The choice to tell people about your plastic surgery can be as personal as the choice to have it in the first place. What if there was a way to keep onlookers so in the dark that they couldn’t pinpoint the source of your new and improved look?
Keeping others in the dark regarding the work you’ve had done or plan to have done can be beneficial for a number of reasons- the main reason for most being that it’s personal. Therefore, if onlookers are completely clueless, you won’t feel obligated to explain your results.
Dr. Elliot Heller offers the following advice to patients who wish to throw their peers off their trail- so to speak.
Prepare
Preparation can make or break your plan to keep your surgery a secret. Here are a few things to keep in mind and how good preparation can save the day.
- Post surgery swelling and bruising- Nothing says I just had a facelift, eyelid surgery or rhinoplasty in NJ, like a swollen, bruised and gauzed wrapped face. It’s imperative that you take adequate time off of work for swelling and bruising to subside enough to be camouflaged by makeup before you interact with anyone in person. Also plan ahead and have things like prescriptions, groceries and any other necessities stocked so you won’t have to make an emergency trip into town. After all, no one goes grocery shopping without running into someone they know.
- Physical changes- If you go on vacation and come back three dress sizes smaller, three cup sizes larger or with a perfectly straight nose, don’t be surprised if others notice.
“I tell my patients who are interested in breast augmentation, especially those with much smaller breasts, to ease others into the change,” says Dr. Heller, who performs liposuction in New Jersey. “I suggest that they start to wear padded bras months before their scheduled procedure. That way, people subconsciously get used to seeing them with curves.”
Patients who plan on having a thighlift or liposuction can similarly train their coworkers and friends by telling them they have just started a new diet and are already seeing results. Fool them by wearing loose clothing leading up to and following surgery and slowly easing into new, form-fitting clothing. People will chalk your svelte figure up to you sticking to your diet or your new wardrobe.
Everyone knows how different someone can look after a new haircut and color. If you are planning on reinventing your hairstyle, try putting it off until after a procedure like a mini facelift, rhinoplasty or blepharoplasty, that way your new hairdo gets all the praise for your refreshed appearance.
Go Cosmetic
Cosmetic procedures such as fillers, laser rejuvenation and Botox provide subtle rejuvenation that is far less noticeable than the results of plastic surgery, making it a good choice for those who are paranoid about others knowing they’ve had something done. However, surgery provides better and longer-lasting results.
Choose a Good Surgeon
“The most important advice I can offer is to seek an experienced plastic surgeon“, says Dr. Heller. “A good surgeon can deliver results that are natural and simply make you look like a better version of yourself, not a drastically different one. There are infinite reasons why someone may look better. Better can be disguised- drastically different is another story.”
Patients interested in natural rejuvenation from cosmetic or plastic surgery procedures such as breast reduction are encouraged to schedule a free initial consultation at Associates in Plastic Surgery.
