Cosmetic Surgery
Surgery that can improve the way a person looks is becoming more and more popular in the United States. This kind of surgery is called cosmetic surgery, and both men and women are turning to this treatment as a way of keeping their appearance young as well as keeping competitive （有竞争力的） in their jobs. Men especially are beginning to turn to face-lifts （面部拉皮手术）, liposuction （taking fat out of the body）, and implants （putting artificial, parts into their bodies） to help them look younger. As companies downsize （缩编） and move younger employees into higher positions, older employees in their late forties and early fifties feel the need to look and act younger in order to stay competitive. These operations are not without dangers, however.
One young woman had an eye operation to get rid of the bags under her eyes. She described her experience as terrible. She said, "When he started cutting, I was fully awake. Even though he'd given me an injection near my eyes, I saw everything." She went on to explain, "1 knew I had to keep still because of what he was doing. He was scraping （刮） away fat underneath my eyes. It took about ten minutes. After he finished, I felt I couldn't walk. I was so faint." Her troubles did not end after the operation for two weeks. Her eyes were swollen （肿胀的） and almost completely closed, and even dark glasses could not hide the side effects of the operation.
Liposuction, taking fat out of the body, is probably the most popular cosmetic operation in the United States. It seems simple enough. First, a small cut is made over the place where the patient wants the fat removed. Next, a small pipe is put into the cut. A machine like a vacuum cleaner is then used to suck the fat out of the body. However, as one doctor explained, some problems can happen after the operation. He warned; "Irregular lumps and loose skin can result from this operation. If it is not evenly done, liposuction can produce a very lumpy result." Patients often must have more liposuction to correct the problem.
Sometimes liposuction patients may have to undergo more than one operation.
