For many patients, plastic surgery offers a chance to reshape an area of their body that they've never been happy with, or a feature changed unfavorably by an accident or illness. However, there are a few significant disadvantages that should be weighed carefully before making the decision to go under the knife for a cosmetic procedure.
First are the medical risks. Like all surgical procedures, plastic surgery is risky. Among the potential complications are infection, nerve damage and numbness, blood clots, and even death. There may be additional risks associated with the specific procedure you wish to undergo.
There is also the potential for unfavorable aesthetic results even if you experience no medical conditions. Plastic surgery is as much an art as a science, and there is the possibility that the surgeon's resculpting of your features may not meet with your approval. Unsightly scars and asymmetry are also possible. A small minority of patients become 'addicted' to plastic surgery, seeking revision surgeries in search of perfection. These patients may never be satisfied with the results of the procedure, regardless of the surgeon's skill level or the medical outcome.
Finally, one of the biggest disadvantages of plastic surgery is not related to the outcome of the surgery. Because these procedures are cosmetic in nature, often they are not covered by health insurance. Surgery can cost thousands of dollars when you consider the fees for the surgeon, anesthesia, and surgical room, not to mention additional expenses such as medications and time away from work.
