Plastic Surgery, The Naked Truth: Be Realistic About Your Plastic Surgery
January 25, 2025
BE REALISTIC
Realistic expectations are key to satisfaction with your results. While improvement is always the goal, perfection is often unattainable. Our doctors strive to achieve the best possible outcomes, but many factors beyond the control of both doctor and patient can influence the final result. These include age, skin quality, and individual healing patterns affected by genetics, health, environment, and diet.
What is Not Realistic?
Expecting to look like another person, such as a celebrity or Instagram influencer, is unrealistic. Reference photos can provide an idea of the direction you’d like your appearance to take, but human bodies are not clay to be sculpted. Every patient has a unique starting point, and outcomes are shaped by the factors mentioned above.
Complete avoidance of bruising or swelling is possible but uncommon for most surgeries. We provide comprehensive pre-and post-operative care and guidance to ensure the smoothest recovery possible. For example:
- Most bruising resolves within two weeks.
- Liposuction tends to cause more bruising than breast surgery.
- Facelifts may result in mild to moderate bruising and swelling, depending on the procedure.
It’s important to discuss your recovery timeline with your doctor or consultant to plan your surgery around work, exercise, or social commitments.
What Surgery Can and Cannot Do
Surgery is not guaranteed to change your life. In and of itself, it doesn’t improve relationships, job performance, or financial status, nor will it resolve emotional or psychological challenges. Surgery is not a remedy for depression or a shortcut to lifelong happiness.
However, surgery can significantly improve self-esteem, positively impacting your outlook and confidence.
You should never undergo surgery to please someone else or because others in your social circle are doing so. If external pressures or unresolved emotional issues are driving your desire for plastic surgery, counseling can be a valuable step before proceeding.
Take the Next Step
To learn more about the innovative treatments offered at Pacific Center for Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach, CA, contact our office by calling (949) 617-1168 or by filling out the consultation request form below.
Preparing for Surgery
We are committed to helping you achieve results that align with your realistic expectations. A healthy starting point is essential:
- Maintain a good diet and aim for your ideal weight.
- Avoid smoking; if you do smoke, quit at least one month before and after surgery.
- We will check your blood pressure during your initial consultation and work to optimize it if elevated, as hypertension can delay healing and affect results.
We provide detailed preparation instructions, including:
- Guidance on medications and supplements to avoid or take.
- Steps to minimize risks such as infection, blood clots, and poor scarring.
- Recommendations for weight management if needed.
Post-Operative Care
You will need someone to stay with you for at least 24 hours after surgery. We also provide advice on home preparation and assistance with childcare, pets, or other responsibilities. If you are traveling more than 30 minutes by car, consider staying overnight in Orange County for convenience. We can assist with travel or recovery facility arrangements if needed.
Maintenance Matters
Maintenance is key to preserving and enhancing your results. For facial rejuvenation, medical-grade skin care products and treatments at BioSpa, our Newport Beach medical spa, are highly recommended. Pre- and post-operative HydraFacials can prepare your skin for surgery and promote optimal healing. Post-surgery, continuing with products like retinols and sunscreen, as well as treatments such as laser therapy or microneedling, will help you maintain your investment.
My husband saw dr Nichter. He recommended surgery. He also made recommendations about skin tags on his face & other parts of his body that could possibly be cancerous. Our whole experience at the center was wonderful.
Judy A.
Results Take Time
While some changes are immediately visible, the final results of surgery take time. For example:
- Breast augmentation results are noticeable right away, but final contours may take 3–6 months as the skin adjusts to the implants.
- Rhinoplasty results are evident once the dressing is removed, but continued improvements can take up to a year.
We are here to guide you through every step of your journey, ensuring you are informed, prepared, and supported from start to finish.