Five Things to Consider Before Plastic Surgery

Regardless of the type of cosmetic surgery you’re getting – whether it’s breast implants, liposuctionor abuttock augmentation – you must always prepare. Here’s a list of things you should discuss with your plastic surgeonprior to scheduling your surgery.

Goals and expectations:

Make sure to establish realistic goals and expectations. Perhaps what you envision won’t look good on your body type, so it’s important you discuss your ideas with your surgeon so you can come up with a plan together.

Risks:

All surgery comes with risks. One of the biggest factors to consider is general anesthesia. The longer the procedure, the higher the chances of complications from anesthesia. If you’re planning more than one surgery, it may be a good idea to come back more than once. While it may require more than one operation, it will minimize the recovery, and your downtime. Again, discuss your options with your surgeon. Other risks to keep in mind include a hematoma (collection of blood outside a blood vessel), seroma (pocket of clear serous fluid that sometimes develops in the body after surgery), bleeding, the breakdown of skin, or an infection.

Health:

Be honest. Your doctor needs a thorough medical history when planning your cosmetic surgery. Make sure to inform your physician of any vitamins or medications you are taking, especially blood thinners such as Coumadin and aspirin, which can interfere with your surgery. The surgeon will also need to know about past operations, chronic conditions, diseases and allergies, among other things.

Recovery

Every procedure, and patient, is different, meaning recovery will vary by individual. It is important that you follow the surgeon’s directions to minimize any problems post-op. Also, consider how much rest and recuperation will be required as it may affect your work schedule. You may also need to temporarily rely on friends and family to help around the house during your recovery period.

Cost:

Cosmetic surgery has never been more affordable, but still, you must make arrangements so that your finances are not impacted. Make sure you get the total price of the procedure you are considering. Does the estimate include just the surgery, or also operative rooms costs such as blood work and anesthesia? You also may want to consider financing your surgery so you don’t have to pay for it all at once. In that case, you’ll have to see if you qualify for financing.