Self-Esteem and Cosmetic Surgery
After more than 35 years of being in practice as a cosmetic surgeon, I’ve talked with thousands of patients about how they look and feel. Here are my thoughts.
During office consultations, patients sometimes report feelings of diminished self-esteem, often related to their perceptions of their own attractiveness. Office consultations are frequently scheduled when a beach vacation is on the horizon, or a reunion is upcoming and patients want to look and feel their best. Cosmetic surgery is effective in correcting physical problems and when paired with realistic expectations of having surgery, it can be remarkable. When making outward changes, patients often reflect a positive change in their attitude toward their self-image. This new attitude shift is common with both my female and male patients alike. While cosmetic surgery is certainly not the answer in every case of low self-esteem and lack of confidence, I am pleased that many of my patients express feeling better about themselves following surgery. I am gratified to play a role in helping patients achieve a boost in having a sunnier outlook when they look in the mirror. There is no better reward thank seeing a patient’s big smile during their post-op visit!
