Patient Satisfaction and Body Image After Cosmetic Surgery
Waking up from any surgery can be unpleasant, but when you are awakening from a cosmetic surgery, there is the added suspense of wondering what you`ll look like. Did the surgeon do a good job? Will you be as beautiful as you imagined?
The sight that meets the patient`s eyes immediately after surgery is usually one of swelling, bruising and bandages. Very few people are able to see a realistic version of what they will be looking at for the rest of their lives until the recovery period is over. Certain procedures are more likely to need extra time than others, of course, and it`s important to keep this in mind.
For example, a nose surgery can take up to a year to completely get rid of the swelling, so it`s necessary to wait a year at least to see if you like your new nose or not, though you`ll have an idea of what the end result will be within a couple of weeks of surgery. Breast implants are usually far faster and it`s easy to see the results as soon as the initial swelling goes down, within a week or two.
Are Patients Happy with Their Body After Surgery?
To tell the truth, it can be a bit disappointing to wake up and find yourself looking more like something out of The Mummy than Pretty Woman. However, after the initial recovery period, most patients are thrilled with their new look. Even a simple change can make all the difference in how someone sees their body and how they feel going out in public. A flat chested woman, for example, might have felt very self-conscious and judged every time she walked down the street. With cosmetic surgery, she can now walk confidently, knowing that she looks as feminine as she wants.
Body image is something that changes drastically, even with a relatively small change to the person`s appearance. How you feel about your looks really does affect everything you do and for some people, it is to the point where they actually refuse to do some things because of how they feel about their body. Cosmetic surgery can change all that for the better, even if the change isn`t terribly noticeable to others.
Most patients (not counting perpetual patients, those who have an obsession with perfecting their bodies) are happy with the changes wrought by cosmetic surgery. They feel renewed and beautiful and will be more likely to do things they avoided before. Depending on the extent of the cosmetic surgery, things could be very different from before. Most doctors try to preserve the characteristics of the patient while enhancing them, which also helps with body image. You aren`t looking at a stranger when you wake up, you`re looking at the new and improved you.
A few things help patients with body image after cosmetic surgery:
? Realistic expectations: Knowing what to expect when they come out of surgery.
? An honest and skilled doctor: One who offers realistic advice and errs on the side of caution.
? Proper research: Reading up on plastic surgery and knowing what it entails.
Going into surgery prepared greatly enhances the chances of the patient coming out happy and pleased with the new look. A good surgeon will ensure that the patient has a good understanding of what is to come and how long the recovery period will be. This is part of the reason it`s a good idea to find a doctor with people skills, as well as cosmetic surgery skills.
Cosmetic surgery can be a huge blessing. Most patients are thrilled with their new and improved look and have increased self-esteem after surgery.
About the Author
Cosmetics Canada - The Institute of Cosmetic Surgery
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