Cosmetic surgery is an elective surgery performed on parts of the body for the express purpose of improving their aesthetic appearance. It is commonly associated with the removal of signs of aging, but can encompass many different procedures whose effect is primarily to enhance a person's beauty.
Cosmetic surgery is on the rise; one report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows an increase of 115% from 2000 to 2015 in cosmetic procedures. Further, the number of cosmetic procedures in the United States has almost doubled since the start of the century.
According to WebMD, the most popular cosmetic surgeries are liposuction, botox, breast implants, facelifts, eyelid surgery, and nose jobs. The most prevalent complications of cosmetic surgery include hematoma (the collection of blood outside a blood vessel), nerve damage, infection, scarring, implant failure and organ damage.
Some researchers have documented a link between cosmetic surgery obsession and body dysmorphic disorder, a psychological condition in which the sufferer becomes preoccupied with defects in their body or face. A study published in the 2017 Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Journal reported that 15% of patients who visited a dermatologist or plastic surgeon suffered from BDD.
