What Your Doctor Can't Tell You about Cosmetic Surgery

by Nash, Joyce D.

• ISBN13: 9780595003860
• ISBN10: 0595003869
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Iuniverse Inc

Summary

This is the first book to tell the reader what surgeons cannot tell their patients--what it is really like to undergo cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic surgeons acknowledge the difficulty of fully informing patients about the range of emotions and physical experiences that can occur days, months and even years after cosmetic surgery. This book offers a realistic picture of who seeks surgery and why, the impact of various operations on body image, social taboos and the reactions of spouses and others, the doctor-patient relationship, and the factors that determine whether a patient is likely to experience the outcome as good or bad. The book details the experiences of patients who have had cosmetic surgery, mostly with positive outcomes. It helps readers make informed decisions about whether to proceed with their own surgery. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Joyce D. Nash holds two Ph.D.s--one in clinical psychology from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, and one in communication

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Introduction	1	(8)
How this book differs from other books on cosmetic surgery
Why Your Doctor Can't Tell You	9	(8)
The difficulties of getting informed consent
Eye of the Beholder	17	(16)
The personal impact of a perceived deficit in appearance---the social importance of appearance
In Pursuit of a Possible Self	33	(22)
Motivations for seeking cosmetic surgery, including perspectives of feminists and the psychiatric community---patients' expectations
``Cosmetic'' Is Still Major Surgery	55	(18)
A brief account of each of the main cosmetic surgery operations
Who Seeks Surgery and Why	73	(20)
Women, men, teens, children, the elderly, ethnic minorities, and others who seek cosmetic surgery
Okay, Schedule Me	93	(16)
The decision-making process---the consultation with a surgeon---how to determine a surgeon's qualifications
What Have I Done?	109	(18)
The early recovery period---pain, swelling, brusing, and psychological reactions, including depression, remorse, anger, and grief
Mirror, Mirror . . . Who Is That?	127	(18)
Impact of cosmetic surgery on body image and self-concept
Your Nose Looks Okay to Me	145	(12)
Social taboos and cosmetic surgery---reactions of spouses and significant others to cosmetic surgery
I Like How I Look, But . . .	157	(12)
Patient satisfaction---the later recovery period---coming to terms with unexpected complications or unmet expectations
I Paid Good Money for This?	169	(10)
Patient dissatisfaction with objectively good results---what makes things go wrong---the relationship between the patient and the doctor
Surgery or Therapy?	179	(10)
When psychiatric consultation or therapy should be considered---coping and cosmetic surgery
The Wisdom of Hindsight	189	(4)
Thoughts and suggestions to those considering an operation from those who have already had cosmetic surgery
Epilogue	193	(2)
Author's answer to the question, ``Would you do it again?''
Appendix	195	(6)
Notes	201	(8)
Bibliography	209