Cosmetic Surgery and Beauty Magazine #68

feature
Understanding your motivations
and having realistic expectations
are key to successful cosmetic
surgery. caitlin bishop reports.
Cosmetic surgery is more popular than ever before.
With an increasing number of people seizing the
opportunity to correct aesthetic concerns, it has
never been more important for patients to explore their
motivations for surgery, manage expectations and prepare
for the psychological effects that changing the shape and
appearance of their face and body can have.
Cosmetic surgery will not turn you into a
“better” person or attract the ideal partner
Managing your expectations
The vast majority of cosmetic procedures result in a
successful, and very positive, outcome. However, if you’re
expecting perfection, the results can often fall short. Realistic
expectations are key in undergoing any form of cosmetic
procedure. An educated and informed idea of what to
expect during the recovery period, and as the results emerge
in the months following the procedure, will go a long way in
securing a positive outcome, without any surprises.
For the right individual – usually those who are physically
healthy and psychologically sound – cosmetic surgery can be
a highly successful procedure that helps restore confidence,
both inside and out. However, cosmetic surgery will not turn
you into a “better” person, eradicate emotional problems or
attract the ideal partner.
There are several factors that contribute to the final result
of any surgical procedure – there is no “one size fits all”
result. Skin type, physiology, age and external factors will
all influence surgical outcomes. For this reason, surgery
should not be considered a solution to restoring youth in an
ageing face or body. While a tightening, lifting or slimming
effect can certainly be achieved in the short term, these all
pertain to the appearance, and the process of ageing will
still continue over time.
Alongside the inevitable march of ageing, it is important
to understand that our aesthetic concerns and ideals
are likely to change over time also. The book Living with
your Looks (2007) by Roberta Honigman and David J
Castle delves into the process of ageing and changes in
www.cosbeauty.com.au 39