The importance of having a support system when having plastic surgery

Deciding to have plastic surgery is a pretty big decision that thousands of people make each year. It’s certainly not something to take lightly, and it’s also not something to go through alone, especially if it’s a major procedure. I think where the problem lies is that so many patients feel like it’s a private matter and don’t really want to tell people that they’re going to have something done. It’s understandable that patients feel this way. However, having a strong support system is fundamental to the healing process…emotionally and physically. This is why I have a psychotherapist on my staff…because plastic surgery can have a profound effect on your life.

Emotions can be tricky, and I’ve seen them all. One example I’ll give you is a breast reduction I did a few years back. It took my patient over a year to accept her new breasts…not because she was unhappy with the results, but because she felt like a piece of her identity had been taken…despite the fact that she was in back pain and something had to be done. She had lost the largeness behind which she had been hiding. I’ve also had patients who are very concerned with how others might view them. We can be pretty hard on ourselves sometimes.

And, not all patients go through emotional roller coasters, but it does happen. This is why it’s so important to have people in your life you can talk to and lean on. I wrote a post a while back on the pre-conceived notions we can have about plastic surgery, so definitely check that out.

The thing to remember is that plastic surgery, for most people, isn’t about looking “perfect.” There’s really no such thing. The biggest percentages of my patients just want to feel good about themselves. At the end of the day, having an emotional connection and sharing your experience with others can help you heal faster and be more comfortable.

What are your thoughts?

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Breast reduction in teens and adults

I wrote a blog post back in March on teens and breast augmentation. When I wrote it, I was writing it from a small to large perspective. Well, what if it’s the other way around? What if your teenager hates her breasts because she thinks they’re too big. What if they’re also causing painful, physical symptoms?

It’s not uncommon to see teenagers with bigger breasts than those of teens from decades ago. I definitely feel that puberty can be accelerated by some of the foods we eat. It’s also not uncommon to see bigger breasts on bigger teenagers. Perhaps the obesity epidemic in the US could be part of the cause. However, regardless of what led to the issue, a solution needs to be found.

It’s already a stressful enough time for a teenager as they enter high school. For a teen with extremely large breasts, this could play a dramatic role on how she feels about herself, which in turn, could affect other areas of her life. Having been a pediatrician, I’ve seen teens experience rebellion and even depression over this issue.

I’ve also spoken with parents who have had concerns about sexual promiscuity and wondered whether having the surgery would lead to that due to emphasis on the breasts. In my experience, this has never been an issue. The heart of the matter is how the teenager feels emotionally and physically.

When I work with parents and teens in breast reduction cases, we go about the Whole Being Plan in the same manner as adult patients; incorporating psychotherapy to help both parties deal with the concerns or fears they have about the surgery. So far, it’s been highly successful. Patient symptoms prior to surgery such as lower back pain, shoulder pain, numbness in the fingers, and grooves in the shoulder are usually relieved by the procedure. Even more important is relief of the social awkwardness caused by having a large chest.

If you have a teen that has been experiencing any of these issues and have any questions, let me know. The same applies to adults. This certainly isn’t just a teen issue. It’s always good to know there are options out there.

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