How Cosmetic Surgery Can Improve Your Body Image

Body image relates to your thoughts, perceptions and feelings about your own body. People are constantly exposed by the media to ideas of the ideal body size and shape. Several studies report that physical appeal is indeed associated with success, happiness , youthfulness and social acceptability. It is no wonder that an increasing number of men and women are going in for cosmetic surgery to improve their body image.

How Cosmetic Surgery Can Help You

The cultural and social pressures to look good have resulted in the rising popularity of several plastic surgery procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgical procedures went up 2% in 2010 compared to the previous year. In 2010, the five most popular procedures were breast augmentation, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, liposuction, and tummy tuck. These procedures offer great results when it comes to giving you the ideal body shape.

• Breast surgery: The most popular cosmetic surgery procedure, breast augmentation can give a woman fuller breasts. The breasts tend to lose their volume and shape following pregnancy , weight loss , and so on. Saline-filled or silicone-filled surgical implants are placed to enhance breast size and help women achieve their ideal body image. Women who have undergone a mastectomy also go in for the procedure for breast reconstruction. For men, over-sized breasts can be a great source of embarrassment. Gynecomastia or plastic surgery to reduce the size of the breasts helps men achieve a manlier chest.

• Nose reshaping: Many men and women feel that reshaping their nose could make a great difference to their looks. Nose reshaping or rhinoplasty surgery can correct a hump, streamline shape and achieve asymmetry to give them the shape they want.

• Eyelid surgery: If you are in your forties or older and constantly being told that you look ‘tired’, your eyes could be the problem. As you get older, the skin around your eyes loses its elasticity and fat tends to accumulate in the area. Eyelid cosmetic surgery for the upper and lower lids corrects these issues, reduces wrinkles in the area, and helps to restore an alert, youthful look.

• Liposuction: If your ideal body image is not within your reach because of excessive fat deposits in various parts of your body which even diet and exercise cannot resolve, liposuction is the answer. Innovative body sculpting modalities such BodyTite and TiteFX can effectively and safely remove excess fat from areas such as the jowls, chin, neck, upper arms, abdomen, hips, thighs, and buttocks. The result is a well-sculpted, ideal body contour.

A smooth and firm abdomen makes you look good in many kinds of clothes and goes a long way in boosting your self confidence . A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is the way to go.

Have Realistic Expectations

People opt for aesthetic surgery when they are unhappy about a specific physical feature, and many report satisfaction with post-operative results. However, it is important that a person has realistic expectations. If you think that cosmetic surgery can improve your body image, the first thing you need to do is find an experienced plastic surgeon. Talk to your surgeon and discuss your expectations. A good surgeon will first decide if you are a good candidate for the surgery, and if you are, offer customized solutions to help you achieve your goals.