Today, more and more people are seeking plastic surgery. Some are doing so for cosmetic purposes and others for medical reasons. However, it’s essential that you understand the DO’s and DON’Ts of plastic surgery, regardless of the reason why you want to undergo the procedure.

Statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicate that over 18 million people sought plastic surgery in 2019 alone. This figure is set to grow significantly in the coming years, thanks to the advancements in medical technology.

With that, let’s look at the DO’s and DON’Ts when planning to undergo plastic surgery.

DOs

Do have realistic expectations

Maybe you want to undergo a certain plastic surgery procedure just to look like someone else. However, it’s totally unrealistic to think that plastic surgery will give you another person’s appearance. Perhaps you don’t know everyone is unique, and what looks good on someone else might not look so to you. While your surgeon can easily describe to you the feature you desire to have, your procedure will not make you look like the other person.

Therefore, you must have realistic post-op expectations. At the end of the day, the purpose of your plastic surgery is to give you good and naturally-looking results. These results should enhance and complement your appearance, without looking fake. Therefore, you need to keep this in mind to avoid disappointments after spending a lot of money on your procedure.

Do have a healthy weight

If you want to undergo plastic surgery for weight loss purposes, ensure that you have the recommended weight before your surgery. Weight gain or loss after plastic surgery can lead to unprecedented changes in your body. These changes, unfortunately, can negatively affect the results of your surgery. Also, you should keep a healthy weight after your surgery for better results.

Do plan your schedule

Any form of surgery can take a toll on your body, and plastic surgery is not excluded. Besides, plastic surgery can also affect your professional and personal life. Therefore, you need to plan and get ready for these changes.

The experts at LabelleVie, Seattle plastic surgery center say that any plastic surgical procedure is still an operation, regardless of the type. So, you need to create some time out of your daily schedule so that you can rest and recover. If you work in an office, take a few days off—preferably one week. Besides, you should avoid any kind of strenuous activity, like running and give your body the much needed time to heal.

Do research and ask your surgeon questions

First, you need to do your research and choose an experienced surgeon. Please note that choosing the right surgeon will greatly determine the outcome of your surgery.

Then you need to ask your surgeon for clarifications and any questions that you have about the procedure that you need to be done. This shows the importance of doing proper research about the procedure beforehand. Also, ensure that you review some of the surgeon’s previous work, and then discuss the potential complications and risks of the procedure. Lastly don’t forget to ask about the recovery time of your procedure.

Don’ts

Don’t expect plastic surgery to fix all of your issues

Plastic surgery will not solve all the problems that you face in life. For instance, plastic surgery will help you gain confidence in how you look. However, it will not give you the confidence that you need during interviews.

Besides, plastic surgery results are not immediate. So, you shouldn’t expect your appearance to change overnight. In fact, you should start seeing the positive changes a few weeks after your surgery. Mostly, you might have swelling from the injections, making it hard to have a clear picture of the results. This calls for lots of patience.

Don’t let plastic surgery be your first result

Today, most young people are under constant pressure to have a younger and beautiful appearance. As a result, most of them have resulted in plastic surgery to change certain areas in their body that they cannot change.

However, this is totally wrong! You should never let plastic surgery be your first result. Let’s say you need to shed some weight, certain procedures like liposuction shouldn’t be the first thing to run to. Rather, you should consider changing your diet and doing regular exercise. If regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle don’t help you lose fat, it’s the time now to consider plastic surgery.

Don’t take alcohol, blood thinners, or smoke a month before and after your surgery

Alcohol dehydrates your body, and this can lead to swelling. Besides, alcohol is a blood thinner, which increases the possibility of bleeding during your surgery. Also, it’s important to note that smoking and anesthesia don’t mix.

Also, smoking prevents blood from carrying oxygen, which can affect how anesthesia reacts to your body. Smoking can also hinder blood flow to the surgery area, which can affect the healing process. So, if you want to recover faster after your surgery, just quit smoking. Lastly, certain medications like aspirin and ibuprofen act as blood thinners, and you should avoid them to avoid the risk of bleeding too.