Picture this: You’ve finally found the perfect Miami plastic surgeon for your boob job. You’ve saved enough for it, and now you’re going to get the C-cup-sized breasts you’ve always wanted.
Everything goes according to plan, from the initial consultation down to the recovery period. But a month after your operation, you notice something’s amiss: One of your boobs is slightly bigger than the other.
If you’ve ever found yourself in a similar scenario, you’re not alone. A survey reported by The Daily Mail showed that one in five cosmetic surgery patients are unhappy with the results of their surgery. Most of the dissatisfaction comes from rather mainstream plastic surgeries, like facelifts, tummy tucks, breast augmentation, Botox, and liposuction. Almost half of them feel “pressured” into doing the surgery, while 75% feel that part of the blame should be on them as they haven’t done enough research before pushing through with the surgery.
Plastic surgery may be a godsend for many, but there’s a fair number people who end up being dissatisfied with their results. Read on to find out more about the reasons why patients dislike their plastic surgery results – and what they can do to make things right.
Bad Results, Unhappy Patients
There’s only one reason why patients are disappointed with plastic surgery: bad results. Although no plastic surgeon can guarantee successful results, there are several factors that lead to what patients perceive to be less than satisfactory results.
According to a poll conducted by the Medical Accident Group to 2,638 respondents, there are four reasons why patients regret ever having plastic surgery.
Unexpected Results
Aesthetics is relative. What one perceives to be normal-sized breasts can look too small to another.
That’s why it’s important to discuss your expectations with your chosen plastic surgeon as early as the initial consultation. Your surgeon can tell you whether your goals are realistic or you need to take it down a notch because it might cause some complications.
If both you and your surgeon have established your goals and the final results still don’t match up to your expectations, then that’s when dissatisfaction sets in. Medical Accident Group’s survey identified unmet expectations as the number one reason why plastic surgery patients end up being unhappy with their results, with 33% of the respondents citing this reason.
Disappointment can also come from a doctor’s false claims, like faster recuperation and minimal pain – all designed to deceive patients for the sake of higher sales. The media also plays a role in this, as it continues to feed the masses unrealistic ideals of how a male or female body should look.
Knowing how the surgery is going to be performed can help you manage your expectations and steer clear of clinics providing such false claims.
Presence of Complications
Every surgery has its set of risks. Some risks – like swelling and nausea – are common and expected, while others are rare but potentially fatal. Whatever those risks are, it’s your plastic surgeon’s responsibility to disclose all of them to you.
But even if you know all these complications, it’s still difficult to come to terms with them once they occur – and that can lead to negative feelings about plastic surgery.
In fact, a lot of plastic surgery patients regret going under the knife because they encountered complications during or after their operation. Almost a quarter of the poll’s respondents would never consider nip and tuck again because of the complications. Around 17% also felt that their physician did not fully explain the side effects.
Transparency is important to avoid dissatisfaction among patients. And of course, exercising utmost care from the initial consultation to aftercare can help prevent complications.
Low Self-Esteem
Medical Accident Group’s survey also revealed that 13% of previous plastic surgery patients failed to increase their self-confidence after the procedure. In fact, it even made them feel less comfortable about their body.
Boosting one’s confidence is one of the reasons why people undergo plastic surgery. In fact, a paper published in the International Journal of Emergency Mental Health and Human Resilience shows that cosmetic surgery has the power to improve a person’s self-esteem. But if it does the opposite, then what’s the use of getting one?
Low self-esteem can arise from unpleasant results, and this can eventually lead to depression and suicide. A study published in Current Psychiatry Reports based on five large-scale independent studies revealed that suicide rates are higher for women who’ve had unsuccessful cosmetic surgeries. It can also lead to destructive acts, like binge drinking, reckless driving, and drug overdoses. There are also patients who develop post-traumatic stress disorder.
For you to avoid feelings of low self-confidence, it’s important to find a reputable and board-certified plastic surgeon who has the best chance of giving you the results that you want.
Expensive Cost
Those who are satisfied with their plastic surgery results see their surgeries as an investment, but those on the other side of the fence just see plastic surgery as a waste of money.
Only 8% of the survey respondents regret spending money on plastic surgery as it put them in debt. Still, this is a major cause of concern for many plastic surgery patients, considering how many of them felt victimized by cheap plastic surgery, which has increased their risk of developing complications due to the use of substandard materials. More complications mean more treatment and follow-up consultations, so the costs could certainly add up.
While cost is not the sole barometer of the success of a cosmetic procedure, a plastic surgeon who charges within the current industry rates is a good sign of quality plastic surgery. You are less likely to feel dissatisfied with the results of your procedure if you choose a top notch surgeon.
Dealing with Unsatisfactory Results
Botched plastic surgery might seem to be the end of the world, but it doesn’t have to be. You can still do something about it – from simply talking to your plastic surgeon about your options to taking legal action when everything goes down the drain.
Here are seven tips on dealing with unsatisfactory plastic surgery results.
Think back on your expectations.
Sometimes, all it takes is a good hard look at your expectations and figuring out if the surgery has met them.
Breast augmentation is one of the most common procedures where patients end up dissatisfied. The disappointment almost often comes from size. Patients complain that they wanted larger implants than what their surgeon carried out. But sometimes, a surgeon may not have created larger breasts due to some possible long-term issues, like sagging and drooping for smaller-framed women.
Your doctor should have set realistic expectations before the surgery to avoid discontentment. Revisiting your original goals with your surgeon and discussing other surgical options can help you deal with these failed expectations.
