Plastic surgery can make the difference between living an enjoyable life and persevering a miserable existence. The field has advanced dramatically over the last few years, allowing surgeons to offer a wide range of life-changing reconstructive and transformative cosmetic procedures. Still, proper planning on the part of the patient is crucial in order to ensure a successful procedure outcome. This post highlights 5 key considerations before your plastic surgery in Mesa AZ.
Are you a candidate?
Plastic surgery can alleviate persistent aesthetic concerns and improve your confidence and quality of life. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to undergo this kind of treatment. Plastic surgeons generally recommend that you are in good mental and physical shape before they agree to perform a cosmetic procedure. Patients also need to have realistic expectations regarding what is possible and should be ready to take some time off work for recovery. Individuals who are obese or have chronic conditions are often not ideal candidates for plastic surgery. If you are seriously considering undergoing a cosmetic procedure, scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is a good first step to find out whether you are qualified for specific procedures as well as assess the risks and rewards.
Are there any alternatives?
Just like any other surgical procedure, most plastic surgery treatments entail incisions that may result in visible scarring. You’ll also need to dedicate time to recovery – which means taking time off and often not even being able to take care of basic household chores. Before you make the final decision to go under the knife, it is important that you explore the landscape to make sure that there are no better alternatives/options. For instance, patients who are looking to have an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) should only do so if lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise are not possible (or aren’t much help). The same goes for Brazilian butt lift (you might consider trying squats and other workouts first) and most other cosmetic treatments.
Where should I have plastic surgery?
The number of plastic surgeons in the country has increased dramatically over the last few years. Long gone are the days when you needed to travel to far-off states just to attend a consultation with a board-certified practitioner. You may find that there are numerous experienced plastic surgeons in your city. This means you don’t need to make travel arrangements and incur hefty expenses to receive your treatment. Still, in some cities and towns, patients may need to consider undergoing the procedure at a different location (within or outside the state) so they can get the best possible treatment. The idea is to research plastic surgeons in your city and see whether you can come up with a few good names who seem to be highly experienced in the procedure you are interested in.
How much will it cost?
Most cosmetic surgeries (including the likes of breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, and arm lift) are not covered by health insurers because they are considered to be elective procedures. This means that patients often have to think about financing the procedure from out of pocket. It is important that you understand how much the treatment will cost so you can make plans ahead of time. Factors such as surgeon’s fees, anesthesia fees, facility fees, cost of medication, and diagnostic tests will play into the total cost of your treatment. During your initial consultation with your Mesa AZ plastic surgeon, the doctor’s team should be able to provide an individualized cost estimate based on the specifics of your treatment. Many surgeons either offer in-house financing options or partner with third-party financing providers to make cosmetic procedures more affordable to patients. Make sure to find out what financing choices you have.
What results can I expect?
It is not uncommon for people to choose plastic surgery only to be dissatisfied with the outcome of the treatment. This typically happens because they had unrealistic expectations about what could be achieved with the treatment. Before you make the final decision to receive this type of surgery, it is important you do thorough research. How do you prepare for the surgery? What surgical techniques are performed? What does recovery entail? How long does it take for the results to settle in? What percentage of past patients were satisfied with the outcome of their procedure? Answering these and other questions will give you the detailed information you need to make a befitting decision. Make sure to see before and after photos during your first plastic surgery consultation and ask as many questions as you have.