Some mistakes are costlier than others, and when it comes to Plastic Surgery, any mistakes you make along the way could stay with you for a while.
Whether you speed through your selection of facial plastic surgeons or you have unrealistic expectations, mistakes are easy to make during the Plastic Surgery planning process.
Some of the biggest mistakes are patient-related, which means you can do a lot on your own to ensure the success of your Plastic Surgery. If you’re planning on a mistake-free facial rejuvenation, here are some of the biggest errors you’ll want to avoid.
Mistake #1 – Choosing an Inexperienced Surgeon
While you certainly don’t want to spend long months and years searching for a facial plastic surgeon, you must perform your due diligence in selecting a facial plastic surgeon with skills and training. One of the biggest mistakes that first-time plastic surgery patients make is rushing into their choice of surgeon, neglecting to evaluate their training, credentials, and patient history. There is a lot of information out there on the internet to help guide you to the right facial plastic surgeon, but much can mislead you as well. Make sure you consult with official organizations like the American Board of Plastic Surgeons to check up on a specific surgeon’s credentials before ever picking up the phone.
Mistake #2 – Price Shopping for Your Facial Plastic Surgeon
Everyone loves a good bargain, but there are certain things that cost what they cost for a reason. When you pay for Plastic Surgery, you’re paying for the talents, skills, and expertise of your facial plastic surgeon. You’re also paying for the peace of mind that your facelift results will be as expected and your risk for complications minimized thanks to your surgeons’ level of experience. While this does not mean that the most expensive surgeon is automatically the best one for you, it’s important to keep some perspective about the costs when choosing a surgeon. You will likely find that most facelift fees hover around the same price range. When you spot one that is significantly lower, be wary. This could be a sign that this surgeon isn’t what he claims to be. Use your discretion to make the smart choice across the board, not just for your wallet.
Mistake #3 –Not Expecting the Scars
There are plenty of measures that can be taken to minimize your scarring after a procedure, but the simple truth is that there is no way you won’t have some scars following a surgery. If your skin is cut, there will be a scar left behind. Some patients don’t think their surgical plan all the way through to the end, either neglecting to consider the possibility of scars or imagining that they will fade on their own. Scars can certainly be lightened, diminished, and well-hidden so that they aren’t obvious, but they cannot cease to exist. You will always be able to detect them on your own face, even if they are hidden behind your ears or in your hairline. The good news is that anyone else will glance right past them.
Mistake #4 – Not Preparing for Potential Complications
No one likes to think about worst case scenarios, but when it comes to surgeries, you have a patient responsibility to understand the risks you might be facing. Whether it’s infection, bleeding, or bad scarring that scares you the most, it’s important that you discuss potential risks, side effects, and complications with your facial plastic surgeon. This is the first step toward protecting yourself against the negative consequences of your Plastic Surgery. If you’ve take the right measures to reduce your risk factors, those complications will skip right over you. On the other hand, if you do find yourself with an infection, you’ll be able to recognize it right away, head back to your surgeon for treatment, and avoid a potentially serious situation. All in all, educating yourself about surgical risks is a win for any patient.
Mistake #5 – Leaving Out Important Information
During the consultation process, you’ll be asked a lot of personal questions about your medical history, personal substance use, and other lifestyle habits. You might not like answering them all, but it is vital that you provide your facial plastic surgeon will all of the information he needs. Why? He’s asking these questions to inform the choices he makes about your surgery, whether you will be better with local anesthetics than general or whether you will need the time to quit smoking before your procedure. He’s really not just being nosey about it all. Besides, you should take this interview process seriously; if you’re not careful you will end up placing your life in the hands of a facial plastic surgeon who doesn’t know about all of the supplements you take or what allergies you have. That could lead to terrible complications if you’re not careful.
Mistake #6 – Opting for Surgery for the Wrong Reason
While it seems unfair to say there are right and wrong reasons for surgery, they’re definitely are. For example, deciding to have facelift surgery in order to look younger and feel good about yourself is a good reason to do so. Choosing facelift surgery because you’re expecting it will make you a different person is not. Getting Plastic Surgery because you think your job depends on it, because a family member said you needed it, or because you expect your emotional difficulties to go away—all of these are wrong, or unhealthy, reasons to seek facelift surgery. In these instances, having surgery might just make the problem worse. If the problem is that you have aged and you don’t like it, it can be easily solved with a facelift. If the problem lies outside of your power to change it, you should wait before visiting the operating room too quickly.
Avoid Mistakes With the Right Facial Plastic Surgeon
It is clear that researching your surgeon pays dividends. In fact, the reason people fly to Florida to become Dr. Bustillo’s patients is that they have taken the time to research who will give them the results they want.
Dr. Bustillo can be contacted at 305-663-3380, at his Miami-based practice. His team will be there to answer questions, and help you to plan your initial consultation. It is important to conduct this consultation after becoming familiar with Dr. Bustillo’s approach.