Cosmetic Surgery: Luxury or Necessity?

One of the most common questions I get asked during my initial consultation with a new patient is: "Doctor, what do you think I need?" My response is always the same:

"I don't think you need anything, the question is what bothers you when you look at yourself in the mirror and what "problem" brought you here today to see me."

Our appearance has always been a very important part of who we are, how we are perceived and how we are treated. We tend to form our first impressions about people we meet based on the way they look, and it is no secret that people who are thought to be more attractive tend to get treated better and sometimes get away with things which an "average looking" person would not.

A recent study published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences finds that the pleasant appearance of interviewees can significantly influence the outcome in hiring practices, showing a clear distinction between the attractive and average looking interviewees in terms of high and low status job packages offered. "When someone is viewed as attractive, they are often assumed to have a number of positive social traits and greater intelligence," say Carl Senior and Michael J.R. Butler, authors of the study.

So, is Cosmetic Surgery a luxury or necessity? I think the answer stems not from how attractive a person is, but how confident. A wise man (or woman) once said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", and I could not agree with that more.

Although our society tends to impose the standards of beauty on us, we all know that what may be very attractive to one is not always as attractive to the other. For that reason, I am a firm believer in self-confidence. When a person looks at him or herself in the mirror and is pleased with what they see, it automatically translates into a great positive energy of self-esteem and poise which in turn gets transferred onto others, who then see you as a strong, healthy and smart individual, making you a successful member of this society.

This is where Cosmetic Surgery comes to be a necessity. It will allow you to eliminate or greatly improve things about your body which have always been, or recently have become an object of your anxiety and discontent. May it be wrinkles on your face, which you think appeared much too early or pesky fat on your thighs which just does not want to go away no matter how much you diet or exercise. It may be that you are a young mother who has had several children and your body is just not the same anymore, but you desperately wish to get your breasts back where they used to be and that flat abdomen you used to have before child bearing.

By addressing such issues, you will once again be able to look at yourself in the mirror and be happy and secure. When thinking about Cosmetic Surgery, it is important to answer to yourself if you want to do this for you, or is it because someone (family or friends) keeps telling you that you need to do something. Any procedure you decide to undergo must be strictly for yourself and no one else. This is the only way you will truly be happy with the improvements that you make on your body.

It is important to remember that any Cosmetic Procedure, large or small, always has some risks and potential complications. It is imperative that your doctor reviews in detail possible issues that you may have to deal with after the procedure is done. Although, complications are very rare in the world of Cosmetic Surgery, they do exist and you must know about them in great detail before committing yourself to an operation.

It is also very important to choose a doctor with whom you feel comfortable and whom you trust. There is allot of emphasis these days on Board Certification, and although it is a very important criteria of the physician's training, it is not the only thing that should make you believe that the doctor will do a great job for you. Speaking to patients who have had surgery already and can share their experiences with you can be very helpful. With the internet so widely available, you can always do a search on the doctor's background, law suits and professional affiliations.

Do not hesitate to ask the doctor about his or her training and experience.

During the consultation you should be able to see a few examples of the procedure you are looking to undergo, although it is important to remember that the picture is not you, what you see is not necessarily the same way you will look after surgery. You must have realistic expectations about the procedure and above all you must have the confidence in your doctor. Should there be a complication or a problem, you have to know that your doctor will be there for you day or night, taking care of you until the problem is resolved.

Remember, Cosmetic Surgery is SURGERY NOT A DAY AT A SPA!


Victoria Karlinsky-Bellini, MD, FACS
Cosmetic Surgeon
71 Carroll Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
T: 718-288-5519 F: 718-797-9796
ask@newlooknewlife.org
www.newlooknewlife.org