New Year, New You? How to Know You’re Ready for Plastic Surgery

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By Jeffrey Donaldson, MD |

New Year, New You? How to Know You’re Ready for Plastic Surgery

 

Happy 2018! There’s nothing like a new year to get you excited about all the new opportunities that will come your way!

As you start planning for the new year (and maybe make a resolution or two), you might ask yourself, “Is this the year I’m finally going to pursue plastic surgery?” Chances are you’ve been thinking about it for a while but never felt like the timing was right. So how do you know if now is the right time?

Here are a few signs that can help you identify if you’re ready to move forward with surgery.

You’re doing it for yourself

Anytime you are making a decision about how you look, it is so important that it comes from an inner desire to boost your confidence and feel good about yourself. Maybe you’ve never liked the shape of your nose, or perhaps your face is starting to age and you want to restore some of your youthful glow.

Just remember — no one should ever make you feel like you have to change something about your appearance. If you can truly say that you are doing this for you and no one else, that’s when you know that you are ready to go on this journey.

You’ve done your homework

The decision to have plastic surgery is a big one. Before you ever make an appointment, spend some time doing a little research. A good place to start is learning the basics of the procedure you’re interested in — Who is a good candidate for this particular surgery? What does the procedure entail? How long will it take to recover?

Once you have an idea of what to expect, the next thing on your list is researching local surgeons. Find out who performs plastic surgery in your area and in what procedures they specialize in. And don’t forget to vet their credentials — Are they board certified? How long have they been in practice? Do they have good reviews from former patients?

Lastly, you should be well informed about the potential risks and complications associated with the surgery. All surgeries, even small procedures, have risks. Being aware of these risks will help you know what you can do to reduce them and better prepare for the procedure.

If you’ve done your homework and feel confident that this is something you want to do, that’s a great sign you’re ready for the procedure.

 

You have time to recover

The required downtime varies from procedure to procedure, and everyone heals a little bit differently. But generally speaking, you’ll need at least a week off from your daily routine to rest. That means taking time off from work, skipping your morning workout and dialing back on social outings. The only thing on your schedule should be spending some quality time with your bed, resting. Sometimes that’s easier said than done. When you have a full-time job with a busy schedule, taking a week off might not always be possible.

Part of planning for plastic surgery is planning for the recovery. Do you have some flexibility with your schedule or have vacation days saved up that you can use? If your answer to that question is “yes,” you can check that off your list!

You have a support system in place

This goes along with your recovery. After the surgery, you’re going to need a little help taking care of yourself. Having a strong support system of friends and family in place is absolutely essential to ensuring a smooth recovery. You will need someone to drive you home from the surgery center the day of the procedure, as well as someone to stay with you that night and make sure you have everything you need. And that’s just the first day!

As you continue to rest, you might need someone to run little errands for you, help out around the house and get the kids to and from school. Not to mention, you could use a little companionship while you’re stuck at home. If you have family and friends around you who support your decision to have surgery and are happy to help during the recovery period, that’s further proof that you are ready to do this.

Now that you’ve decided that you are ready for plastic surgery, it’s time to schedule a consultation! Dr. Donaldson would be happy to meet with you to discuss your needs, answer any questions you have and map out a treatment plan that will get you the results you’re looking for. Make 2018 the year that you To schedule a consultation with Dr. Donaldson, call us at 614-442-7610 or email [email protected] with the subject line “Consultation Request.” We look forward to seeing you!

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