Understanding Cosmetic Surgery and What to Discuss with Your Surgeon

Cosmetic plastic surgery can often significantly improve a person's appearance, including unsightly facial features, disfigurements and aging marks. However one of the prerequisites for any plastic surgery procedure is having a sense of realism and emotional maturity when it comes to what the outcome could or maybe. Accepting the following criteria should be talked about with your surgeon before proceeding with any plastic surgical procedure.

1. Not every patient in a good candidate for plastic surgery and not every patient that requests a plastic surgical procedure is accepted for the procedure.

2. Plastic surgical procedures only can improve the appearance of someone, it can't however perfect their appearance. To seek absolute perfection is unrealistic and impractical, many times plastic surgeons can request that the patient see a therapist before the procedure is performed to understand better what will be expected and how to cope if they are not satisfied with the outcome.

3. The surgical team are not magicians and the degree of success that a patient has with any plastic surgical procedure largely depends on their after care, as well as the actual surgical procedure itself and the skill of the surgeon.

4. Another factor to consider is understanding the motive in which the plastic surgical procedure is being done. After all plastic surgery is not a cure all for many issues involving a person's appearance or self esteem. Many patients have to realize that not all plastic surgery is accepted eagerly by friends and family, not to mention many procedures can leave the patient with just as many stares and questions as before the cosmetic procedure.

5. Plastic surgery has come a long way in recent years and usually there is relatively little or no pain involved. However most patients must be counseled on medication usage, abuse and pain tolerance problems prior to surgery. As well as the entire surgical procedure should be discussed in its entirety with the patient and in some cases even the family prior to the procedure.

6. Complications and side effects of the surgery should also be discussed with the patient. Understanding the complications beforehand can often help in not only the success of the surgical procedure but can help the patient to recognize realistic expectations and the risks that they are facing by having the cosmetic surgery.

7. Understanding that it is unethical for any surgeon to guarantee the results of any surgery, especially cosmetic procedures is crucial when deciding on any type of cosmetic procedure.

8. Discussion of scarring and healing must also be talked about between the patient and the surgeon. As well as the importance of maintaining their followups, reporting any problems in a timely manner and the strict following of the physicians orders after the surgery has been performed.

9. Lastly discussion on coverage for the surgery and post operative care must be discussed. Many times people are misinformed about cosmetic procedures and their insurance coverage. However many insurances do cover cosmetic issues if they are medically necessary to correct more than just appearance such as septoplasty surgery which corrects the medical diagnosis of a deviated septum. However a septoplasty is not cosmetic and therefore while it may change slightly the curvature of the nose.

A rhinoplasty is the cosmetic surgical procedure to correct nasal deformities. The operation consists of removal of cartilage and excess bone, as well as rearrangement and reshaping of the nose. Rhinoplasties are performed because a patient desires improvement on the appearance of the nose such as their nose made smaller and more in harmony with the other features on their face.

A septoplasty can improve medical deformities inside the nasal passages such as those that may impair breathing, cause headaches, or sinus problems. Most septoplasties are done to correct nasal septum deviations that result from prior nasal fractures.

References for this article include:

www.yourplasticsurgeryguide.com/
www.plasticsurgery.org/Patients_and_Consumers/Procedures/Cosmetic_Procedures/Nose_Surgery_for_Women.html
www.cosmeticsurgery.org/
www.surgery.org/consumers/consumer-resources/frequently-asked-questions/your-cosmetic-surgery-consultation-ask-the-right-questions