By Twin City Plastic Surgery
The term “plastic surgery” often brings to mind ongoing attempts, especially by the rich and famous, to turn back the hands of time and the effects aging has on the body, or to correct what nature never provided in the first place.
Technically, however, that thought is not quite accurate. In its broadest sense, plastic surgery refers to any medical procedure that alters or restores the form of the body. Under this wide umbrella fall many variations, including reconstructive, craniofacial, hand, and micro surgeries, as well as procedures to treat severe burns.
Cosmetic surgery, the most well-known of the plastic surgery types, is a sub-category of plastic surgery that includes a variety of elective procedures all aimed at improving a person’s appearance. But contrary to popular thought, it’s not only for the rich and famous, nor is it simply about vanity.
The physician and staff at Dr. Paige Holt’s office work to improve the life of each patient, regardless of the reason they’ve walked through the door for treatment. And, as one patient shares, “they make it as easy as possible,” from providing education and information regarding the specifics of the procedure to the excellent skill and medical care during the procedure itself and the support and follow up during the recovery and post-surgical healing process.
“I never thought I’d do something like this,” says one of their patients. When a mass on her neck proved to be fatty tissue rather than a tumor, she felt relieved. But because the tissue grew only on one side, she felt more and more uncomfortable about it. “It was obvious, even though I tried to hide it as much as possible with scarves,” she explains. It was bothersome, and made her very self-conscious.
She finally reached the point that she needed to either live with it or do something about it. “I decided I could do nothing or do something…and I decided to do something.”
Although she’s very happy with the results, she emphasizes that the reason for her decision to have surgery to remove the mass was not simply based on vanity. “People tell me I look younger, but that’s an unexpected benefit. I still have wrinkles and crow’s feet—but now I’m not self-conscious about the mass, so I have a better outlook and am more confident. I think confidence has a huge effect on how you look.”
Additionally, she stresses that having the surgery was not a rash decision made in a fit of frustration. She did her homework, taking several months to research procedures and surgeons. She advises anyone who is considering this type of elective surgery to do the same. “I had heard about similar facial surgeries from others, and the staff at Dr. Paige Holt’s office provided names of other patients who had had similar experiences. They [previous patients] can tell you what’s really going to happen. It is, after all, surgery—it’s not going to be a piece of cake. It’s really a pretty big deal.”
Another wise decision she made was to research the doctors. “I wanted to know their background, their education and credentials—I wanted an expert in the type of surgery I was going to have,” she says, because something as important as surgery deserves to have the best person performing it.
Elective, cosmetic surgery can certainly change how you look, but it’s important to be realistic about what surgery can and can’t do for you. Surgery is a big decision, but if you do your homework about the type of surgery you want, the surgeons, and the costs, it’s definitely something that can enhance your life.
“I didn’t want to look like a different person…I just wanted to take care of something that bothered me,” the patient explains. “And I’m glad I did.”