This document summarizes various common cosmetic surgery procedures. It describes how nose jobs, neck lifts, facelifts, laser skin resurfacing, hair transplants, arm lifts, liposuction, tummy tucks, breast implants, and breast reductions are performed. It notes that over a million Americans seek cosmetic surgery each year to achieve a flatter stomach, larger bust, or reshaped features and addresses some risks and post-considerations for procedures.

1. Cosmetic Surgery

2. Every year, more than a million Americans seek a
surgeon’s hand in achieving a flatter tummy, a
larger bust, or a reshaped nose chin.

3. Nose Job
The nose job or rhinoplasty is one of the most
common cosmetic procedures. A skilled
surgeon can reshape noses that seem too big
or wide for the face, that have a bump on the
nasal bridge or that are crooked or off-center.

4. Neck Lift
Loose bands of tissue or “turkey wattle” are caused by
weakened neck muscles. A surgeon can correct this
problem by adjusting and removing muscles in the neck.
Liposuction in conjunction with a neck lift can remove
excess fat.

5. Facelift
The facelift uses various techniques to
create a smoother, more youthful face. Through
incisions around the ear, a surgeon removes
excess skin and manipulates the deeper layers
of tissue and muscle to tighten the face.

6. Laser Skin Resurfacing
Instead of the scalpel, some patients choose
to address facial imperfections with a laser.
Laser skin resurfacing uses intense pulsating
beams of light to vaporize superficial, damaged
skin cells. As the outer layers of skin are
removed, fine lines and blemishes disappear.

7. Hair Transplant
Half of men and many women will experience some
degree of hair loss as they age. Typically, hair
remains thick on the side or back of the head. This
allows a surgeon to transfer small amounts of hair
to the bald or thinning area, where it takes root.

8. Arm Lift
Keeping the triceps toned is a challenge as we age,
especially for women. A procedure called
brachioplasty can fix this. The surgery tightens the
under portion of the arm between the armpit and
elbow by removing excess skin and fat. It will leave a
permanent scar on the inner-back-side of the arm.

9. Liposuction
Liposuction is the most common type of
cosmetic surgery with about half a million
procedures performed every year. Using a
suction device, the surgeon removes small
bulges of fat from the tummy, thighs, hips or
buttocks.

10. Tummy Tuck
Unlike liposuction, a tummy tuck is major surgery.
Also called abdominoplasty, the procedure
surgically removes excess fat and tightens
muscles in the abdomen

11. Breast Implants
Breast augmentation is neck and neck with
liposuction as the most common form of cosmetic
surgery in women. The breasts are enlarged with
saline or silicone gel implants – the patient chooses
the size she wants. To place the implants inside the
breast, a surgeon makes an incision in the armpit,
areola, or lower breast fold.

12. Breast Reduction
Fat, tissue, and skin are surgically removed from
the breast to achieve the desired size. This reduction
can relieve neck and back pain in women with large,
heavy breasts. Risks include a change or loss in
nipple sensation and difficulty breastfeeding.

13. It’s important to have realistic expectations and
a surgeon you trust. Ask whether your doctor is
board certified and can provide references of
people who have undergone the procedure
you’re considering.