Facts about cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery is performed to improve a person’s appearance and to compensate for changes due to age or changes caused by other life conditions, e.g. changes in weight, pregnancy, etc.
Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the operation you want. Talk if necessary. with several plastic surgeons before you have surgery

Explore the options

Before you go to a plastic surgeon, it may be wise to get an overview of cosmetic surgery in South Africa. Various terms are used such as: plastic surgery, aesthetic surgery and cosmetic surgery.

What is cosmetic surgery?

Plastic surgery is traditionally divided into a reconstructive part and a cosmetic part, but you can compare the techniques used.

Reconstructive plastic surgery

Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed to restore a person’s appearance or function, typically after cancer, accidents, extreme weight loss, or congenital malformations. Cosmetic surgery is performed to improve a person’s appearance and to compensate for changes due to age or other common life conditions.

Cosmetic surgery

The term cosmetic surgery or aesthetic plastic surgery is often used when there is no medical reason for the operation. Cosmetic surgery is not an independent medical specialty, like, for example, heart disease is, but it is a prominent part of the field of plastic surgery.

The most common surgical interventions are breast augmentation with silicone implants, liposuction and eyelid surgery. The typical patient is a woman between 35-50 years of age, but the number of cosmetic surgeries on men is also increasing.

In everyday speech, cosmetic surgery usually also covers non-surgical treatment, which is typically wrinkle treatment.

Statistics from 2014 from the American Society for Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show that the number of surgical cosmetic procedures has approximately doubled in the United States since 1997. However, during the same time, the number of non-surgical treatments is approximately sixfold.

Wrinkle treatment with botox filler injection and laser hair removal are the most used methods.

Who can perform cosmetic surgery?

In addition to being an authorized healthcare professional, since 1 December 2007 you have had to be registered with the South African Health Authority as a cosmetic practitioner in order to practice cosmetic surgery in South Africa. In addition, you must also be registered with the specific treatments you must carry out and at which treatment locations you carry out the treatments.

With The Agency for patient safety you can see who is registered to perform cosmetic surgery.

History

Plastic surgery is a young branch in the history of medicine. The term comes from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means to shape or create. It has nothing to do with the material “plastic”.

During the 1st and 2nd World Wars, new types of injuries were seen in the soldiers. Burn-damaged and disfigured war victims in particular had an increased need to recreate their appearance. More doctors began to specialize in this field and developed methods to help these people. The same techniques could also be used to make cosmetic changes on healthy non-injured individuals. Cosmetic surgery was born.

Private clinics for cosmetic surgery

In South Africa, you have to pay yourself for cosmetic operations at a private clinic. However, there is a gray area between what is considered a “cosmetic indication” or a “medical indication”.

All operations with a cosmetic indication are carried out in private clinics and hospitals. Examples of medically justified operations that are performed in public hospitals can bebreast reduction, flying ears, asymmetry of the breasts, removal of skin after major weight loss and correction of heavy eyelids if vision is impaired.

Cosmetic surgery, common complications

Fact

For the most part, you will not experience any particular discomfort after cosmetic surgery , but there is always a risk present
Scars, skin and tissue death, blood collection under the skin and infections are the most frequent complications, but also changes in the sense of touch and, in rarer cases, pain. The latter problems are usually temporary.

Always risky

All surgery entails a certain risk such as infection , bleeding and the formation of scars. There may be a risk in connection with the use of anesthesia , although it is very small.

Complications after cosmetic procedures are mostly simple to treat and rarely lead to serious problems when detected early. But you should be informed about all possible side effects and complications that may arise from the cosmetic surgery treatment you have chosen. You must remember to carefully consider whether it is worth the risk before you decide on the procedure.

You must be 18 years old to have cosmetic surgery in South Africa. In the case of major cosmetic procedures, you must have a week’s reflection period before making a final commitment to treatment. For minor cosmetic treatments such as peeling or hair transplants, however, only a two-day consideration period;

Ar

Surgery, where the skin is cut, leaves scars. At first they will be more visible and red, but gradually the scars will become less visible and the redness will subside. It can be weeks, months or years depending on where the incisions are made and their size.

Scars are permanent and can be difficult to correct and change.

Skin and tissue death (necrosis)

In a surgical wound that does not heal properly, the skin can die. Without treatment, necrosis can create an open wound with a subsequent visible scar that is difficult to repair.

Smokers have a greater risk of skin and tissue death in wounds. This is because smoking reduces the supply of blood to the skin. Poorer blood supply causes wounds to heal more poorly. You should take a break or completely stop smoking from 6 weeks before surgery to 2 weeks after surgery.

Collection of blood under the skin (hematoma)

It is normal for the blood to pool under the skin where the surgeon has used the scalpel. If there is more bleeding and thus more blood collection under the skin, a new operation is required, where the source of the bleeding is found and stopped, and the blood collection is removed. This almost always happens within the first day.

Accumulations of other body fluids disappear on their own in most cases, but large accumulations of fluid can be drained by the doctor.

Infections

The more extensive the operation, the greater the risk of complications. People with poor health (cardiovascular disease, diabetes and reduced immune system) and obese people are at greater risk.