Many women, young and old, have dreamt about their wedding day since childhood. With an average of 2.4 million weddings taking place in the United States every year, women are learning which elements are important and which are not. The excitement is often as intense as the stress of ironing out every single detail in the months leading up to the Big Day. It isn’t uncommon for brides to go through a myriad of diets, teeth whitenings, and exercise regimens in an attempt to look as perfect as possible in their wedding dresses; for some, the occasion presents an ideal opportunity to make these changes permanent via cosmetic surgery.
Brides And Body Positivity
In the past, plastic surgery was judged quite harshly. As medical and technological advancements continue, the days of bowling-ball-boobs and rigid expressions have ended and instead have given way to natural-looking features that have simply been enhanced. The mindset seems to have changed as well: in 2016, Americans spent over $15 billion on surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic procedures, indicating an 11% increase from the year before. Rather than judging individuals for seeking out rhinoplasties and breast augmentations, younger generations are embracing those seeking to feel better about their appearance.
However, the line of self-empowerment can be incredibly difficult to walk; before you go under the knife, make sure you’re addressing these main concerns.
- Motive: It can be easy to focus exclusively on your wedding day look when contemplating cosmetic surgery (after all, the average wedding sees 165 guests and you want to look your best for them), but your mindset should be geared more toward the future. Think about how your result will look in one year, five years, and 20 years — this can make the difference between choosing large implants or a more modest size. Most importantly, you must want to do this for yourself; if your partner is making comments or pressuring your to get a procedure done, you will never feel satisfied with the results because you got it done for the wrong reasons.
- Budget: Plastic surgery may not be the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make, but it definitely won’t be cheap. Since insurance only covers medically-necessary surgeries, you could find yourself staring down the barrel of a change you can’t afford. Make sure to take a good look at your financial situation before committing to a procedure.
- Lifestyle: Cosmetic surgery isn’t simply a “quick fix” to your problem. Some procedures in particular, like liposuction, require a commitment to positive changes — if you don’t begin eating well and exercising, the money you spent on lipo will be wasted and you’ll end up unhappy with your body. Consider plastic surgery as a way to complement your lifestyle, rather than replace it.
If you’re confident in your decision to pursue cosmetic surgery for your wedding day, that’s great! Let’s take a look at what you can expect on your journey.
Plastic Surgery Preparations
Surgery is a traumatic experience for your body, no matter how minor or simple it may be. You’re going to go through pain and frustration, guaranteed. The key to handling this requires two primary things: a positive attitude, and plenty of time.
Doctors recommend that you plan your surgery at least one year out from your weddings; because healing times can be quite extensive, this ensures that you’ll be looking and feeling your best when the day finally comes. Even nonsurgical procedures such as Cool-sculpting and laser treatments should be done no later than three months before your wedding day. As a rule of thumb, never do anything that could be irritating or requires a recovery period after that three-month mark.
If you do end up scheduled for a surgical procedure, there’s one thing that you should do, although it is often overlooked: get your flu vaccine. During surgery, your body will be completely exposed to bacteria and viruses; while the chances of contracting anything are rare, it does still happen. The last thing you want during your recovery is to be dealing with the horrendous symptoms of the influenza virus. Vaccines have been saving lives for over 300 years; trust them to get you to your wedding day safe and sound.
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