Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Overview

What is cosmetic plastic surgery?

Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed in order to change one's appearance. For some, it may mean redesigning the body's contour and shape, the elimination of wrinkles, or eliminating balding areas. Others may choose varicose vein treatment or breast augmentation. There are a number of cosmetic surgery procedures that men and women can choose from in order to create an image that makes them feel more confident and comfortable with their appearance.

Although health insurance rarely covers the cost of cosmetic procedures, the number of individuals deciding to undergo cosmetic plastic surgery continues to grow. The top five cosmetic surgeries are breast augmentation, liposuction, nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, and tummy tuck.

Further, it is not just women who are opting to enhance their appearance through surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of men seeking these services is on the rise.

What are the most common plastic surgery procedures?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the most common cosmetic procedures (invasive and minimally-invasive) are listed here by their common or descriptive names. The medical term for the procedure is in parentheses:

• Breast augmentation or enlargement (augmentation mammoplasty)

• Breast implant removals

• Breast lift

• Buttock lift

• Chin, cheek, or jaw reshaping (facial implants or soft tissue augmentation)

• Dermabrasion

• Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)

• Facelift

• Forehead lift

• Hair replacement or transplantation

• Lip augmentation

• Liposuction (lipoplasty)

• Lower body lift

• Nose reshaping (rhinoplasty)

• Thigh lift

• Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

• Upper arm lift

• Botox injections

• Cellulite treatment

• Chemical peel

• Plumping, or collagen or fat injections (facial rejuvenation)

• Laser skin resurfacing

• Laser treatment of leg veins

• Vaginal rejuvenation