How Plastic Surgery Can Improve Lives

Many people believe cosmetic surgery is done solely for beauty purposes. While many plastic surgery procedures can result in men and women of all ages looking better, cosmetic solutions to various problems are often more about self-image and confidence than about pure vanity. In some cases, such as body contouring procedures after a significant weight loss, the surgical solution can also have health benefits that improve the quality of the patient’s life.

When a patient achieves a significant weight loss, whether it is from traditional diet and exercise or through surgical treatment, such as gastric bypass surgery, the patient’s body may be left in a state that it cannot correct on its own. Weight gain can cause skin to stretch, and while the skin has a level of elasticity, it does not always return to its natural state. With patients who have lost 100 pounds or more, the remaining skin throughout the body can create problems in addition to being unsightly.

Excess and loose hanging skin can create problems for patients who have lost lots of weight. Some of the most common issues associated with loose, sagging skin are:

• RASHES: Large folds of skin can create pockets where moisture can gather, as well as areas that can be difficult to wash properly, leading to skin irritation and rashes.
  

• CHRONIC CHAFFING: When patients suffer from excess skin, simple physical activities can become painful. The excess skin can rub causing pain and serious skin irritation.
  

• INFECTIONS: The moist areas or the seriously irritated skin as a result of chaffing, can lead to infections that can create even more serious problems.
  

In extreme cases where these issues prevent or interfere with regular life, medical insurance may help cover the cost of the procedure.

Getting rid of the physical issues associated with extreme weight loss is only part of the equation. The psychological benefits from body contouring procedures, such as tummy tuck surgery, are equally significant. Obese people often feel self-conscious because of their body size. Once the weight is off, moving forward with a body sculpting procedure can help complete the difficult transformation and put patients on the road to a boosted sense of self-confidence.

Cosmetic surgery’s reputation as a “beauty only industry” is an unfair one. Many people benefit both physically and emotionally from plastic surgery treatments, when they are done for the right reasons and with reasonable expectations in mind. Cosmetic surgery is more than a nip and tuck; it can be a life-changing experience.

If you have ever considered a plastic surgery procedure, become informed about it. What you learn today could change your life tomorrow!