Cosmetic Surgery Can Boost Mental Health

There are many reasons you might have for wanting to alter your appearance. It could be as simple as erasing a few wrinkles or something more complex like a mommy makeover.

What’s sometimes lost in the discussion about cosmetic surgery is the way it can boost your self-confidence and improve your overall quality of life.

After a procedure, patients often talk about both increased confidence and decreased anxiety. Put simply: they often just feel better about themselves and their lives.

Confidence Boosters

Cosmetic surgery can do much more than just alter the way you look. It can change the way you interact with others and help you live a more fulfilling life. After breast augmentation, for example, where patients enjoy more clothing options and feel better about their appearance. Cosmetic surgery can also correct some deformities or bothersome asymmetries. It can be a way to improve something you see every day in the mirror. 

Among the benefits:

• Increased self-esteem: When you feel better about the way you look, your self-esteem is sure to get a boost.  This can lead to more confidence in your personal and work relationships.
• Better mental health: A procedure can reduce your anxiety and depression.
• Better physical health: Procedures like breast reduction can take considerable strain off your back and shoulders. A tummy tuck can help your core muscles.
• More active lifestyle: When you are more comfortable with your appearance, you may be more likely to take part in physical activities. Breast reduction can also make it easier for you to enjoy an active lifestyle that includes sporting activities.
• Your looks match your age: Procedures like breast lifts, facelifts and eyelid lifts can counter the effects of gravity and help you look more like the age you feel.
• Better quality of life: This may be particularly true for people who have lost a considerable amount of weight and want to deal with excess skin.

Is Cosmetic Surgery Right for You?

While cosmetic surgery has many potential benefits, that doesn’t mean it is right for everyone. First, you should have a thorough understanding of the potential outcomes and the fact that the results aren’t always perfect. 

While there are potential mental health benefits, that doesn’t mean plastic surgery will make everything better. Your appearance and how you feel about it is only one piece of your mental well-being.

It’s also important to not rush into anything. Spend some time doing research on the procedure – both in terms of potential benefits and complications. It may also help to talk with someone else who has already had the procedure.

When you schedule a consultation with your surgeon, don’t hesitate to ask questions. You need a clear understanding of what’s involved in the procedure and the recovery time. And if you aren’t completely comfortable with your doctor, find another one.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Cosmetic surgeons watch for body dysmorphic disorder. It’s a rare condition that affects about 1 in 50 people. While most of us have some part of our body that we might like to change, people with this disorder are obsessed with their perceived flaws.

They often live in emotional distress, fretting over these imperfections, which they may blame for their social or professional relationship problems. In severe cases, they may refuse to leave their homes or attend social events. People with this condition often suffer from eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

It’s not uncommon for people with the disorder to continuously seek out small procedures in an ongoing effort to fix themselves. But people with this condition should not be seeking cosmetic surgery as a solution. They would be far better served working with a mental health professional.