Cosmetic Surgeries in Elderly - Associated Benefits and Risks

Introduction

Cosmetic surgery is an invasive medical procedure that is opted for by a person to change or correct their aesthetics and physical appearance. These surgeries are not done for any medical reason but only for cosmetics. These surgeries bring a dramatic and long-lasting change in one's appearance and help them achieve their ideal body type by altering their body's size, shape, and symmetry. The article talks in detail about different cosmetic surgeries done by the elderly population and the benefits and complications associated with these surgeries.

What Are the Various Types of Cosmetic Surgeries Available?

Cosmetic procedures can be surgical or non-surgical. These include the following:

Cosmetic Surgery for the Face:

• Botox - These botulinum toxin injections prevent muscle contraction and thus help smooth facial wrinkles.

• Chemical Peel - This removes the top skin layer to eliminate dullness, scarring, and hyperpigmentation and minimize wrinkles.

• Cheek Lift - It repositions fat pads around the midface area and helps improve aging signs.

• Chin Surgery (Genioplasty) - It can be a bone reduction surgery or an implant placement procedure to reshape and enhance the chin.

• Dermabrasion - It is the surgical contouring of the skin to remove scarring, acne, and other tissue or skin irregularities.

• Facial Fillers - These are injections of dermal fillers that improve facial line appearance and plump up smooth lines and wrinkles.

• Facelift - It reduces sagging skin and makes the face look younger.

• Brow Lift (Forehead or Eyebrow Rejuvenation) - It repositions the forehead to correct sagging eyebrows and wrinkles.

• Laser Hair Removal - This procedure uses a concentrated beam of light, or laser, to remove facial hair.

• Facial Contouring - It reduces the signs of aging and enhances facial features.

• Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) - It removes extra skin from the upper eyelid and bags from the lower eyelid.

• Laser Resurfacing - It uses a laser for facial rejuvenation to treat facial flaws and improve skin.

• Cosmetic Dentistry- This includes dental procedures that improve dental aesthetics, including the appearance of teeth, bites, and gums.

• Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty) - Nose reshaping and reconstruction surgery improves breathing.

• Ear Surgery (Otoplasty) - Cosmetic ear surgery that changes the ear's size, shape, and position.

• Neck Lift - It removes the extra fat and skin around the jawline, thus giving a person a more defined look.

• Other Skin Problems - These include spider veins, tattoo removal, blemishes, and scar revision.

Cosmetic Surgery for the Body:

• Liposuction - It is a fat removal procedure that also reshapes body parts, including the thigh, stomach, neck, buttocks, and arms.

• Breast Lift (Mastopexy) -This procedure changes the shape of the breast by lifting, tightening, and removing the excess breast.

• Breast Augmentation - This involves fat transfer or implant placement to increase the size and shape of the breast.

• Arm lift (Branchiplasty) - It tightens and smoothes the extra sagging skin.

• Abdomen Reduction or Tummy Tuck - It improves the appearance and shape of the abdomen by removing extra fat.

• Inner Thigh Lift - It makes the inner thighs more firm and thinner in appearance.

• Buttock Lift or Belt Ectomy- It reshapes, sculpts, and tightens hips, thighs, buttocks, and abdomen.

• Laser Hair Removal -This procedure uses a concentrated beam of light, or laser, to remove body hair in different areas.

• Breast Reduction Surgery - Removes breast tissues, extra fat, and skin from the breast area to reduce breast size and shape.

• Circumferential Body Lift - It removes subcutaneous fat, tissues, and skin belts from the abdomen, buttocks, and waist area to tighten and lift the skin.

Who Are the Suitable Candidates for Cosmetic Surgeries?

• A person with realistic expectations, a deep understanding of the procedure's outcomes and risks, and good health are usually considered a perfect candidate for cosmetic surgery.

• Those with some underlying medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, bleeding disorder, or depression, are not recommended to undergo such procedures.

