Gone are the days when cosmetic surgery was taboo. Partially due
to the influence of social media with apparently well-meaning bloggers
presenting their latest plastic surgery procedures in the form of tutorials, young women observe the results with envy and intrigue,
rather than disdain.
I would be
lying if I said I have never been tempted by the flawless large-eyed
pixie-faced selfies frequently circulated all over Weibo, instagram and the like. But
what keeps me from developing further interest in the subject matter are the
stories of cosmetic surgeries gone wrong, such as in the case of one local blogger whose breast implants ruptured and her chin implant infected last month. And if you do a quick google search on plastic surgeries gone wrong, the squeamish might have to skip lunch today. Call
me conservative, but I think going against nature and inserting foreign objects
in your body for the sake of non-lasting beauty is simply asking for health
troubles, if not at the current moment, then many years down the road. So many
complications can arise from a simple infection!
Nevertheless,
some people are willing to put up with the pain and potential risks, and certainly, they are free to do as they desire. But are you completely aware of all the potential
risks that come with plastic surgery? Many of us are so easily blinded by achievements that
we forget the troubles and sacrifices one has to go through to attain them.
Furthermore, it is human nature to trumpet our achievements but keep mum about failures, so we are exposed to more success stories than failures in plastic surgery. With the ages of girls desiring plastic surgery getting younger, creating
awareness about the potential risks of plastic surgery really needs to take a
front seat.
Here are
some common mistakes people make when they plan to go under the knife:
Forgetting that scarring is a thing
It seems
ironic that procedures meant to beautify the body could do the opposite. The
fact is, plastic surgery is invasive, like all other medical surgeries, and
could potentially leave scars, notably major procedures like tummy tucks and
breast augmentation. Aside from the doctor’s skill, genetic factors also come
into play. For example, people with darker complexion and high skin
pigmentation have a higher tendency to get obvious post-procedure
scarring. To avoid or reduce the impact of post-procedure scarring, do consult
your doctor on all the after-care precautions you should take.
Taking doctor’s credibility for granted in an unfamiliar place
Many beauty fanatics head overseas to places like Korea and Thailand for plastic surgery these days because the procedures are cheaper than done locally, bloggers recommend them, and also due to the rise of plastic surgery tourism. Bear in mind that advertorials and recommendations by bloggers are often sponsored. Tour companies get commission. Always do extensive checks on the doctor’s background, and ask lots of relevant questions during consultation. With the prevalence of plastic surgery clinics these days, it is becoming more challenging to discern the good ones from the mediocre ones.
According to the South China Morning Paper, "The South Korean plastic surgery industry currently faces a myriad of issues that may compromise the health and safety of patients. The industry’s lax regulations towards medical practitioners; lack of emergency training and equipment at clinics; and high numbers of illegal plastic surgery agents have begun to affect the country’s reputation as a top medical tourism destination. Under current laws, doctors are unrestricted when it comes to their practices. Non-specialist doctors may perform any type of surgery".
Taking doctor’s credibility for granted in an unfamiliar place
Many beauty fanatics head overseas to places like Korea and Thailand for plastic surgery these days because the procedures are cheaper than done locally, bloggers recommend them, and also due to the rise of plastic surgery tourism. Bear in mind that advertorials and recommendations by bloggers are often sponsored. Tour companies get commission. Always do extensive checks on the doctor’s background, and ask lots of relevant questions during consultation. With the prevalence of plastic surgery clinics these days, it is becoming more challenging to discern the good ones from the mediocre ones.
According to the South China Morning Paper, "The South Korean plastic surgery industry currently faces a myriad of issues that may compromise the health and safety of patients. The industry’s lax regulations towards medical practitioners; lack of emergency training and equipment at clinics; and high numbers of illegal plastic surgery agents have begun to affect the country’s reputation as a top medical tourism destination. Under current laws, doctors are unrestricted when it comes to their practices. Non-specialist doctors may perform any type of surgery".
Follow-up sessions, touch-ups and revision surgeries may be necessary so you may want to think twice
about heading overseas. If you must go, then be sure to familiarise yourself with the local laws and understand the types of certifications that clinics are awarded with. In case something goes wrong, you know how to go about protecting your consumer rights.
Not having an adequate understanding of your
own facial / body structure
Everybody
has different body and facial structure. One particular type of feature may
look great on someone but poor on another. Post-surgery dissatisfaction can
potentially lead to a myriad of negative emotions from disappointment and
regret (especially if the expenses were high) to an even lower self-esteem, if
one already had low self-worth to begin with (i.e. nothing I do will improve my
looks). Take breast augmentation for example.Many women
have irregular breastbones and rib cages, and this often leads to
unsatisfactory breast implants, with lopsided breasts being a common post-surgery
problem. Some women also had to down-size their cups when they developed back problems consequently.
Not consulting your doctor when you have
existing health problems
Like all surgical procedures, plastic surgery carries potential risks, which could complicate existing health problems such as obesity, heart problems etc. Think about it, when you go under the knife, you’d be placed under anaesthetic, and that alone can cause potentially life-endangering effects.
Like all surgical procedures, plastic surgery carries potential risks, which could complicate existing health problems such as obesity, heart problems etc. Think about it, when you go under the knife, you’d be placed under anaesthetic, and that alone can cause potentially life-endangering effects.
You should
consult both your doctor about the types of procedures you intend to do, so that he/she can advise you if you are suited to undergo the procedure. Your plastic surgeon may be knowledgeable about this, but it is best to consult the expert, especially someone who has comprehensive knowledge about your health condition.
Do also be honest with your plastic surgeon about your existing medical conditions and lifestyle as some factors could inhibit the safety and effectiveness of the procedures. For example, heavy drinkers and regular smokers would not be good candidates for cosmetic surgery. And recent users of the the acne medication accutane would be ill-advised to go ahead with a lip augmentation.
Do also be honest with your plastic surgeon about your existing medical conditions and lifestyle as some factors could inhibit the safety and effectiveness of the procedures. For example, heavy drinkers and regular smokers would not be good candidates for cosmetic surgery. And recent users of the the acne medication accutane would be ill-advised to go ahead with a lip augmentation.
If both doctors
provide conflicting advice, you should definitely consider consulting another
plastic surgeon.
Not educating oneself on potential side effects or
following up after procedure
Various
cosmetic procedures have their own sets of potential side effects. Implants
run the risk of becoming infected, rejection or shifting to a different
position and requiring further surgery to correct it. Forehead and brow lifts
could lead to hair-loss around the surgical area as well as
numbness in the forehead and scalp. Even the very commonly done and presumably safe eyelid surgery may
potentially lead to blindness (though very rare), dry eyes, scarring and eye
irritation. And the list goes on. Some side effects may only appear months or
years after the surgery, such as rupturing of breast implants, so it is always
important to monitor your condition and abide by the doctor’s advice on
post-surgery care.
Cosmetic
procedures may be commonplace now, but that doesn’t mean you should jump on the
bandwagon. Above all, you should have a healthy self image and expectations of
what plastic surgery can do for you, which all good doctors should discuss with
you before recommending any sort of procedure. Plastic surgery should be
regarded as what it is - an enhancement of physical attributes. It certainly will not stop the aging process or bestow you with a perfect body image. People are rarely content and soon you will be expecting more.
If you have self-esteem issues, it is more effective in the long run to work on improving your physical and mental well-being through setting attainable goals, a healthy lifestyle, sufficient sleep, balanced diet and exercise.
If you have self-esteem issues, it is more effective in the long run to work on improving your physical and mental well-being through setting attainable goals, a healthy lifestyle, sufficient sleep, balanced diet and exercise.
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