Facial Plastic Surgery

By Randy Alvarez

Some years ago I interviewed a plastic surgeon who pointed out during our pre-production discussion that often times men get in the way of their wives’ desires to have facial plastic surgery. He went on to say that in his opinion, when men become successful or their kids go off to college they tend to buy boats, fancy cars or a bigger house. Women on the other hand make it a personal goal to maintain their appearance and look attractive. Men need to appreciate this. What this doctor said he has heard from many men, who beg their wives to not have a face lift or other facial surgery, is that they are afraid that their partner will have that “done” look. No one wants that. This fear is a legitimate one as the doctor explained. He told me that in many of his consultations, people are concerned about creating a look that appears pulled, tight or “different”. For the most part people just want to look refreshed, great for their age, well rested and younger. On my program this doctor told the viewers, he looked right at the camera and said that if their number one worry is that their husband or wife will end up looking “done”, they didn’t have to worry. The goal is to choose a surgeon with a proven track record, a surgeon who specializes in facial surgery, someone who is doing facial procedures often and can show ten or more before-and-after photos with natural looking results. He also said that plastic surgery is not for everyone. He said that there is nothing wrong with aging gracefully, however if you are unhappy with the way you are aging, you can now achieve natural results through advancements in surgical techniques provided you go to the right surgeon.

My personal thoughts on facial plastic surgery are mixed. I agree with the doctor who says that if you are unhappy with the way you are aging or have a genetic flaw that can be easily corrected, its ok to turn to cosmetic surgery. You can do something about your concerns without feeling selfish, vain or guilty. Facial plastic surgery has become a mainstream phenomena, it’s not just for the rich and famous any more. The challenge for individuals today is finding the right doctor. We have all had a bad haircut, all of us. What’s amazing is that the bad haircut might have been done by someone who had lots of experience and a lot of training, but still… the bad haircut… why? Most of us have come to realize that some hairstylists have ‘it’ and some don’t. The artistic eye is the ability to preconceive and create a vision of aesthetic value. Can it be learned? I don’t know. I do know that you can teach someone to be more effective. The question is can you teach someone the artistry of a craft such as plastic surgery? I don’t really think so. Unlike your hair that grows back, chances are if you are in your fifties you will be looking at your face for another forty years, so you have to find the right surgeon who has that special talent, an eye for beauty as well as the surgical skills to make it happen.

Recently I spoke to a woman who is the editor of a well known magazine in Newport Beach California, about facial cosmetic surgery. She had a face lift but no one would know by looking at her. I feel that I have a great eye for face lifts as a result of studying them for the past ten years and I must say hers was one of the best that I have seen. According to her, she is in her late fifties. After she divorced she decided that she wanted to have a fresh look… she obviously did not want the ‘done’ look. She visited about seven surgeons, listened to their philosophies, looked at their work and even spoke to some of their patients. She told me she got lucky to have found a true artist. I asked her what she thought women needed to know when it came to finding a gifted surgeon. She suggested paying attention to the doctor’s office and his or her clothing and sense of style. She believed that if a doctor didn’t dress up to date or if their office didn’t emanate a stylish essence it said a lot about them and how important aesthetic details are to them. She also looked at the doctor’s board certifications, asked about continuing education and most importantly she looked at pictures of the doctor’s work. “Follow your gut”- she told me – “and do your homework”. She believes that women need to know that it’s ok to want to look younger and rested and to give permission to themselves to invest in their physical appearance.

 

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