Things to Consider Before Getting Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery procedures are more popular than ever. In fact, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Americans spent more than $16.5 billion on plastic surgery procedures in 2018. Many people opt for anti-aging procedures such as eyelifts, facelifts, and hair transplants. Also quite popular are body-sculpting procedures such as breast augmentation surgery, tummy tucks, butt lifts, and butt implants. Still, others look to cosmetic plastic surgery to enhance or alter their facial appearance with procedures such as lip augmentation, rhinoplasty (nose jobs), dermabrasion, and forehead lifts.

If you are considering plastic surgery it is important to remember that although it is an optional procedure, like any type of surgery it comes with some risks. It is important that you are well informed before you undergo any type of plastic surgery. Read on for some important things you should consider before making the decision to undergo a plastic surgery procedure.

Consider Your Health

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but your overall health is one of the most important things to consider before making an appointment with a plastic surgeon. While most people are good candidates for plastic surgery, it is essential that you let your plastic surgeon know about any health issues you are experiencing as well as any medications you are taking. You should also you provide him or her with your entire medical history.

It is also a good idea to pay a visit to your regular doctor to get an overall checkup before you opt for a plastic surgery procedure. If he or she gives you the green light, then you are good to go. If not, you might be able to work with your doctor to create a plan to improve your health enough to make plastic surgery possible for you.

Know What the Procedure You Are Getting Entails and What the Results Will Be

Before your procedure, your plastic surgeon should sit down with you to discuss exactly what the procedure you are opting for entails, what the estimated recovery time will be, and whether it will achieve the desired results. You should be well informed about what types of tasks you will be able to do or should avoid, during your recovery period. You should also find whether, and how long, you will have to stay home from work so you can plan ahead and reassign any important tasks to someone else temporarily.

According to the Widder Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center, considered to be one of the best plastic surgeons in Virginia, it is important to very clear with your plastic surgeon about the results you are looking for. “The ultimate decision is with the patient. We can’t impose our own aesthetic opinion on them. We specialize in butt implants, so we often have a discussion about what size they would like to be. We usually try to reference people in Hollywood who everybody knows. ‘Do you want to be like her, or do you want to be like her? Do you want to be something in the middle? Bigger?’ And it’s kind of negotiation. We have had patients who were a little shy and decided on a certain size and then regretted it. Interestingly enough, we have never had a patient complain about their butt implant being too big. If they complain, it’s always about the implant being too small after they decided on the size.”

Consider the Expense of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery procedures are not generally covered by medical insurance and, depending on the procedure, can be expensive, costing anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. Be sure you know what your plastic surgery procedure will cost up front. You should also make sure to factor in costs related to the surgery such as taking time off of work.

Finding the Right Plastic Surgeon

Choosing the right plastic surgeon to perform your procedure is important. He or she should be someone you feel comfortable talking to and sharing your desired results, medical history and feelings with. Look for a surgeon who specializes in the procedure you would like to have done and ask him or her to show you before and after photographs of past patients. It’s also OK for you to ask a surgeon for references. Past patients are one of the best sources of information on what working with a particular surgeon is like. You should also read online reviews for any doctor you are considering for a plastic surgery procedure.