What If I’m Unhappy With My Surgery Results?
So, you’re looking in the mirror after you’ve had your chosen cosmetic surgery and the results aren’t what you expected. What do you do? Do you pretend to be satisfied with your new look or approach your surgeon and express how unhappy you are?
This can be difficult to talk about as it is very personal and can be a highly emotional subject. It’s the big elephant in the room no one wants to feel; patient or surgeon.
Unfortunately, no surgery is 100% risk-free, and there is no guarantee that end results will be exactly as you expected. From time to time patients are dissatisfied with the outcome of their cosmetic surgery, but no one should have to live with a body they don’t love, especially after going to the effort of undergoing surgery to improve it.
Speak to Your Surgeon Immediately
If you’re unhappy with your results, you should discuss your concerns immediately with your cosmetic practitioner. Although it may be daunting to do so, it’s important you’re honest and open with your surgeon so that he/she can suggest the next steps forward to improving your results.
In your consultation with your surgeon, make sure you present your pre-and post-operative photos, so everyone is clear about your concerns. Discuss what your expectations were for the procedure and what exactly you feel is wrong with your result.
You might find it easier to write your concerns in an email along with pictures for your surgeon before your consultation if you are feeling anxious about discussing things face to face.
At Cosmos Clinic, if you’re unhappy with your results we’ll endeavour to help you achieve the look you’re seeking, says Dr Joseph Ajaka, of Cosmos Clinic Sydney.
Allow Time For the Body to Heal
Depending on your treatment, there’s often swelling, pain and sometimes visible scarring. Your body may feel bruised and tender, and your movement reduced. It’s not uncommon for patients to be worried about their appearance in the early days of recovering from surgery. It’s important to be patient and realise that your body is in the process of healing. Remember that it’s too early to see the final result so don’t stress yourself out unnecessarily.
The amount of time the body takes to heal completely depends on the individual patient and the time of the procedure. Some cosmetic treatments take only a couple of days to recover from, while others are prolonged and up to a couple of months.
During the recovery time, your body will change and adjust as the swelling reduces. You’ll continue to see improvements in your physical appearance over the next few weeks/months. Before you start feeling disappointed or upset about your cosmetic surgery result and start rehearsing your complaint to your surgeon, make sure you’ve allowed enough time for your body to recover.
Also, keep in mind that it can take months for the full results of cosmetic surgery to show. In some cases, it can take up to six months just for the swelling to go down. With liposuction Sydney, for example, it can take up to six months to see the full result. It takes time for the body to adjust. Scars will fade over time; see our post on foods to avoid to prevent scarring post-surgery.
Related: check out our guide to liposuction recovery or tummy tuck recovery.
Seek a second opinion
If you’re dissatisfied with your cosmetic surgery result getting, a second opinion can be very helpful. You may feel that you have issues due to a “botched” job and have concerns over your clinic’s ability. If you don’t have faith in your surgeon’s skills, you’re unlikely to want to go back under the knife at his/her clinic a second time. Getting a second option can help you with any decision making.
Seek the guidance of a surgeon of a highly-regarded clinic. He/she can assess your results and discuss the next steps toward improving your appearance. Depending on the problems you present, the surgeon may suggest revision surgery to correct any irregularities. It also may be useful for you to read this article on your rights as a patient.
3 Things to Keep in Mind About Cosmetic Surgery
Cosmetic surgery gives people the ability to enhance their appearance through various techniques. From anti-wrinkle treatments to liposuction, cosmetic surgery can boost your self-esteem and confidence, changing your life in the process.
However, if you’re unhappy with your results, sadly you’re not going to experience an improved body image. In fact, you may even be more self-conscious than you were before the surgery. This is not the desired outcome for you or your surgeon.
There are some things to keep in mind before you commit to cosmetic surgery and as your critiquing your results post-surgery.
1. Results can vary from individual to individual
No two cosmetic surgical procedures will gain the same results even when performed by the same surgeon. If your expectations are unrealistic from the outset, you have a high chance of being dissatisfied with the results. Keep in mind each patient will respond to cosmetic surgery differently and the procedures are designed to enhance your physique, not mimic someone else’s.
