Plastic Surgery is Surgery- So Get the Facts

Cosmetic surgery is surgery. This seems to be an obvious fact but many patients gloss over the surgery part and focus instead on the cosmetic aspect. Unlike other surgical procedures, cosmetic surgery is generally elective and the outcome is not to correct some internal problem but to create a physical and visible improvement in your appearance. But, just like with any surgery, there are risk, complications and things that can and do go wrong that you need to recognize as possibilities.


The first and probably most common problem with plastic surgery is unrealistic patient expectations. Patients who have unrealistic goals and expectations or enter into a surgical procedure for the wrong reason will usually be disappointed in the end result no matter how good they may look. You don’t have to look too far into the tabloids to see the results of a celebrity who underwent too much plastic surgery without enough realistic self-appraisal of their appearance.

This is generally why most plastic surgeons will counsel their patients on their expected surgical outcomes and will question them about why they want the procedure in the first place. The only wrong reason for wanting cosmetic surgery is to please someone else or to attract a mate. Cosmetic elective surgery should only be undertaken for your own benefit and for your own desired outcome for change not someone else’s.

Other real complications that can occur with any type of surgery include suffering from an allergic reaction to the anesthesia. If you have never undergone any surgery before this one, there is no way of knowing if you will have an allergic and potentially deadly reaction to the anesthesia or not. Fortunately this reaction is actually quite rare but it is still a factor that you need to take into consideration unless you know you don’t have any problem with anesthesia based on past experience.

Another common post-surgical problem that can occur is infection and this is where you and your surgeon can exercise some control. You want to take the time in your initial consultation to ask about where you will be having your elective procedure performed. Most of the time cosmetic surgeons have their own surgical centers to perform surgeries in, so if this is the case, be sure to ask your surgeon if the surgical center is certified by the board of ambulatory surgery. This is one type of certification that ensures the surgical center operates to a certain set of codes and conditions for cleanliness just like the hospital is required to do.

There is a lot to learn before you undertake any cosmetic surgery beyond just the facts about the procedure itself including what can go wrong and how to know what risk factors do and don’t apply to you. Talk to your plastic surgeon and get the facts about your surgery and what you should expect and the odds are pretty good that if you are an informed consumer you will ultimately be happy with your cosmetic results.