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Is Plastic Aesthetic Surgery Right For You?

The art and science of plastic/aesthetic surgery is continually advancing. Today, highly skilled aesthetic surgeons can rejuvenate an aging face or sculpt a body to create a more attractive figure. Aesthetic surgery is not a panacea for all of life’s problems. It can, however, significantly enhance and enrich the quality of life for many people. Actually, that is the simple, politically correct answer to the general question about the appropriateness of cosmetic surgery for anyone and everyone. The real answer is not so simple or straightforward. It is found by answering the following questions:

Are you in satisfactory physical and mental health? And I do mean to emphasize mental!
For whom do you want to do this surgery?
What do you expect the surgery to accomplish?
Are you a perfectionist?

Question #1 reminds us that cosmetic plastic surgery is entirely elective. It is not necessary for health. Its goal is purely and simply one of enhancing the quality of life. Therefore, if you are in less than ideal health, the risks of surgery, even cosmetic plastic surgery, are not worth taking if the surgery places you at greater risk of a serious or life-threatening complication or problem. Mental health is equally important. Procedures that alter one’s appearance can be emotionally destabilizing for one who has a condition of mental illness.

Question #2 speaks to the fact that these surgical procedures are for the benefit of the patient, and only secondarily for someone else. You should never undergo aesthetic surgery because someone else wants you to change your appearance. It is your face and body. If you are happy with your appearance, you do not need to change it. In fact, you ultimately could regret making a change for someone other than yourself.

Question #3 asks you to scrutinize what you expect to gain by the surgery. Are you unhappy with your life and think that aesthetic surgery will change it for you? Do you believe that a job promotion will be yours because of a new face, larger bustline or shapelier figure? Do you think aesthetic surgery will enable you to find prince or princess charming, or save a failing marriage or relationship? These are serious misconceptions. Aesthetic surgery can only rejuvenate or enhance your outward appearance. It will not change who you really are. It will not give you talent or insight that you do not already possess. Happiness, like beauty, is more than skin deep. If, on the other hand, you are young at heart and want your outward appearance to match your self-image, aesthetic surgery is ideal for you. Your expectations should only be that an outward improvement will be made. What you do with that outward improvement is entirely up to you.

Question #4 is very important. While in some areas and endeavors being a perfectionist may be an asset, when it comes to being a cosmetic surgery patient it may be a curse. In fact, it is probably one of the major reasons not to have cosmetic surgery.

If you are truly a perfectionist, you will probably never be happy with cosmetic surgery. Why? Because there really is no true perfection possible in plastic surgery. There is only good surgery. The variables are too great. The process of healing does not grant perfection. There cannot be absolute symmetry, eradication of every wrinkle, scarless surgery, and so on. Therefore, if you can be candid and truly honest with yourself and in doing so find that this description of perfectionism is you, do yourself (and plastic surgeons) a favor and do not even consider cosmetic surgery. If, however, you are looking to make some changes and improvements that you can enjoy every day when you look in the mirror, give cosmetic plastic surgery a chance.