There’s a lot of conflicting information about plastic surgery, making it difficult to decide whether or not it’s a good idea. Here we debunk some common myths about plastic surgery, to help you make informed choices.
Plastic surgery is only about vanity
Appearance is important to most people, but surgery is about more than looks. People who have cosmetic procedures don’t just feel more attractive, they tend to feel more self-confident and have higher self-esteem too.
Procedures are too expensive
It used to be that only very wealthy people could afford cosmetic procedures, but that’s not the case any more. Botox, hair removal, and chemical peels cost only a few hundred dollars per session, and the average breast augmentation procedure is around $6,000.
Cosmetic procedures make you look fake
This one is up to the individual—people who have too many procedures, or who try to change their appearance too drastically, sometimes do look unnatural. But if you’re just looking to enhance your appearance without changing it dramatically, you’re on the right track to looking great.
Fat always grows back after liposuction
Liposuction physically removes fat and fat cells from the body, and the fat doesn’t spontaneously grow back. If someone gains weight after liposuction, it typically happens for the same reasons as they had excess fat in the first place, whether that’s taking in too many calories, or having a naturally high weight set-point.
Botox is unsafe and looks unnatural
As long as Botox is administered by a trained and experienced professional, there’s very little chance of anything going wrong. And Botox looks natural, as long as it’s used in moderation—the telltale “frozen face” look only comes when it’s overused.
Surgery causes visible scars
Most surgery does cause some scarring, but cosmetic surgeons are trained to hide scars in places that aren’t normally visible. For example, facelift scars are hidden behind the ears and at the hairline.
Breast implants are unsafe
As with any kind of surgery, there are risks involved with breast augmentation. Multiple research studies show that breast implants don’t increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer, however, and the FDA says implants have a “reasonable assurance” of safety and effectiveness.
Silicone implants aren’t as safe as other kinds
This was once true, because the first silicone implants weren’t as durable as they are now. Modern silicone implants are much stronger, and they have the same low chance of leakage as saline implants.
Women can’t breastfeed after augmentation surgery
In some cases breast augmentation procedures do affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed, but most women are able to breastfeed normally after this surgery.
Cosmetic procedures are only for women
This might have been the case several decades ago, but not any more. According to studies carried out by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of men undergoing cosmetic procedures has nearly tripled in the last 25 years.
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