Cosmetic surgery is a major intervention, but one that has become more accessible to people in recent years. Our relationship with plastic surgery is a rocky one; the reasons we may have to wish to undergo a procedure can vary wildly, and it can be hard to know which way is the right way forward when thinking about our bodies. You may be considering a surgical procedure to correct a perceived cosmetic issue. What should you consider before you make concrete plans?
What Are Your Motives?
First and foremost, you should reckon with the reasons you may have for pursuing the procedure you have in mind. Is the procedure and its outcome for your benefit, or for someone else’s? And is there a possibility that your reasons for wanting surgery could be addressed in other ways first?
For many, cosmetic surgery can be a useful, affirming and quality-of-life-improving procedure – but only where that decision is made consciously, wisely, and without pressure. For someone with self-esteem issues, or someone who compares themselves to carefully edited social media images, a conversation with a therapist may be a more constructive first step.
Research and Advice
If you remain confident that you would like to explore surgical routes, your next step should be to carry out as much research as you can on the surgery itself. You should familiarise yourself with the steps involved in the surgery, and the mechanisms by which results are created.
In tandem with this, you should book an appointment with your GP in order to consult them over your plans. They may have some insights on what you can expect from the procedure, as well as recommendations for the surgery itself. In cases where cosmetic issues are closely related to mental illness or minor medical conditions, you may be able to get an NHS referral.
What are the Risks?
Your research into the procedure in question will also bring you information about the risks involved in the surgery. Each procedure will have its own recovery process and inherent risks, depending on the area being treated. Likewise, each procedure will have different recovery times, which can have an impact on other areas of your life.
There is also the risk, albeit a small one, that something will go wrong during your surgery or recovery. While medical negligence is rare, it can have a significant impact on your quality of life. Consider if there are ways you can mitigate this risk.
Choosing the Right Doctor
The chief way for you to control risks as a budding patient is to choose your doctor carefully. If your surgery relates to a condition for which you are receiving NHS care, you may have been referred – but in a majority of cases, cosmetic procedures are private ones.
This enables you to research individual providers and practitioners, and look up real testimonials of past patients. With this information, you can discern which providers will give you the best results and the lowest risk of complication.
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