Where’s Your Waldo?

We all have to admit that there is usually that one thing we wish we could change about our appearances–it’s that cosmetic issue we just can’t help but notice when we look in the mirror or study a photograph of ourselves.  I’ve deemed the term a “Waldo” because often, that one thing is totally imperceptible to the people around you until you point it out like that little man in the blue pants and red striped shirt from the children’s books.

My job as an Atlanta plastic and cosmetic surgeon is to maintain that objective point of view that hears the patient’s concerns and balances that against the physical symptoms of said concerns.  I thought of this Waldo phenomenon when I read an article published in May by the Association for Psychological Science.  The article cited research from St. Louis’ Washington University in which participants were analyzed and found that the perception other’s offered about them was more physically accurate than what they observed through self judgment.

I was also struck by some surprising statistic released by The New York Times last week that stated that a whopping 43% of those who underwent rhinoplasty (nose surgery) during a Belgian study were said to exhibit signs of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD).  A condition characterized by extreme body dissatisfaction, BDD patients have been clinically observed studying their appearance for inordinate amounts of time (hours per day) and severely limiting their activities and social interactions because of their physical dissatisfaction.

Now, there is clearly a pretty big difference between having a “Waldo” area we wish were slightly different and limiting what we do because we dislike something about ourselves, but such research highlights the importance of really analyzing your motive for cosmetic surgery.  The choice to have surgery carries inherent risks and should not be taken lightly.  If you think plastic surgery will help enhance the unique and positive attributes you already possess, then you’re probably on the right track; however, if you think plastic surgery is a means to solving all of your problems, there may be need for further introspection.

When we were young, besides studying our Where’s Waldo books, we’re typically taught to not take more than we need.  As a surgeon, I adhere to that same lesson:  don’t try and over-operate.  I developed the Band Aid facelift, Band Aid Liposuction, Band Aid Tummy Tuck, and Band Aid Blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) because I knew there were many patients who wanted a small cosmetic change, but not the degree of the dramatic effects produced by traditional versions of the procedures.

You may have already noticed this, but Mr. Waldo is usually surrounded by a chaotic cacophony of characters (an older man missing his swim trunks on a crowded beach, a woman holding five screaming babies, a small boy walking too many dogs, etc.) with their own stories happening.  While this is obviously an important aspect of the visual challenge presented by the books, it’s also an important message:  to find what we seek, we sometimes have to tune out the noise (the screaming babies, the naked old man, etc.) and really think about what we seek to change and whether true satisfaction would come from a physical alteration or amending some other area of our lives.

Sometimes it truly is that small cosmetic change that seems to make all of the pieces fall into place and lead to complete patient satisfaction, but other times if we just look a little harder for that little man with the cane and glasses we find that what we wanted is right in front of us.

To find Dr. LeRoy, connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.  To learn more about his originally developed Band Aid plastic surgery procedures and the other cosmetic procedures he performs visit his website.