You’ve been weighing your options on whether plastic surgery is the right choice for you. Yet, no matter how many articles you read or plastic surgeons you consult with, you still are left uneasy. The truth is, plastic surgery is a major life decision.
The results will not just affect your body physically but will play a part socially and emotionally in your life as well. This is why it is important to take your time, consult with more surgeons, and acknowledge the risks and benefits involved with this decision. Go over these questions to gain more of an insight on your decision for plastic surgery — (the best plastic surgeon New Jersey will tell all).
1. How Old Are You?
The reality is, some surgeries may not be suitable for patients under 18 or 21. The reality is, your body and face may still be developing. You may have a larger nose when you were younger but over your teen years, your face may fill out more, making that once large nose more proportional to your face.
At the end of the day, you don’t want to rush into a decision. Wait for your face and body to fully develop. Ideally, your face and body have fully matured after puberty and growth spurt, which will vary depending on your genetics. Discuss facial and body development with your plastic surgeon to see if you may need to wait a couple more years or if it is better to undergo the surgery.
2. How Long Have You Contemplated Surgery?
Did you recently look in the mirror and don’t like what you are seeing? Have you been considering plastic surgery for some time? Since surgery is invasive and the results are permanent, it is important to take some time to consider going through with it. This is not a spur of the moment decision, as your attitude may change a couple days later, months, or even a year later.
If you have just started to consider plastic surgery as an option, the best plastic surgeon New Jersey office recommends that you let those thoughts sit and actively pursue scientifically-backed information and consult with plastic surgeons about the benefits and risks that come with this decision. Come form a place of curiosity, not from a definitive stance. That way, you are more willing to see the full range of benefits and risks.
3. How Do You Feel?
Are you depressed? Are you anxious? Are you going through a troubling time in your life? Consider how your life is going: how’s your career, relationships, hobbies, etc.? At the end of the day, you don’t want to decide on plastic surgery, thinking it will magically fill up a spot in your life that was once empty.
The reality is, is that while a nose job or facelift can boost confidence and self-esteem, it can’t fill a void. If you are dealing with a loss or have realized something is missing in your life that is preventing you from living it fully. Surgery or no surgery, we recommend that you seek out professional assistance from a licensed and accredited therapist if you feel this way. (If you have been considering surgery nonstop and cannot live a fulfilling life because these thoughts are pervasive, you may be suffering from body dysmorphic disorder—a disorder where individuals obsess over their appearance for hours per day.)[1]
If after making those positive changes you still are considering surgery, then start the research and consultation process. Just know that surgery should enhance a part of your life, not replace a void.
4. Have You Consulted with Plastic Surgeons?
Consulting with plastic surgeons about the possibility of undergoing surgery is crucial. Not only can accredited and licensed plastic surgeons answer specific, medical-related questions (i.e. recovery time, benefits, risks…) but they can give you an idea of the realistic expectations surgery will provide.
To help you find an experienced plastic surgeon and what qualities to look out for, read our article, How to Choose the Best Plastic Surgeon New Jersey.
5. Is Undergoing Plastic Surgery Your Idea?
Were you fine with the way you looked and then someone—a family member, friend, or even a stranger—made a comment? Perhaps this was with good intentions, but now you are left wondering if surgery would be a good possibility.
If this is the case, know that the decision to undergo plastic surgery should be an internal one—at the end of the day, you are the person who wakes up and looks in the mirror; you have to deal with the results and benefits, not anyone else. Yes, you can seek other opinions (preferably from people who have your best interest at heart) but only do so if you know their input will be beneficial.
6. How Will You Feel About the Surgery in 5 Years, 10 years…?
While plastic surgery may benefit you right now, will the results be beneficial in 5 years or 10 years from now? To gain more of a perspective, do this positive psychology exercise.
Take a moment to imagine yourself 5 years from now. What will your life look like? Will you be married? Have a family? Will you have traveled? What does your ideal life look like? Write down what you imagine. Do this consistently at least once a week. Is plastic surgery a part of this? Re-evaluate to determine if this is the best move to take.
7. Do You Have Realistic Expectations in Mind?
Do you want Angelina Jolie’s lips? Or Kate Middleton’s nose? While these features may look appealing on them, would those features look flattering on you? The truth is, there isn’t one nose or lips that would look universally flattering on everyone. People are attractive based on the proportionality and total features on their face, not individual features. This is why it is important to consult with a licensed and accredited plastic surgeon—to see if what feature you are looking for really would physically benefit you.
The other side to wanting a feature a celebrity has is the thought process that if you have Brad Pitt’s jaw or Jennifer Lawrence’s cheeks, you’ll look like Brad Pitt or Jennifer Lawrence. These expectations are unrealistic, and, at worse, detrimental. Again, instead of focusing on a celebrity’s individual features, look at your own.
8. Is the Plastic Surgery for Reconstructive or Aesthetic Reasons?
While both are acceptable reasons, it is important to know the difference. Reconstructive plastic surgery deals with correcting a cleft lip or broken nose; the patient could have physical ear deformities, physical features that have been impacted from trauma or are the results of a disease (e.g. women getting a mastectomy to ward off or fight breast cancer).
Aesthetic plastic surgery is when there are no deformities or trauma that have impacted your physical features. Instead, the surgery would be purely for aesthetic reasons.
9. What Do You Hope to Gain from Plastic Surgery?
According to a study, women who were considering plastic surgery listed self-esteem, overall confidence level, overall happiness, comfort having your photo taken, and how you look when clothed as the top five expected outcomes.
The women who did undergo plastic surgery listed the outcomes from the surgery, with the top five being overall confidence level, self-esteem, overall happiness, comfort having your photo taken, and your opinion of your sex appeal.[2] What this shows is that plastic surgery can affect your self-esteem and overall confidence—you can get positive results. At the same time, it is important to weight the possible side effects and research wisely.
Best Plastic Surgeon New Jersey: Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, you are not alone in considering plastic surgery. In fact, according to a 2015 study (already referenced), one out of five American women have considered plastic surgery.
Continue to ask questions, consult with license plastic surgeons, and conduct thorough research. If you do decide to go ahead with it, you want to be 100% sure of your decision—that’s what the best plastic surgeon New Jersey recommends.
Best Plastic Surgeon New Jersey: Summary
- Depending on the patient’s age, plastic surgery may not be appropriate since the body and face still needs to fully develop
- If you have just recently started to contemplate surgery, take some time to weigh the benefits and risk factors—this is not a decision to jump into
- Consider your life: are you happy? Do you live a fulfilling life? Know that while cosmetic surgery has benefits, it cannot fill voids
- Consult with plastic surgeons to get a better idea of what the impact would be in going forward with surgery
- The decision to do surgery should come from you
- Imagine how you will feel about your decision 5, 10… years from now
- Do you have realistic expectations?
- Reconstructive plastic surgery corrects cleft lips, broken noses…
- What do you want to gain from plastic surgery: confidence? Self-esteem?
For a free consultation, contact Berlet Plastic Surgery, one of the best plastic surgeon New Jersey.
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[1] Anxiety and Depression Association of America: Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)
[2] Daily News: One in 5 American women actively considering plastic surgery: study