There have been incredible advances in plastic surgery that have allowed people to fix or improve certain areas of their body that weren’t possible even a few years ago. Even though there have been extraordinary gains in the field of plastic surgery, there are still limitations. The following are several aspects of plastic surgery you should keep in mind regarding what are realistic expectations and what aren’t.
Body Contouring — Not a Permanent Weight-Loss Solution
Procedures such as
liposuction can remove pockets of fat and help shape specific areas of your body. However, it shouldn’t be considered a permanent solution for losing weight. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery states that liposuction is considered a body contouring or fat reduction technique since it removes stubborn fat from specific areas of the body.
It’s also important to note that if you don’t keep up a healthy lifestyle after procedures such as liposuction, you can regain weight. The weight is likely to show up in different places, but it will return. Having realistic expectations means realizing that a lot of procedures aren’t permanent, and how long they do last will depend on how committed you are to a healthy lifestyle.
Look Better — Not Like Someone Else
Sometimes individuals will bring pictures of someone else they find attractive into the consultation. This is not only mentally unhealthy; it’s physically unrealistic due to the unique muscle and bone structure of each individual. While it’s okay to get general ideas regarding the type of look you want, the surgeon isn’t going to make you look like another person.
According to
New Beauty, hoping to look like your favorite celebrity should be a red flag for a plastic surgeon. Wanting to look like a famous celebrity is not a realistic expectation when undergoing plastic surgery. Most plastic surgeons will want to correct a flaw or enhance your own natural beauty. The goal is to create a better version of you, not recreate someone else.
Improve Your Appearance — Not Achieve Perfection
There are several examples in which individuals expect their lives to improve to the point that their problems simply vanish. The man who expects to get a promotion and quickly climb the corporate ladder because he had a facelift is almost certainly going to be disappointed. The woman that wants to look as youthful as her college photos 20 years earlier is also creating unrealistic expectations.
Improving specific areas of the body such as straightening a crooked nose or lifting sagging breasts after pregnancy are achievable results with plastic surgery. Erasing every flaw and creating a life where you suddenly have a booming social life or you automatically become more successful is an unhealthy and unrealistic attitude. It’s also important to understand that certain expectations may require multiple procedures such as a breast implant that is combined with a lift.
Boost Confidence — Not for Someone Else
This is probably one of the worst reasons to get any type of plastic surgery done. The
American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that getting plastic surgery for revenge has been on the rise in recent years. If you’ve recently broken up with a partner or have gone through a divorce, now is not the time to make a decision regarding something as important as plastic surgery.
If you’re feeling pressure from a spouse or significant other you probably shouldn’t have the procedure. Wanting to have plastic surgery for someone else is often an indication of an underlying problem in the relationship. You should at least hold off on having anything done until you’re sure it’s something you really want for yourself.
Plastic surgery can improve a particular aspect of a person’s appearance and boost confidence. It’s important, however, to keep expectations reasonable before undergoing any type of procedure.
