Considering plastic surgery? You’re about to change your body in a major, somewhat permanent way, so you shouldn’t take the decision lightly. Here’s a list of things to consider before you go under the knife:
Expectations
You should hope for and expect improvement, not perfection. You can reasonably expect an increase in confidence, but your appearance won’t drastically change, and you won’t become magically endowed with movie star looks. If you’re hoping surgery will improve a relationship that’s on the rocks or drastically change your social life, don’t count on it. If you have depression or other psychological issues, getting plastic surgery won’t fix those either.
Money
Most insurance plans won’t cover the cost of plastic surgery. Depending on which procedure you get, you could end up paying anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Follow-up care or additional procedures might put an even bigger dent in your checking account. It’s best to get an exact price quote at a consultation so you know how much to save and how long it will take to be financially prepared. Also consider financing options through companies, such as CareCredit, that typically allows approximately 6 months to pay off your loan interest free.
Risks
Any kind of surgery involves risk. You might not like the result of your cosmetic surgery, or you might encounter some kind of complication, like excessive bleeding. If your surgeon says he’s never seen complications with his work, he’s a liar. A good surgeon should have a success rate of about 95 percent. Ask how many surgeries a your prospective surgeon has performed and how many were successful. One way to avoid or minimize risk is to consider the full range of treatment. Sometimes it’s possible to find less drastic procedures that address your concerns. Non-invasive procedures have much lower risks than invasive ones.
Recovery
The body heals at its own rate, often with lots of swelling and bruising. You may need days, weeks or months recover from cosmetic surgery. Be sure that you can plan your life around your expected recovery time. If you’re getting surgery before an important event, like a wedding, a good rule of thumb is to have the surgery about a month before.
The Doctor
This is one of the most important considerations. Don’t go to the first doctor who pops up on a search engine. Shop around and read many online reviews from patients or get personal reviews from the office or friends and family. Assure that you get along well with your prospective doctor, because you might be returning often. The whole experience will be smoother if you can talk to the doctor easily. Make sure he has the right credentials. Ask if he is a board certified facial plastic surgeon. This shows that he’s had specialized training and has passed rigorous testing to keep up his skills.