Cosmetic surgery

Many people mistakenly believe that the specialty of Plastic Surgery takes its name from the use of silicone and other manmade materials such as plastic to achieve reconstructive goals. Nothing could be further from the truth. The term plastic surgery comes from the Greek word plastikos which means to mold or to give form. Many of the early recorded efforts in surgery were attempts to restore normal form to body parts that had been altered due to injury. Procedures that we would classify as Plastic Surgery today were being carried out before the birth of Christ. Plastic surgical procedures fall into two major subdivisions: reconstructive and cosmetic.

Cosmetic procedures are operations done purely to enhance the appearance of body parts which fall within the normal range of appearance and function. Examples would include procedures such as face lifts, nose reshaping done only for appearance, and fat suction procedures. The desire of humans to enhance their appearance is not a recent phenomena. The ancient Egyptians used makeup quite extensively, and we can be certain they were not the first society to do so. Surgical manipulation of tissue to enhance appearance was apparently common in India in 400BC. Numerous cultures have used surgical procedures to enlarge ear lobes, lips, and to produce scars in a pattern felt to enhance attractiveness or in some cases to appear more fearsome to enemies. The desire to change appearance does not appear to have emerged solely at the bidding of the Madison Avenue advertising executives. Americans are said to have spent $ 16 billion on beauty products in 1994. Against that backdrop cosmetic surgery is a tiny but important tool in the quest for personal beauty.

Appropriate candidates for surgery

If you are considering plastic surgery, you must be honest with yourself. Exactly why do you want surgery? And, what are your goals for surgery-what do you expect plastic surgery to do for you?

There are two categories of patients who are good candidates for surgery.

The first includes patients with a strong self-image, who are bothered by a physical characteristic that they’d like to improve or change. After surgery, these patients feel good about the results and maintain a positive image about themselves.

The second category includes patients who have a physical defect or cosmetic flaw that has diminished their self-esteem over time. These patients may adjust rather slowly after surgery, as rebuilding confidence takes time. However, as they adjust, these patients’ self-image is strengthened, sometimes dramatically.

It’s important to remember that plastic surgery can create both physical changes and and changes in self-esteem. If you are seeking surgery with the hope of influencing a change in someone other than yourself, you might end up disappointed. It’s possible that friends and loved ones will respond positively to your change in appearance and self-confidence, however understand and accept that plastic surgery will not cause dramatic changes in people other than you.

Inappropriate candidates for surgery

Not everyone is an appropriate candidate for plastic surgery, despite physical indications which are ideal for any given procedure. Experienced plastic surgeons can usually identify troubled patients during a consultation. Sometimes, plastic surgeons will decline to operate on these individuals. Other times, they may recommend psychological counseling to ensure that the patient’s desire for an appearance change isn’t part of an emotional problem that no amount of surgery can fix. If your plastic surgeon recommends counseling for you, feel free to ask your surgeon how he or she expects the sessions to help you.

Though there are exceptions, individuals who may be advised to seek counseling prior to any consideration of surgery include:

Patients in crisis, such as those who are going through divorce, the death of a spouse, or the loss of a job. These patients may be seeking to achieve goals that cannot be obtained through an appearance change-goals that relate to overcoming crisis through an unrelated change in appearance is not the solution. Rather, a patient must first work through the crisis.

Patients with unrealistic expectations, such as those who insist on having a celebrity’s nose, with the hope that they may acquire a celebrity lifestyle; patients who want to be restored to their original "perfection" following a severe accident or a serious illness; or patients who wish to find the youth of many decades past.
Impossible-to-please patients, such as individuals who consult with surgeon after surgeon, seeking the answers they want to hear. These patients hope for a cure to a problem which is not primarily, or not at all physical.

Patients who are obsessed with a very minor defect, and may believe that once their defect is fixed, life will be perfect. Born perfectionists may be suitable candidates for surgery, as long as they are realistic enough to understand that surgical results may not precisely match their goals.

Patients who have a mental illness, and exhibit delusional or paranoid behavior, may also be poor candidates for surgery. Surgery may be appropriate in these cases if it is determined that the patient’s goals for surgery are not related to the psychosis. In these cases, a plastic surgeon may work closely with the patient’s psychiatrist.