Considerations before getting a cosmetic surgery

Image source: persiadigest.com

More and more people around the world are having cosmetic surgery. As of 2016, about 1.4 million women had cosmetic surgery and 12.5 million underwent minimally invasive procedures. And in 2018, the popularity of reconstructive surgery is likewise spilling over into the male demographic.

An important mental approach to the procedure is that it’s all about what makes you feel better about your body. Which simply means you’ve to be clear that it’s not something you need. The good cosmetic surgeon will always consider the patient’s best interests. Some doctors will even turn away patients who are not 100% set on going through surgery.

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Do your in-depth research and, whenever the opportunity presents itself, ask away. Though procedures can be altered in the future, treat your cosmetic surgery as something you’d do once. So, whatever your doubts and concerns, ask your would-be surgeon about all of them before fully committing.

Remember that procedures are not the same. Some surgery types will require longer recovery time than others. Therefore, don’t expect immediate results. In most cases, it will take a day or more for the post-operation swelling to subside, while permanent results will only be apparent after several weeks. Again, be patient and wait for complete healing. This means you’ve to consciously plan your procedure during a vacation period or a time in which you can take a leave from work.

Tup Ingram, M.D., is a reconstructive and plastic surgeon based in Nashville, Tennessee. His stellar education has afforded him to work in medicine, finance, and law. For similar reads, visit thisblog.

How much does an Operation Smile surgery cost?

An international medical charity, Operation Smile provides free surgery for children and young adults in developing countries who are born with cleft lip, cleft palate, or other facial deformities. Since 1982, it has mobilized volunteer medical teams to conduct surgical missions and has partnered with governments, hospitals, and medical personnel across more than 60 countries. But how much does it take to make a child smile through this charity?

Image source: OperationSmile.org

A cleft is a gap in the mouth that failed to close during a pregnancy’s early stages. As a result, kids born with a cleft condition suffer an opening in the lip or the roof of their mouth or both. The cause of these birth defects remains largely unknown, although studies have suggested poor nutrition, infection, tobacco consumption, alcohol, and use of certain medications during pregnancy may be contributing factors.

According to the Operation Smile website, as little as $240 helps provide surgery to children with this condition. This is possible, they say, due to the contributions of medical professionals volunteering their time and skills, along with corporate donors that provide supplies and equipment for the surgery. The said cost covers expenses for essential medical team members to be present at a mission, expenses for additional required supplies, and shipping cargo costs.

Given the uniqueness of the locations of medical missions, surgery costs could vary. Sometimes, it is necessary to import medical equipment and expertise, making free surgeries more costly. The goal for Operation Smile, its website continues, is to have local medical professionals perform the operations to dramatically slash the costs.

Image source: OperationSmile.org

Tup Ingram is a medical doctor, Juris Doctor, and an MBA degree holder based in Nashville, Tennessee, with a medical practice focused on reconstruction and cosmetic surgery. More on discussions on his interests and professional endeavors here.