tips from plastic surgeons

The holidays are coming up quickly, and if it’s your first holiday season after facial plastic surgery (or any plastic surgery, for that matter), it can feel like a mixed bag. Reconnecting with family and friends is even sweeter when you can feel confident in your appearance. And yet, it can be uncomfortable to be asked about your new and improved look, whether you want to keep your surgery discreet or not. To help you get through the next few months more easily, here are a few tips:

 

Tip #1: Anticipate questions and plan your answers ahead of time.

There’s nothing worse than being put on the spot in front of a group of people. Some of my plastic surgery patients are happy to tell the entire world about their procedure. Most, however, prefer to keep their surgery as a private matter, perhaps only telling a few of their closest friends or family members. This is entirely your choice to make, and every patient needs to find their own comfort level. But regardless of how discreet or public you choose to be about your plastic surgery, assume you’ll get some questions or comments about how much younger, thinner, or well-rested you look. Take some time to think about how you want to answer these questions when they arise, so you’re not caught off-guard at a holiday party.

Tip #2: If you only want certain people to know about your surgery, make sure they know to be discreet.

If you’ve chosen to only tell a few friends or family members about your Band Aid Mini Facelift or other cosmetic surgery, make sure they know not to tell anyone else. This is especially true if these people know others who you’ve chosen not to tell about your procedure. You never know what’s going to come up in conversation, especially at the holidays when everyone is reconnecting and talking about their year. It’s best to stay on the safe side and make sure everyone knows that you consider your surgery a private matter.

Tip #3: Learn how to camouflage your scars.

Every surgery will result in some scarring, thanks to our body’s ability to heal its skin. But one of the fastest ways to get questions about a surgery you want to keep discreet is to have a concerned loved one notice your scar. Some scars, like those from liposuction or a breast augmentation, are easy to hide with clothing (especially in the winter). Facial plastic surgery like a facelift, on the other hand, leaves scarring in a more visible area. I’ve spent over 20 years performing surgery with minimally visible scarring, and most patients find them very easy to disguise. If you want to take extra precautions, though, take time before the holidays to experiment with using makeup, a hairstyle, or clothing to keep your scars particularly well-hidden.

Tip #4: Be proud of your decisions.

Cosmetic surgery is often misunderstood. It’s not about vanity or “keeping up with the Joneses” – it’s about freeing yourself from a source of self-consciousness. Going through a lot of effort to conceal their plastic surgery makes some patients question whether they made the right choice. Just remember that you made the decision for a reason, and whether or not you want to share it with others, you should own your choice and be proud that you made the right decision for you.

As happy as you may be about your cosmetic surgery results, it’s fully understandable (and entirely within your rights) to prefer to keep your private medical procedure under wraps. As a plastic surgeon who genuinely cares, I’m happy to help my patients with every step of the process – including how to talk to your family and friends about it. Whether you choose to be discreet like most of our patients or more open about your surgery, the tips above can help you get through the holidays with more comfort and ease. For more guidance and to get answers to your plastic surgery questions, contact my Atlanta cosmetic surgery office today.