Cosmetic surgery is a very widely used tool and one that can help people get closer to the body that they want, improving self-confidence and quality of life in a wide range of ways. However, it’s important to know what you’re getting into, as getting results differently from what’s expected can lead to real medical trauma.
Here, we’re going to look at some questions you should answer before you agree to cosmetic surgery.
What are your aims?
The first thing you should consider before any surgery is what, exactly, you want from it. You might have an idea of what specific parts of the body you’re less confident about and what you want to change.
However, you should think about what you want and hope to see on the other side of the surgery so that you can choose the procedure that is best suited to your needs, as well. Otherwise, you can find that your expectations and reality don’t match at all.
What does the procedure entail?
To get a better idea of how, exactly, cosmetic procedures can help you reach your goals, it can be a good idea to learn as much as you can about how the procedure actually works. Providing you’re not too squeamish, sources like The Plastic Surgery Channel can be vital for actually seeing the surgery for yourself and getting a better idea of what’s going to happen and what results might come out as a result. The more informed you are, the better.
What aftercare is necessary?
With all surgical procedures, some level of aftercare and recovery is needed. In some minimally invasive cases, you might not need to take any time off at all and can go back to work on the same day. In other cases, you might need a week or more of time to rest and care for yourself. Get a good idea of what aftercare and recovery you are going to require so that you can plan accordingly around the procedure.
What results can you expect?
The results from specific surgical procedures can differ from practice to practice because most cosmetic surgeries are based on a sense of aesthetic as well as medical expertise. As such, you should always try to get before and after photos from the practices that you are considering, so you can see what your results might be close to.
Who is the right surgeon for the job?
Once you’re certain that you want the procedure and you have a good idea of what kind of results you can expect, you then want to go about choosing the right surgeon for the job. Making sure they’re certified is a necessity but, beyond that, you should get an idea of what kind of experience they have in the procedures you want, as well as examples of surgeries they have done before to make sure they match your aesthetic needs.
The questions above aren’t supposed to put you off the idea of cosmetic surgery, but to help you be as informed and confident in your decisions as possible.
