If you’ve been interested in moving forward with a plastic surgery procedure, one of the first steps is ensuring you’re an ideal candidate for your desired surgery. Whether looking for a facelift, rhinoplasty, or breast augmentation, it’s important to ensure that you have no underlying health conditions or other complicating factors before going under the knife. With so many plastic surgery procedures becoming increasingly popular over the last couple of decades, it may seem like anyone who wants surgery can get it, but in reality, there are a couple of essential factors for both patient and surgeon to consider. This helps to ensure the best outcome for your procedure.
Characteristics of An Ideal Candidate For Surgery
Good General Health
Good general health is essential whether you are looking for a cosmetic or medical plastic surgery procedure. Health is more than just your physical ability. It is a combination of physical, mental, and social well-being that is not merely considered good when you are not sick. An ideal candidate for surgery feels confident in those areas of their health. This is an excellent indication of whether you are ready to take on the impact that the surgery and recovery can have on your body.
Realistic Expectations
Getting caught up in the before and after photos of patients is easy. However, an ideal plastic surgery patient knows the results are case-by-case. Everyone’s bodies are different and react differently to procedures. By setting realistic expectations with yourself and your doctor, you can go into surgery feeling confident. That is one of the crucial parts of a consultation. Your doctor has the chance to explain the realistic outcomes for your body. This can help the process even before you receive the procedure.
Emotional Stability
Participating in any type of surgery can have effects on your emotions. Before you decide to receive a plastic surgery procedure, you must take the time to consider if it is a good time for your mental well-being to go through something as intensive as surgery. It is also a good time to evaluate the support system you have around you, as any type of significant change in one’s life is easier when not alone.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons explains that it is important that you are getting the surgery for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or try to fit any sort of ideal image. Looking for a medical procedure for any reason other than your own may lead to instances of regret in the long term.
Understanding of Risks
The risks of any surgery can be intimidating. The risks for plastic surgery often depend on the area and type of surgery you receive. To be an ideal candidate for surgery, you must understand the risks and feel comfortable moving forward with them. An experienced doctor and further research can help you as the process becomes more and more real.
A Good Support System
Undergoing plastic surgery can lead to weeks of downtime to ensure a healthy recovery. Before your surgery, it’s essential that you get a support team together that can help make your recovery process as smooth as possible. Whether helping prepare meals, picking up prescriptions, or assisting with child care, having a couple of friends or family members to lean on while you rest is an important part of post-op care. Having this support makes you even more of an ideal candidate.
You could be the next ideal candidate for your dream plastic surgery procedure! Reading through these five characteristics makes it easy to understand whether it is the right fit for you. This is an excellent roadmap for your progress if you feel like it may not be a perfect time. Do you have more questions about becoming the ideal candidate for surgery? Our team at O’Neill Plastic Surgery can help answer them! Check our website or call (843) 881-2130 for more information.
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