The truth about cosmetic surgery

Breast augmentation, butt lift, liposuction -- with an increasing number of youngsters going under the knife to improve their looks, Avni Mehrotra has cosmetic experts themselves uncover the truth behind these procedures.

'She has looks that could kill!' That popular compliment now comes with a literal connotation. Once considered taboo, cosmetic surgeries have now become all too common and so their relevance is an issue worth analysing.

For those who truly need them, these procedures truly are a boon, but genuine candidates need to be distinguished from those who perceive them as 'just another visit to the parlour'.

Here, experts uncover the myths behind these 'magical' therapies to help people make a well-informed decision before taking the plunge.

Surgery: A clear picture

Dr SK Gulati, a plastic surgeon based out of Kanpur says, "The majority of cases we have are from the pre-marital age group. People either come ahead of their marriages or to enhance their looks, or while they are on the lookout for a soul mate. They need to know that it is not like getting a facial or a manicure done, but a meticulous surgical procedure involving anesthesia and drugs." Like any other surgery, these treatments have their side effects and if they go wrong, can take a toll on your appearance and physiology.

"Even a small medicine like paracetamol has side-effects. People opting for these surgeries should be very clear about the fact that they are disturbing a part of their bodies. Even if it doesn't go wrong, inadequate maintenance may well bring you back to square one -- or perhaps even worse," explains Dr Saurabh Bhalla, an orthodontist based out of Lucknow. "Meddling with what nature has given you is always dangerous," he adds. "We as doctors can modify things to a certain extent, but what is natural should not be usually tampered with. And if not performed by a well-trained doctor, these surgeries may not only pave the way for other infectious diseases, but also prove fatal."

While many people think that cosmetic procedures like weight reduction and enhancements can transform them into ravishing beauties within a couple of hours, the experts say otherwise. Dr Gulati clarifies, "Common misconceptions project liposuction as a weight reduction method and a lot of people unknowingly opt for it with dissatisfying results. Liposuction is a fat controlling method. It removes excess body fat to a maximum limit of 10 per cent and not beyond that. Afterwards, it is all about exercising and eating healthy."

The doctor has even had patients with perfectly healthy bodies and healthier incomes come in to lose weight using these methods. "I hardly entertain such people and have to refuse their queries in most cases. It is disheartening to know that they then visit small set-ups with glossy websites and decorated clinics, paying exorbitant amounts to have unqualified doctors perform surgeries on them."

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