These days, liposuction is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in western countries, but it’s only in the 20th and 21st centuries that the option has become a viable choice for those struggling with the appearance of fatty deposits around the body. While people have been focused on discovering ways to improve their appearance as far back as Egyptian times, it’s only comparatively recently that cosmetic surgery has become safe and available for the general public.
Many of the techniques and technology that are commonly used in cosmetic surgery today were developed and perfected during the first and second world wars. While it was not an entirely new science in the early 20th century, the complex injuries – particularly facial ones – suffered by soldiers saw doctors looking for innovate ways to aid reconstruction. However, while many of the techniques and expertise is similar, cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery are categorised differently.
Reconstructive surgery typically refers to surgery that is performed to repair a variety of impairments or deformities while cosmetic surgery is typically described as surgery performed for aesthetic reasons.
However, the boundaries between these two types and definitions of surgery are often blurred and some people argue that procedure such as breast augmentations can belong in either category, depending on the circumstances.In the early years of the 21st century, cosmetic surgery procedures such as breast augmentation, tummy tucks, face lifts and eye bag removal were among the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. However, the last few years have also seen a huge rise in the number of people choosing non surgical solutions such as Botox, fillers, skin peels and laser hair removal.
The global recession is thought to have been one reason for the growth in the number of people turning to non surgical solutions, as more people are looking for less expensive ways to improve their appearance.
However, cosmetic surgery procedures remain popular despite the economic downturn, with men also increasingly turning to surgery.While cosmetic surgery was once thought of as a predominantly female field – and one only achievable by the rich and famous – a larger number of men and people on an average annual income are turning to cosmetic surgeons to boost their confidence. What’s more, the continued investment in cosmetic surgeries and new techniques means that popular surgeries such as liposuction and breast enlargement are being refined and improved all the time, to offer patients better treatments and faster recovery times.