See the Factors that Determine Cosmetic Surgery Candidates

Cosmetic surgery continues to grow in popularity as the number of people having procedures increases each year. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported that, in the year 2017, there were 17.5 million surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. This number was an increase of 2\\% over the total number of cosmetic procedures in the year 2016.

The increasing number of cosmetic surgery patients means more people are turning to cosmetic procedures to make a permanent change in the appearance of their body through such methods as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, tummy tuck and liposuction. In addition, they are using minimally invasive methods such as Botox and fillers to add volume to their face and rejuvenate their appearance to a more youthful look.

There are many people interested in having cosmetic surgery but they are not sure if they are an ideal candidate for a procedure. In order to make a final decision about undergoing a procedure, here are the items patients need to check to determine if they are an ideal candidate for cosmetic surgery.

How to Determine if Patients are Good Candidates for Cosmetic Surgery

They must be healthy enough for surgery – The physical health of a patient is the first item doctors take into account when they are examining a patient for cosmetic surgery. People that have health problems such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure are likely not good candidates for a procedure. In addition, a person with an immune system that is compromised might have a bad reaction to some medications which puts them at risk for having surgery. People that have a low immune system also have a higher chance of getting an infection after surgery. Making lifestyle changes such as no more smoking or drinking will likely be recommended by the doctor. This is recommended to allow your body to heal properly and to lower the risks of any complications during or after the surgery.
Be emotionally ready for surgery – No matter what type of cosmetic surgery a person is interested in undergoing, he or she must be emotionally ready for the procedure. Making temporary or permanent changes to the body is not a small decision on the part of a person. In fact, it is common for many patients to suffer from mild depression for a few days after having a procedure. There are also some patients that do not recover after depression sets in following a surgery. It is very important to be emotionally healthy in order to manage any depression that might happen after viewing the changes made to the body. Patients will need to have a consultation appointment with a surgeon before the procedure to make sure he or she is emotionally capable of handling the changes to their appearance.
Ask questions before surgery – Before making the final decision to have cosmetic surgery, it is important to be on the same page with the doctor. Ask any and all questions that come to mind before the procedure. These questions can include how to prepare for the surgery, any possible side effects and how to maintain long-lasting results. Going into the surgery with all of the answers helps to lessen anxiety on the part of the patient.
Don’t keep the surgery a secret from friends – Many patients keep the decision to have cosmetic surgery a secret so they won’t be judged by their friends. There is no need to be ashamed by the decision so patients should be confident in their decision and be proud to share their journey with friends and family.
The results might not be immediate – The results from a cosmetic surgery procedure might not be immediately visible to the patient or to other people. There might even need to have several procedures performed before the desired final results are achieved. Patients need to be prepared for the fact that an immediate change in their look might not happen with their procedure of choice.

The decision to undergo cosmetic surgery is a personal one and should not be entered into lightly by a patient. Taking the time to speak with a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and learn all of the available options to achieve the desired results is an important first step in the cosmetic surgery process.