It is only logical that people need to look and feel their best. But nature is not perfect and neither are we. From time to time, more and more people have entered the plastic or cosmetic surgeons' offices determined to get rid off, or change, one or more of their features and improve their looks. Multiple studies have even shown that performing a desired plastic surgery can alter the way people feel about themselves. Attaining the looks we want actually has direct impact on our personality. People tend to build their confidence and feel comfortable with their characteristics. But, from reducing the size of a nose to completely altering the way a person looks, a huge gap exists and people should be aware of what plastic or cosmetic surgery is and what are the risks entailed, before committing to perform the operation that will lead them closer to their dream self.

Recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties, plastic surgery is a general term for operative manual and instrumental treatment which is performed for functional or aesthetic reasons. In fact, the word plastic derives from a Greek word and means "to mold" or "to shape." Plastic surgery is a rather broad category that also includes reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. Thus, cosmetic surgery is a subcategory of plastic surgery and helps to improve the appearance of a person by correcting the defects or improving its functions. Originally introduced to minimize the disfigurement caused by accidents, disease, or birth, cosmetic surgery has gone a long way since its introduction and it is now also referred to as aesthetic surgery. Aesthetic surgery changes existing facial or body features to improve appearance, but the need for it to be performed is mainly psychological and not functional.

Demonstrated by 11.9 million cosmetic procedures performed in the US alone in 2004, cosmetic surgery is a very popular avenue for personal enhancement. Designed to improve cosmetics, or appearance, this type of procedure has drawn the attention of million of people around the globe, who wished to improve a specific feature on their body by deciding to "correct" one of nature's mistakes in a surgeon's room. Since it takes a visit nowadays to correct a physical flaw, or one developed through time, people are eager to visit a cosmetic surgeon's clinic and spend a huge amount of income to perform an anti-wrinkle treatment like a botox injection, or thousand other cosmetic surgery procedures to stop the clock or become a better version of who they really are. Since our society gives priority to youth and beauty-as depicted in fashion and lifestyle magazines-people perceive the imagery they are fed as the only acceptable image they should themselves portray. Loosing hair, teeth, and body shape, can lead a person to perform some type of cosmetic surgery procedure in order to recapture the lost youth.

Although through cosmetic surgery people can change the way the feel and ultimately behave and not only the way they look, cosmetic surgery entails a risk; after all it is a surgery. Complications during the procedure or unfavorable consequences after its completion, can lead people to file lawsuits reclaiming their lost money, time, features and psychological state. Thus, before having to deal with bleeding or more serious complications, like infections, a person considering of performing a cosmetic surgery has to research extensively the solutions provided and minimize the risks involved by finding the recognized surgery center that its reviews increase the possibilities of successfully completing the procedure. Having to suffer later has never been among the desired outcomes of cosmetic surgery that exists only to help one feel and function better.