Plastic surgery is not uncommon, especially for women. From the data released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there were more than 1.8 million cosmetic surgeries performed in 2016 and 15.5 million minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures.

With the influx of photo editing filters and face smoothening applications, it is no surprise that more women are either enticed or pressured to try plastic surgery.

Which surgery should you choose?

Minimally invasive plastic surgery is a type of cosmetic surgery which uses specially designed surgical instruments without the need to create a large incision. Surgeons make use of viewing scopes (if needed) that will allow them to perform the procedure through several tiny openings.

These types of methods result in less scarring and less pain. Recovery time is also quicker, and the healthcare cost is much lower. An invasive procedure, on the other hand, will require more incisions and can, therefore, result in more scars. Still, choosing whether to go for minimally invasive or not will depend on the type of work you want to be done on your body.

According to the statistics for last year, below are the three most popular minimally invasive procedures used by women:

1. Botulinum Toxin Type A (7 million procedures) – This is a non-surgical injection that temporarily reduces wrinkles and other facial fine lines. The most commonly treated areas are forehead creases, frown lines and the area surrounding the eyes. The doctor uses a purified substance derived from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This procedure is popularly known as Botox injections.
2. Dermal Fillers (2.6 million procedures) – This method is also called soft tissue fillers but is commonly known as injectable implants. These medical implants are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help create a fuller or a smoother appearance in the nasolabial folds, lips, cheeps and sometimes, in the entire face. This procedure is only approved on specific body parts and cannot be used to increase the size of the buttocks and breasts.
3. Chemical Peel  (1.36 million procedures) – This process is a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin on the hands, neck, and face. The practitioner would use a chemical solution and apply it to the surface of the skin that causes it to exfoliate and peel off. Exfoliation causes the skin to regenerate new skin cells which leads to a smoother and less wrinkled skin.

As for the top three invasive surgical procedures, they are as follows:

1. Breast augmentation (290,467 procedures) – This is plastic surgery aiming to change the appearance of a woman’s breasts. Most patients undergo this procedure for the reasons that their breasts have lost their fullness after weight loss and childbirth, or one or both of the breasts are noticeably small or smaller.
2. Liposuction  (235,237 procedures) – This is an operation that removes fat from your body by the use of suction. The surgeon uses a thin, small and blunt-tipped tube and inserts it below the skin through tiny incisions. The surgeon moves the device around and under the skin to target specific areas where fats are deposited.
3.  Rhinoplasty (223,018 procedures) – This method is commonly known as nose reshaping or in layman’s term “nose job.” It is a surgery that can correct some aspects of the nose to improve the shape aesthetically, fix breathing problems, correct congenital disabilities or restore proper nose function.

Every year, there is an increasing number of people who try some of these plastic surgeries. Although there are so many people who are unhappy with how they look, it is essential to know that these procedures are not for everybody.

A majority of the patients have to undergo healthcare screening to check if they are healthy enough to stand such invasive procedures. Certain health conditions like malnutrition, connective tissue disorders or diabetes can make such a procedure prohibitively risky, so it is best to check with your primary healthcare physician first before you start planning on getting a procedure for yourself.

If you wish to read more about the statistics found in this article, you can check out the full report by clicking here.

Obesity is the biggest epidemic today, and the fact that many people are suffering from it only tells us that there needs to be a drastic change to be done. For most people, surgery may only be the answer to get back their life again. If you are considering to a surgery to make you lose weight, there’s a big chance that you are now being guided by your doctor on its pre-op and post-op preparation. However, no matter how prepared you are, most patients found that life after the procedure can be full of surprises. Here are some of the things that your doctor might have forgotten to mention.

Experience Depression

A study journal published by Yale University stated that 13% of patients that are studied experienced depression. This depression led to self-esteem issues, eating disorders, weaker social functioning and other behavioral issues. This only proves that even though patients undergo weight loss surgery, the link between obesity and depression is still there, and still needs treatment. Weight loss surgeries aren’t quick-fixes.

Issue of Excess Skin

The weight loss that happens post-op is gradual enough for the skin of the body to adjust slowly with the changes that’s happening. However, as most patients were morbidly obese, many people are still left with so much excess skin that only another surgery can correct. The worst part is, if the removal of excess skin isn’t deemed as “medically necessary”, no insurance company will pay for this expensive surgery.

Bathroom-Related Issues

Post-surgery, you are going to experience diarrhea at some point. They call this the “dumping syndrome” which is a result of poor food choices. It is associated with mild to severe symptoms such as nausea, cramping, lightheadedness, sweating, flushing, and audible sounds in the bowels. Loose stools, constipation and malodorous flatulence may occur as well.

You Still Need To Exercise

Many doctors will help you on how to eat right after the surgery. In fact, most doctors will also introduce you to the kind of lifestyle you need to be in. But as soon as the doctor clears you and allows you to include physical activities, you will be asked to get into an exercise routine, and gradually increasing the exercise every 4 to 6 weeks. The surgery only alters the anatomy of your stomach and intestine, other stored excess fat has to be burned the traditional way.

No More Soda

Your doctors will not allow you to put strain on your stomach. This means, you can’t be too full with food, and you also can’t have air on your stomach. Drinking soda introduces air in your belly, thus putting pressure and stress in your stomach. Most readmission of patients that undergone this weight loss surgery is usually die to dehydration. So, try to gradually drink lots of water.

Strain on Relationship or Marriage

A drastic change such as this can put emotional strains on your relationship. Post-op maintenance can be stressful and not many people can handle it. Aside from an expensive post-op medical care, the surgery may take its toll on the patient too. This means seeking guidance and emotional help through therapy can be stressful and costly.

Risk of Alcohol Abuse

There are many theories as to why weight loss surgery patients are vulnerable to alcohol abuse. Some physicians say that patients aren’t technically abusing alcohol. Instead, patients have higher peak alcohol levels due to the fact that they are more likely to reach those peak levels quicker.

If you’re pondering on weight loss surgery, preparing on what will happen after is the key to achieving the weight loss you need. Make sure to tick all your questions and concerns with your doctor so as to avoid any unwanted surprises.