Preparing for Cosmetic Surgery: Is Now the Right Time?
We live in a world where algorithms continually provide us with tailored information based on what they think we want to see. While there is an incredible amount of information available online, it can be difficult to separate reliable medical information from opinion, personal experience, marketing, and anecdotal stories.
Choosing to have cosmetic surgery is a significant decision. It requires physical, emotional, and financial preparation, as well as a willingness to commit to the recovery process. Surgery should not be rushed into.
My goal with this article is to outline some of the things I encourage patients to consider before meeting with a plastic surgeon. Arriving prepared can help you make the most of your consultation, ask better questions, understand your options, and ultimately make a more informed decision about whether surgery is right for you.
Is Now a Good Time?
Elective surgery is best considered when you have had the opportunity to research your options and prepare physically, emotionally, and financially for the procedure.
Research
There is a tremendous amount of information about cosmetic surgery available online. Research can be helpful, but not all information is created equal.
Looking at before-and-after photographs can help you understand the types of results that may be possible. When reviewing photographs, try to find patients with a similar starting point, anatomy, body proportions, and goals. This can provide a more realistic sense of what may be achievable for you.
Social media influencers can offer valuable insight into their personal experiences, but their experiences should not be confused with professional medical advice. The same caution applies to surgeon influencers and online content that may be influenced by commercial or industry relationships.
Every patient has a unique body, medical history, and healing response. Even when two patients undergo the same procedure, their results may be quite different.
It is also important to remember that medical regulations, surgical standards, implant availability, and the companies that manufacture and promote medical devices can differ between countries. Information you find online may not necessarily apply to surgical care in your own jurisdiction.
Physical Readiness
The best time for elective surgery is generally when your medical conditions are stable and modifiable health risks have been addressed as much as possible.
Surgical outcomes depend in part on a patient's overall health. Smoking and nicotine use, including vaping, can increase the risk of wound-healing problems and other complications. Your surgeon may recommend stopping nicotine for a period of time before and after surgery, and in some circumstances surgery may need to be delayed.
Weight is another important consideration. If you are actively losing or gaining a significant amount of weight, it may be preferable to complete that process and maintain a relatively stable weight before surgery. Significant changes in weight after surgery can alter the surgical result.
Individual surgical facilities and surgeons may also have health or BMI requirements for specific procedures. These requirements are in place to help minimize surgical and anesthetic risks and vary depending on the procedure and the patient's overall health.
Good blood-sugar control is also important for patients with diabetes or other conditions affecting glucose regulation. Your surgeon may ask you to work with your family physician or other medical specialist to ensure that these issues are appropriately managed before surgery.
Finally, consider your plans for future pregnancies. Pregnancy can significantly change the breasts and abdomen and may alter the results of procedures such as breast surgery or abdominoplasty. If you have recently had a child or are planning a pregnancy in the near future, it may be worth discussing the timing of surgery with your surgeon.
Emotional Readiness
Surgery comes with ups and downs. Even when everything goes according to plan, recovery can be physically and emotionally challenging. Having a strong support network can make the process easier.
Cosmetic surgery should be undertaken to address something you would like to change or improve. The decision and motivation should ultimately come from you.
Surgery should not be viewed as a way to repair a relationship, satisfy someone else's expectations, or provide a solution during a personal crisis. External pressures are worth acknowledging because they can affect decision-making.
If you see a counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental-health professional, it can be helpful to discuss your desire for cosmetic surgery with them. This does not mean that wanting cosmetic surgery is inherently a sign of a mental-health problem. Rather, it is another opportunity to make sure that you are approaching the decision thoughtfully and with realistic expectations.
Cosmetic surgery can change a physical feature. It does not change who you are as a person.
Financial Readiness
Cosmetic surgery is also a financial commitment.
When considering the cost of a procedure, think beyond the surgical fee itself. Consider the cost of the entire process, including consultations, medications, garments or supplies, time away from work, travel, childcare, and potential additional treatment if a complication or revision surgery occurs.
It is also important to consider the long-term costs of certain procedures.
For example, breast implants are not lifetime devices. While it is impossible to predict exactly when an implant may need to be removed or replaced, patients should understand that additional surgery likely will be required at some point in the future.
Being financially prepared means being comfortable not only with the initial investment, but also with the possibility of future medical expenses.
Next in this series: How Should You Choose a Surgeon?
