Realistic expectations and goals
The rise in cosmetic surgery
The number of people choosing to have plastic surgery has increased dramatically in recent years. Technological advances have increased the options you can consider. With this increase in popularity, people’s attitudes have also changed. An increasing number of people are opting for cosmetic surgery. In fact, in just 10 years' time, cosmetic surgery increased by more than 650 percent.
All surgery carries some risk. And while plastic surgery can improve a part of your body, it rarely improves your whole life. Make sure your goals are realistic.
For patients with realistic expectations, cosmetic surgery can enhance body satisfaction. Less people are accepting that they must grow old gracefully, and more and more people are choosing the cosmetic surgery alternative route.
The advances in cosmetic surgery have meant a faster patient recovery and much more natural results. Along with great new technologies and high tech equipment meaning surgeries are performed quicker, with fewer side effects and down time to the patient.
The decision to have any type of cosmetic surgery is a very personal one and no 2 reasons are usually the same. Unlike other medical surgeries, we're often attracted to consider cosmetic surgery from a combination of factors. Our body images in partly shaped by society.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Cosmetic surgery will not change your life; it will give you greater self-confidence and add to your sense of well-being. You should not make this decision hastily. It will not solve personal problems or make you look like someone else.
The right motivation and realistic expectations are the key. The best surgeon in the world can't help you if your motivation is wrong or your expectations are unrealistic.
First, you should ONLY have plastic surgery for yourself. Not for your spouse, your kids, your friends, or anyone else. Secondly, you should do it for the right reasons.
Good & bad reasons
There are many reasons for having surgery but cosmetic surgery cannot save a bad marriage. It won't turn you into a movie star. And, it won't change an unhappy life into a happy one. But there's a lot it can do.
Good reasons for seeking cosmetic surgery include the following
- "I look into the mirror and I don't recognize that person."
- "I want to do it for myself."
- "People keep telling me I look tired or angry."
- "I feel young, I exercise, but I don't look the way I feel."
It can improve your appearance. It can help you look as young as you feel. And it can boost your self-esteem and you self-confidence. The rest is up to you.
Cosmetic surgery deals in improvement, not in perfection. If you can accept that, you may be a good candidate. Chances are excellent that you'll be happy with the results of your procedure. The best patient is a well-motivated one who has considered cosmetic surgery for some time. Most patients have seriously thought about having cosmetic surgery for 3-5 years or more.
Communication
When it comes to good cosmetic surgery results, this is often dependent on the communication between you and your surgeon. Make sure you are comfortable with your surgeon and that you can communicate openly and honestly with him/her. Successful plastic surgery is a result of a good rapport between patient and surgeon as well as your surgeons experience and qualifications.
Body image dissatisfaction is often associated with decreased self-esteem, self-confidence, and psychological well-being. These emotional and psychological issues cause some women to turn to cosmetic surgery. Before surgery, consider the emotional & psychological reasons for wanting cosmetic surgery and talk with your surgeon to make sure it's right for you.
Questions
It's important to be honest with yourself about why you want to change a certain part of your body. You may be doing it because of genital defect or something that developed as a result of injury or trauma from an accident etc. Or, you may just be doing it to slow down the aging process. In any case, here are some questions to ask yourself about why you want cosmetic surgery.
What are your expectations from cosmetic surgery? Are they realistic? What is your motivation? Do you think your partner will love you more? Or, are you doing this for yourself?
What is it about this part of my body that I want to correct and why? When did I start thinking about cosmetic surgery? Was it because I wanted to do something about it or was it because someone else made a comment?
Remember
Cosmetic surgery is a huge investment in time, effort, and emotion. It probably will not change your social life or your outlook on life. Take a minute to assess why you really want cosmetic surgery, and whether you have realistic expectations.
By changing how you look, cosmetic surgery can help change how you feel about yourself.
However it is important to have realistic expectations about how cosmetic surgery may affect your life. Appearance is only a small part of who you are.
