What Are the Different Types of Cosmetic Surgery for the Skin?

Among the many types of cosmetic surgery for the skin are the facelift, tummy tuck, blepharoplasty, and breast lift. Most of these procedures involve making a body part or the actual skin look younger, tighter and higher. Many of the surgeries also entail removing some skin, which tends to sag as a person ages. In some cases, the procedure would double as a reconstructive one, such as with deep scars and facial defects.

In a facelift, the surgeons would usually cut through the skin just above the hairline and down to the area just before the ears. The skin is then literally pulled and lifted upwards to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and to tighten the skin. Afterwards, the skin is removed, as well as the extra fat, if the patient requests it. A patient who has undergone a face lift can recover in as little as a week, and the “lift” can last up to ten years.

Another type of cosmetic surgery for the skin is the abdominoplasty, commonly known as the tummy tuck. This is very different from a liposuction procedure because the “tuck” prioritizes the removal of excess skin, not of the fat. The skin is very elastic, but when it stretches too much, like in an overweight person, it becomes difficult for it to bounce back. This is why many people who have won their battle against obesity often go for a tummy tuck to remove the extra skin in the abdominal area to further flatten their stomach.

A cosmetic surgery for the skin can also involve the eyelids, medically known as blepharoplasty. Elderly people tend to have saggy eyelids, and like the facelift, the surgery can tighten the skin around the eyes in this population. Blepharoplasty can also entail creating a crease or a fold on the eyelid to make the eyes look bigger. This kind of eyelid surgery is particularly popular among Asians, whose eyelids do not have a fold, making their eyes look even smaller.

The breast lift is another cosmetic procedure that is different from a breast augmentation and reduction. This cosmetic surgery deals with removing the extra skin, tightening, and lifting the skin upwards to “perk up” the breasts. This is beneficial for mothers whose breasts have become saggy after having some children. The breast lift usually follows a breast reduction procedure, so that the smaller breasts will not droop.

Scar revision is one form of cosmetic surgery for the skin that can also be considered reconstructive. This is especially done to remove keloids or warts that are unusually large. To prevent further scarring, the keloids are cut away using lasers, which remove the skin while sealing the blood vessels to prevent bleeding. This procedure can also stimulate the skin to produce collagen and regenerate properly.