How to Decide if Plastic Surgery is Right for You

Note: Remember, I am not a physician or mental health professional. The information below should not be treated as medical advice.

Sure, we all throw out casual remarks about how we wish our nose was daintier or that we could magically get rid of our love handles, but how do you tell when plastic surgery should be a real option for you to consider?

Firstly, Think of Your Health

Is your less-than-ideal physique caused by bad luck, or just by laziness?  Do you have excess skin and flab from having lost weight quickly, or do you have a muffin top from…well, too many muffins?  

If the area in which you are considering surgery is one that you have tried to address through natural, non-surgical means for a significant amount of time, you may be a candidate for surgery.  For instance, if you have worked on improving your diet, increasing your physical activity, and taking care of your skin and you have seen no improvement in fat content, you may have stubborn fat sources that will not respond well to additional dieting or exercise.  Individuals who have lost weight very quickly may be left with flabby or sagging skin; in some cases, this will diminish with time, but in others, surgery may be the fastest and most effective option for removing unsightly bulge.

Similarly, if the nature of your problem is causing a detriment to your health (for instance, your breasts are too large and are causing backaches and neck pain), plastic surgery may be a smart option.  If a former illness, infection, accident, or birth defect has left you with a marred appearance or a substantially altered physique, plastic surgery may be a reasonable way to restore your original looks.

For those considering plastic surgery purely for aesthetics, consider whether the risks of surgery are worth the improvement in appearance.  Surgery carries significant – if rare – potential risks that every person considering plastic surgery should be aware of, such as infection or complications with the anesthesia.  

Furthermore, if the operation is purely for aesthetic purposes, consider visiting a counselor prior to deciding on surgery – if the issue is simply one of self-esteem and image, talking through insecurities with a mental health professional may solve the problem with less risk and less expense.

Choose the Doctor and the Procedure Wisely

If you have decided that plastic surgery is the best way in which to address your health, confidence, or aesthetic needs, your work still is not over.  Remember that with plastic surgery, especially for procedures that involve your face or significant restructuring or body fat removal, cheaper may not ever mean better.  Cutting costs on a procedure that will significantly alter your appearance and self-esteem may only leave you in worse shape than when you started.

Make sure you have chosen the appropriate procedure. This should be taken care of during a consultation with the plastic surgeon; do not assume that just because someone you know got liposuction to get rid of flab that the procedure will be appropriate for you. Avoid demanding a specific procedure and instead ask the surgeon for his or her advice about which type of operation would best meet your needs and desires.  For instance, a forehead lift may be better for you than a standard face lift, or abdominoplasty (or “tummy tuck”) may be more appropriate than liposuction.

Do not let a surgeon pressure you. A high-quality surgeon will understand that decisions about plastic surgery rightfully take time and serious thought.  He or she will also know that the choices you make about your body will be highly personal, and although they should offer advice, you will make the final decision that you have to live with.  If a surgeon tries to pressure you to select a larger cup size or a much more significant procedure than you anticipated, take time to think about whether that decision is right for you, and consider seeking a second opinion.

Narrow search results to experienced surgeons.  Verify his or her surgical experience and accreditation, select only board-certified surgeons, ask the state medical board regarding complaints filed against the physician, ask for references, choose a surgeon whom other health professionals and patients recommend, find out how long the surgeon has been practicing, and ask how many operations like yours he or she has performed.  Practice makes perfect, and when someone is taking a scalpel to your face or chest, you want as close to perfect as you can get. Remember that sometimes, going local is not always the best choice.

Interview the surgeons before you select one. Plastic surgery is no small affair.  If you are going to be paying out of pocket (and even if your insurance covers a portion of the operation cost), it is essential that you feel comfortable with the physician, the office, the nursing staff, and the quality of surgery you will receive.  The surgeon you choose should be professional, respectful, honest, and patient.  Ask about potential complications, the recovery process, the doctor’s availability for post-surgical consultations, privacy protection, the real results (no sugar-coating!) you should expect, and the honest time to recovery you can expect.  Pay attention to the “vibe” you get from the surgeon and the medical staff, and avoid offices that seem purely money-driven or too busy to be concerned for your feelings and comfort.

Make a Careful Choice

The great thing about plastic surgery is that it is typically an elective procedure. There is usually no urgency involved in the decision. Putting it off a few months to think about it is probably wise; selecting a procedure just to look good in time for swimsuit season is probably not.  Take your time and be sure that surgery is right for you before going under the knife.