4 Cosmetic Procedures You Might Not Know About

Otoplasty, Blepharoplasty, Brachioplasty, Rhinoplasty…these might sound like a foreign language to you, but believe it or not, they are actually common cosmetic procedures that thousands of people choose to have done each year to improve their look.

If there’s part of your body that you’ve always wanted to change, you might be surprised to find out that there might be a specific surgery just for you that you weren’t aware of. Here’s an explanation of a few procedures you might not know about:

Rhinoplasty

You might not know about this procedure by its scientific name, but you’ve probably heard of a “nose job” before. And no, this term isn’t referring to the animal – “rhino” is the Greek meaning for nose. Some people get a rhinoplasty purely for cosmetic reasons while others choose the procedure for health reasons like restricted airways or prior injury/deformity to the nose.

During this procedure, a cosmetic surgeon restructures the soft tissue, cartilage, and in some cases, the actual bone to re-shape the nose. During a traditional rhinosplasty, the patient is fully sedated as the doctor performs the procedure. More recently, a procedure referred to as a “non-surgical rhinoplasty” has become popular, as it only requires local anesthetic and involves soft-tissue fillers to correct minor deformities.

Otoplasty

If you’ve always been bothered about the size or placement of your ears, then an otoplasty might be a good option for you. Otoplasty is also known as “ear pinning,” and is done to change the position of the ears so they lay closer to the head and don’t protrude out as much from the head. Depending on the patient’s age, this procedure can be done with local or general anesthesia.

During the procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions in the back crease of the ear and repositions the cartilage to make the ear lay flatter on the head. There is a small recovery time involves with an ear pinning surgery, but patients are generally extremely satisfied with the results.

Blepharoplasty

A blepharoplasty is a modification to the eyelid, and can be done to either the upper eyelid, lower eyelid, or both. Some people have a prominent upper eyelid that tends to hang over the eye, especially as they age and the skin is less elastic. This can be especially problematic for those that are aging because it can lead to vision problems.

Because of the potential medical problems, a blepharoplasty can sometimes be covered by health insurance. Other people opt for a lower blepharoplasty for cosmetic reasons, so as to get rid of the “puffy” appearance from under their eyes. In any case, the surgeon makes incisions in the eyelid to remove excessive fat and tissue. Because the surgery is highly invasive, it requires several weeks of recovery time, but ultimately produces a more desirable look around the eye.

Brachioplasty

Also known as an arm lift or an arm tuck, a brachioplasty is a great option for those who are annoyed by the sagging, drooping skin on the upper arm. Sagging skin in this area is common a common occurrence after weight loss and even just due to aging and loss of elasticity of the skin. This condition is especially problematic for women who are especially self-conscious of wearing sleeveless clothes.

During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision along the underside of the upper arm, allowing the removal of excessive tissue and fat. The arm is then reshaped and sutured. After a few weeks of recovery, the patient can experience a dramatically improved appearance of their arms without sagging skin.

This list by no means discusses every available cosmetic procedure that’s available to improve your look. Remember that choosing to undergo a cosmetic procedure is a big decision, and you should do adequate research when looking for a qualified . Talk to your surgeon about the potential benefits as well as the potential risk of the procedures you’re interested in to improve your look.