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Plastic Surgery: What you should know

© Larshal Veronica Vance

If you want to get plastic surgery you should do your homework before you go under the knife. As African Americans we have to worry about issues like scarring because of keloids.

As a group, more of us has made the decision to get plastic surgery done to improve help improve our looks. According to The American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, African Americans makes up eight percent of all of the plastic surgery procedures performed in 1998.

This article focuses on two procedures, facelifts and rhinoplasty. These procedures I found during my research shows certain factors that are important to African Americans.

FACELIFT

What Is It- this procedure also called rhytidectomy helps to improve the signs of aging by getting rid of the excess fat, tightening the muscle under the skin of the neck and removing sagging skin.

Some of the Risk- there is the possibility of scarring, which can cause keloids. Other factors to consider before getting a face-lift according to an article in Black Elegance are:

1. The skin on your body should match the new skin on your face.

2. Major dental work must precede the facelift.

3. If your hair is thinning, scars must be placed strategically.

4. A steady weight should be maintained after surgery.

5. Think about the number of surgeries you are willing to have.

Cost- $5,700 (more information found at http://www.plastic-surgery.net/fees.html)

RHINOPLASTY

What Is It- this procedure removes irregularities and bumps in the nose by reducing excess cartilage and bone in the nose. There is another factor you should know when deciding to get a nose job.

According to the article by Oladiran Afolabi-Brown, MD the African American nose can be classified into three main groups, the Afro-American, afro-Caucasian and afro-Indian). This is important because you have to know to original shape before you can decide to change it.

Some of the Risk- there is the possibility of infection, nosebleed and busting blood vesicles.

Cost- open surgery is $4,000. Closed surgery is $3,500. http://www.plastic-surgery.net/fees.html

These two procedures represent only a fraction of the procedures available. This article is representation of information I found that may be helpful to African Americans.

So if you want to get plastic surgery done it is important to do the research by contacting doctors and speaking with them about the work they have performed on African Americans. This is something that you should not go into without the proper information.

Articles

1 "Health beat." Black Elegance November 2000 133:10

2 Curte, Shere. "Nips & tucks."; Heart & Soul August/September 1999 6(4): 78+