There are many misperceptions about cosmetic surgery, really about the aesthetic industry as a whole. Even the term “plastic” in plastic surgery is misunderstood. People assume it is a reference to the surgery being fake, like plastic is fake and unnatural.
Truth be told, the word plastic in plastic surgery comes from the Greek word meaning “to mold.”
While we’re fixing some of these misperceptions, here are a few more.
Breast augmentation is a one-time event
Breast implants don’t last forever. Their lifespan is usually around 10 to 15 years. Plus, just because a person has breast augmentation doesn’t mean the aging process stops. The breasts will still droop with aging. So, down the road the patient is likely to need an implant replacement procedure, and, maybe, a breast lift with it.
Plastic surgery doesn’t leave scars
Really? What is this magic? Any time you’re making an incision into the skin, the result of the incision is a scar. The difference is that talented plastics surgeons such as Dr. Ip are able to minimize and hide the scars to make them as inconspicuous as possible.
Liposuction can be thought of as a weight loss procedure
Wrong. Liposuction is meant to remove pockets of fat that don’t respond to exercise or diet changes. Things like love handles. It is not meant to be a procedure for people that are over 10% above their ideal weight.
You can’t go out in the sun after surgery
Not true. You should limit your sun exposure because it can delay your healing to a degree and it can make your scars redden. But, as long as you wear sunscreen, you don’t have to pretend you’re a vampire.
Fat can’t reappear in other areas after liposuction
Fat removed by liposuction is permanently gone from that area. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fat show up in other areas IF you put on a bunch of weight.
If you have questions about a certain procedure, we encourage you to ask us about it. Dr. Ip and his team want all of our clients to be thoroughly knowledgeable about a potential procedure. Call our Newport Beach or New York offices to schedule your appointment.
