Cosmetic Surgery: How Much is Too Much?
If you follow plastic surgery in the media, you have probably read about Melanie Griffith and her cosmetic surgery regrets. She’s one of several female celebrities whose experience might bring this question to mind: How much cosmetic surgery is too much?
There’s no hard and fast answer. If we told you we have a female patient who has undergone four surgical procedures to the face, you might suspect she looks “overdone.” But, if she had a brow lift, eyelid lift, facelift and neck lift, she would be one of the many who elect a complete facial makeover. We perform these (and variants) in our New York cosmetic surgery practice every month for people whose skin is aging and damaged.
On the other hand, we’ve seen patients who have had just one procedure that seems like too much. A good example would be a woman who found a cosmetic surgeon who agreed to give her supersized breast implants that look unnatural and are bound to cause trouble in the future.
Deciding when someone has gone under the knife too many times may be one of those “I know it when I see it” occasions, especially for people who are not cosmetic surgery experts. Looking at a photo of Melanie Griffith, for instance, you may not know which procedures she’s had, let alone how many. But you may feel like many who expressed dismay as her face looked increasingly frozen a few years ago.
We believe it’s our responsibility to ensure our patients do not endure unwanted comments from others and/or have cosmetic surgery regrets. Here are some of the reasons we might elect not to work with a prospective patient:
• If there may be a substance abuse issue. Melanie Griffith’s struggles with alcohol have been widely publicized. Whether and how her addiction may have influenced her cosmetic surgery choices is uncertain, but clearly we would decline to operate on someone with drug or alcohol problems.
• When we suspect a patient may have body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). This condition causes a person to obsess about inconsequential or imagined physical flaws. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons believes that up to 10% of patients seeking cosmetic surgery procedures have BDD.
• If we determine someone has unrealistic physical goals. The vast majority of our New York cosmetic surgery patients have specific objectives that are achievable—to smooth facial wrinkles, to fix a crooked nose or to tighten up a flabby tummy after pregnancy. It’s when people tell us they want to look like a movie star or a model, for example, that alarm bells go off.
• If a patient expresses unrealistic life goals. Occasionally people consider cosmetic surgery as a strategy to change something in their lives—to land a certain job, to improve dating prospects or something similar. While plastic surgery CAN be a great confidence booster, most personal wins start from within.
When it comes to an overdone look, a well trained, board certified, experienced plastic surgeon will have the ability to “know it when I see it” in advance. That’s why we ask pointed questions about each patient’s surgical history and evaluate her carefully before making recommendations. There definitely are times when more lifting, more Botox or more fillers will be counterproductive.
If you have had cosmetic treatment already and are thinking about more, consider these steps:
• Visit a seasoned, board certified plastic surgeon who acts as a trusted advisor, not one who will do whatever you want.
• Have at least two consultations, listen carefully and compare the input you receive.
• Talk with friends and loved ones about the procedure(s) you’re considering.
• See a psychologist if underlying unhappiness or anxiety may be factors.
One of the benefits of working with us is the long track record we have in New York cosmetic surgery. We have been treating patients for more than thirty years, and we are confident in our ability to create natural looking, beautiful results for people of all ages and backgrounds. We’re equally confident we can tell when treatment is not indicated.
We would love to work with you. Why not send us an email?
