Over recent years, the subject of cosmetic surgery has stepped out of the shadows to become one that is discussed openly and freely without taboo. Now more than ever, adults of all ages are giving thought to surgical and non-surgical beauty treatments of various types in order to make minor and in some cases major changes to their bodies. Nevertheless, cosmetic surgery is not and never will be the kind of subject that should be approached lightly and without plenty of thought and consideration. Regardless of how much safer and more effective today’s cosmetic surgery may be compared to that of years gone by, it still often represents a life-changing decision that cannot be approached without having first asked yourself a series of crucial questions.
So with this in mind, what follows is a quick introduction to perhaps the five most important questions of all you should ask yourself prior to going ahead with any kind of cosmetic procedure:
1 – Why Exactly Am I Having Surgery?
First and foremost, you need to ask yourself exactly why it is that you are considering plastic surgery in the first place. While it all comes down to personal choice, there are nonetheless reasons why cosmetic surgery is a good idea and other reasons why you really should not be considering it at all. For example, if there is a very slight element of your look that you have been unhappy with for a long time and has prompted you to think long and hard about cosmetic surgery, chances are you will be a good candidate. By contrast, if you have made a decision on the spur of the moment, have been pressured into it by another person or are considering cosmetic surgery as a means of combating depression, you really should not be going near the surgeon’s knife at all.
2 – What do I Expect to Get Out of it?
It is important to touch upon the subject of what exactly it is you expect to get out of the plastic surgery should you go ahead with it. For example, if you know that the changes made to your appearance may be relatively minor, temporary and not exactly life changing, then again you are a good candidate for plastic surgery. If on the other hand you think that you will walk out of the procedure looking and feeling entirely different with your life changed for the better from that moment on, you’re not being realistic and should probably reconsider. Plastic surgery never has been and never will be perfect, so perfection cannot be expected.
3 – Do I Fully Understand the Risks?
Never under any circumstances approach plastic surgery as something that can be carried out or undergone without there being certain risks attached. There isn’t a single competent and responsible surgeon in the world that would ever try to tell you that even the simplest of procedures do not carry their own risks. All types of surgery and all procedures across the board inherently come with their own unique risks and these must be fully taken into account before going ahead. Risks will be brought to your attention by the surgeon in the early stages of the consultation process, and you must ensure that you understand and acknowledge each and every one of them.
4 – Do I Know What to Expect During the Recovery Period?
Something else to bear in mind is that every type of cosmetic surgery across the board is somewhat unique when it comes to recovery times. And the same can also be said for patients as the fact that every patient is unique means that their own recovery process may be unlike that of anybody else. As such, you cannot necessarily expect to recover from your surgery in next to no time at all and return to your normal life. You need to be realistic and ensure recovery times are covered in full during preliminary consultations.
5 – Have I Fully Vetted and Checked My Chosen Surgeon?
Last but not least, quite simply nothing is more important than ensuring that the surgeon you choose for your cosmetic procedure is nothing less than the very best surgeon on the market. This is not the kind of thing where cutting corners is in any way acceptable and nor should you be willing to accept second best. Carry out as much homework as necessary, ask all the questions in the world and feel free to attend as many consultations as necessary before agreeing to go ahead.