One of the most talked-about areas in any beauty magazine is the eyes. The eyes (or the skin and tissue around the eyes) often display the first signs of aging as we grow older. As such, much of plastic surgery literature is devoted to the rejuvenation of this delicate but beautiful part of the face. The eyelids include both the upper and the lower eyelids. Believe it or not, this relatively small area of our bodies has intricate anatomical details that require precise adjustments, often as small as one millimeter!

A common misconception is that since plastic surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, that it is as easy as going to a hair stylist for a new hair-do. The portrayal of an entire plastic surgery journey in thirty-minute programs on cable television has lead to many having a severely skewed view of how much time goes into deciding, researching, and recovering from plastic surgery. Often six to eight weeks of recovery time are skipped over in the blink of an eye, often during a commercial break.

Throughout my posts, I’ve addressed a number of unrealistic expectations that people may have regarding cosmetic surgery. One common one, that can be related to my previous post, is this notion that “I’m in a bad place in my life and I want the surgery so I’ll feel better.”

“Someone caused me to lose self-esteem and I’m trying to get it back…”

Almost every day, people come to our office because their significant other, spouse, or even a “friend” has poked fun of or drawn attention to a certain part of their body and made them feel as though it looks “terrible” or “unsightly.” These nasty comments make these people feel depressed and extremely self-conscious.

I get many patients who say they have had their procedure “botched” by another doctor and they want me to correct it. I usually find that this term is used quite loosely, and often incorrectly, by most patients. There could be complications that occur with any procedure that are not the fault of the surgeon performing the procedure.

For the last five to ten years, many plastic and cosmetic surgeons have followed my lead and refused to operate on smokers, especially those seeking a face-lift, tummy tuck, or breast-lift—procedures that require skin to be shifted.

​I’ve discussed at length the importance of emotional and physical health when it comes to cosmetic surgery. The following is a little test that will help you determine if you are ready for your desired surgery, or if there are other priorities to work out first. Make sure you can answer YES to all these questions before you proceed:

In my previous post, I discussed some of the bariatric procedures that can be very helpful for those who are candidates. While not all individuals will qualify to undergo these surgeries, they are still many that struggle. Here are ten psychological reasons some people aren’t able to lose weight:

Cosmetic surgeries should not be considered a quick-fix weight loss solution. In fact, patients need to make sure their health and BMI qualifies to pursue procedures like liposuction and tummy tucks. However, there are a number of options for bariatric surgery that you could look into.

Preparing for cosmetic surgery is serious business. The following is a copy of a letter we have patients give to their primary-care physicians to obtain the right medical clearance for plastic surgery. You can use it as a guideline to discuss with your own doctor to help ensure you’re in good health prior to surgery