Are you thinking about having cosmetic surgery? Undergoing cosmetic surgery is a huge decision for most people. Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, whether surgical or non-surgical, it is important to consider every detail to ensure you are happy with your decision and the end result.
So what exactly should you think about before having cosmetic surgery?
1. Why do I want to have surgery?
The most important thing to question is why do you actually want to undergo a cosmetic procedure? Before being considered as an appropriate candidate for any procedure, a surgeon will assess you and ensure you are undergoing surgery for the right reason. If you are undergoing surgery to make someone else happy, the surgeon may not wish to proceed with surgery. Make sure to think about what specifically you are wanting to change, and what the reasons are for changing it.
2. Are there other options?
For some procedures, you may be able to achieve the same look without having to undergo surgery. For example, you can undertake a non-surgical rhinoplasty, which can alter the appearance of your nose with the use of fillers. This also gives you the chance to reverse the procedure if you do not like your new look. If you do decide to undertake surgery, in this example, a rhinoplasty, it may be expensive to reverse or alter your appearance after the first procedure. Make sure you have explored all of your non-surgical options before deciding to undertake surgery.
3. Do you have realistic expectations?
Are you expecting the surgery to just change the appearance of one part of your body, or do you think the procedure will change other aspects of your life? Does what can be achieved surgically match up with what you are imagining the results to be? You may not be considered a suitable candidate if you are wanting the procedure to help change parts of your life such as a relationship, your social life or work.
4. How long have I thought about this procedure?
Has this been a procedure you have been wanting to have for years, or is this just a snap decision? What made you have this snap decision? If you have just decided to have this procedure, you may want to consider holding off going under the knife. If you’ve made a snap decision, you may be unhappy with your decision in a few years time. Centre for Surgery always advises that you take at least two weeks between your consultation and your surgical procedure.
5. Can I really afford this procedure?
Cosmetic surgery can sometimes be expensive. Fortunately, you do not always have to pay for your procedure all in one go. For those who can’t afford to pay for their procedure upfront, you can choose to undertake a loan, whether that is through your clinic or through your bank. Before doing this, it is important to consider whether or not you will get approved for this loan, and whether or not you will be able to afford the repayments. If the repayments are going to make it hard to pay your rent, mortgage, loans, or even buy food, you may want to reconsider taking out a loan and save up some money for a while longer.
6. What happens if something goes wrong?
Complications are rare, but sometimes they do happen. Have you thought about what you would do if your procedure does not go to plan? Will you be able to cope if the results look different to how you imagined? What will happen if you need to undergo a second surgical procedure? Will you be able to afford further surgeries and time off work? Make sure you are prepared for the rare case of something going wrong with your procedure and how you are going to cope with it.
7. Is now the right time to have a procedure?
Think about what else is happening in your life right now and what you have planned for the near future. Will anything be negatively affected by you undergoing the procedure? Is there anything in your life that will impact your recovery?
When considering having cosmetic surgery make sure you are never feeling rushed or pressured into undertaking a procedure. Make sure that no one – your family, friends, clinic staff or the surgeon – has put any unnecessary pressure on you. Do some research before having any procedure. Get a good understanding of not only the procedure you’re having and its recovery period, but research the clinic and the surgeon. Always make sure you are comfortable with the people you are dealing with and the decisions you are making. This will help you to be happy with the end result and will avoid any regrets.
