There is nothing wrong with wanting to get cosmetic surgery, but there are some considerations you should make before booking a consultation.
1. Keep Your Expectations Realistic
It can be difficult for a person living in a metropolitan area known for attractive people, like Miami, to have realistic expectations regarding how they are going to look after plastic surgery. They may think that plastic surgery will revolutionize their appearance so much that it is going to literally change who they are. However, not even the best plastic surgery professional can perform a plastic surgery that will change who you are as a person, improve your relationships, or guarantee a satisfying job. It is important to keep expectations realistic.
2. Review Your Surgeon’s Qualifications
Just about any licensed surgeon can perform cosmetic surgery. For this reason, there is an increase in the number of cardiologists, OB/GYNs, and internal medicine doctors performing cosmetic procedures. However, you should limit your choices to surgeons who are board-certified in plastic surgery. Better yet, they should be board-certified in the specific procedure you want to have done. Board-certified plastic surgeons must complete continuing medical education every single year. They take performance examinations and must prove patient outcomes to maintain their certification.
3. Evaluate the Quality of the Facility
Once you know that the surgeon is qualified and experienced, you want to look at the surgery facility. Is it an accredited facility? Examples of accredited facilities will include medical centers and hospitals. Procedures performed at a person’s home, office building, or strip mall could be unsafe. This is because these facilities lack the equipment to address complications you could face.
4. Determine When to Have the Procedure
There are several short-term and long-term considerations to think about before having a cosmetic procedure done. For example, you may want to have a rhinoplasty procedure done and also have your wedding planned in three months. Rhinoplasty is a procedure that can take up to a year for the full results to become visible. You would want to schedule your procedure in a way to look your best on your important day.
Thinking about the long-term, women may want to wait to have surgery until they have finished having children. Bearing and nursing children can take a toll on a woman’s body. The changes are dramatic. If you are considering something like a mommy makeover, a tummy tuck, or breast augmentation, it may be best to wait until after your last baby is born.
5. Count the Cost
This is a significant factor that should be looked at from two perspectives. First, you do not want a discount or bargain plastic surgery. You want the best results from the best surgeon at the best facility. You may need to count the cost and save money, which means that you have to wait a few additional months or a few additional years before surgery. Second, count the cost when it comes to the risk. Plastic surgery is elective, but it is not risk-free. This is especially true of procedures that require general anesthesia. Surgical complications are possible and should be considered before deciding to go under the knife.
Lizzie Howard is a Colorado native who after graduating from the University of Colorado spends her time as a freelance writer. When Lizzie isn’t writing, she enjoys going on hikes, baking for her friends and family, and spending time with her beloved yellow lab, Sparky.
