Most people seek plastic surgery because they want to improve their appearance. Enhanced looks, however, are far from the only upsides of plastic surgery. Here are four hidden benefits of plastic surgery that you might find surprising.
Liposuction May Improve Heart Health
During a liposuction, Dr. Wooten removes fat deposits from trouble areas of the body, generally the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks or thighs. The result: a more toned, less fatty appearance.
Along with the aesthetic improvements, however, may come the health improvements you might expect from shedding excess fat. One such improvement, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, might be a lower risk of heart disease.
According to a study by the ASPS, patients who underwent liposuction saw a significant decrease in triglycerides, which are “bad” fats which can negatively affect a person’s health. They also saw a reduction in white blood cells, which have been associated with heart attacks, obesity, high blood pressure and stroke risk.
Smaller Breasts May Improve Quality of Life
According to a study in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, breast reduction can vastly improve a patient’s physical and mental well-being.
Researchers evaluated the quality of life of a selected sample of breast reduction patients before and after their procedure. They asked participants in-depth questions to gain insight into four specific areas of their lives: psychosocial, sexual and physical well-being, as well as satisfaction with their breasts.
Unsurprisingly, many women reported being much more satisfied with their breasts than they were before their procedure. But most women also reported around 40 percent increases in the other three areas as well. The underlying cause? The elimination of the pain that their larger breasts had caused them before the surgery.
Eyelid Surgery May Improve Vision
Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is an increasingly popular surgical option for patients who desire to look younger. Our eyelids tend to droop over time, but a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Wooten can reverse this process to make a patient look youthful and more alert.
According to the journal Ophthalmology, however, eyelid surgery can often lead to improved vision as well as increased overall comfort. Often, because sagging upper eyelid skin can lead to obstructed vision, this procedure is even covered by insurance.
While not every patient will see these kinds of non-cosmetic benefits from the surgery, it can be difficult to notice that your drooping eyelids are obscuring your vision until after the procedure has been completed.
Tummy Tucks Can Help New Moms Stay Healthy
Abdominoplasty, more commonly known as the tummy tuck, has been a popular procedure for years, especially for new moms who want to tighten their abdomen to regain their pre-pregnancy body.
As it turns out, tightening the abdomen can also help with other post-birth problems, like Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI), a condition which can lead to issues with bladder control. During the tummy tuck procedure, an obstruction can be placed which reduces these issues with incontinence.
A tummy tuck can also improve your posture. Pregnancy often weakens your abdominal muscles, which in turn may cause you to slouch. Tummy tucks tighten these muscles, improving the support you need to sit up straight.
Abdominoplasty may also help women who suffer from ventral hernias, which are sometimes side effects of C-sections. Ventral hernias are formed when intestine or tissue breaks through a weak abdominal wall and forms a pocket in the body. A tummy tuck strengthens the abdominal wall to help prevent this from happening again.
While plastic surgery is often sought for cosmetic reasons, there’s usually more to a procedure than meets the eye. Medical and psychological benefits can make your surgery even more valuable.