Considering Cosmetic Plastic Surgery?
The highly respected American Society of Plastic Surgeons recently undertook a research survey on the attitudes, perspectives and experiences of people who have had cosmetic plastic surgery. The resulting data reveals a great deal about the approach of the average cosmetic surgery patient to their procedure, both prior to surgery and during recovery. The society published their findings on their web site and there is much for the prospective aesthetic plastic surgery patient to learn there.
The sample was just over three hundred patients who had undergone cosmetic plastic surgery, along with an additional three hundred-plus patients who had gone through medically necessary surgery. Here are some highlights from the survey results, culled for responses from the cosmetic surgery patients only.
• Nearly 40% of cosmetic plastic surgery patients believe they should have been more proactive in learning about the possible side effects and complications of their surgeries.
• Nearly one-third (28%) did not check their doctor’s credentials before surgery.
• 54% did not check if their surgeon completed an accredited residency training program in plastic surgery.
• Before surgery, 91% of cosmetic surgery patients said they knew what to expect in terms of post-surgical side effects and complications.
• HOWEVER, fewer than half recalled being informed of some common side effects and complications such as nausea and vomiting (42%) blood clots (34%), or suture complications (34%).
• About 1 in 2 cosmetic surgery patients (57%) expressed some concern about the outcome of their procedure as it relates to post-surgical side effects and complications.
• Nearly one-third of patients (30%) who experienced post-surgical side effects or complications found them to be at least somewhat difficult to manage.
• Among these patients, 35% reported the inability to accomplish daily tasks; 32% had a loss in daily energy; and 35% of cosmetic plastic surgery patients who experienced a post-surgical complication reported missing four or more days of work due to their complication.
What can a prospective patient learn from all this? Much of it stems from the patient’s relationship and communication with the surgeon.
First of all, it’s critical to ascertain that your surgeon is qualified to operate. Ask about specific training and make sure that s/he is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, whose standards are going to be a guarantee of peer review.
One of the things the survey reported was unwillingness among many patients to question their surgeons closely. For that reason, the pre-op understanding about side effects and the post-op experience were often very different. Ask your surgeon about potential bleeding and how much is too much. Ask about nausea and suggested diet options. Ask about suture maintenance and if they don’t seem, make a return visit immediately. Sutures are the key to minimizing scarring.
Don’t think that because it’s elective surgery it won’t take time to heal. Instead of trying to avoid disruption in your life, plan for reduced functionality and plan for time away from work. If it doesn’t happen, that’s fine. If it does, there won’t be an unpleasant surprise.
People seek out plastic surgeons to make a positive life change for them. Many of those surgeons, while being realistic about limitations, still are describing results that at least in anticipation, many patients believe will make an enormous difference. It’s important for you, the patient, to separate the process from the result. It’s still surgery and many of the procedures are invasive. Plan for it as if it’s a hernia operation – treat it like an unpleasant but necessary medical experience. That will prompt you to ask as many questions as you can think of and you will be better prepared for it.
