The cost of cosmetic procedures/enhancements

For decades, the cosmetic surgery market, a multibillion-dollar industry, has profited from the insecurities of those wealthy enough or with little disposable income to afford these procedures.

Once considered a shameful secret, pop culture and social media have helped to influence a generation of people who are proud and transparent about the cosmetic procedures or enhancements they have done or want to do.

With aesthetic enhancements becoming more affordable and less of a taboo, procedures like breast augmentation, breast reduction, facelift, liposuction, tummy tuck, fat grafting, nose reshaping, and the popular Brazilian butt lift made popular by reality television star and business mogul Kim Kardashian are now more than ever sought after.

One of the latest weight loss procedures in town is Bariatric surgery. While Bariatric surgery is the umbrella term for a variety of procedures that help with weight loss, they all work to change the stomach to limit the amount of food one can eat at a time, and the result is a reduced appetite.

The Endoscopic Intragastric Balloon, a non-surgical procedure, is one of the most common types of bariatric surgery that has been made popular by Kenyan influencers and media personalities who’ve done it. It involves inserting a balloon that fills up half the stomach and increases the feeling of fullness after eating. This procedure costs KSh350, 000.

Gastric Bypass, another type of bariatric surgery, is the most commonly performed bariatric procedure worldwide. In Kenya, the procedure will set you back KSh850,000. The procedure uses staples to divide the stomach into a small upper pouch and a larger lower remnant pouch through which food no longer passes.

The third type of bariatric surgery is the Sleeve Gastrectomy, which removes about 75 % of the stomach, resulting in a thin, vertical banana-sized sleeve. This sleeve holds less food, meaning you consume fewer calories, but you will spend KSh850,000 on it.

While interest in bariatric surgery shows no signs of fading anytime soon, the latest trend in town for those who need a “magic fix” to lose weight is the Ozempic wave, which seems to be getting so much attention. Ozempic, generically known as semaglutide, is a diabetes drug that is injected once weekly to help adults with type-2 diabetes manage their blood sugar.

The active ingredient, semaglutide slows stomach emptying and decreases appetite, and it’s for this reason people are using it to lose weight. Still, people who opt for this weight loss method are advised to make lifestyle changes to help their weight loss such as exercise and eating healthy. At the cosmetic surgery clinic Body by Design, the semaglutide injection costs KSh99,000 for four injections. The price could vary depending on where one gets it.

Away from weight loss, there are cosmetic procedures designed to help those chasing youthful appearances counter the effects of ageing. A facelift tightens sagging skin to create a younger-looking face.

In Kenya, the cost of a non-surgical facelift which involves the use of dermal fillers starts at Ksh35, 000 for a 1ml syringe. A full 8-point non-surgical facelift at Dr. Stasch Clinic & Medispa requires two to four different types of 1ml syringes. For 2 syringes (2ml), it costs KSh70, 000, 3 syringes (3ml) costs KS 100, 000 and 4 syringes (4ml) for KSh120,000.

The Brazilian Butt Lift, or BBL as it is commonly called, can make a difference in a person’s figure. It is also among the world’s fastest-growing cosmetic surgeries done to achieve fuller, rounder and better-projected buttocks. But the perfect derriere will set you back about KSh500,000.

For women who want an hourglass figure but are hindered by a large sagging belly, a tummy tuck, which costs about KSh500, 000 could be the way to go. However, vary depending on the facility and doctor chosen to undertake the procedure.

Other body contouring options include procedures like liposuction, which removes fat from specific areas of the body, such as the abdomen, hips, thighs, buttocks, neck, or arms. The cost, of course, depends on varying factors like where the excess unwanted fat is removed, but it could generally cost about KSh500,000.

The types of cosmetic surgeries or procedures that alter or shape the body are vast. And while it may only be a little nip here and a little tuck there to feel and look good, cosmetic plastic surgeries or enhancements do not come cheap and carry potential risks and complications.

Some of the broader risks associated with cosmetic surgeries include nerve damage, bruising, bleeding, pain, swelling, scarring, occurrence of blood clots, organ damage, and psychological impact from unsatisfactory results, among others.