In this day and age of the internet and social media, all of us want to look our very best. In a quest for the same, the number of persons undergoing cosmetic surgeries has increased in recent years. Cosmetic surgery is well known not only amongst celebrities but also common people. Liposuction – a procedure where the excess fat lying beneath the skin is removed – is the most common cosmetic surgery performed. Botox and fillers are the most common office procedures performed. Cosmetic Procedures definitely give a boost to one’s self confidence along with improving the appearance.

It is not surprising if you have been considering going under the surgeon’s knife to look better and feel better about yourself. However, there might be a few questions in your mind, ie. ‘Am I the right Candidate’ or ‘should I undergo this procedure?’ This blog tries to address the same.

Below are a few points that one should consider before planning for a Cosmetic procedure:

Are you medically, emotionally and mentally fit to undergo the procedure?

Good general health is a prerequisite for any procedure. One should not be suffering from any acute illness or inadequately managed chronic illness. Diabetes and hypertension are not a contraindication to undergo a cosmetic procedure provided you are taking your medications regularly and the condition is well controlled. Before planning any procedure, the doctor will run some basic tests to ascertain your fitness for surgery. It is crucial to inform your doctor if you are on any long-term medication or blood thinners, so that the doctor can do the indicated tests and the preparation for the surgery can be done accordingly.

One should also be emotionally well balanced to undergo cosmetic surgery and be of sound mind to be able to make the decisions with regards to the same. If you are undergoing a period of acute stress, then allow the stress to subside before undergoing any procedure. Mental illnesses like schizophrenia are a relative contraindication for a cosmetic procedure. Appropriate clearance will be required to be obtained from the psychiatrist or psychologist before any surgery is planned.

Are you adequately motivated enough to undergo the procedure?

When planning a cosmetic surgery your motivation to undergo the same should be clear. You need to ask yourself if you are undergoing the procedure to improve your self-confidence rather than doing it to look better for others. Being adequately motivated also means understanding that there will be some post-operative discomfort, also there will be some time lag in order to get the final result. Some procedures like liposuction need a commitment to maintain the result obtained which is possible only when you are adequately motivated.

Are your expectations realistic?

It is important to have a detailed consultation with your Plastic Surgeon. This will help in knowing your expectations from the procedure you wish to undergo and the surgeon can explain to you in detail what can be achieved so that your final expectations from the procedure are realistic. You may be desirous of certain change in your body, but you have to understand that the final result achieved will be what is most suitable, anatomically feasible and safe for you. For e.g., you need to understand that liposuction is a body contouring surgery and not a weight loss surgery. Liposuction will definitely give you a better shape, but may not necessarily help with weight loss. If your expectations are realistic, you will definitely be satisfied after the cosmetic surgery.

Is this cosmetic procedure right for you?

After due consideration when you plan to undergo cosmetic surgery, it is necessary to understand which procedure is right for you. For eg. you want a flat tummy post childbirth, only liposuction is not the ideal procedure for you as the skin post child birth is lax and not elastic. Liposuction needs the skin to be elastic enough to retract to get the desired result. You will need a tummy tuck along with liposuction to achieve a flat tummy.

Will this procedure improve my self-image and self-confidence?

Improving one’s appearance and body shape helps boost one’s self image and confidence. If you think this is what undergoing cosmetic surgery is going to do for you, then you should consider the same.

For undergoing any cosmetic procedure, you should have a detailed consultation with a qualified Plastic Surgeon. Dr Eulalia is a qualified Plastic Surgeon with almost 10 years of experience in her field. During the consultation, discuss your concerns, expectations and medical history in detail so an appropriate treatment plan can be drawn out for you.