Cosmetic Surgery Facts and Fiction

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With millions of people around the world undergoing elective cosmetic surgery every year and stories in the media about celebrities going underneath the knife appearing on a daily basis, you’d imagine that our knowledge of plastic surgery was greater than ever.

In fact, muddling through the attention-grabbing headlines can make separating fact from fiction difficult at times. The best place to get answers for your individual questions is always from a qualified surgeon during your one to one consultation, but in the meantime we’ve sorted the facts from the fiction.   

You can’t breastfeed with implants – Fiction

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Many women that have had breast augmentation surgery are able to successfully breastfeed their baby. However, there is always the possibility that cosmetic surgery will affect your ability to breastfeed, so it’s vital that you discuss your concerns with a surgeon during a consultation so you have a clear understanding of any potential problems.

Cosmetic surgery is for vain, shallow people – Fiction

People choose to have cosmetic surgery for any number of reasons – sometimes that reason is simply because they want to look a certain way, but that doesn’t mean that the only thing that person values is their looks. If this was the case we’d have to assume that anybody who chose to have tattoos, piercings, and hairstyles or wear certain clothes or makeup purely to look a certain way were also just vain. The argument is a hangover from misguided stigma that is disappearing rapidly.

Cosmetic surgery is high risk – Fiction

There is always the risk of complications in any surgical procedure, and if your cosmetic surgeon doesn’t highlight the potential risks you should take this as a warning sign. However, as long as you find a reputable surgeon who holds your well-being as their number one priority the risk during cosmetic surgery will be minimal. To ensure you’ll be well looked after make sure you choose a surgeon registered with a national body such as BAAPS or BAPRAS in the UK.

Having cosmetic surgery abroad can save you lots of money – Fiction

While it’s true that the cost of the surgical procedure itself might be cheaper abroad there is no guarantee it will save you money – especially when things go wrong. With a 16.5% complication rate for cosmetic surgery holidays there’s every chance you could end up paying more once back at home to correct any problems.

You’ll be left with gruesome scars - Fiction

Cosmetic surgeons are trained to leave minimal scarring, so while some scarring is inevitable it will often be unnoticeable. For example, breast augmentation scars are kept out of view in the crease of the breast or in the armpits, while facelift scars practically disappear along the hairline. As always, if you’re worried about the scars you’ll be left with after surgery raise these concerns with your surgeon during a consultation.

Cosmetic surgery is becoming more popular for men – Fact

People of all walks of life with all sorts of lifestyles choose to have different types of cosmetic surgery for a variety of reasons – and a growing number of men having procedures ranging from breast reduction to tummy tucks and face lifts are testament to this. The common assumption that cosmetic surgery is just for women has long been on the decline – and with good reason, as in 2013 almost 10% of cosmetic procedures in the UK were on men. These 4,757 procedures represent a 16% increase on 2012 and the trend looks set to continue.

Being informed about cosmetic surgery is key to satisfaction - Fact

One of the most significant factors affecting your satisfaction with cosmetic surgery is how informed you are. So do a bit of research online about the specific procedure you want, and be prepared to ask questions at a consultation. Knowing what to expect from surgery and the recovery process, as well as having realistic expectations about the changes your body or face will undergo, will ensure your experience with cosmetic surgery is a satisfied one.

Written by breast surgery experts MyBreast. Visit them online at http://www.mybreast.org

**Guestpost

Exfolia Beauty Cloth

When I was asked if I would like to try out the new Exfolia Beauty Cloth** I jumped at the chance. I am one of those girls who uses flannels, muslins cloths and so on to wash and clean my face, always have been. I

The Exfolia Beauty Cloth is described as being a microexfoliation cloth which is suitable for all skin types from oily to dry, teen to mature even the most sensitive. It is also safe to use on your baby's skin and is hypoallergenic. There are no additives, no acids or crystals and as well as being washable, this cloth lasts for 60-80 washes. Exfolia also make the claim that their Beauty Cloth will smooth and soften your skin, minimise hyper pigmentation and scarring, as well as reduce fine lines and wrinkles, deep clean the pores, allow deeper penetration of skin care AND smoother application of self tan and cosmetics. Oh and it is recyclable. Wow!

To look at, this green cloth reminds me of a shammy you use to clean the car, you know the ones which hold all the water...this cloth uses fibres which are 50 to 100 times thinner than human hair and they are put together and designed within the cloth to remove dead skin cells delicately, the description, which I love this is:

"The dense formation of the fibres, provides a powerful wicking action that collects 99% of impurities from skin surface".

When I first used it, it did feel a little rough on my face, so I was careful around my eyes, but after perservering with it and completing my wash routine, my skin afterwards felt extremely soft and smooth, I was quite surprised and I was most definitley left with that 'clean' feel, after washing my face. Scarring, fine lines and wrinkles are not yet a problem for me and nor do I currently have any scarring. But my skin had been in need of a good exfoliation session and this cloth for me delivered with just the use of water and my current favourite cleanser (coming in a post soon).  You are advised to use this cloth 2-3 times a week rather than everyday or once a week if you have really sensitive skin.

I also took this cloth on holiday with me to Spain and used it three times for the ten days I was there to ensure that whilst I would be getting a tan and wearing my SPF, that my skin was in as good condition as it could be. The reason I took it is because I then didn't need to take any other face washing products, no exfoliating balms or facemask, just the cloth and a cleanser which meant more room for other products.

I am a huge fan of the Exfolia cloth, it does what it says it will do for me. It didn't and still doesn't irritate my skin, it is soft and smooth and even after washing in the washing machine, it is just as effective now as it was when I first started using it 4 weeks ago. If this sounds like something you would like to try, then this cloth costs just £10.35 which you can find here.

What do you use to wash your face and body with? 

Have you tried this cloth?