By Michael Saul, Partner at Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors

Cosmetic surgery, a subspecialty of plastic surgery that covers both surgical and nonsurgical procedures, changes your appearance by altering or reshaping parts of your body that function normally but don’t look the way you want. Itmay seem like a quick cure to enhance your appearance or help you get in better physical shape to have cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgery, however, has a number of drawbacks and hazards.

Here is what you should know if you are thinking about getting cosmetic surgery.

Factors to consider

Before you proceed with cosmetic surgery, consider:

Your expectations. When thinking about the results of your  cosmetic surgery expect growth rather than perfection. You’re going to be let down if you think  surgery will automatically make you a Hollywood star. Surgery won’t help you get a promotion, repair a strained relationship, or enhance your social life.

Expense. Most health insurance companies do not provide coverage for cosmetic surgery. The price might range from hundreds to thousands of pounds depending on the treatment. Consider the price of any extra operations or follow-up care as well.

Risks. Any kind of cosmetic surgery can leave you unsatisfied. Also possible are surgical side effects, such as severe bleeding or an infection at the surgical site.

Recovery. You may require several weeks or even months to recover after cosmetic surgery. Recognize any potential physical side effects as a necessary part of your rehabilitation, as well as any potential effects the surgery may have on your personal and professional life.

In order to reduce the chance of difficulties, your doctor may also advise you to stop smoking around a month prior to surgery and while you are recovering.

Find a safe surgeon

If you have decided to undergo a cosmetic procedure, deciding who will carry out that surgery should be the first thing that you think of after your initial decision. Many people often fall victim to poor cosmetic surgery practices and suffer as a result of cosmetic surgeons carrying out malpractice. 

Book a consultation

Before deciding on your surgeon, always schedule a consultation with the person who will do the treatment.

Ask them:

• How many times they have carried out these treatments
• What training and credentials they possess
• If they are a part of a recognised professional organisation that demonstrates that they have the necessary education and experience
• About the procedure’s most frequent side effects
• Who will take care of you and what kind of aftercare you may expect
• What to do if anything goes wrong or the outcome doesn’t satisfy you
• How much it will cost and whether additional fees will apply for any necessary follow-up care

The doctor should explain to you in detail what the procedure entails, including:

• The process of the procedure
• How long will it take
• If anaesthesia is required

Additionally, they ought to explain to you what to anticipate following the operation, including:

• What suffering you might anticipate afterwards
• The length of time necessary for recovery
• The possible dangers and difficulties
• The length of time the effects will last
• What to expect from your appearance following the operation

After the consultation

After your consultation, your doctor should give you some time to consider whether you want to proceed with the surgery.

A booklet from the company that makes the product the surgeon will use would be a good piece of information to ask them for, so you can consult the document and educate yourself about the product beforehand.

Take your time

One last piece of advice to consider before you commit to any surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures is to take your time. The official advice is to take at least two weeks of ‘cooling off’ time before committing to surgery following your consultation.

The impact of surgery can last a lifetime, and it is essential to carefully complete all of your research and fully consider your options before committing to an operation that could profoundly affect your physical, financial or emotional wellbeing.