In Hungary, plastic surgery is perceived in two different ways. We look positively on restorative surgery, but people are less accepting when it comes to operations for cosmetic reasons. Should someone really be blamed for going under the knife in the name of beauty? How can a patient benefit from successful surgery? We discussed these questions with our plastic surgeon Dr Bernadett Lévay, who has been able to help many men and women in her time.
Plastic surgery can be divided into two different areas: restorative and cosmetic surgery. The former refers to the correction of deformities or scars as a result of accidents, burns or operations, as well as developmental abnormalities. The latter, as its name suggests, aims to make the person appear younger or improve their overall physical appearance. Of course, when it comes to in restorative surgery, it also is important for the results to be aesthetically pleasing.
If you’re healthy, why have surgery?
We tend to think that if somebody is perfectly healthy and has surgery just to make them more beautiful, they are either incredibly vain or simply have more money than they know what to do with. Of course, their motives are usually far more complicated than that. There are some people who have been teased since childhood about their ears, while some women don’t feel they are feminine enough because they have smaller breasts, or struggle with their self esteem due to sagging skin after pregnancy. There is also a strong correlation between the health of your body and that of the mind. If a person doesn’t feel comfortable in their own skin, this can cause psychological issues, often leading to psychosomatic symptoms and illness.
Greater self esteem, better relationships
Many patients report that their whole life has changed following the surgery and that their self esteem has gone through the roof. Positive self esteem and self respect make it easier to find a partner, and can also have positive effects on personal relationships. Dr Lévay believes that many marriages have been saved by the surgery she has carried out.
A lifestyle change
In Dr Lévay’s experience, many people are motivated by the positive results of successful surgery. This change in their circumstances leads them to pay more attention to staying in shape and living healthily. They start taking more exercise and are more careful about their diet. They decide that if they have had work done on a particular part of their bodies, then they want to stay in shape for as long as possible, so it makes sense to take better care of themselves.
This is why we shouldn’t judge people who undergo surgery to improve their physical appearance. Surgery can improve quality of life in terms of both personal relationships and even performance at work. But if you yourself are thinking about surgery, think it through very carefully. Don’t do it on the spur of the moment or because it happens to be trendy. If you’re uncertain, it might also be worthwhile speaking to a psychologist.
