Plastic Surgery Blues

Before going under the knife to have your forehead tightened or that droopy fold of skin removed from your eyelids, your plastic surgeon should make it clear you won't come out of surgery looking like Cameron Diaz. He should tell you it's more than likely you'll look as if you went through the windshield of your car. Your head will be bandaged like a mummy's, your face will be swollen and the stitches in your eyelids will look very scary. If you don't know what to expect, you could suffer post-surgical depression while worrying and wondering if you're healing normally.

Some surgeons sugarcoat the degree of pain and recovery from surgery to avoid discouraging patients from proceeding. However, Randal Weil, M.D., a San Francisco plastic surgeon, rarely deals with post-surgical blues. He believes it's because he prepares his patients by giving them the worst case scenario. "What needs to be made clear to patients is in most cases they will look bad before they see the good results," Weil says. "They will probably feel worse before they feel better."

Entering surgery with an understanding of what lies ahead can keep you emotionally stable. Ask your doctor what you will look like and how you will feel following a procedure. Ask what normal activities will be restricted and how long you will have to wear bandages or support garments. Don't be afraid to ask questions and make sure you get clear answers.

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COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group