Cosmetic Surgery in India : Procedures Type, Risks & Benefits

Who Can Undergo Cosmetic Surgery?

Any individual who wishes to bring long-lasting and dramatic changes to his/her appearance can consider undergoing cosmetic surgery. However, it is crucial that the individual understands how these changes can impact his/her aesthetics.

Not every individual is a good candidate for cosmetic procedures. Surgeons have pre-established criteria which are considered to find out if a person is a good candidate for cosmetic treatments. The criteria include the following pointers- 

• He/she must have realistic expectations regarding what can be accomplished with the treatment. 
• He/she must be aware of and understand the medical risks and physical effects during the healing period. The surgery will affect the individual’s personal and professional life. Thus, every aspect must be considered beforehand. 
• He/she is willing to make the required lifestyle changes for the recovery period and/or long-term to retain the results. 
• He/she must be able to keep chronic medical conditions in control. 
• He/she should not have a history of smoking. If there is a history, the individual must be willing to commit to abstaining from smoking, drinking, and using other types of recreational drugs for at least 4 to 6 weeks. 
• He/she should have stable body weight for 6 to 12 months, only applicable for certain procedures.

Questions to Ask About a Procedure

While planning the treatment, consider asking the following questions to the cosmetic surgeon-

• What does the procedure do? What are its limitations? 
• Is this surgery the right treatment for my concerns? Are there other alternatives that should be considered? 
• What are the major risks and complications of the surgery? 
• How long will the recovery take? 
• Will the surgery cause scarring? If so, what will the scars look like, and how can they be improved? 
• What are the pain management options during the recovery period? 
• What restrictions will be imposed during the recovery? 
• How long will it take to resume basic and/or all activities? 
• When will the final results of the surgery appear? 
• How long will the results last? 
• What is the average cost of the procedure?

What to Expect from Cosmetic Surgery?

Having a clear understanding of what happens before, during, and after the treatment is crucial. The outcome of cosmetic treatments depends on how well the individual understands the limitations of such procedures. While many physical characteristics of the body can be successfully changed with cosmetic surgery, others cannot. Thus, it is crucial that the patient has realistic expectations to feel satisfied with the results. 

Before the Surgery

The preparation for the treatment starts with the surgeon informing the patient about the specifics of the procedure, what to expect, the benefits, risks, possible complications, and alternatives. In some cases, the doctor might recommend an additional procedure to enhance the overall results. 

The surgeon also explains the concept of symmetry and balance to help the patients understand how the changes made through cosmetic surgery can or will impact them. 

Other things that the patient can expect include the following-

• The patient’s general health conditions, current medications, supplements, lifestyle issues (such as smoking history or drug abuse), etc., are reviewed. 
• The patient is given detailed information regarding what to expect from the surgery, including pain, medications, activity, work restrictions, the need to arrange a ride home after surgery, etc.  
• The patient will be asked to sign a consent form to proceed with the treatment. 
• Photographs of the treated area will be taken from different angles as a reference and a part of the patient’s medical record. 
• An estimated cost range of the procedure is given to the patient. Payment is generally required before the surgery. 
• Pre-operative examinations are done to check the overall health and take the best approach for surgical treatment. 

Results of Cosmetic Surgery

The results of cosmetic treatments are usually not immediate. The patients have to spend 3 to 6 weeks initially in recovery before they notice visible changes in their appearance.

Despite the preparations, the patients experience the common and temporary side effects of cosmetic surgery, such as redness, bruising, swelling, etc. These side effects can take a while to disappear, which might give rise to feelings of disappointment and frustration. So, it is important that the patients don’t judge the results prematurely.

Keep realistic expectations, and as the body heals, the final results will appear and improve over time. The actual recovery time varies for each patient depending on the individual’s healing abilities and the type of cosmetic surgery. Overall, the duration will be 6 to 12 weeks.

Types of Cosmetic Surgery

A variety of cosmetic procedures are performed for different parts of the body. Based on the body parts, the following are the most common types of cosmetic surgery.

• Breast Surgery or Mammoplasty- The cosmetic treatments performed to change the shape, size, and texture of the breast tissues comes under breast surgery. The most common breast surgeries are breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction, and gynecomastia surgery (also known as male breast reduction). 
• Liposuction- It is the technique used to remove fat tissues from different parts of the body. It can be done on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, back, arms, neck, chin, and even breasts. Thanks to modern technologies, like laser and ultrasound, it has become easier to help people get rid of stubborn fat tissues. 
• Facial Surgery- There are various types of cosmetic surgeries that can be performed on the face, such as blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty (nose job), otoplasty (ear surgery), chin liposuction (double chin removal), neck lift, buccal fat removal, lip surgery, etc. All these procedures focus on improving the facial characteristics as desired by the patient. 
• Hair Transplant- A hair transplant is one of the most common types of cosmetic surgery. It is a procedure to restore hair growth in the scalp, beard, chest, or other parts. It involves taking healthy hair follicles from one part of the body and implanting them where the hair is thin or complete hair loss has occurred. 

Besides the above-mentioned treatments, other treatments, such as chemical peels, lip fillers, fat grafting, laser hair removal, botox, laser or light-based facials, etc., have also gained popularity in the last few decades in India.

Most Common Cosmetic Treatments & Their Costs

The most common cosmetic treatments cost opted for by people across India are the following-

• Botox- Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 20,000 
• Cheek Lift- Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,00,000
• Chin surgery or double chin removal- Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 70,000 
• Blepharoplasty or eyelid repair surgery- Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 60,000
• Lip fillers or lip augmentation- Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 75,000
• Rhinoplasty or nose job- Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1,50,000
• Buccal fat removal or cheek reduction- Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 75,000
• Liposuction- Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 3,00,000
• Breast augmentation- Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 1,50,000
• Breast lift- Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 1,25,000
• Breast reduction- Rs. 70,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 
• Hair transplant- Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 80,000 
• Tummy tuck- Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 1,50,000 

How to Choose a Cosmetic Surgeon?

An individual who is considering cosmetic surgery should weigh up all of his/her options carefully before proceeding with the treatment. And the most crucial aspect that must be considered is the choice of a cosmetic surgeon.

Here are some tips that will help patients to choose the best cosmetic surgeons- 

• Firstly, get referrals from friends or family as they will be able to give personal insights regarding the surgeon and their experience. 
• Make a list of the best cosmetic surgeons and validate their certifications and qualifications. 
• Choose a surgeon who is reputed, specializes, and has ample experience in performing various types of cosmetic treatments. 
• Use the review websites, doctor profiles, etc., to gather information regarding how well the surgeon treats his/her patients and the patients’ satisfaction rate. 
• Consider how the surgeon is communicating. If the surgeon is being persuasive, consider consulting another surgeon who gives a genuine opinion without intimidation.

Beware of the red flags from the doctor. Do not rush to make the decision about the surgeon as it will be the most critical one. Making a mistake in this decision can compromise the quality of the outcome. Therefore, it is important to be patient and sensible regarding this matter.