2. No Two People Heal the Same Way
Your surgeon will provide you with all the recommendations to ensure you heal well after your treatment. However, no two people heal the same way. While your friend may not have a very visible scar, yours may be more pronounced. Your friend may have recovered in just 4 days, and you’re facing 10 days. Allow your body the time it needs to heal rather than give it a deadline.
3. Your Results Are Not Going To Be The Same As The Before & After photos
Some surgeon’s use Before & After images to give you an idea of what the specific treatment can achieve. This may help you visualise your outcome, but the idea is not to use it as a comparison. Your results are likely to be significantly different than the example patient’s results. This is because you have a unique physique and as such, your body’s healing capacities, tendencies to scarring and recovery process will be unique. When communicating your desired result to your surgeon it may be more useful to show him/her a picture that you like rather than using another patient’s before and after photos.
As cosmetic practitioners, we aspire to enhance your physical appearance so you can feel confident and happy about your body image. We take pride in our patient care ethics and our advanced surgical skills, and we’re fastidious about getting the best result for our patients. We also strive for a high level of patient satisfaction and positive outcomes.
We want you to be thrilled with your cosmetic surgery results, so if you’re not it’s vital you express your concerns with your surgeon.
Revision Liposuction: What You Need to Know and How to Avoid It
Liposuction has the potential to dramatically enhance the body’s shape and contour, producing highly desirable results for the patient. There is a range of things liposuction can do for you, and in some cases, liposuction can even improve your health.
However, in the hands of an inexperienced surgeon, liposuction can lead to unnatural body shapes, asymmetry, lumpiness, indentations or rippling of the skin.
Unfortunately, this scenario is relatively common which is why revision liposuction has become a popular service for the skilled cosmetic practitioner. Correcting a “botched” liposuction procedure is highly challenging, so here’s what you should know about liposuction revision and how to best avoid poor results in the first place.
Why is Liposuction Revision Performed?
Some “botched” jobs are caused by the removal of too much or too little fat, and others are due to asymmetry. This can be due to poor planning on the surgeon’s part or problems with their surgical technique, or post-op complications.
The growing demand for cosmetic and plastic surgery has resulted in a rise in the number of clinics offering procedures including liposuction. Unfortunately, many of these practitioners have received very little training or experience before performing some of these cosmetic treatments, which increases the risk of unsatisfactory results.
The increase in medical tourism has also increased the demand for liposuction revision surgery. Patients opting to have their cosmetic procedures done in countries where surgery is substantially cheaper increase their risk of unsatisfactory results. Clinics in countries like Thailand that lure patients with their summer holiday and ‘nip and tuck’ package deals, may sound great but can come at a cost. There’s a lack of regulation and no guarantee that the physician you’re seeing has any qualifications to perform the procedure. Cosmetic treatments in many of these countries are also outdated and use old technology instead of the latest techniques we may be using in Australia.
Liposuction revision is not only required after a badly performed liposuction procedure, but changes in the patient’s body can also warrant correction. People who have experienced sudden weight gain or loss may feel they need revision liposuction due to the irregularities that have appeared in their body shape.
Liposuction revision may also be beneficial for those who’ve had a successful treatment but have gained weight or aged in the years after the procedure.
Are You a Good Candidate for Revision Liposuction?
Often people are turned off by the procedure and are too afraid to return to the surgeon for a correction or are disillusioned with liposuction altogether. How do know if you are a good candidate for revision liposuction?
You Have Realistic Expectations
Candidates must be realistic about the outcome of their surgery. While the surgeon will endeavour to correct any abnormalities in the body’s appearance, there may be limitations. This must all be discussed in your consultation before the procedure to ensure everyone has the same expectations.
You’re Healthy
As with a standard liposuction procedure, the best candidates for the cosmetic surgery are those who are in good health and at a healthy starting weight.
Your Body Has Fully Healed & Final Results Have Taken Shape
Typically, patients are advised to wait 6-12 months from the time of their liposuction surgery. This is so you’ve allowed enough time for your body to heal from the initial procedure and swelling doesn’t interfere with the revision process, and so that the decision is based on the actual result.
Ultimately, it’s a combination of factors that determine whether liposuction revision is appropriate for you and this needs to be a joint decision between you and your surgeon.
How Can You Avoid Revision Liposuction?
The key to avoiding liposuction revision in the first place is to ensure you do your research on the procedure and the clinic you’ve chosen.
