Have you considered plastic surgery, but never followed through because you did not know if you were a good candidate? Answering the “Am I a Candidate” question begins with assessing your goals and expectations. Scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is a good first step.
Surgeons typically look for overall good health, realistic goals, and a plan that matches your anatomy and lifestyle. They also evaluate any current risk factors that could negatively impact outcomes. For example, nicotine (including vaping, gum, and patches) is a well-known risk for wound-healing problems according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, so surgeons often require stopping it well before and after surgery. You should also expect a thorough medical history and medication review at your consultation.
This blog will provide a high-level overview of some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, including factors you and your surgeon should discuss, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Use this as your guide at your surgery consultation, to help determine if one of these procedures is right for you.
1. Breast Augmentation
What your surgeon evaluates: During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss your goals (size and shape), skin and tissue quality, symmetry, and whether you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Good candidates for breast augmentation are healthy, have fully developed breasts, and carry realistic expectations for outcomes after surgery. They may want more breast symmetry after experiencing a loss of fullness from having children or losing weight, and a general dissatisfaction with the size.
Common reasons to press pause: You may not currently be a good candidate for breast augmentation if you are pregnant and breastfeeding, have untreated medical issues, or plan to use nicotine while healing. Your surgeon will also discuss implant types or fat transfer, long-term maintenance, and what recovery looks like for your lifestyle.
2. Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
What your surgeon evaluates: For an abdominoplasty procedure, also known as a “tummy tuck,” your plastic surgeon will likely evaluate skin laxity, muscle separation (diastasis), fat distribution, and overall weight stability. Ideal candidates for tummy tucks are healthy, at a stable weight, and are nonsmokers. Many seek out tummy tucks because they want to enhance their abdominal contour after significant weight loss, or a loss of muscle tone due to pregnancy or the aging process.
Common reasons to press pause: You may want to pause your plans for this procedure if you are still in the process of working towards significant weight loss or a future pregnancy, or if you plan to use nicotine, which could impair healing. Your surgeon will help you decide if liposuction alone, a mini-tuck, or a full abdominoplasty is the best fit for your goals.
3. Facelift (Rhytidectomy)
What your surgeon evaluates: When evaluating good candidates for facelift surgery, surgeons typically look at skin quality, tissue descent, neck/jawline changes, and overall health. Ideal candidates are healthy nonsmokers with realistic expectations. They often seek rhytidectomies because they wish to look younger or have a specific area of the face that seems to have aged faster than the rest. This may include combining a facelift with other procedures, such as chin and cheek implants.
Common reasons to press pause: You may want to postpone this procedure if you have unmanaged medical conditions or expectations of “perfection” rather than natural-looking improvement. Your plastic surgeon may discuss combining procedures with a facelift, such as chin and cheek implants for balance and more natural-looking results.
4. Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)
What your surgeon evaluates: For rhinoplasty (nose surgery), your surgeon will likely evaluate your nasal structure, skin thickness, breathing function, and facial balance. Good candidates for rhinoplasty usually have completed facial growth, are healthy nonsmokers, and have specific, realistic goals (cosmetic, functional, or both). Many people struggle with the appearance of their nose, which is why more than 200,000 nose jobs are completed every year in the U.S.
Common reasons to press pause: You may not be a good candidate for nose surgery if you have ongoing facial growth (are still in your teens), active sinus issues, nicotine use, or goals that do not currently match what anatomy can safely achieve. Again, it is important to consult with your surgeon before any procedure to ensure your surgery will achieve your goals, such as overall facial harmony. This may include combining nose surgery with other facial procedures, including chin and cheek implants.
5. Liposuction
What your surgeon evaluates: First of all, you should know that localized fat pockets do not always respond to diet and exercise. When evaluating you as a candidate for liposuction, your surgeon will look at ways you can achieve more targeted removal of stubborn fat cells. During your consultation, your surgeon will look at skin tone, elasticity, and, of course, your overall health.
Common reasons to press pause: Ideal candidates for liposuction are already within around 30% of their ideal weight, with firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone. It is important to understand that liposuction contours; it is not a weight-loss procedure or a substitute for healthy habits. If skin laxity is the main issue, your surgeon may recommend a lift or skin-tightening approach.
Why Your Plastic Surgeon Cares About Nicotine (Including Vaping)
You may be wondering why nicotine use is so often listed above as a reason to “press pause” before pursuing a plastic surgery procedure. Nicotine constricts blood vessels and raises risks like delayed wound healing, tissue loss, and other complications after a procedure. This is why many surgeons require quitting all nicotine sources for a period before and after surgery, and may verify this before proceeding.
What to Expect at Your Consultation With Your Surgeon
No matter which procedure you are considering, your first steps should always include a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Before your consultation, expect a thoughtful discussion of your goals, a review of your medical history and medications/supplements, and an exam with measurements. Your surgeon can then develop your personalized plan, including risks, recovery, and realistic outcomes for your anatomy.
Ready to Talk With a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in Nashville?
Green Hills Plastic Surgery (GHPS) has served Middle Tennessee since 1998, with a patient-first, safety-focused approach. If you are considering breast augmentation, tummy tuck, facelift, rhinoplasty, liposuction, or other procedures, we can schedule a consultation for straight answers tailored to you and your goals. Call us at 615-327-7407 or contact us online to schedule your consultation.
This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. An in-person consultation is the best way to determine candidacy for any procedure.
Author: Dr. Stephen M. Davis
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen M. Davis and his experienced team are committed to total patient satisfaction and excellent results. Green Hills Plastic Surgery first opened its doors in Nashville, TN in 1998 and continues to provide patients with time-honored plastic surgery procedures at TriStar Centennial Medical Center.
