Are there risks to aesthetic treatments?

As with all other treatments, aesthetic procedures carry risks. If your body mass index is 30 and above, you may be at higher risk of developing complications such as blood clots in the legs or lungs if you have diabetes. Smoking also increases risks and can complicate post-treatment recovery. You should discuss these risks and other details about your health history with your doctor. Possible complications of any aesthetic treatment can be:

• Complications related to anesthesia, including pneumonia, blood clots and, rarely, death
• Infection at the incision site, which may worsen the scarring and require additional surgery
• Fluid buildup under the skin
• Slight bleeding or bleeding that is significant enough to require a transfusion
• Abnormal scarring due to skin deterioration
• Separation of the surgical wound, which sometimes requires additional procedures
• numbness and tingling from nerve damage, which may be permanent

Questions to ask yourself before getting treatment:

• Why do I want to change my appearance?
• Do I have realistic expectations about the results of the treatment?
• How will family affect my work life?
• Is this the right time for treatment?
• Have I talked openly about my concerns and questions with my doctor?

Questions to ask the esthetician:

• What should I expect from these treatment results?
• Are there risks specific to my health history?
• What does this treatment do? What can't he do?
• Is this the right treatment for me? Are there any other treatments I should consider?
• What are the risks and complications associated with this procedure?
• How long is the recovery period?
• Will I be too inconvenienced? What are my pain management options?
• Will I have any scars and if yes how will they look?
• If my procedure requires stitches, when will they be removed?
• What kind of activity restrictions will I have after the surgery?
• How long will it take to get back to my normal routine?
• How long will it take for me to see the final results of my surgery?
• What is permanence?
• What is the price of aesthetic treatment? How much will I pay in total?

What should you expect from a cosmetic treatment?

In order to meet your expectations, you need to clearly understand what will happen before, during and after the aesthetic application and what results to expect. The more realistic your expectations are, the more satisfied you will be with the results.

Before aesthetic treatment

Before the procedure, your doctor will explain to you how the treatment can change your body and what you can expect as a result. You need to explain what you hope and expect. Listening to the options and possible outcomes from your doctor will help you make the best decision.

You are informed about treatments, what to expect, the benefits, risks and possible complications, and other alternatives. Your doctor may recommend additional applications at this stage.

Your doctor will explain the concept of asymmetry to you. The human body is asymmetrical, meaning one side of the body looks naturally different from the other. Think of your image reflected in the mirror, while your image in photos is real, mirror image is the opposite. Your doctor will help you fully understand your true appearance and how this may change with treatment.

Your doctor will also explain the concept of balance. It will go into details such as how changing a part of the body can affect the overall appearance and whether additional treatments are necessary.

Consent form

You will likely be asked to sign a consent form so that pre- and post-treatment photos can be taken. Photos will be a reference to your doctor during the procedure and will also be part of your medical records.

Post-aesthetic treatment and results

You will receive post-treatment care instructions specific to your treatment, medication instructions such as pain medications and antibiotics if needed, and your prescriptions. Although you are knowledgeable and prepared, the bruises and swellings that occur after the application may surprise you. It may take at least three weeks for the bruising to subside; swelling may take even longer. Realistic expectations are key at this stage. Bruising and swelling are temporary. Surgery scars are permanent. Recovery times vary by person and cosmetic treatment, but can take at least six to 12 weeks for many cosmetic surgeries.