It is an exciting time to undergo cosmetic surgery. You have thought long and hard about it. When you finally decided to go for it, you cannot wait to see the results. But wait a minute, did you stop to think about what this will do to you mentally? Your doctors should discuss what you need to know about the procedure and how to prepare for it mentally.
Preparing for cosmetic surgery physically and mentally are two different things. Physical preparation is easy. You sleep and rest. You eat the right food. The doctor from the aesthetic health center will give you a list of all the things you need to do before the procedure. It is the mental preparation that takes a lot of hard work, effort, and sacrifice.
Because no matter how much you think you are ready for the procedure mentally, the truth is a human’s brain is not wired to accept imperfections. So how do you explain to yourself that what will happen on that table is as natural as if you’re getting your eyebrows waxed? There is nothing wrong with better one’s self but that is not always easy to accept.
Know All the Facts
What does it take to prepare for surgery? How long will the procedure take? What’s the recovery like? For your mind to start grasping the idea of going under the knife, you have to know what will happen while you’re semi-conscious or unconscious on that table. Gathering all the facts will give you all the information you need to form a coherent opinion about the matter. Plus, you can use this information to clarify some concerns with the doctors.
Be Realistic with Expectations
You will not wake up looking like Chris Evans or Jennifer Lawrence. The changes will not be sudden. The doctors will tell you when the changes will most likely take effect. Heed their advice. Don’t be shocked if the enhancement in your looks is not sudden. However, be careful about false promises. If the promises your surgeon makes seem too good to be true, then find another one.
Talk with a Psychologist or Counselor
Even the cosmetic surgeon or doctor will tell you to seek counseling before a major aesthetics procedure. At the very least, the counselor will see to it that you are mentally prepared for the procedure. You can talk to a counselor about your fears and concerns. But more, you can talk about why you want to do it in the first place. What is the end goal when you go under the knife? How will that affect you?
Assess Your Motives
Why do you want to enhance your features or fix what you think is an imperfection? Why are you doing the procedure in the first place? Make sure that you are doing it for yourself and not because anyone pushed you to. Surgery is a big decision. Yes, it’s not as critical as open-heart surgery, but it is a procedure that can possibly change your life for better or for worse. You have to make sure that you are doing it for yourself and no one else.
Don’t make a choice based on what someone thinks you should look like. Don’t even base it on how a celebrity or social media influencer looks like. Whatever comes out from the surgery should be entirely your choice.
Verbalize Your Worries
You do not always have to talk with a counselor, but you do have to be with a friend or a loved one. This person is someone who will have your back no matter what. They will also listen to your woes and concerns. Even if you think you know everything about the procedure, one cannot help but doubt the practicality and sensibility of cosmetic surgery.
Do not hesitate to talk about it with your doctors. They are the best people to answer your questions, not Google or YouTube or Facebook. That being said, you have to choose the doctors you are going to trust with such a necessary procedure. Make sure to check their credentials and experiences. You’ll want to work with only the best when it comes to something as major as this.
The key to a successful operation is to prepare yourself mentally. You have to understand and embrace the risks you are taking. Put your worries away by arming yourself with knowledge and information. These are your best armor against any uncertainty you might be feeling against your planned cosmetic enhancement.
