Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery once may have been just for the rich and famous, but not anymore. Every year, more than a million Americans visit a surgeon hoping to get a flatter tummy, a larger bust, or a reshaped nose or chin. Learn about the most popular requests in the slides ahead and see the results in undoctored pictures that meet WebMD's editorial standards.

The nose job, or rhinoplasty, is one of the most common cosmetic procedures. A skilled doctor can reshape noses that seem too big or wide for the face, that have a bump on the bridge or that are crooked or off-center, either naturally or from injury. This is one surgery that is popular with teenagers, but doctors suggest waiting until at least age 15 or 16, possibly older for boys. Major problems after surgery are rare, and recovery takes one to three weeks.

Eyelid surgery, also called blepharoplasty, can help a variety of concerns, from droopy upper lids to bags beneath. Excess skin and fat are removed to create tighter, smoother eyelids. Fat may be transferred from one spot to another to reduce bags or puffiness. Healing takes about 2 weeks, and there are rarely noticeable scars.   

The late screenwriter Nora Ephron titled her memoir I Feel Bad About My Neck. If that hits a nerve, a neck lift may be the answer. Loose bands of tissue or "turkey wattle" are caused by weakened neck muscles. A surgeon can correct this problem by adjusting and tightening muscles in the neck, and taking out fat. A neck lift is often done with a facelift. As with any surgery, there is a small chance of infection. Healing takes from two weeks to several months.

The facelift creates a smoother, more youthful face. Starting around the ear, a surgeon removes excess skin and works with deeper layers of skin and muscle to tighten the face. While rare, there’s a chance of infection and injury. Facelifts are no longer one of the Top 5 cosmetic surgeries. They're losing ground to easier options, such as injectable fillers, Botox, radiofrequency tightening, or laser therapies.

Keeping the triceps toned is a challenge as we age, especially for women. When we lose the battle, the result may be "chicken wings" -- extra skin and fat dangling from the upper arms. Surgery known as brachioplasty can fix this. It tightens the under-portion of the arm between the armpit and elbow by removing excess skin and fat. It will leave a scar on the inner-back-side of the arm.

Liposuction is one of the most common types of cosmetic surgery. Using suction, the surgeon removes small bulges of fat from the tummy, thighs, hips, or behind. The result is a smoother shape in the treated area. Liposuction works best for patients of average or slightly above-average weight. The chances of problems are small, but they include infection, uneven fat removal, or changed skin color.

Unlike liposuction, a tummy tuck is major surgery. Also called abdominoplasty, the procedure removes fat and tightens muscles in the belly. The operation can take several hours and usually leaves a long scar. A tummy tuck is not recommended for people who are still planning to lose a lot of weight or for women who may become pregnant.

Breast enlargement is one of the two most common forms of cosmetic surgery in women. (The other is liposuction.) For breast enhancement, the doctor makes a cut in the armpit, areola, or lower breast fold and puts in saline or silicone gel implants -- the patient chooses the size. The surgery has relatively few risks, although it may make breastfeeding more difficult.

It's common for women to seek larger breasts, but breast reduction is also popular. Fat, tissue, and skin are removed to achieve the desired size. This can relieve neck and back pain in women with large, heavy breasts. Problems that could happen include a change or loss of feeling in the nipple and problems  breastfeeding.

If you decide to have cosmetic surgery, it's important to have realistic expectations and a surgeon you trust. Ask whether your doctor  is “board certified” in cosmetic surgery, which means they have extra training and testing. You also should ask for references of people who have had the surgery you're considering. Make sure the doctor fully explains all risks and benefits. Most important, tell your surgeon exactly what you hope to accomplish.