To achieve the best results from any type of cosmetic surgery, whether it is a nose job, liposuction, a facelift, or tummy tuck, it is important to do your research first. In this article, we cover some important questions to ask before undergoing surgery.
Research the surgeon and the clinic
Research before undergoing plastic surgery is crucial and you need to ask the right questions. After all, the changes you plan on doing will likely be permanent and surgery should never be taken lightly.
Clinics often present themselves in a very appealing way online, with plenty of great pictures of successful operations and testimonials. But what do people say about this clinic outside of the website? Try to find as many real-life experiences as possible and honest reviews that can give you a better understanding of what you might expect from surgery here.
Negative reviews are common, and you may find some about almost every organisation or doctor. If there are too many poor reviews or if you feel that you aren’t comfortable with going ahead after having read some testimonials, trust your gut feeling and find another surgery.
How experienced is the clinic/surgeon?
Check with the clinic and ask, how many of the procedures that you are interested in they have performed. If they haven’t done very many, you may want to consider picking a different surgery.
It’s always good to check the credentials of surgeons and clinics. Not only is the right training important, but they should also be insured correctly. The NHS writes that “all independent hospitals and clinics that provide cosmetic surgery in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Check the hospital or clinic is registered with the CQC, or ask them to show you its certificate” and adds that “the CQC publishes quality ratings online, and hospitals and clinics must make sure all staff are properly trained to safely do their job”. Other qualifications and certificates to look out for are GMC, HIS and HIW.
Find out specifics about the procedure:
You should know as much about what will happen during the procedure as possible. Finding answers to the following questions can reduce any worries you may have:
How long will the procedure take?
How long will recovery take afterwards?
Can you reverse the procedure if necessary?
Are there finance options available?
Who is the surgeon that will perform the operation?
What are the risks involved?
The more common the procedure is that you would like to do, the more experienced doctors will likely be. One of the most common types of surgeries are nose surgeries. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) reports that about 3,000 were performed in 2019 alone. But there are still risks and complications that you need to consider. For example, a nose job might look different several months after the operation if not carried out properly and the anaesthetic used during the procedure could pose a risk, too. Surgeries, where more than one body part is altered during one operation, can be particularly risky. An example is a body lift. Liposuction is also seen as risky and is not something to take lightly. All in all, every type of procedure has it’s own risks, which you should carefully analyse, but also a lot of benefits.
Published on Holr Magazine