Risks Of Cosmetic Surgery Rarely Discussed

In our present-day society it has become a very normal thing to change the way we look through cosmetic surgery. Changing the shape of our face, our skin, our nose or growing hair when we are bald, it's all possible with the help of a well-paid surgeon. Of course, as with any type of surgery, there are health risks. Undergoing surgery means to inflict a wound on ourselves, willingly. And wounds don't always heal up the way we want them to.

The risks of cosmetic surgery are, basically, not always apparent. We hear about banks offering cosmetic surgery loans and about surgeons in far away countries who can perform the procedure for a lower rate than in our own country. We know that the scars may need some time to heal up and that a so-called 'boob job' is something that needs to be checked regularly. The dangers are hardly ever discussed realistically.

In the year 2005 over 11.5 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were carried out in the United States. The cost of these procedures adds up to nearly $12.4 billion dollars. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) has said that this is a 44% increase when compared to the surgery figures from the year 1997. The most popular cosmetic procedures are Botox and hair removal. These procedures are considered to be non-surgical even though they are carried out in clinics. At least 6% of all Americans have had some kind of cosmetic surgery performed on them.