Cosmetic Surgery: Do You Have the Time?

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.

Also, keep in mind when you talk to others who have already had surgery that people also tend to forget uncomfortable moments, especially those times when they were immediately post-op on pain medications. You may hear, “It was no big deal. I recovered fast,” which does not realistically communicate how much time it actually took to recover. It’s a lot like giving birth: mothers often only remember the good parts of their time having a baby, and the painful delivery is rarely ever a topic of conversation. In addition, memory can’t always be trusted.

People’s lives seem to be getting busier and busier. Often the time period of the surgery fades away, and people forget the time they invested into it. Many of us juggle all sorts of things at once, including work, kids, the responsibilities of the household, and so on. Sound like you?

Too many people don’t understand that when you have any kind of surgical procedure, not just plastic surgery, you really should plan your life around the surgery and not try to wedge the surgery into your life. That means more than just planning to take a day or two off to have the procedure. You also want to plan for enough time to have a good recovery. It is not easy to recover from a surgical procedure. There’s a lot you must factor in, including not just your physical recovery but also your mental recovery.

Learn more about whether cosmetic surgery is the right choice for you and your current situation in my book, “Making the Cut” available for purchase on Amazon.

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