There are several types of liposuction procedures used depending on the results desired and the problem areas. Ensuring you’re undergoing the most suitable procedure for your needs will help minimise the chance of unsatisfactory results.
While you may be happy with the clinic, be diligent about researching the surgeon you’ve chosen to perform the liposuction surgery. Are they qualified to perform the exact procedure you’re having? Has he/she had extensive experience in this procedure? Can they show you a portfolio of before and after pictures, so you can see successful treatments?
If you’re considering travelling abroad for your liposuction procedure, understand your risks before packing your bags. Don’t rely on the glossy brochures and an appealing price tag to make your decision. Do some independent research and get a second opinion in Australia before putting yourself at risk.
Liposuction is an effective tool to contour and enhance a patient’s body shape. It’s not a weight loss surgery. If you’re trying or planning to lose weight in the future, it’s worth doing so before undergoing the procedure. Substantial weight loss after your liposuction treatment can affect the results, so making sure you’re at a healthy weight prior will help you avoid undergoing liposuction revision later.
That said, liposuction can be used as an obesity treatment, to learn more see our post on how much fat can liposuction safely remove.
Experiencing a “botched” liposuction procedure and being left disappointed with your results can be very emotional. It’s understandable that many people are hesitant about having a second liposuction procedure and living with the irregularities can be difficult.
It’s a good idea to have a couple of consultations with credible surgeons to help you make your decision, perhaps you won’t have to hide behind baggy clothes forever. Get in touch with us at Cosmos Clinic to arrange a consultation to discuss how revision liposuction could achieve your desired result.
Optimal Time to Exercise for Weight Loss
If you’ve been working out, maintaining a healthy diet and not seeing the weight loss results you were hoping for, perhaps you’re exercising at the wrong time of the day. According to Belgium researchers, exercising early before breakfast is the best way to burn fat and prevent weight gain.
The 2010 study published in the Journal of Physiology enlisted the help of healthy men aged between 18 and 25 years old to investigate whether working out first thing in a fasted state had any impact on their blood glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity when compared to training mid-morning or not at all.
Should Obese Women Be Prevented From Having Babies?
One of life’s greatest gifts is having children and for many, it’s something they’ve looked forward to for years. However, with the obesity epidemic growing substantially, health experts are warning the costs of obese women having babies are high. In fact, there are calls for obese women to be prevented from having children entirely.
What’s the difference between a mini tummy tuck vs tummy tuck?
Visualising a flat stomach in time for summer?
Cosmetic procedures that remove the bulge and tighten excess skin of the abdomen are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in women post pregnancy. Even with a healthy diet and regular exercise, for many getting rid of stubborn fat deposits and flabby, sagging skin is near impossible.
What Men Want in Their Cosmetic Surgery
Today more men are choosing to undergo cosmetic surgery than ever before, and it’s no surprise why. With advancement in technologies, cosmetic procedures are creating better and more natural looking results than we’ve been able to achieve in the past. Men are more confident their treatments will be subtle and they won’t walk out of the clinic looking like a Ken doll.
How Is Fat Disposed of After Liposuction?
In early 2016 a couple of amputated legs wound up dumped in a rubbish tip near Newcastle in NSW, along with other medical objects including syringes and blood vials. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the legs were found sticking out of a pile of garbage and began an immediate investigation on how they ended up there. Given the legs were surgically removed, the investigation centred on medical facilities in the area that performed these kinds of operations.
Why Are More Women Opting for Breast Implants Over Age 40?
When you think boob jobs, you often picture the young woman in her mid-20’s with the desire to improve her physical appearance, however, that’s no longer the case. Today, we’re meeting with more and more women over 40 who are considering breast implants and augmentation surgery.
Why your body wants to be fat according to the Gabriel Method
You’re not fat because you eat too much; you’re fat because your body wants you to be.
If you’re looking for a truly inspiring weight loss story, this is it. Jon Gabriel, a successful biochemical researcher, found himself grossly overweight working a stressful job before he decided to commit to improving his health. Gabriel was determined to discover why diets don’t work and how he could change his life so that he could become healthy and happy for good.
Debunking myths linking sugar to cancer
The notion that sugar can feed cancer cells is a pretty daunting one, particularly when our consumption of sugar in Western countries is at its all-time high. But can it be that simple? If we ditched the granulated sweet stuff, would that reduce our risk of cancer altogether?