Talk to your plastic surgeon.
When your plastic surgery does not deliver the results that you want, one of the first things that you should do is talk to your plastic surgeon. While there is a possibility that he might have messed up your surgery, it’s also likely that what you’re seeing or experiencing is just a normal part of the healing process and shouldn’t be taken seriously.
Be honest and open with your feelings about the surgery. Ask why the results ended up that way, and try to understand what happened. For all you know, your surgeon has a good reason why he did not tighten all the muscles during your tummy tuck, or why your breast lift incision was larger than what you both agreed on. Avoid putting the blame on anybody, as it wouldn’t help. Listen to the solutions he’s offering, but don’t make hasty decisions. Give him the chance to remedy the situation before taking any further action.
Another option is to seek a second opinion. If you feel that your original plastic surgeon had some shortcomings, look for another expert and board-certified plastic surgeon who’s had plenty of experience in your chosen procedure. He could give you another perspective on your condition.
Give it time.
Patience is a virtue when it comes to plastic surgery recovery. For all you know, that extra lump of fat on your abdomen right after a liposuction isn’t some leftover fat cells, but swelling that would eventually go away in a few months’ time.
When getting any invasive plastic surgery, it’s important to remember that results don’t appear straight away. In fact, you’d have to deal with swelling for about six months to a year.
So, while waiting for the final results to set in, try not to let feelings of anger and fear interfere mess up with your head. Many problems will resolve in time as your body continues to heal. In cases when a real problem arises, like breathing difficulty after getting a nose job, your surgeon may need to act sooner than later.
For the meantime, attend follow-up consultations with your plastic surgeon to make sure that you’re on the right track to healing.
Consider looking for another plastic surgeon.
In spite of the results that left you feeling disappointed, you should make all efforts to rebuild your relationship with your surgeon. But if that doesn’t work, consider looking for another plastic surgeon.
Though there might be surgeons who are reluctant to take on patients with previous negative experiences on plastic surgery, you should still follow the normal guidelines for choosing a plastic surgeon. Look for someone who’s had plenty of experience in the procedure you just had
In choosing another plastic surgeon, you have to make sure that your problem is within his area of expertise. You won’t go to a rhinoplasty doctor when you want your thigh lift revised. You also have to make sure that your plastic surgeon is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Other things to consider are his hospital privileges, reputation, and portfolio of before and after photos.
Make sure that you also ask these questions during your consultation.
Consider revision surgery.
Revision plastic surgery is very popular among patients who are dissatisfied with the results of their initial cosmetic treatment. In fact, the demand for this procedure is steadily rising due to the increase of botched plastic surgeries done by inexperienced and non-certified cosmetic surgeons.
Improper breast surgery is one of the most common reasons why people ask for revision surgery. A 10-year retrospective study revealed that as many as 25% of the 230 respondents required more than one revision surgery on their breast augmentation with implants. Their complaints almost are almost always about wrong implant size, asymmetrical implant placement, unnatural breast appearance and nipple position, implant rippling, implant tightening, and poor scarring.
Many patients also seek revision surgery on liposuction and rhinoplasty procedures.
If you want to get revision surgery, talk to your plastic surgeon about the risks associated with it. Revision surgeries are usually more complicated than the original surgeries. You also have to talk about your next plan of action if the revision surgery fails again.
Though some surgeons charge you the full price of the revision surgery, others offer discounts or even do the procedure for free. Make sure you clarify these fees with your surgeon.
As always, most cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance – unless there is some underlying medical necessity, like difficulty of breathing or infection. Always ask your insurance company about your procedure just to be sure.
Complain to the state medical board.
If all the actions above failed, and you feel that your plastic surgeon did something inappropriate, you should file a complaint with the state medical board or with the Office of Professional Medical Conduct.
To do this, you need to make sure that you have enough evidence to support your claim. Back it up with all the necessary documents, such as photos and detailed written notes that are properly labeled and dated.
If your claims are proven, the board may take action against your plastic surgeon.
Consider legal action.
When all else fails, go to your last resort: file a lawsuit. Keep in mind that this should only be done when you can no longer reach out to your surgeon and it leaves you no other choice but to resolve it through legal means.
A lot of legal firms offer a ‘no win no fee’ service on top of a free initial consultation. But just like when looking for a plastic surgeon, you also have to be discerning when looking for a law firm to handle your case. Choose a reputable and well-established firm to strengthen your claim.
The whole process can be physically and emotionally draining for both you and your family, not to mention costly and time-consuming, so you should be mentally prepared. Also, be ready for the possibility that the verdict may swing the surgeon’s way, as there’s no guarantee that you’ll be vindicated in this legal battle.
Though you have several courses of action if you end up being unhappy with your plastic surgery results, it doesn’t have to reach that point. Finding a reputable and board-certified plastic surgeon significantly decreases your risk of botched surgeries and unmet expectations.
Schedule a Free Consultation with one of our double board-certified plastic surgeons here on Face + Body Cosmetic Surgery.
References:
http://www.medicalaccidentgroup.co.uk/news/two-thirds-brits-regret-cosmetic-surgery/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20425286?dopt=Abstract
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/2015/10/fix-bad-plastic-surgery-experience/
https://www.verywell.com/bad-plastic-surgery-what-to-do-if-it-happens-to-you-2709906
http://www.consumerrightsexpert.co.uk/when-cosmetic-surgery-goes-wrong.html
http://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-surgery-complications-when-something-goes-wrong
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23102610
http://www.gr-cps.com/plastic-surgery-revision
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