Considering Plastic Surgery? Here’s What You Should Know.

Tiptoeing in

Surgery can be overwhelming. Thus, Lied said a good entry point for women considering cosmetic changes can be minimally invasive procedures, like Botox (botulinum toxin). "It involves a teeny needle and a few shots in the face and helps smooth out wrinkles," she explained. Botox, which lasts for three to four months, can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, including frown and smile lines, and provides an eyebrow-lifting effect. While some of these treatments can be performed in dermatological offices, Lied says plastic surgery clinics have physicians that specialize and are well-versed in these minimally invasive options. And nonsurgical body contouring procedures can reduce fat through freezing and radio frequency waves. "If you don't have the downtime that recovery [from surgery] involves or the budget, these procedures can be great surgical alternatives," Lied explained.

More permanent options

In recent years, Lied has had many requests for neck lifts and liposuction. She's also performed a lot of eyelid surgeries. "Ladies, even in their 30s and 40s, are complaining of looking tired, the feeling of heavy eyelids or not having well-defined upper eyelids anymore," she said. To combat sagging skin, people are opting for facelifts and sometimes combining them with neck lifts or fat transfers, where fat from the stomach or thighs is injected into the cheeks to combat age-related volume loss.

Women are also changing the shape of their noses and getting tummy tucks or liposuction to target areas like thighs. Dr. Craig Lehrman, a plastic surgeon at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, performs a lot of "mommy makeovers." "This is essentially a tummy tuck to tighten the abdominal muscles after pregnancy and remove skin laxity that develops and some of the stretch marks. It's often done in conjunction with a breast lift or augmentation," he said.

Safety + effectiveness

Every plastic surgery procedure involves risks. "Common ones include infection, bleeding, reaction to anesthesia and the possibility of not having your expectations met," said Los Angeles-based plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Tsai. "Your surgeon will perform an evaluation, which includes medical history, physical and lab work to give you a preoperative clearance," Lied explained. They will also discuss any specific risks associated with your type of surgery and your background.

Scars are unavoidable

Yes, you will have scarring. "There is no scarless surgery," Lehrman explained. Surgeons, however, do their best to get creative with scar placement and provide instructions on post-surgical scar treatment and care.

Your expectations need to be managed

Plastic surgery can improve specific features, but it isn't a complete body overhaul. Lehrman tells patients procedures like liposuction or tummy tucks are not weight loss substitutes. "You want to be near your goal weight before proceeding with any kind of major body surgery," he explained. "If you're 50 pounds from where you want to be, then you get these procedures and lose weight, you'll have a recurrence of all the things you were trying to address with the surgery — laxity of skin, breast ptosis (sagging), the recurrence of things we tried to tighten up." And don't expect to walk out of a surgeon's office resembling your favorite star. "Anyone that tells you they can make you look like a celebrity is going to steer you wrong," Lehrman warned.

You may need more surgeries

"Even the best surgeons can have complications and revisions," Lehrman said. And some procedures may require follow-ups down the line. "You're turning back the clock, but you're not stopping it. It's an evolving game." So if you get a facelift, for instance, the goal is to make you look 10 years younger. "But a lot of people come back for a second or third facelift down the road," he explained.

You will likely pay out-of-pocket

Your insurance may cover a breast augmentation after a mastectomy or a nose job performed during a deviated septum procedure. But plastic surgery is typically elective, which means you'll pay out-of-pocket. "In general, breast augmentation can range from $5,000 to $7,000 and a face lift between $10,000 to $15,000," according to Lehrman.

It’s all about finding the right surgeon

Working with a competent surgeon and refraining from overdoing procedures will set you up with your best chance of a positive post-surgical experience. "I feel like plastic surgery gets a bad rap because there are a lot of people doing things that are one not safe," Lehrman said. He noted, for instance, that 20% of plastic surgery procedures are not performed by board-certified plastic surgeons and stressed the importance of finding a qualified surgeon to accompany you on your journey. Board-certified plastic surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) and have completed surgical training and passed comprehensive exams covering all plastic surgery-related procedures. You can verify whether your doctor is certified on the American Board of Plastic Surgery website.

"Find someone with a proven track record, ask for before and after photos, and make sure your surgeon's goals align with yours," Lehrman said.