With the availability of safe and effective minimally-invasive and non-invasive cosmetic procedures that involve little downtime, more and more men and women are opting to have a nip or a tuck to enhance their looks. However, before you take that life-changing step to have cosmetic surgery, it’s crucial that you know exactly what to expect. You need to review the reasons why you want to have the procedure and make sure that your decision to go ahead is a well-informed one. Here are some important things that you need to know before you have plastic surgery.
- You should know that only a qualified, experienced and skilled surgeon can provide optimal results. So you need to do some proper research before you choose a surgeon. The provider should have the right credentials and a good track record for the procedure you are considering. You can prepare a set of questions to ask your surgeon during the initial consultation to help ensure that you have made the right choice. Ask about the number of successful procedures, the techniques used, before and after photos of former patients, and so on.
- You need to have clear idea about your cosmetic goals and be able to convey this to your surgeon. Don’t let anyone, including the surgeon, to force you to accept their opinions on what will suit you. Professional guidance is important, but make sure that your surgeon understands your concerns, preferences and specific goals.
- Have realistic expectations. Expecting perfection is the biggest mistake. The results may be exactly what you expected. However, reliable plastic surgeons strive to provide an optimal outcome. Even if the results are not immediately evident, in most successful procedures, they improve over time. It can take days, weeks or months to see visible results and the exact time varies among procedures. Discuss this matter with your surgeon during the consultation.
- Be very sure that you really need to change the way you look. After having a procedure, some people find they prefer the way they looked before! This can be agonizing. Established cosmetic surgeons utilize 3D imaging facilities to help patients visualize what they will look like after a procedure like a liposuction, facelift or breast augmentation. This promotes confident decision making.
- There is a specific recovery time for most cosmetic procedures. So know how much downtime is involved and make your plans accordingly. Be prepared to face some restrictions in your routine, including outdoor activity and socializing.
- Every plastic surgery treatment comes with some risks. So make sure you know about the benefits as well as the risks involved when you decide to have a cosmetic surgical procedure.
In addition to doing your homework, choosing the right surgeon is critical if you are considering cosmetic surgery. A reliable surgeon will evaluate your goals and physiological considerations and help you make an informed decision.