Close
1 of 16

Black woman bandaged from (plastic) surgery

Shutterstock

People who have never had plastic surgery often have rather limited knowledge of. And even those who have undergone a procedure or two don’t know everything about the world of going under the knife. Many of us just associate plastic surgery with modern innovations, vanity and breast implants. But people around the world have been using plastic surgery for some pretty surprising purposes for centuries. And some of the procedures that exist will surprise you. Here are 15 surprising facts about plastic surgery.
Image Source: Shutterstock

Image Source: Shutterstock

Surgeons are turning people away

It is a plastic surgeon’s moral responsibility to determine if someone is mentally and emotionally sound enough to undergo plastic surgery. As much as 15 percent of people who consult a surgeon about a procedure suffer from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)–a condition in which they are obsessed with a tiny physical flaw to the point that it interrupts their life. Many doctors turn patients away who suffer from BDD and refer them to a therapist.
Image Source: Shutterstock

Image Source: Shutterstock

More men are getting it

While over 90 percent of plastic surgery patients are women, the percentage of male patients has gone up by nearly 50 percent in the last 15 years.
Shutterstock

Shutterstock

This is what women are getting

The most popular plastic surgery procedures among women are breast implants and rhinoplasty (nose jobs).
Liposuction

Shutterstock

This is what men are getting

Men, on the other hand, put their cosmetic funds into eyelid surgery, correction of protruding ears, liposuction and breast reduction.
Corbis

Corbis

Cut your hair and your face in the same place

Between the 16th and 18th century, barbers and surgeons were almost interchangeable. Barbers sold medicine, treated syphilis, performed blood letting and–yes–performed plastic surgery.

This surgery goes wrong the most

Rhinoplasty is a procedure for which people return to the doctor for repairs more than any other operation. Fortunately, it is the most affordable (relatively speaking) one, topping off at around $15,000.
Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Plastic surgery in New York Fashion Week

This wasn’t an official Fashion Week event, but one plastic surgeon did hold a “fashion show” in which his patients strutted a catwalk, showing off their work. The before and after photos were projected onto a screen as well.
Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Fully body lifts are a thing

You’ve heard of face lifts, butt lifts, and breast lifts but have you heard of a full body lift? This procedure is only performed on people who were previously obese but have since lost a tremendous amount of weight. The transformation leaves them with saggy, excess skin that can only be treated with plastic surgery.
Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Surgery for selfies

The emergence of selfies has people looking at themselves a lot more. For some people, like this woman, that’s led them to get plastic surgery to look better in selfies.