MoreYouthful.com

When considering Aesthetic Surgery a key issue which invariably arises early on in plastic surgeries centers around feelings about one self. Patients need to examine the emotional, psychological, and cognitive factors which affect who they are and how they see themselves in the world.

Many women express concerns about growing older. It takes a remarkable person, male or female, who is not affected by our society’s expectations of what is most desirable - appearing eternally young, thin, sexy, and beautiful.

If you are contemplating aesthetic plastic surgery, it’s imperative to consider the following questions:

1. How do you feel about yourself as a person?

This question relates to self-esteem, which is very important to look at prior to surgery because it will influence your feelings about the outcome. When contemplating this question, it’s important to determine whether you are looking at yourself from the inside or from the outside. If you’re coming from a place of discontent with yourself, it’s important to address this issue in therapy prior to undergoing surgery.

2. Are you motivated by the fear of aging?

Do you see growing older as being positive or negative? Some people believe that you’re only as old as you feel. In fact, the research on mind-body medicine supports the idea that our thoughts and beliefs affect our physical bodies all the time. If we feel young at heart and do not expect to age rapidly, we probably will not. The opposite is also true.

3. What are your reasons for wanting to change the way you look?

If you feel good about yourself and want to feel even better, this is a healthy motivating factor for pursuing aesthetic surgery. On the other hand, if you’re electing to have aesthetic surgery following a significant life change or event (i.e. divorce, mid-life crisis, etc.), it’s highly possible that you may not feel good about yourself. Likewise, when you’re considering aesthetic surgery to satisfy your partner’s desires and not your own, it’s recommended that you receive some counseling to sort out these issues and put them in perspective so that you can make the best decision for yourself.

4. What are your expectations regarding aesthetic surgery? Are they realistic?

This is a crucial question to explore prior to making permanent changes to your physical body. Everyone has certain core beliefs about themselves. These beliefs can strongly influence how situations and events in their lives turn out. It’s important to keep in mind that aesthetic surgery can enhance your outward appearance, but it cannot change who you are inside, or make you someone you have not been in the past.

5. Are you totally resolved in your decision to proceed with the surgery?

It’s important to settle any ambivalence you may have regarding your decision. An essential fact to keep in mind is that nothing is perfect, and there are no quick fixes.

6. Are you willing to accept less-than perfect results?

Perfection is impossible, and the results of aesthetic surgery will not stop the aging process. However, healthy lifestyle habits may prolong the positive results. Nonetheless, you need to consider how you will cope with the outcome if the surgery does not exactly meet your expectations, or if there are complications.

7. Do you have a support system in place to help you through this process?

As with any life change, it’s important to have family and/or friends who are aware of what you are doing and will be there for you after the surgery.

8. How will you deal with emotional changes that may occur after aesthetic surgery?

This is a function of your expectations going into surgery and your beliefs about how it will affect your life. This is an issue that may be discussed with a counselor when contemplating this type of life change.

The decision to pursue aesthetic surgery can be a very exciting step in your life. However, it’s imperative to remember that — as with other important life decisions — motivating factors, beliefs, and expectations are crucial to consider. Look carefully at all the reasons why you are considering this procedure and how this procedure could change your life. Be sure to discuss these issues either with your plastic surgeon or a therapist. A healthy sense of one’s self prior to undergoing cosmetic changes is one of the best ways to ensure positive and successful results.

Share This