Many patients have stated that they regret the decision on their own. A UK research survey revealed that 60% of the participants surveyed regretted having undergone cosmetic surgery and that the most common reason was a failure to meet expectations. Many people regret having cosmetic surgery, either because the result does not match the expected picture or because of complications. Research conducted by the Medical Accident Group found that 65% of people surveyed regretted surgery, although 28% were very satisfied with the results.
The feeling of “oh, no” after cosmetic surgery can last from days to several weeks, especially during the period when you are not allowed to lift more than 5 pounds (your children or a heavy bag), when you are not working, not exercising and you are totally out of your comfort zone and your usual routine. While plastic surgeons do their best to prepare patients for these unavoidabilities, there is less often talk before surgery about the emotional and psychological toll that elective surgery can have.
What I do for a living is extremely rewarding, and I think it's important, as a practitioner, a woman, a mother and as a supportive human being, to consider how it affects my patients to undergo a plastic surgery procedure.
Every day, during their consultations, I tell my patients that “plastic surgery is very psychosocial. According to the survey, 83% of people who underwent plastic surgery would not consider undergoing any type of cosmetic procedure again.The purpose of plastic surgery is to help you feel “more comfortable” in your skin, to feel proportionate, natural and beautiful, and to allow you to move forward without focusing on __________ (insert the part of your body that you like the least) when dressing, putting on a swimsuit, exercising in the gym, etc. Therefore, both tummy tuck and facelift patients experience longer and more complicated recoveries than with other surgeries and the emotions they usually feel quite intense. These feelings may be even more pronounced in cosmetic surgery patients because of the inherent psychological dilemma. The important thing to remember is that if you experience them it's completely normal and it's something you should be honest with your surgeon about. Nothing contained herein shall be considered a substitute for advice or treatment from a board-certified plastic surgeon.
Not only is there uncertainty about the outcome and the results, but there can also be the burden of physical and mental confusion, which is compounded by possible guilt for feeling bad about an elective procedure. Plastic surgery generally addresses problems outside the body: skin and soft tissue, fat, body contours, and sometimes delicate bone structures (of the face, hands, and wrists)). There are a series of ups and downs that every patient goes through when thinking about undergoing a plastic surgery procedure, during the planning phases, immediate post-operative recovery and, later on, in their recovery period, when their body is changing and they are getting used to their “new self”. While as a plastic surgeon, I generally care for patients on the outside, what I do also affects my patients on the inside, where the results directly affect body image, self-image and self-esteem.
As with any other procedure, this goes away and, around 2 to 3 weeks, patients feel safe and satisfied with their decision to have surgery even before they are completely healed.
