If you are considering enhancing your looks through plastic surgery, you may worry about whether it will look natural. You may have heard the comments from people who claim someone has had cosmetic surgery and want to avoid results that are termed as “fake.” It’s possible to get natural-looking plastic surgery results, whether you’re looking at rhinoplasty in Houston, TX, a full facelift, or other procedures.
Know What Makes Natural-Looking Plastic Surgery
The goal of plastic surgery is to enhance your natural looks, not turn you into someone else. Plastic surgeons will sit down with you and discuss your desired results, regardless of whether you’re getting a breast augmentation, breast reconstruction, or some other surgery. They will look at the changes you want to make with a given procedure in relation to the rest of your body.
For example, a surgeon who is discussing breast augmentation will often consider how your new breasts will complement your overall shape. Many times, they will recommend only increasing your breasts by one or two sizes, so that they will look natural.
Here’s what to keep in mind to get that natural plastic surgery look.
1. Be Realistic in Your Expectations
Your doctor will discuss what you can expect from your plastic surgery results – this is an important way to manage your expectations and understand what your personal “after” will look like. They should show you before and after photos to help you understand what the procedure will change and what those results look like on bodies similar to yours. If a patient has unrealistic expectations for the surgery results, it’s the doctor’s job to explain what is more realistic.
2. Choose Revisions with Care
Sometimes a patient is so devastated that the results of their plastic surgery are below what they wanted that they would ask for a revision. If the current doctor refuses, they may seek care elsewhere. While sometimes revisions are necessary or multiple surgeries to gain the desired look, often they aren’t the best option.
Revision surgery can cause the patient to look less natural, especially if they want more dramatic results. A surgeon will advise against a revision if it won’t be beneficial to the patient’s goals or health. On the other hand, revision surgery may be the best option if the first procedure wasn’t a success and the patient’s expectations were reasonable. Dr. Leo Lapuerta has performed many revision surgeries to help patients receive the results they expected from their first procedure with another doctor.
3. Do Your Research
As has been mentioned before, the patient’s expectations are extremely important in the final results. You should do plenty of research if you’re considering plastic surgery to learn what you can expect from the procedure. For instance, a Mommy makeover can have a major impact on several areas of your body, depending on which procedures you decide to use. Find out how exactly a surgery enhances your appearance so you can select the appropriate one for your body and goals.
You should also schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon before deciding on a procedure. The doctor can talk to you about the various results of a surgery and help you to be more realistic in your goals. The consultation is an important part of your surgery, so come armed with plenty of questions to ask. Make sure you feel confident and well-informed about what a particular procedure will do and how you can get natural-looking plastic surgery.
4. Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
Many times, a plastic surgery procedure fails because the patient didn’t follow the doctor’s instructions. They resumed normal activities too soon or stopped wearing the compression garments or following other instructions before they were cleared.
The doctor provides instructions and timelines based on proven results for a procedure. If you fail to follow these guidelines, you could alter the results. If you don’t understand why you are given certain instructions, ask the doctor to learn what makes it important to the procedure. It’s also important to know how to prepare your body for surgery and follow any important guidelines beforehand.
5. Maintain Your Results
It’s important to understand that with many procedures, you won’t see the full results for several months as your body heals and adjusts. Don’t assume that the procedure was a failure in the first month or two afterward. Give your body time to adapt to its new look and to adjust your expectations.
You’ll want to maintain your results once you’ve recovered from the surgery. Ask your doctor what you need to do following recovery. For many procedures, it is critical that you maintain your weight and don’t go up and down on the scale. Exercising, especially strength training, can enhance the results of some surgeries. A prime example is the tummy tuck or Brazilian butt lift. To keep those areas looking their best, you’ll want to strengthen the underlying muscles to prevent sagging.
Some procedures require revision in the future to continue to look natural. For example, a breast augmentation will often need the implants replaced in 10 or 15 years. Be aware of these requirements for the type of surgery you choose.
6. Choose the Right Plastic Surgeon
Natural-looking plastic surgery results begin with choosing the right plastic surgeon. You want to find someone who is certified and has experience in the type of surgery you want. Dr. Leo Lapuerta is a triple-board-certified surgeon with over two decades of experience. He has performed thousands of procedures, many of them hundreds of times. He knows what to expect and can help patients be better prepared about their own results.
If you are considering body contouring in Houston or another surgical procedure to enhance your looks, schedule a consultation with Dr. Lapuerta. He can help you look your best and get the natural results you want with plastic surgery. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to find out more.