These days plastic surgery is becoming more and more attractive as a viable option for a discreet and understated nip and tuck to turn back the clock. And while the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery is very personal, HEALTH discovers that there are indeed some very valid reasons for going under the knife.
The Right Reasons
From trying to re-ignite a relationship to trying to get that coveted job, there are indeed right and wrong reasons to do plastic surgery. Essentially good reasons for cosmetic surgery are when the problem is physically obvious; for example a large hump on the nose or a very broad and bulbous nose or when there is a functional problem such as breathing difficulty as well as when an individual has realistic expectations and displays a reasonable understanding of the pros and cons and is medically fit.
Dr. Sanjay Parashar at Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation tells that there are essentially two motivations to seek cosmetic surgery. “One is external motivation which may be a fear of age discrimination, fear of rejection, coercion by spouse, friends or parents, or to satisfy ambition,” he says while the other reason is internal motivation. This is the desire to diminish depression, shame, social anxiety, or to alter a feature they dislike or desire a more youthful appearance.
“Ideally plastic surgery is done to restore an appearance, where it is deformed, displaced or distorted; to maintain an appearance, when it is altering due to age, disease or environmental factors; or to enhance one’s appearance for physical, psychological and or social functioning within reasonable limits,” he says.
The Wrong Reasons
Wrong reasons, tells Dr. Parashar, could be coercion by family or friends, for glamour, the desire to look like a celebrity, a quick fix option, to compensate for personal or professional failure or because somebody is paying for it, or seeking a change that is unaesthetic or unnecessary by all means.
Knowing What to Ask
- It is important to ask about the surgeon’s qualifications, and the years of experience as well as where they went to university and completed medical school specialization.
- It is important to ask the surgeon the risks as well as the benefits of doing a surgery. All ethical surgeons should always warn you of risks as well as benefits.
- Make sure that your surgeon knows all your medical conditions so that he can ask you the right questions and if there is something that you don’t understand, you must ask.
- If you are not satisfied, try another surgeon until you know what you are looking for.
- Be sure also to ask the surgeon where he operates and how long the procedure takes.
- Make sure you understand the pre-op and post-op instructions so you can make the right arrangements.
(Credit: Dr. Maurizio Viel, London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery Gulf.)
The Right Reasons to Undergo Plastic Surgery:
- If you have been thinking about a particular surgery for a long time and you have researched and seen a few plastic surgeons then you are probably on the right track.
- If you are aware that you are using plastic surgery to enhance your looks and not to change them completely.
- If you feel that this plastic surgery will help with your self-esteem and self-confidence
- Ensure that your plastic surgeon has listened to your thoughts, concerns and worries, and then your plastic surgeon should tell you the benefits/risk analysis, and as the patient you should decide if you wish to go ahead with the procedure.
Self-Quiz: Should You Have Cosmetic Surgery?
- Are you trying to fix some psychological problem with a physical solution?
- Ask yourself if you really have a problem. If you’re healthy and have good genes, do you really have a problem that needs to be fixed with a surgical solution?
- What messages are you giving yourself that make you think you need surgery? Are you negating your positive qualities (honesty, loyalty, intelligence, and humor) and hoping that plastic surgery can give you what you feel you lack?
- How do you expect to feel about yourself if you go ahead and get the procedure? Are you looking for a different body, or are you really hoping to attain self-esteem?
- There is no reality, only perception. If your self-esteem is so low that you view yourself through a filter of self-rejection (“I’m ugly” or “I’m fat”), all the surgery in the world isn’t going to make a difference. If you don’t change the filter through which you look when you see yourself in the mirror, you’ll never be happy.
(Credit: www.drphil.com)
