Want Plastic Surgery? 4 Considerations Before Taking The Plunge

Health & Medical Articles

Whether you want to fix small problems or have a complete body makeover, plastic surgery is not a rash decision. Before and during the surgery consultation process, there are different factors you need to consider before committing to surgery.

Quality Over Cost

If you are considering any type of plastic surgery, you know that it is typically an out-of-pocket expense. During your consultation with a plastic surgeon, you will receive an estimate based on the type of surgery, hospital costs and any follow-up care. The expense of surgery combined with any lost wages during your recovery can add up quickly, which may lead you to consider unsafe ways to keep your costs low.

Having procedures done in other countries is increasingly popular and risky. Many countries do not require their plastic surgeons to have the same credentials as surgeons in the U.S., which means the competence of the surgeon and the quality of the surgical facility can be questionable. Furthermore, no surgery is without risks and if you have complications during or after surgery, you may be on your own.

Maintaining Your Results

When you are thinking about the costs of plastic surgery, you also need to consider maintenance. How you maintain the results of your surgery may require a combination of your efforts and periodic revision surgeries. Any type of plastic surgery designed to reduce excess skin and/or fat on the face and body can be undone with a poor diet and lack of exercise. If you often gain and lose weight, this can drastically affect the results of your surgery, especially if you have poor skin elasticity.

Every type of surgery is different in its expected longevity. For example, if you choose to have a facelift or breast enlargement, you will need periodic revisions over your lifetime. In contrast, a tummy tuck is easier to maintain over your lifespan, if you manage your weight. Your face and body will continue to go through the normal aging process, and without proper maintenance, the site of previous surgeries can appear distorted.

Special Considerations For People Of Color

Although every person is different in their response to surgery and the results they can expect, people of color may face additional challenges, especially those with deeper skin tones. If you have a deeper skin tone, you may want a surgeon who specializes in ethnic skin, or has performed the same procedure on numerous people with a similar skin tone.

Deeper skin tones are more prone to changes in skin pigmentation after surgery, such as depigmentation or hyperpigmentation, and the development of keloids or raised surgical scars. Some types of plastic surgery uses lasers to help tighten skin and you want to be sure that any laser treatments are approved for use on all skin tones and types.

Your Underlying Reasons

There is nothing wrong with wanting to enhance your appearance, but there is a fine line between enhancements and obsession. Psychological concerns, such as body dysmorphic disorder, eating disorders or depression can manifest themselves as an obsession over your physical appearance and an unrelenting desire for plastic surgery. In many cases, if your decision to have plastic surgery is due to underlying psychopathology, it only fuels the obsession.

You may find yourself in a constant pattern of overanalyzing your face and body for new areas to fix. Another indication that your choice to have plastic surgery is for the wrong reasons is if you have grandiose ideas of what life will be like after surgery. It is normal to feel more confident in your appearance after a surgery you truly wanted. However, expecting a dramatic change in your personality or the way others perceive you is often more fantasy than reality.

Plastic surgery is not always an easy decision, but having surgery for the right reasons and choosing your surgeon wisely can make you feel confident in your decision. Visit http://www.myplasticsurgerygroup.com for more information. 

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27 February 2015

Tips for Living a Great Life with Chronic Illness

I was always very healthy throughout my childhood, but when I became a teenager, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Thankfully, I had the support of my loving family to help keep me upbeat during a time that could have led to me experiencing the depression that some do after they first learn they will have an illness for life. I am very grateful for the advice I have gotten throughout my life, so I decided to create a blog where I can share all of the advice that has helped me live a happy, healthy life, despite having a chronic illness. Since I am on a medication that suppresses my immune system, I have also studied up on many other illnesses and tips for avoiding them and treating them. I plan to post health tips for people of a variety of ages and suffering with various illnesses!