Plastic Surgery Boosts Self-Confidence

People choose to have plastic surgery for a number of reasons. Some people need reconstructive surgery to improve a certain condition, other’s simply want to look better. Whatever the situation may be, plastic surgery has increased in popularity throughout the years and recent studies show that enhancing your appearance surgically improves your mood.

According to a study published recently in the April issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal, Liposuction and/or tummy tuck improves both self-esteem and quality of life. Combined liposuction plus tummy tuck resulted in even greater improvements in overall patient self-confidence according to the author of the recent study.

The study included 360 patients who underwent liposuction and/or abdominoplasty between 2002 to 2007. About 60% of the patients had liposuction alone and 5% had a tummy tuck, while 35% had a combination of both liposuction and tummy tuck procedures. Those individuals who had liposuction alone recovered significantly faster than tummy tuck patients (with or without liposuction) and also had less discomfort. On the other hand, the study showed patient satisfaction rates were highest among those who had a combined liposuction and tummy tuck procedures with almost all of those patients experiencing no increase in pain compared to tummy tuck alone.

Based on the recent study, 98% of patients undergoing liposuction and tummy tuck procedures said they would undergo the procedure again, and 99% said they would recommend it to others. Overall, 86% of patients reported an improved sense of self-esteem after surgery. About 70% reported improved quality of life. The study showed that the latter was more common after liposuction combined with tummy tuck.

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, last year, liposuction was the most popular plastic surgery procedure. On the other hand, tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, was the third most popular surgery in 2011. Of the 10 million plastic surgery procedures performed last year in the U.S. alone, women were of the majority accounting for 9.1 million of those procedures. The increase of self-esteem after plastic surgery may be due to the recent increase in popularity. Patients reported being happier with their bodies as a whole after plastic surgery, not only in the areas where they had procedures done.

“I do not regret one thing, and if I had to do [plastic surgery] all over again, the only thing I would change is, I would have done it sooner.

For me it has been worth every penny and given me confidence through the roof.” – Actual Patient Review of Dr. Siamak Agha, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.