Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgery
Aesthetic surgery is performed upon the request of the patient to improve or create form and shape of the body to approximate the notion of beauty, norm or ideal in the context of the individuals cultural, sociologic and ethnic background.
Shape and form can be changed by repositioning, augmenting or reducing the the structural elements which create them. Essentially all commonly employed aesthetic procedures are based on this proposition. This is fairly obvious in the context of breast or chin implants, liposuction, lipectomies, various lifting procedures (face, brow, neck, breasts, buttocks, lower body), volumetric fat grafting and rhinoplasty. It becomes more subtle in eyelid surgery, where the importance of structural support of the eyelids far outweighs any other consideration. Even "nips and tucks" of the abdomen generally will result in improved aesthetics only if the underlying structure of the abdominal wall can be improved to some degree by rearrangement of the its muscles.
Aesthetic surgical procedures with the exception of some specialized liposuction techniques have a relatively modest effect if any on the skin draping over structural elements. In facial rejuvenation wrinkles, texture, color and tone of the skin can to be improved by non-incisional aesthetic techniques such as peels, laser resurfacing and tightening, fillers, botox, smoking cessation and rigorous skin care. In other areas of the body these techniques are of limited applicability. Superficial liposuction may be the only option with a credible track record as far as skin tightening is concerned.
In a holistic sense aesthetic surgery is as much dealing with shapes as it is dealing with emotions. Understanding the desire to change appearance and the emotional impact of an altered physical shape may be fraught with considerable uncertainty. Working through the dynamics of this process requires a secure relationship between the patient and surgeon, without which an aesthetic surgical procedure should not be undertaken.
You may find examples of selected aesthetic procedures in our image gallery.
Also visit the Center of Aesthetics, Breast and Body Contouring
St. Dominic East Medical Tower 971 Lakeland Drive, Suite 315 Jackson, MS 39216 601-981-2525
