Is a bit of nip and tuck right for you? Things to consider before going under the surgeon’s knife

In the 21st century, it’s hard not to know something about cosmetic surgery. We watch cosmetic surgery reality TV and see the results of successful surgeries – a perfectly contoured nose here, a set of perky breasts or a pair of shapely, cellulite free thighs there. It’s little wonder so many people consider having cosmetic surgery themselves.Yet there’s a dark side to cosmetic surgery that glossy magazines and so-called reality TV programs don’t usually show. Unanticipated results, long recovery times and post-operative depression and pain rarely feature on magazine covers or TV shows. But unsuccessful results are part of cosmetic surgery reality.Once you’ve gone under the knife, there’s no going back. So take some time to consider the risks before you decide you need a nip or tuck.

Reality check

Cosmetic surgery has no medical purpose. It won’t make you healthier or make your body function better; it can only change your appearance. Appearance changes can be good, but cosmetic surgery can also have negative physical and emotional health consequences, even if the results turn out the way they were supposed to.

That’s why it’s important to visit a doctor for a reality check before making any decisions. You need to know that cosmetic surgery operations sometimes need to be repeated. Even when they are ‘successful’, a lot of people are dissatisfied with the results.

There are also lots of physical risks, including blood clots, pain, and heart and lung complications. Sometimes complications occur years after the surgery, for example silicon leaking from a breast implant. There’s also a high risk of psychological complications such as depression following the surgery.

The reality is harsh, but it’s important to have realistic expectations. Cosmetic surgery is not a miracle cure, and if you think it is, you’ll probably be unhappy with the results.

Wanna be a teen beauty queen?

Getting a pre-cosmetic surgery reality check is even more important for teenagers, and especially teenage girls, who are under lots of pressure to look good. Unfortunately, looking good is more often associated with unrealistic beauty queen bodies on the covers of magazines than the bodies of normal, healthy teenage girls.

Given the unrealistic images of women’s and men’s bodies pumped out by the media every day, it’s not surprising that most teenagers are dissatisfied with their bodies and some think they need cosmetic surgery to improve their look.

What most people don’t know is that teenagers who undergo cosmetic surgery usually remain dissatisfied with their bodies. Teenagers don’t want cosmetic surgery because their bodies are ugly or look different to their peers’ bodies; the differences are psychological, not physical.

Body or mind?

Because teenager’s issues with their body image are often psychological, interventions to change their mindset (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy) are likely to be more effective than interventions that change their body. There are also measures such as nutrition and exercise that teens can use to change the appearance of their body. Just waiting can also help. Dissatisfaction with one’s body is a fairly normal part of growing up and most teens become more satisfied with their body by their 18th birthday.

However, some adults remain dissatisfied with their bodies. They may have psychological conditions such as anorexia nervosa or body dysmorphic disorder (an obsession with tiny body faults which other people don’t even notice) that they think cosmetic surgery can fix. Others may consider plastic surgery as a way to reverse the ageing process. And let’s face it, while wrinkles are a natural part of growing old and wise, we don’t see many pictures of beautifully wrinkled oldies on the fashion pages.

Whether you’re an adult or a teenager, it’s important to think about whether your appearance problem stems from your body or your mind before going under the knife. Consider how you think cosmetic surgery will change your appearance, your self-esteem and the way you think about your body. Then discuss your expectations with a doctor who’ll be able to tell you whether or not they are realistic.

Growing bodies

If you’re a teenager, it’s also important to remember that your body is still growing and developing its adult shape. For example if you’re female, your breasts may continue growing until you’re in your early twenties. Before then it’s impossible to know what they will look like, so changing their appearance now might not be the best option.

Teenage minds are still developing too, and young people (under 25 years old) take more risks than older people. Cosmetic surgery entails lots of risks and the results last a lifetime. A teenager might conceive the risks to be few or think the risks will be justified by the outcome, compared to someone older who might think more about the risks.

Who are you trying to please?

Teenagers are also more likely to have cosmetic surgery to please someone else, like their parents or sexual partner. Adults may also be under pressure to go under the cosmetic surgeon’s knife to please others. For example, women working in jobs where appearance is important (e.g. administration) are more likely to have cosmetic surgery than women who work in occupations where appearance is of little interest (e.g. trades). If you’re considering cosmetic surgery because you think someone else will be pleased with the results, think again.

More information

For more information on making a decision about cosmetic surgery, including factors, psychological conditions, risks and benefits, see Cosmetic Surgery: Making a Decision.