Something that was once reserved only for the richest and most famous people is now becoming increasingly popular for regular people to consider. More and more people are choosing to go under the knife for cosmetic surgery to treat areas of their bodies that they are not content with. However, for some, the notion of undergoing cosmetic surgery is still a little controversial and comes with a range of myths.  

Here are some of them, debunked.

 

• You can always tell when somebody has had surgery 

While some people undergo cosmetic surgery to achieve a ‘fake’ look, many people don’t. A good cosmetic surgeon will want to leave very few traces of their work, so any scarring or highly unnatural-looking results will only come from surgeons who don’t listen–or on people who want to achieve that particular aesthetic.

 

• Plastic Surgery is Cheating! Working out and Eating Well is the Only Key to the Perfect Body

It is true that diet and exercise can be used as a tool to improve the health and wellbeing of the body, they can’t always target specific areas. The role of cosmetic surgery is to improve the appearance of common ‘problem areas’–not to substitute, but rather to enhance. 

Plastic surgery can be used to help to improve people’s self-esteem. For example, a patient who may have lost a lot of weight could opt to have skin removal surgery when their skin is too loose. Somebody else may have broken their nose in an accident and their out-of-shape nose is another reminder of the trauma they experienced. The results that occur from these surgeries cannot be achieved through diet and exercise.

 

• Breast Implants Make it Hard to Breastfeed

Most women who get breast augmentation are able to breastfeed their babies. However, this may depend on the type of surgery performed on the breasts. During the initial consultation, speak with your surgeon to discuss the prospects for breastfeeding in the future. Silicone implants do not cause any harm to a breastfed child, either. 

• There are no risks from getting surgery 

This isn’t really a myth, as most people are aware that as with any surgery, there are a few risks of undergoing cosmetic surgery Going under general anesthetic, complications during surgery, and other potential side effects that can impact on recovery time. These things should always be considered before undergoing surgical procedures. 

So whether you choose a local surgeon or choose to have cosmetic surgery abroad, make sure you choose a surgeon who has plenty of experience in the field, registered with the General Medical Council. 

Don’t be tempted by cheaper alternatives offered by beauty salons and spas. These practitioners are not medically trained or qualified to perform the surgery without having a higher risk of complications added to them. 

Any surgery comes with risk, so these will need to be weighed up with the potential benefits. You may have to make other lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight or stopping drinking before your surgeon decides that it is safe to operate. 

A good surgeon will always put the needs of the patient first.