Are you starting to feel self-conscious about your face or body? If so, you may want to consider cosmetic surgery, as several enhancements can improve your skin, reduce fat, remove varicose veins, and more. A good surgeon can help you enhance your confidence by removing flaws and improving overall skin quality. Here are some questions you should ask a local plastic surgeon before starting any procedures.
1. What Procedures Do You Do?
Get a full range of a plastic surgeon’s list of services before you commit to them. After all, some may have one specialty or provide a list of comprehensive services to cover the face and body. If you like them, you may decide to go back to them for a different procedure that they have. Plus, you may initially think you should get one procedure but realize they have a different option that is better for you.
2. How Do I Prep for a Procedure?
How much prep you need to do can depend on the type of procedure being done. There may be some general recommended lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and reducing your alcohol intake. Some surgeons may want you to lose a few pounds, especially if you’re going under anesthesia or doing a procedure involving fat reduction, like liposuction. They may also advise you to stop certain medications, especially anything that can increase bleeding. You want to heal well, so you should kick up your nutritional habits by eating healthier foods and drinking as much water as possible to promote that healing.
3. What Is Aftercare Like?
The amount of aftercare you must worry about depends on whether you have a non-invasive or invasive procedure. Aftercare may be as simple as staying out of the sun for a few days or weeks because you had a chemical peel. In our experience, the surgeon may also advise you to not do any strenuous activity for the first week or two.
4. How Long Do Results Last?
Different procedures have different resulting lifespans. For example, laser hair removal can last several months to several years, but you still may need maintenance treatments for prolonged results. If you have a scar removed by way of skin resurfacing, those results may be permanent. We’ve observed that you can expect your Botox results to eventually wear off, usually by six months.
5. How Different Will I Look Compared to Before the Procedure?
According to Bankrate, about 80% of American plastic surgeons say they saw far more patients wanting procedures completed in 2022 than before the pandemic. Many people may be turned on by the results of the various procedures that they’ve seen people in their inner circle have. Before you agree to any procedure, have your surgeon show you a range of before and after photos to give you peace of mind. This is because you want to have a realistic idea of what to expect. For example, if you want to smooth out your skin, you should ask them about their success in removing scars, lines, or wrinkles. It’s a good idea to see different results from various procedures, so you can decide which one is best for you.
6. May I Have a Few References?
You should always get references before working with any surgeon for the first time. As long as they’re a reputable surgeon who can live up to their claims, they shouldn’t hesitate to connect you to previous patients. Plus, if other patients can vouch for the quality of work, it can make you feel better about moving forward.
7. How Long Have You Been in Practice?
You want a local plastic surgeon with years of experience. So, always ask how long they’ve been in practice. You may also want to ask how long they’ve been handling certain procedures, as some may be newer.
Finding the right local plastic surgeon can go a long way in improving your appearance and confidence. However, you must do your diligence to find the right one. The first thing to do is to have a consultation to see if you’re a good match. When you have such a consultation, you should have a list of questions to ask. Luckily, we’re a high-ranking cosmetic surgery office that provides top-of-the-line services such as laser hair removal, resurfacing, Botox, and more. Contact Artisan Plastic Surgery for a consultation, and we’ll answer any questions you have.
