More and more people are taking an interest in aesthetic surgery with the desire to rediscover a friendlier, more radiant, younger face or to improve some parts of their body.
A more or less deep-seated complex, a desire to feel at one with yourself, your appearance and the image you wish to convey… whether it is a genetic trait, the result of a trauma or just to make yourself more beautiful or fight the aging process, plastic, aesthetic or reconstructive surgery provides each individual with the possibility of changing their appearance to a certain extent and restoring their self-confidence and, in most cases, the procedure is successful.
What are the possible imperfections in the results?
Going under the knife of a surgeon seems to be the easiest and fastest way of improving your appearance. However, aesthetic surgery must not be taken lightly! There are numerous benefits but also risks linked to the anaesthetic, of course, but also any surgery as soon as we operate on a living person.
Apart from possible complications inherent to any procedure (for example the risk of a capsular contracture after breast augmentation), the most common imperfections are generally due to:
- A misunderstanding regarding the objectives to be attained with the first procedure.
- One or more scars being a little too visible or asymmetrical
- An asymmetrical, uneven result
- Insufficient or excess correction
6 essential points to avoid disappointment after aesthetic surgery
#1 Know why you wish to undergo the procedure
This may seem obvious at first but taking the time to ask yourself the question – you and you alone – is essential. Try to recognise and then contemplate the root of your desire, your insecurity, and your complex. You think your breasts are too small, are they really that small?
Have you always wanted bigger or more well-proportioned breasts or was the desire triggered by a comment from a friend or relative – your companion, a friend, a member of your family – or because of what you see in magazines, on television, in adverts, on the Internet or social media?
Analysing the timeline of this desire is also important: it is clear that after a shock or disappointment, a major event in your life such as a separation, a divorce, or losing your job… how you see yourself can be different, and your self-esteem somewhat undermined.
Plastic surgery can offer you a new life and all satisfied patients say so! But surgery must in no way be done to please someone else, during an insecure period in your life, and even less so, on an impulse… The risk of disappointment is much greater in these cases.
The surgeon will ask you these questions as well. During the consultation, your motivations, your emotional and psychological balance, as well as your medical history, will be considered… and I reserve the right not to carry out the operation. This is the case for example for people with body dysmorphia, an obsessive behavioural disorder characterised by an obsession with an imaginary flaw.
#2 Do some research to carefully choose your surgeon and ask questions
Find out about the procedure and the surgeon. Looking at before/after photos on the Internet, as well as the cost of this sort of procedure, the follow-up and potential complications will give you an idea about the procedure you are considering.
Concerning the surgeon, he or she must of course be registered with the National Board of Physicians. As a bonus, word of mouth, preferably from a friend or family member who has undergone the same operation and you think it was a success, is reassuring. It is not unusual to then consult two surgeons so you can compare and make an informed choice depending on the confidence they inspired and how you felt about them!
Do not hesitate to ask them questions. A serious practitioner will openly advise you, reassure you, provide you with all the information and documents about the procedure, and will also give you a clear, accurate quote. Finally, there is a mandatory reflection period of 14 days.
#3 Understand the benefits but also the risks
As a surgeon, I make it a point of honour to present as clearly and as openly as possible the benefits but also the risks and potential complications of aesthetic surgery.
It is important to be aware that any aesthetic surgery, and more generally any surgical procedure on the human body and living tissues, has its share of unpredictability. Complications are rare but they exist, even if the surgeon has done their job properly. Furthermore, it is for this reason that from a legal standpoint, a surgeon has the obligation to use best endeavours but no obligation of result. It is therefore important to see in each case what the most probable risks are and how to maximise prevention.
#4 Have realistic expectations
Once you are sufficiently prepared and informed, you have taken the time to reflect, and your surgeon has given you all the necessary information regarding the procedure, the expectations regarding the surgery will be rooted in reality.
Realistic expectations are also key to ensuring you will be satisfied with the operation. It is essential to understand what is possible and what is utopian. Even if the media tends to show that anything is possible, in reality, this is not the case and depending on your natural morphology, certain types of results will be impossible to obtain.
#5 Clearly understand yourself to avoid any confusion
Communication is crucial. If the patient and surgeon have come to an agreement and there are no more grey areas, we can avoid any confusion that often results in disappointment.
For example, the term ‘natural’ is quite subjective and it can be useful to show photos of what we like (and certainly do not like!) to ensure we are talking the same language. If the surgeon clearly understands what the patient wants, the risk of deception is considerably lower.
#6 Follow the pre- and post-operative instructions
Following the pre- and post-operative instructions will put all the odds in your favour to ensure the procedure and your convalescence proceed under the best possible circumstances and thus guarantee the best recovery after surgery and good healing.
Immediate complications, delayed complications, or an imperfect result… as I said previously, the human body is a living organism, so if the results do not meet your expectations, speak to your surgeon! Touch-ups are of course possible.
Any questions? Would you like to make an appointment for a consultation with Doctor Rajao in Paris?
Contact our team, we are at your service.