Making the Cut- How to Plan Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic procedures are different from other surgeries because technical skills serve aesthetic outcomes. In-demand surgeons make fee premiums for their aesthetic judgment. Technical skills have to be in place too…but taste rules. So, how do you tell a great plastic surgeon from a competent one?
You want a surgeon who does a lot of your procedure and someone with an aesthetic sensibility that you find pleasing. Look for clues that this doctor and hospital are in-the-know about beauty. Are they mentioned in national fashion press? What is the most recent piece of capital equipment they installed? Does it seem that this doctor admires beauty?
Over the years, I have been privy to many plastic surgery conversations. Here are the best tips and advice.
Symmetry, Proportion and Ratio
These are the three most beautiful words in the world. Or, rather, beauty in all cultures and all ethnicities comes from facial and body symmetry, proportion and ratio.
Facial symmetry is easy to understand. It is the side-to-side evenness of features. Symmetry is associated with freedom from disease, worthiness for mating, cognitive capacity, social dominance, working memory and intelligence. Body symmetry is associated with youth, fitness and allure.
The beautiful facial ratio is a calculation of the distance between the eyes (46% of facial length) and the distance between the eyes and mouth (36% of facial length). Facial proportions that are closest to average are considered the most beautiful and even slight alterations to the eyes and mouth change how you are perceived.
Hopefully, your surgeon gets out a pen, ruler and calculator during your consultation because you want to understand the math your doctor is using to improve your symmetry, proportion and ratio.
New Procedures
Make sure you understand the surgery. Many cosmetic surgeries have been performed safely for years and the results have high predictability. However, there are new tools and techniques like minimally invasive surgeries and lasers you will want to consider. If your preference includes a new technique or piece of equipment, make it a requirement of your solution search.
Artistry
One of the best plastic surgeons I ever knew went to art school before medical school. It makes sense. If you’re trusting a doctor with surgery, wouldn’t it be reassuring to know s/he could draw?
Pay attention to the doctor’s aesthetics and tastes. Do patients come through surgery looking like a great version of themselves or, mostly, like each other? Is the effect natural? Are the results within the beauty standards of the patient’s genetics? Are the sutures delicate? Will the results still look great in a few years?
If you’re getting your nose done what will the tip look like? How will the light bounce? Do you know how thin your nose bridge will be? The shape of the nostrils? How will the alterations create golden-ratio harmony? You may know you want a larger breast cup size, but how will that change your breast to hip ratio? Have these discussions with your plastic surgeon.
What Can You Expect?
You must understand your transformation. Remember that doctors are experienced at envisioning your procedure in three dimensions and will be able to anticipate how you will look when healed. Insist that the doctor communicate the transformation and show you visually, what results you can expect.
A Lot or a Little?
Cosmetic surgeries are, often, major surgeries. If you want to have several things done an open question is, will the doctor let you? You may need an electrocardiogram to confirm that you’re well enough for surgery, especially if you have risk factors like hypertension, history of blood clots or too much extra weight. Factors like general health and the amount of time you can stay under anesthesia safely, apply.
The taste question is subjective. Some think that getting one procedure done and then waiting a couple years for another gives a more natural result. One wag told me that a good facelift is like a good haircut: “It should never look like you just had one and never look like you need one”.
Another friend says she wants the whole a la carte menu because internally, she wants the drama and experience of transformation.
Some feel that having major work done on the young side (30′s and 40′s) gives a lifelong benefit. Others feel surgery too early can create other problems down the road, even if waiting too long brings a different set of issues.
Naturalism
I live in Los Angeles and see the effects of too much plastic surgery every day. I understand why people want to look beautiful but I’m lost when they seem to want to look like each other.
Remember that this is aesthetic surgery. The difference of a few millimeters in a cut could be the difference between looking like Kansas and looking like Korea. Always go for symmetry, proportion, ratio and I’ll add, appropriateness and naturalism.
Clothes
If you’re having body work, it is a good idea to consider whether the operation will make it easier or harder for you to buy clothes that fit well off the rack.
You Look Great
The best advice to turn the curiosity of “you look different” into “you look great” is to change your style. Women should get a different haircut or color. Men should think about changing sideburn length and getting new eyeglasses or a different cut of coat…anything to distract the viewing public and shift focus to the improvement.
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