Am I a Good Candidate for Plastic Surgery?

When first considering plastic surgery, often even before consulting with a doctor, many people wonder: “Is this right for me?” Doctors as the same question: The truth is that there is such a thing as an ideal plastic surgery patient, with qualities that make success and full recovery more likely. Doctors look for these qualities before they are willing to talk about plastic surgery options. Here are a few of the most important factors at work in a great candidate.

General Good Health

Good health is important for any type of surgery, including plastic surgery. Your doctor will take a close look at your medical history and ask you about any health conditions that you might have. The ideal candidate will not have any ongoing issues like diabetes, heart disease, or extra-high blood pressure. Doctors also watch for problems like obesity. However, emotional health is also important, and the right candidate will not have issues with depression or other types of mental illness.

An Absence of Bad Habits

Bad habits not only pose health risks, but they also lower the chances of long-term success when it comes to plastic surgery. Doctors are wary of accepting patients with habits like smoking (with no intention or capability to quit) or drinking. A healthy lifestyle that includes a good diet and frequent exercise usually leads to much more promising results, so patients that avoid bad habits are setting themselves up for success.

Age

Plastic surgery does tend to be more effective with younger patients. This is primarily because of the way that skin, muscle and even bone behave as they age. It can be more difficult to create accurate, aesthetic results with older patients, so doctors often see the best results with their younger patients. Indeed, few plastic surgery procedures are designed to treat issues that arise with old age—most are used to change or augment a particular feature. Of course, there is also such a thing as too young. Patients need to be fully developed before surgery is considered: No kids or teens allowed.

Financial Stability

Yes, you have to be able to pay for the surgery. This refers not only to financial stability (plastic surgery treatments are not usually paid for by any type of insurance) but also to the ability to understand how much plastic surgery costs. Patients who are surprised by the cost of surgery and have not considered if they have adequate income come with big warning signs.

Specific Physical Qualifications

Depend on the type of plastic surgery, there are specific features that doctors look for. For a brow lift, for example, doctors look for heavy eyebrows or large forehead wrinkles – these are features that the surgery was designed to treat. Every surgery is different, and so the sign of a promising patient can vary.

Realistic Expectations

Good patients are informed and understand what they are getting into. They know the risks, the potential complications, and the likelihood of ideal results. Doctors like to see patients who, instead of seeking perfection, have realistic expectations about their surgery.