As you age you begin to question how well your natural and organic skin routine is working for you. You’ve tried all those wrinkle creams and you’ve fought the signs of aging well. You’ve also battled the droop by shaping your body beyond what many thought was naturally possible.
But still, you’re beginning to notice that your assets don’t look quite as good as they once did, and you want to preserve them for longer. So, you’re starting to consider alternatives like cosmetic surgery to give you that natural lift that you’re seeking. But you’re not 100% sure if cosmetic surgery is right for you.
Let’s look at 4 steps to deciding if cosmetic surgery is for you. These may help you decide whether to make further enquires or not.
Cosmetic surgery worldwide is big business. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2019 the top 10 surgical and nonsurgical procedures globally were:
Surgical Procedures
There were a total of 11,363,569 million surgical procedures carried out in 2019.
- Breast augmentation with over 1.795 million operations performed, down 3.6% on 2018 figures.
- Liposuction with over 1.704 million operations performed, down 1.6% on 2018 figures.
- Eyelid surgery with over 1.259 million operations performed, up 14.5% on 2018 figures.
- Abdominoplasty with over 924,000 operations performed, up 4.0% on 2018 figures.
Nonsurgical Procedures
There were a total of 13,618,735 million nonsurgical procedures carried out in 2019.
- Botulinum toxin with 6.271 million operations performed, up 2.9% on 2018 figures.
- Hyaluronic acid with 4.315 million procedures performed, up 15.7% on 2018 figures.
- Hair removal with 1.042 million procedures performed, up 13.8% on 2018 figures.
- nonsurgical fat reduction with 462,769 procedures performed, down 2.2% on 2018 figures.
- Photo rejuvenation with 391,415 procedures performed, down 10.4% on 2018 figures.
In a survey conducted by a leading British magazine out of a thousand (1000) women, one-hundred and ten (110) of these had undergone surgery with breast enhancements and nose jobs being the most prominent procedures. Of these women over seventy percent (70%) said cosmetic surgery had definitely improved their lives. However, all had said that bad operations, pain and infection after surgery were significant concerns before they agreed to surgery.
This concern still exists for many today as cosmetic surgery comes with risks. Therefore, it is crucial for you to know exactly what you want done and why, what the procedure entails, how long it will take for you to recuperate after the procedure, and what credentials your doctor and the facility have. Don’t let a smooth talking surgeon or clinic sell you a face lift when you only want to remove those bags under your eyes.
Deciding If Cosmetic Surgery Is For You: Step 1 What do you want done and why?
The first question you need to ask yourself is what do you want to change about yourself and why? Are you seeking to correct a physical abnormality? Do you want to reverse the signs of aging? Are you seeking to make aesthetic changes to your appearance that could help you feel more confident?
If you’re not sure how to answer this question, then grab yourself a pen and paper and make a list of what you do and don’t like about your appearance. Then next to the aspects that you don’t like about yourself write down how you’d like to change these. If you’ve listed cosmetic surgery as one of your options, then it’s time to do a little research.
Visit an online search engine. In the query box type in the part of your body that you’re wishing to alter, such as ‘nose’, and then the words ‘cosmetic surgery’. Next, look through the results. To begin with you want to know the official name of the surgery you want to have.
Once you know the name of your surgery, then you can find out what you can expect to achieve by having the procedure. There are plenty of before and after galleries that you can look through to see the results of various types of cosmetic surgery. When you’re looking through these galleries, just bear in mind that individual experiences will differ. But at least you can get an idea of what surgery will help you achieve the results you seek.
Deciding If Cosmetic Surgery Is For You: Step 2 What does the procedure entail?
A lot of people overlook what the actual procedure is going to involve, as they are purely interested in the results. However, its essential for you to know about the procedure costs, what happens during the procedure, the risks involved, what happens when surgery doesn’t go as expected, and kind of results are actually possible for you. While you can search through before and after galleries, these won’t show you how exactly how you will look because your body is not the same as other people. So, you need to be realistic, rather than picturing yourself looking like someone else.
It’s easy to fantasize, we get that. But now is not the time for your imagination to run away. You need to be realistic and understand what will happen to you and your body during the cosmetic procedure, and after.
To gain a thorough understanding of what the procedure entails research and learn more about the procedure itself. There are plenty of videos about plastic surgery that you can watch to become more informed about what actually goes on during the procedure and, as a result, what you can expect. By educating yourself on the options available to you and the protocols that surgeons follow, you can get a little more peace of mind about your choice.
Also, look for procedure reviews from people who have experienced the cosmetic surgery you’re considering, and listen to their opinions and what they’ve gone through. YouTube is a great source of these videos, and often gives you a realistic perspective of what to expect. Plus, in some instances, these videos highlight what can sometimes go wrong, and how other people have rectified issues they’ve encountered.
Deciding If Cosmetic Surgery Is For You: Step 3 How long will it take to recuperate after the surgery?
Due to the excitement of possibly finding an answer to their problem, many people don’t consider how long recovery and aftercare will take, and what impact it will have on their daily life. The recovery associated with different procedures varies depending on the complexity of the surgery and the site of the procedure. By finding out how long it will take you to recuperate, you can then make plans before your surgery that will allow you to rest so you gain the best results.
Deciding If Cosmetic Surgery Is For You: Step 4 What are the credentials of the doctor and the facility?
If you’ve carried out all this research and you’re still keen to know more about the procedure, then the next step is to find a reputable surgeon. Most people will go to their local doctor for a referral at this time of their journey. They trust their practitioner and they value their opinion, so it makes sense to ask their advice on who to consult.
Regardless of whether you’ve found a surgeon by referral or word-of-mouth, it is still essential for you to review the credentials of the cosmetic practitioner and the clinic, facility or hospital that you’re looking to attend. You can do this by looking at online reviews. If you’re still happy with your choice, then booking an appointment to meet the surgeon. At this appointment you can ask more about the procedure, the doctor’s credentials and the facility.
InShape Key Takeaways
- You are the only one who can decide if cosmetic surgery is for you or not.
- Don’t let anyone pressure you into having a procedure you are unsure about.
- Do research, research and more research before making a decision.
- Know what you want done, and why, and then find out as much about the procedure as possible.
- Be realistic. Your body is not the same as someone in a gallery. Don’t assume you’ll look like them after the procedure.
- Look at positive and negative reviews, so you have a good perspective of the procedure to base your decision on.
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