy your own appearance.

And this isn’t a demand for perfection. You’re not seeking to mimic the famed celebrities, the debutants with more money than sense. You simply don’t recognize yourself and this leaves you saddened.

You don’t have to be.

There are ways to combat the domestic effects (the sedentary lifestyle); and one such way is plastic surgery. You hesitate with this, believing it to be too great of a risk, too much of a worry. The notion of knives and doctors frightens. The idea of flesh being opened disturbs.

While this is understandable — and wise. All forms of this practice carry risks that should be noted — it should not become the deciding factor. Refusing to consider surgery (simply because it’s not familiar) is a mistake. There are precautions that can be taken to ensure each procedure is safe and effective. There are physicians who can be sought and will provide the comfort you need. This is not the terror you’ve always assumed it to be. It can instead be a relief.

Plastic surgery is for those individuals who are aware of their bodies and their reasons for craving a change. This is not a substitute for happiness. It’s instead an assistance to it, allowing you to approach your life with renewed vigor. While none could deny the potential concerns involved (this is a medical specialty and will therefore always offer worry), none could also deny the value.

You’re not seeking to replace yourself. You’re wishing instead to enhance what you already love.

You need a change. This is a truth you have long understood. A life is content — you could never deny this. Your career satisfies; your family is worthy of all adoration. But you wish still to discover… more; and so you have been contemplating surgery. The notion of redefining your body, of creating new dimensions, appeals. You want to experience something new, something uncommon.

This shouldn’t be refused. It must, however, be understood.

Plastic surgery has gained staggering popularity within the 21st century. Millions of individuals each year allow themselves to be transformed. The ease of becoming someone new is often too great to deny — but it must be stressed that such ease still comes with an admittedly long list of concerns. And these must be noted before any procedure is performed. Knowing the risks is the best defense against them.

The most common complications found within plastic surgery are:

One: Seroma. A collection of liquids within the body, Seroma happens during many procedures (the Abdominoplasty being the most frequent of these). If an incision is not properly closed, leakage can occur. This can cause infection and severe pain.

Two: Internal Bleeding. The purpose of surgery is often to remove unwanted tissue and fat. Doing so requires careful cuts. When these fail, however, veins can be opened and bleeding can occur — even after the incisions have been sewn shut.

Three: Scarring. It’s assumed to be a perfection but surgery can easily be marred. While all doctors try to ensure that each cut is precise (and tiny), deep scars can still appear. Individuals may find their skin shaped then to unsightly wounds and discoloration.

The idea of losing flaws tempts you — as it should. But you must still understand the dangers involved with this. Plastic surgery is not a simple matter. It’s instead a medical specialty. There are risks; there are potential problems.

This must be admitted before any process is begun.

It should be the easiest of afternoons — a decision has been made; a transformation will begin. You are seeking plastic surgery, wishing to undo all of the effects of time (and a lifestyle too devoted to excess. Calories have not been kind to you). It’s a choice you made efficiently. There was no hesitation. There was no concern. The risks have been researched and understood. A doctor has been chosen. You now wait in his office, prepared to offer yourself as a patient.

You are stunned, however, when you’re eventually refused.

A physician will not accept you — he instead demands that you try a far different method: exercise.

It’s been a long struggle with food, a campaign waged throughout the years. Your career demands that you remain seated, denies you the necessary movement; and your home is to be a place of tranquility, not aerobics. Such a sedentary philosophy has offered extra pounds and extra worries. You don’t like the way you look (it’s a simple truth but no less of a meaningful one). Plastic surgery was therefore considered the best solution.

And it can be. You simply must understand the importance of exercising first.

No reputable physician will merely agree to do this to you. He will instead insist that you be aware of the seriousness of this procedure and first do all you can to avoid it. This is not to be a casual decision. It’s instead to be recognized as definitive — and you must prove yourself worthy of consideration by trying first to change on your own.

Begin a movement regime. Try to lose the unwanted inches on your waist. Redefine your eating habits and choose instead to exercise. You may discover that surgery isn’t needed at all: instead you can earn the body you want through mere effort.

Surgery is not to be an impulse. It’s instead to be the method you choose after others have been exhausted.

It was not an impulsive decision — you have never relied on those, have sought always to be wise instead. The notion of surgery has been examined carefully: you understand the potential dangers; you have calculated the costs; you have even determined how to schedule your recovery around the demands of your job. Every single detail has been planned… except for one. You have yet to find a physician.

There are endless advertisements to search through. There are constant reminders on your television. Your city is filled to plastic surgeons, all craving your business and your compliments. But you will not be so easily swayed. You recognize the importance of choosing the best care — and ensuring you are provided with only the safest, most effective treatments.

Too many individuals, however, don’t share your sentiments. In their haste to mimic their favorite celebrities (to have the most fashionable faces), they seek the first physician they can and ask for no proof of credentials. This, however, is dangerous, leading to possible infections, internal bleeding and deep scarring. A medical procedure such as this requires the utmost dedication and knowledge. Choosing an improper doctor is a risk none should be willing to take.

And that is why you now are searching for only the finest reputations. You know to demand copies of diplomas and licenses (and to subsequently check them against information directories). You know to ask for patient references, listening to individuals and their stories. And you even know to contact the Better Business Bureau, just to ensure all of the necessary forms have been filed.

You are prepared. You are ready.

And because of this you will find the best doctor available.

It’s an easy temptation, a desire to receive fast results and faster confidence — but plastic surgery can’t be a quick decision. It must instead be an informed one. Seek out those who can offer what you need, not just what you want.

There has always been one philosophy to guide you, one truth to follow: your family must be content. You offer everything to them, ensuring that their days are easy, their hours satisfied. All decisions are to be considerate of them, trying to find the most benefits, the obvious rewards. You are not a singularity — you are instead part of a vital group. And you wish always to provide them with everything they need.

Now, however, you are asking them to do the same for you.

Plastic surgery was not a simple choice. You’ve debated about it for years, have wondered always what the consequences would be. It will be a drastic change, one you have contemplated thoroughly (every detail has been dissected, understood for its potential worries and reliefs). The time has come, you’re certain, to take this final step. You wish to correct the flaws you’ve always hated. You wish to gain the confidence you deserve.

You simply first must tell your family.

Having the proper support is essential when considering surgery. This is not an easy process. It’s instead a collection of demands and time, forcing you to provide a genuine effort. It is a series of medical procedures and the risks are quite real. It’s necessary therefore that your family offers you the care and patience you will need before and after your surgery.

You have always given the necessary wisdom (and the wanted affection). Now you must request that it be given to you. This is a life changing experience — and it should not be attempted without the aid of others. Be certain your family understands what is to be expected of them. They will have to assist you during the long process of recovery, making sure that all scars heal and all procedures are successful.

You need support. You need proper help. And your loved ones must therefore recognize the roles they will play in all of this.