Plastic Surgeon: Risk vs. Reward

Some people would argue that far too often individuals are choosing to surgically alter the unique characteristics or features they were born with in order to look more like every other person, or someone they admire like a model, rock star or actor. When the question "Would you rather have an appointment with a plastic surgeon or go on an all-expense paid trip for Spring Break?" was posed to a group of teenagers, most chose the plastic surgeon, siting the desire to have rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, Dermabrasion or liposuction done (THEN have the Spring Break adventure). In the past it was much easier to note members of a family based on a similar nose or full lips or some attribute shared by siblings. Today it is becoming much more difficult to do so, as more and more people opt to correct what nature denied them.

A plastic surgeon will advise a patient of the risks involved prior to them undergoing any procedure.

-Blood clots developing
-Blood loss
-Infection
-Damage to sensory nerves
-Fluid retention
-Numbness

These risks are similar to those of any surgical procedure, but because plastic surgery is often times elective vs. medically necessary, some patients approach the process casually instead of with the seriousness that an operation warrants. That insurance rarely covers any cosmetic procedure or any illness associated with that procedure is clearly stated to the patient, so they understand that all medical expenses will be their responsibility to cover.

A plastic surgeon has the knowledge, the skill and the medical training to assist people in their pursuit of physical and emotional well-being. A person that has suffered for years with a physical anomaly that has caused them discomfort, on both a physical and emotional level, will benefit from that attribute being corrected. A woman that has experienced back and neck pain from overly large breasts, as well as inappropriate comments directed toward her impressive bust line, will be relieved to finally be free of that pain and unwanted attention. On the other hand, a young woman who has felt embarrassment from living with very small breasts may discover a new sense of confidence when she has implants put in and can finally wear the sort of clothing she has always dreamed of.

The surgeon will sit down and have a consultation with a patient prior to any procedure being done. The doctor will want to know what results the patient hopes to achieve and may request photos of what aspirations they have for this surgery. A woman with a small frame seeking breast implants may need to be dissuaded from DD implants and guided toward more appropriate C breasts, with the surgeon explaining how unnatural the larger breasts would appear, as well as how she may experience extreme discomfort due to her smaller stature. The same can be true of a person seeking to have rhinoplasty with dreams of a particular movie star's nose on their face, but due to structural differences, the results would appear awkward. A plastic surgeon spends years perfecting their skill and will want the best possible results for their patient, as the patient is a living representation of their work.