Risks and benefits of plastic surgery
Despite the slow economy in the United States, more Americans than ever are undergoing plastic surgery. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more than 13 million procedures were performed last year. That’s 5% more.
The most common surgeries are breast augmentation with 318,123, liposuction with 289,016 and blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery with 152,123.
So why are plastic and cosmetic surgery in such high demand, and what risks do people take to get it?
The most obvious reason is that people want to look good and looking younger always helps to look good. Plastic surgery increases self-confidence. It not only improves a person’s appearance, but also improves their attitude about themselves. Employers are more likely to hire them and others to find them attractive. If a person is also overweight, weight loss surgery can help regain youthful leanness faster and permanently than dieting alone.
In today’s culture, aging has no credibility. When so many billionaires in Silicon Valley are under 30, getting older doesn’t even mean getting wiser or more prosperous. In a recent study published by ASAPS, people who underwent cosmetic surgery had no trouble being identified by college students as 10 years younger than their actual age.
However, even with today’s technological advances, plastic surgery is still not an easy ride. It is a surgery and that carries automatic risks, such as:
- blood clots
- excessive or unexpected bleeding
- infection
- tissue death
- paralysis
- loss or change of sensation
- incomplete healing
- anesthesia malfunction
- pneumonia
- secondary surgeries
- no satisfaction with the results
- nerve damage
- obsession with more surgeries
- high debt or bankruptcy due to cost
The latter should not be ruled out. Although cosmetic surgery can be popular, a typical facelift costs between $ 4,000 and $ 10,000 and a breast lift, between $ 3,000 and $ 6,000 in the U.S. Unless associated with an accident or illness, most of employers’ insurances do not cover plastic surgery. Even countries that have government health insurance do not cover plastic surgery that is only for cosmetic reasons.
Savings in plastic surgery costs in Mexico
One way to significantly reduce costs is to travel to Mexico. Places like Tijuana, Mexicali, Ciudad Juárez, and Puerto Vallarta are easily accessible from the US and welcome foreign patients.
Bad news has been reported about charlatans in Mexico promising miracle cures or offering incredibly low prices. However, Mexico also has very professional and highly competent hospitals and doctors who can match the quality and standards of anyone in the United States. Many are affiliated with US hospitals.
Costs for plastic surgery performed by highly competent surgeons, in clean, modern hospitals, with state-of-the-art equipment, can be up to 90% lower than the cost of cosmetic surgery in the US. In cases, hospitals will organize the pick-up and delivery of patients to and from the border, as well as airports or other transportation locations. Comfortable resort areas for recovery, away from violent or dangerous areas, can also be part of the package.
For those who believe they deserve to look as good as they feel, and have checked the risks with their own doctors, traveling to Mexico can make plastic surgery worth the effort financially.