“Going under the knife” for plastic surgery is not always for vanity. For some of us, plastic surgery is often the easiest remedy to overcome the problems and trauma on our bodies.

But, before you willingly go under the knife, you need to understand that plastic surgery is not a one-time surgical process. It is a journey that might require several procedures, maintenance, a regular visit to the doctor, and so on.

So to help you get started on this journey, here are some of the things you should know.

Have you consulted with your doctor yet?

Almost all type of surgery has some kind of risk associated with it. So before you consult with your plastic surgeon, it is best to discuss with your doctor first. Having this discussion with them would allow you to make better decisions and they might even recommend a surgeon that can help you with your case.

It is also ideal to get advice from them because they can help speed up the process and make the surgery a lot safer for you. They can inform your plastic surgeon about some of the medication you are allergic to; and together, they can figure out a way to find a substitute for that same medication.

Other than that, you need to factor in other psychological factors as well. Even though your plastic surgeon would discuss the effect of surgery, it is still best to discuss it with other people as well. For instance, you can get counseling before surgery or just simply discuss it with your therapist if you have one.

Doing all of this can help you physically and mentally prepare not just for the surgery but also for the after-surgery effects.

Do you trust your plastic surgeon?

Since many people are voluntarily going under the knife, there are now tons of plastic surgeons around the United States. From small cities to big cities, you can easily find a Savannah, Boston, Santa Fe, or Dallas plastic surgeon around.

Thanks to this convenience, the only thing that you have to worry about is whether your plastic surgeon is qualified and experienced enough to do your surgery or not.

For the certification status of your plastic surgeon, you can simply use the search tool found in the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) website to check their board certification status. You can immediately tell if they have undergone the proper medical training through this search tool.

On top of that, it might even serve you well if you find a surgeon that is experienced and has been a house name for a niche or specific surgery. For instance, in the United States, there are not many surgeons who can do eyelid surgery that well. So in cases like these, it might be best to find the most experienced one so that you can ensure that the surgery would be a success.

Is the surgery right for you?

Without proper guidance and consultation from a plastic surgeon, you might not get the exact results you want from your surgery. So in order to avoid this, you have to discuss your specific goals and concerns with your plastic surgeon. This way, they can suggest the most suitable surgery that would fit your needs.

Be sure to set your clear expectation as well as the end result that you want.

There have been some cases where patients insist surgeons that they want a specific surgery, without knowing anything about the surgery as well as its end results. For instance, patients often confuse breast augmentation with breast lifts. Breast augmentation or breast implants require filler while breast lifts simply manipulate your existing breast tissue. If you want a fuller or bigger breast, then you should opt for breast augmentation; whereas if you want a perkier or firmer breast, then you should simply go for a breast lift.

Knowing the difference between the two is important because you might mistakenly choose one over the other. So it is best to consult and have an in-depth discussion with your plastic surgeon. This way, you are always certain that you are getting the right surgery.

Are you able to stick to your plastic surgery journey towards the end?

Part of your plastic surgery journey is downtime and recovery. The surgery would only be effective if you employ the proper postoperative care and stick to what your surgeons have recommended you.

Depending on the type of surgery that you have undergone, the downtime and recovery can range from a few days to several months. In some cases, you might even be required to return to the clinic for maintenance and other postoperative care.

So with that said, it is highly advisable to schedule your surgery a few months ahead. This way, you can have a timeline and you would be able to get back to work just in time that you fully healed.