Mind the Body: Feeling Good Inside and Out with Plastic Surgery and a Healthy Lifestyle

As a plastic surgeon, I strive to promote healthy living. I recently read an interesting article released by the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons that discussed a book by anti-aging expert Jane Baskin. Her book detailed the aging process and the aged appearance that naturally accompanies today’s extended lifespan.  Baskin was quoted saying, “Eating healthy and exercising can keep us going on the inside, so what’s wrong with making use of the medical technology available to make the outside match the inside?” She went on to say, “There is a vast gulf between feeling good and feeling good about ourselves, and that’s where cosmetic surgery can help us fill in the gaps.”

Have you ever tried a new diet or workout program, and although you could feel a difference, you never actually saw results? It’s safe to say most people have experienced something similar. Although the article mainly focuses on facial plastic surgery to combat signs of aging (i.e.- facelifts and cosmetic injectables), Baskin’s words apply to  much more than the face. Plastic surgery should never substitute for a healthy diet and exercise routine, but it can serve as a tool to help patients achieve the goals they are unable to reach through diet and exercise.

Take post bariatric surgery (post weight loss surgery) patients as an example. By losing such a large amount of weight so quickly, these patients are left with excess sagging skin. Although they feel great without the extra weight, many post bariatric patients seek cosmetic surgery to “help the outside match the inside.” During a body lift procedure, I remove excess skin, lift and tighten the underlying muscles, and reposition the remaining tissues to produce a more balanced, tighter look. Based on the patient’s specific needs, body lift surgery may include liposuction and/or lifting areas such as the tummy, arms, back, buttocks, hips, and thighs.

Women who have had children can also relate to this feeling. Though they are overjoyed with the presence of a new life, they can experience dramatic body changes. After pregnancy, women typically have a harder time losing weight, the breasts can begin to sag, and that tummy pooch doesn’t respond to abdominal workouts like it once did, which is why I offer mommy makeover surgery. Specially designed for each individual case, mommy makeover surgery focuses on the patient’s unique needs. Most mommy makeovers include a breast procedure (breast reduction, breast lift, or breast augmentation), a tummy tuck, and liposuction.

While post weight loss and mommy makeover patients serve as great examples of using cosmetic surgery to improve the outer appearance so that it better reflects the inner attributes , using cosmetic surgery to boost the outer appearance is not limited to these groups. The key point to take away from this blog is that plastic surgery is a tool best used in combination with a healthy lifestyle, rather than as a substitution. It’s very important to feel well inside and out.

If you’re interested in learning more about the plastic surgery procedures I perform, be sure to check out my website. Also, be sure to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter for plastic surgery news and updates.