Cosmetic surgery doesn’t have the best reputation. We’ve all seen celebrities with frozen faces who can’t lift their eyebrows and who can’t completely smile thanks to strange face lifts – and we’ve all seen women whose cosmetic surgery has left their bodies very different from how they used to be. Is it possible to have cosmetic surgery and to still look like yourself?

The answer to that is absolutely yes. There are people you walk past every day who have had surgery that you would never have guessed about. If you’ve been considering surgery for a while, read up on these pros and cons to make up your mind. 

The Pros and Cons to Consider Before You Bite the Cosmetic Surgery Bullet

PRO: It could help your confidence as you get older.

For women particularly, ageing can be rough. We get told by the media that we have to look a certain way, and we get criticized when we don’t reach certain standards (which are usually set by men!). If you have signs of ageing prematurely, for example wrinkles around your eyes, then why not get the years taken off with some cosmetic help?

You can’t put a price on feeling happy with yourself and the way that you look. The fact that cosmetic surgery isn’t ‘natural’ doesn’t mean anything. Bodybuilders use protein shakes, a lot of women wear makeup, people get tattoos, everyone cuts their hair to look as good as they can. Everyone makes changes to their body to feel happier with it.

CON: People have argued that it won’t help with your self esteem.

For instance, if you have a problem with your nose and you get it fixed, you’ll just start focusing on another part of your body that you hate. This is definitely not necessarily true. Although that could happen with some people, there are far more happy success stories. However, it’s always a good idea to talk to a therapist before you go under the knife to make sure that your issue isn’t deeper than it seems.

PRO: It can correct medical issues.

For instance, if you want a breast reduction, then you’ll find afterwards that your back and shoulder pain is vastly reduced without the extra weight on your chest. You might also find it easier to get healthy and lose more weight if you’ve had a breast reduction or liposuction. Chances are, your cosmetic surgery will also lead to better emotional wellness: if you’ve been feeling bad about yourself then that could lead to problems with depression and anxiety.

CON: Your surgeon could make you get surgery you don’t really want.

Of course, cosmetic surgeons do their jobs to make money – we all do! No one does their job out of the goodness of their heart. But very few people go into medicine without the direct aim of helping people. Choose a reputable surgeon and read reviews online – for example, check out Dr. Aaron Kosins – to make sure you’re going to a good place, and you won’t have any problems.

In conclusion, it’s your body, therefore you can do exactly what you want with it. If you want cosmetic surgery, go for it! After all, you only have one life to enjoy, so that’s what you should do.

This ‘Cosmetic Surgery’ post was contributed to The Lady-like Leopard.