Also, if you are unwilling to accept the operation recommended by your plastic surgeon to achieve the greatest possible outcome—whether because you are concerned about longer scars or a long recovery time—you must be willing to accept an inferior result. Failure to follow post-surgery instructions can result in a poor outcome and, in some cases, exacerbate a condition.
Finally, if you want to look like a Barbie or have a “perfect” nose or pair of breasts, you might be disappointed. You may end up looking overly “plastic,” or you may believe you do not look “good enough.” But, again, your goal should be to improve rather than to be flawless.
Is There an Alternative to Plastic Surgery?
This is critical to understand because plastic surgery is not without dangers. Could you make changes to your diet? Could you move your body a little more and get a little more exercise? If you’ve given all other options a fair shot, plastic surgery may be a viable option for you. There is also the option of not having any surgery at all.
Will You Be Able to Cover Up Your Scars?
Scars are to be expected with plastic surgery! You should be aware of where your scars will be located. This is especially necessary if you wear low-cut jeans or shirts, bikinis, etc., or if your job requires you to expose your flesh (such as actors, dancers, or models).
Don’t believe the marketing hype about plastic surgeons performing “scarless surgery.” Plastic surgeons are skilled at concealing or camouflaging scars and take pride in their incision closures. Patients frequently use this to determine whether or not a procedure was successful. So do not be afraid to inquire about them.
How much will it cost, and will you be able to afford it?
Plastic surgery is not inexpensive! Whether you are paying cash or financing your operation, you must first assess whether you can afford plastic surgery. Is there anything else in your life that will suffer if you spend money on plastic surgery? This is especially true if you are paying for your operation yourself. Are you willing to keep paying off your operation even after you’ve recovered? Even if the outcome isn’t precisely what you intended or there’s a complication, you’ll still have to pay.
Are You Willing to Go Through Multiple Procedures?
You may need revision surgery. Revision surgery in plastic surgery is not commonplace. Revision surgery entails having surgery done again to improve on previous surgery. It could be a little operation requiring only local anesthetic or a more involved process with an additional cost.
Are You Able to Take Enough Time Off to Recover?
You could be out of commission for several days or even weeks, depending on the operation. In addition, you will require time off following your surgery to heal. And it isn’t just the early aches, pains, and bruising that you may endure; once those have subsided, your plastic surgeon may still dictate limits.
Can you afford to take time off if you work? This includes stay-at-home moms, whose job varies throughout the day. If you choose to use your vacation time, you must evaluate whether it is worth foregoing rest and leisure in exchange for healing time.