Real Housewives of Orange County Surgeon: Reality TV, Plastic Surgery 101

One doesn't typically think of reality television as educational, but if you're considering getting plastic surgery, it can be. With many reality stars going under the knife on air, we're afforded the opportunity to see the whole process dramatized from consultation, to recovery, and beyond. If reality television has taught us one thing, it's that the Real Housewives of Orange County surgeon is a busy guy. In six seasons of that show we've seen people consult about and go through with myriad procedures, including but not limited to breast augmentation, breast lifts, BOTOX injections, body contouring, and rhinoplasty.

Through watching that show, and others like it, those who are interested in possible surgery get to observe a few important things. First, we get to see a top doctor, like that Real Housewives of Orange County surgeon, consulting with patients. In this way, it is possible to gain information about what sort of procedures are out there without having to schedule a consultation of your own. Of course, you'll eventually need to have a consultation about your specific needs, but if you're just in the pondering stage, it can be nice to get this inside look at what's available.

These shows also provide the opportunity to watch someone go through the surgery and recovery period. Many cosmetic procedures constitute major surgery and there are significant risks involved. It is important that you know what you're getting into. While the results should be pretty, the process and recovery will not be. Since reality television is designed to capitalize on any drama, you can be sure that if anything goes wrong with a reality star's surgery, it will be included in the show. You shouldn't let this scare you away completely, but take note of the risks and make sure that you're approaching your surgery with realistic expectations.

Finally, seeing these surgeries dramatized on television affords us the opportunity to look at the results, and at how the results hold up over time. We've now seen some reality starts come to regret certain aspects of their surgeries. One cast member on the Real Housewives has decided to replace her breast implants. It turns out that this is a pretty common issue amongst women who have that procedure. Many women choose a larger implant than they end up being comfortable with and end up needing to have further surgeries to replace them with smaller models. At that point it is also often necessary to have a breast lift to get the implants to sit at an attractive level.

Seeing the mistakes of others play out on reality television means that you'll approach your own procedure responsibly and be less likely to make those same mistakes. So the next time you tune in, be aware that in between the wine throwing, the grudge holding, and the gossip, there lies some potentially helpful information. By observing the workings of the Real Housewives of Orange County surgeon, we can get a pretty good idea of what to expect if we decide to pursue plastic surgery.