• In addition, the doctor also assesses the person’s lifestyle, such as smoking, drinking, exercising, or any supplements or drugs a person is taking, to confirm whether they are suitable for cosmetic surgeries.

What Are the Benefits of Cosmetic Surgeries for the Elderly?

Cosmetic surgeries have the following benefits:

• It helps improve a person's psychological health by restoring their self-esteem and reducing self-consciousness by improving their appearance and body image.

• Cosmetic surgeries also improve a person's physical health and appearance. For example, surgeries for reshaping the nose, called rhinoplasty, enhance the look of the nose and improve breathing issues.

• Cosmetic surgeries are perceived to be very painful procedures, but on the contrary, these surgeries cause less physical discomfort and are extremely painless.

• These procedures are long-lasting and permanent and improve the person’s quality of life. However, one needs to put in some effort after the cosmetic surgery to get the desired results. These include eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, avoiding drinking and smoking, and following post-operative instructions.

• Cosmetic surgeries are easily accessible to common people. Earlier, these were limited to celebrities or people with good financial status. But nowadays, the easy accessibility of these surgeries has made them available for anyone who opts to enhance their body and is ready to bear the cost.

What Are the Disadvantages of Cosmetic Surgeries in the Elderly?

• High Expenses: Cosmetic surgeries are expensive and require a lot of funds, making them less accessible for people with low financial incomes.

• Addiction: These surgeries can make a person addicted by altering their state of mind. They continuously find flaws and faults in their body and appearance and thus develop body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Due to this addiction, they plan to undergo multiple cosmetic surgeries, but the truth is that BDD cannot be treated with such surgeries.

• Unexpected Results: The surgical outcomes are not always satisfying, as the person may not get the desired results or change their body’s appearance. This can put a person into regrets and post-surgery depression. In some cases, cosmetic surgeries can even go wrong, but the chances of such errors are less due to technological advancements. For example, facelifts can cause permanent damage to the facial nerve, thus leading to facial paralysis. Sometimes, these mistakes can be irreversible and cannot be rectified, leaving a person devastated with low self-esteem. Therefore, one must do all the research before opting for cosmetic surgery to avoid any disappointments.

• Recovery Time: Some cosmetic surgeries take a longer recovery time, usually up to two to three weeks, depending on the type of procedure. It halts a person’s life and daily routine. Long recovery periods cause more pain, and people also rely on painkillers for relief. This is another major drawback of post-cosmetic surgery.

• Post-Surgery Depression: People often take a long time to accept and adjust to their new appearance post-cosmetic surgery. It does not mean they dislike their new look, but because they are not used to it, they need time for acceptance. Also, some people who care about other people’s opinions are often concerned about how people react to their new look. Thus, all these thoughts lead to some insecurities and post-surgery depression.

What Are the Risks Associated With Cosmetic Surgeries in the Elderly?

Cosmetic surgeries carry risks just like any other surgical procedure. Following are the risks of cosmetic surgeries for the elderly.

• If a person is obese or has diabetes, they are more at risk of developing blood clots in the lungs or legs post-surgery.

• A surgical site infection may also occur, which may require additional surgery.

• Anesthesia-related complications, such as blood clots, pneumonia, and death, may also occur.

• Skin breakdown can cause abnormal scarring.

• The fluid build-up can also occur under the skin.

• Surgical wound separation often requires additional surgery.

• Mild or significant bleeding requiring another surgery or blood transfusion.

• Nerve damage can cause permanent tingling and numbness.

Conclusion

Cosmetic surgeries opted for by elderly people do boost their self-esteem by giving them the new and altered look that they desire. However, there are lots of risks, disadvantages, and complications associated with these cosmetic surgeries. Therefore, one must undergo these surgeries with proper safety precautions by consulting and discussing with the doctor all the relevant information about these procedures. Safety, surgery outcomes, and health should be the top priority of a person opting for cosmetic surgery.