Much of what's written about cosmetic surgery in newspapers and magazines, and even in some medical journals, is half-truth, myth, or advertising. The media has distorted public perception with overly negative or sensationalized stories, and medical specialty organizations contribute to the mayhem by promoting warring viewpoints to establish their own market share. The misinformation is further compounded by the rapid pace of technological change. As soon as we begin to understand one procedure, new ones pop up, and the confusion begins anew. Many of today's finest techniques didn't even exist five years ago. And five years from now, these may be ancient history. For example, the very latest developments involve non-surgical, noninvasive therapies, including laser treatments, light treatments, radiofrequency treatments, and mesotherapy (superficial injection therapy). These treatments can help you maintain what you get after surgery. But better yet, for the right patient, they can completely replace surgery and get you looking great. There's little or no recovery time, little discomfort and the risks are almost zero.Moreover, I feel a patient's psychological perspective is often ignored, and this, in many ways, is the most important aspect of the whole process. That's why I've chosen to open the book with a chapter called "The Psychology of Cosmetic Surgery." Motivation, media influence, culture, expectations, family pressures, and other factors have an enormous influence on one's perceptions and decisions. On the physical side, cosmetic surgery is safer than it's ever been, thanks to innovations in anesthesia and other techniques. A new kind of numbing medicine known as "tumescent anesthesia" was introduced about 1990 and is now the standard. General anesthesia, which involves heavier drugs, intensive (and expensive) medical supervision, a sometimes more difficult recovery, along with significant risks, is typically unnecessary for the physicians who are trained to use the newer local anesthetic/light sedation combinations. With these anesthesia techniques, side effects such as nausea, drugged feelings, and a lengthy postoperative recovery, can usually be avoided. But the best news is that your surgery can now be done in an outpatient surgical center, and you will be able to go home only a few hours later with a new body.