Plastic Surgery & Body Image

Maybe it is the size of your nose, the shape of your breasts, the fullness of your cheeks, or your bulging abdomen that you would like to change. Feeling like this is absolutely normal – we all have at least one physical feature that we wish could alter in some way. Unfortunately, there is no miraculous quick fix that will eliminate every qualm you have with your figure. However, these concerns are usually what trigger a person's interest in cosmetic surgery and the appealing results it can provide.

There are a lot of common misconceptions people have about plastic surgery, one of them being it is a "cure" for low self-esteem. Even though you may think you know exactly what it is about yourself you want fixed or 'touched up', keep in mind that making the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery won't resolve deeper underlying issues that some people have. Plastic surgery is by no means a solution for people suffering from poor body image. While it can certainly enhance your physical appearance, the general attitude you have toward your outward appearance comes from within.

Media revolving around celebrities and pop culture generate some of the most common misconceptions people have about plastic surgery today. People want to look as skinny or as 'perfect' as the famous figures they idolize. Little do they know, the figures of celebrities are far more petite than the average American and in some cases, even unhealthy. The average woman today is about 5'4, with a 34-35 inch waist and weighs anywhere between 135-150 pounds. This calculates to the average woman wearing a size 8 pant, while the average starlet is wearing a size 0 – 4. This is why it is not entirely practical for the average person to want to be as thin as the people they see on television, and even more impractical to think cosmetic surgery is their answer. It's simply not realistic unless you are planning to also incorporate a full time makeup artist, hair stylist, personal trainer, and private chef into your day to day regimen as well.

In extreme cases, some patients suffer from not just poor body image but Body Dismorphic Disorder (BDD). This disorder causes the individual to exaggerate concerns with their appearance which, in actuality, are quite minimal. Someone who is suffering from BDD can never be happy with the way they look, and will always feel the need to make cosmetic changes to their appearance. Sadly, this is when some patients become addicted to plastic surgery and begin to look over-done. In these instances, some plastic surgeons will even opt out of performing a procedure on a patient like this because the end result is a reflection on the surgeon and their practice.

The most skilled cosmetic surgeons believe that the best surgical outcomes often go unnoticed. That is, if you can tell someone has obviously had work done, it wasn't such a good job after all. A reputable & ethical plastic surgeon such as, Dr. Miranda will not consider nor push a patient to undergo additional unnecessary procedures. Make sure to carefully select a Board Certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco who has a reputation for doing (or not doing) what is in the best interest of their patients.