None of these procedures come with a guarantee of happiness—they are just a way to buy the kind of body and face you want. (If that designer outfit didn’t make you happy, don’t expect new breasts or a face-lift to provide peace of mind!) Every plastic surgeon I’ve spoken with has told me that among their patients those most pleased with the results of their surgery were the ones who had the most realistic expectations. What are unrealistic expectations? Expecting to end up looking like a supermodel, or believing you will now find the perfect relationship. Plastic surgery should be about your self-esteem associated with societal standards of beauty—nothing more and nothing less.
Important details: Keep in mind that everyone scars differently, and that scarring often has little to do with the skill of the surgeon. You could be left with lines wherever an incision was made. In general, the paler your skin, the more prone you may be to red, welt-like scarring, and the darker your skin, the more prone you may be to thick, dark, keloidal scarring.
There are serious risks with all cosmetic corrective procedures, and recovering from the more serious surgeries, such as face-lifts, tummy tucks, and breast implants, can be a daunting, frightening experience. For example, eye tucks can damage the tear ducts or permanently destroy eyelashes, face-lifts can leave painful scars and pockets of dimpled flesh, laser or chemical peels can render skin tone uneven and cause discolorations, dermal injections can cause lumps and the material can migrate to areas where it wasn’t intended to go, and breast implants can leak or become encapsulated and painful.
All cosmetic surgery procedures have limitations as to how long the change will last, depending on skin type, age, the surgeon’s technique, and postoperative care (including using sunscreen). Do not expect any cosmetic surgery to be permanent, especially laser peels, dermal filler injections, chemical peels, and Botox (discussed later in this chapter).
Note: As indicated below, prices for these procedures vary widely. The region of the country you live in, the popularity of the surgeon, the specific techniques used (the more invasive or complex, the more expensive), the combination of techniques, and discounts given for doing more than one procedure can all greatly affect price.