There are many factors that go into determining who is or is not a good candidate for a plastic surgery procedure. Some of these factors include specific health and physical limitations or conditions, or psychological considerations. One of the most influential factors, however, can be related to the prospective patient’s lifestyle.
Organizations like the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) are actively involved in patient education aimed at informing patients about how their lifestyle choices may affect their safety as well as their outcomes when undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure. Members of these organizations routinely advise patients to adopt health-promoting habits in their daily lives, both before and after their planned surgeries.
Of course, it seems obvious that certain serious medical conditions would make cosmetic surgery unadvisable for a small number of patients. Furthermore, it is also not uncommon for a qualified surgeon to decline or postpone performing surgery on an individual who is overweight or who smokes.
Some of the lifestyle factors that your surgeon may wish to discuss with you in your consultation may include:
- your current weight
- history of weight fluctuations
- nutrition habits
- vitamins and herbal supplements taken
- exercise habits (frequency and type)
- smoking[/link (this is a big one, since it seriously affects healing)
- exposure to secondhand smoke
- alcohol consumption
- drug use (including prescription medications)
- sun exposure
- sleep patterns
- stress level and coping mechanisms
Noone wants to be told that they can’t have the surgery they’ve been dreaming about. However, a good surgeon is more concerned about your safety---and about achieving the best possible outcome---than he or she is about booking another surgery.
Whatever you do, DO NOT lie to your surgeon or omit facts that you fear may make you an unadvisable candidate for a particular procedure. The guidelines are there for a reason: to protect you. Besides, haven’t you been looking for a good reason to motivate you to stop smoking and start exercising?
source: [link url=http://www.surgery.org]The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
