Life After Surgery: Plastic Surgery

We’ve all seen the magazine cover stories.  You know, the ones with the dramatic weight loss stories in glossy colors and the before and after photos that make you question if it’s the same person in both pictures.  As you flip through the magazine, you see even more photos like the ones on the cover.  A long list of questions runs through your head: How do these people look like this?  Will I need plastic surgery after weight loss surgery to be successful?  Can I ever look like this? 

Here’s what you need to know: your success does not depend on plastic surgery.  As you’ve read in so many other blog posts we’ve written, your success after surgery is dependent on a healthy diet and heart racing exercise.  You can control your weight and live a healthy lifestyle.

If plastic surgery is still something you’d like to consider, don’t even bring the topic into serious contemplation until two years after your surgery is complete.  Give yourself time to work hard in the exercise and eating departments, and don’t be discouraged or pressured into changing more of your appearance.  At the two year mark, you probably will have plateaued.  The weight you’re at then is the weight you will most likely stay at for a long time.  Consistency in weight is important before scheduling a plastic surgery appointment.

It’s also important to remember that plastic surgery is an individual preference.  It does not affect your success post-surgery.  It might be right for some and not for others.  Therefore, it is important to address it on a need-by-need basis.  It is impossible to predict who will need or want plastic surgery.  The choice is completely up to you!

Just as you did before your weight loss surgery, make sure to talk this decision through with trusted loved ones. They will have a more objective view and will be able to walk through this journey with you, just as they walked beside you through weight loss surgery.