The A, B, C of cosmetic surgery

Between eight to 10 lakh cosmetic surgeries happen in India every year. Who is an ideal candidate, and what are the risks and results you can expect?

- Puja Awasthi

The Indian surgeon Sushruta (circa. 1000-800 BC) is considered the 'father of plastic surgery'. The earliest form of such surgery was the use of skin from other parts of the body (arm, cheek, or forehead) to reconstruct amputated noses. The word 'plastic' in the term comes from the Greek 'plastike', or the art of modelling or sculpting. While originally used for restoration, it has now expanded to rejuvenation and enhancement. Between eight to 10 lakh cosmetic surgeries happen in India every year, and the country is one of the most popular hubs for such procedures. Surgeries which are considered medically necessary (like those for correcting nasal deformities which hamper breathing) are covered under insurance, while the rest might or might not be.

Dr Amit Gupta, MBBS, MS and DNB, is the founder and chief surgeon at Divine Aesthetics in Delhi. He has treated over 25,000 patients from the US, the UK, the UAE, Canada, Australia and Russia. When not wielding the scalpel, he likes to play the piano.

In layman's terms: Cosmetic surgery is the science of enhancing a person's natural body aesthetics. It helps individuals attain bodily features that complement their body or face type better.

Difference from plastic surgery: Plastic surgery encompasses a broader scope, including procedures like cancer reconstruction, birth defect correction (like cleft lip), and accident injury reconstruction. It can be divided into two main categories: reconstructive and cosmetic. Cosmetic surgery does not have further subdivisions. It is optional in most cases since it enhances a person's appearance whereas reconstructive surgery is a medical necessity.

An ideal patient: One who understands what is achievable, recognises the importance of the changes, is emotionally stable and socially settled, and has realistic expectations from the procedure.