3 Common Fears About Getting Plastic Surgery

The following is adapted from You're Not a Vanity Purchase.

Many people are interested in plastic surgery. They’ll spend hours looking at before-and-after photos online, and then hours more looking in the mirror, pulling and prodding their face, imagining what they would like with a nose job, facelift, eyelid lift, etc. 

For all their daydreaming, they never take the next step of setting up an appointment. Why? They’re held back by fear. 

Getting plastic surgery is something of a taboo subject, which means that many of these individuals, and perhaps you as well, suffer through their fears alone. In fact, it is completely normal to experience some fear as you consider plastic surgery. 

Understanding the three most common fears can help you move forward, instead of being paralyzed by fear.

Fear #1: What if I’m Judged?

The number one fear I see in patients is fear of judgment. It comes in two layers: internal judgment and external.

You may judge yourself for wanting plastic surgery. Your inner voice might say: “I am being vain and weak. After all, vanity is one of the seven deadly sins, is it not? I should be more self-reliant and self-confident. A stronger person would be happier in their own skin.” 

Even as you wrestle with your internal judgments, you will also find plenty of people in your closest circles who echo this sentiment. They may not be as direct, but comments like “I like you just the way you are” and “Why can’t you just be happy with yourself?” are subtle or not-so-subtle hints that the person thinks you are vain and need to get a grip.

We have deeply ingrained beliefs that we should not care about our appearance, and the truth is that you likely will be judged for getting plastic surgery. But are those judgments fair? Absolutely not! In no other aspect do we criticize people so harshly for seeking improvement. It is seen as perfectly acceptable for people to improve their intelligence, or their communication, or their health. But wanting to become more physically attractive is somehow wrong.

Plastic surgery is a personal decision. It’s something you should do for yourself, not other people, The fundamental belief behind not caring about your appearance is not caring what others think of you. So don’t let others’ potential judgments dictate your choices.

Fear #2: Can I Really Justify Spending This Money?

A second fear I see also revolves around judgment, but specifically financial judgment. With cosmetic procedures, people worry they are being frivolous with their money. 

Let’s face it, if you go to someone with excellent credentials, experience, and artistry, plastic surgery is not cheap. Some people feel they can’t justify spending so much money on a “vanity” purchase. 

The financial guilt with regard to cosmetic procedures seems to apply to people at all levels of income or wealth. Whether I am dealing with a retired postal worker spending part of her life savings or a multimillionaire for whom the expense is a mere drop in the bucket, there is the same financial remorse. 

If you’re already having trouble justifying the expense to yourself, the fear of accusations from your partner, spouse, family, and friends can be overwhelming. “You want to spend how much on a facelift?” someone might ask. It’s enough to cause many people to rethink their decision entirely.

Somehow, spending on other things (like a ridiculously priced handbag or pair of shoes) doesn’t seem to spark the same contempt or indignation from people as spending money to alter appearance. Ultimately, plastic surgery is an investment in your appearance, so you are the one who can decide whether a procedure is worth the cost. 

Fear #3: What If Something Goes Wrong?

Finally, you may be overwhelmed by fear or anxiety regarding the procedure itself and its potential outcome. The unknown conjures all kinds of scenarios in our minds, but fears are usually disproportionate to the actual risk. “What if I have a complication? What if I go blind, I lose part of my face, my nose falls off (à la Michael Jackson), or I die under anesthesia?”

The very core of any fear is to avoid danger, and that is the reason you are fearful. Plastic surgery procedures, even the non-invasive kind, do have risks. But in the hands of a qualified practitioner, is plastic surgery dangerous? Not really. They are routine, safe procedures.

While having a disastrous medical complication is one thing, you may be equally frightened about the potential results. “What if I come out looking weird or unnatural? What is the deal with these celebrities who have so much money, access to the best plastic surgeons, and yet come out looking like unrecognizable freaks? What about Joan Rivers, Mickey Rourke, Donatella Versace, or (insert celebrity name here)?” Even if you aren’t worried about this kind of extreme, you may just be concerned that you may not like the way things turn out.

Most of the horror stories you’ve heard are likely the result of having too many surgeries over and over, or of using an unqualified plastic surgeon. Chances are, you don’t need to be worried about coming out unrecognizable. That said, at some point you have to just put your faith and trust in your surgeon’s hands, which is, well, scary. That’s part of what makes it so important to find a plastic surgeon you can trust.

Are the Benefits Worth It?

Getting plastic surgery, particularly for the first time, is scary. But there are lots of things in life that are scary. Fear alone is not a good enough reason to not do something, particularly when much of that fear is unfounded.

What you have to ask yourself is, “Are the benefits worth it?” 

There’s no reason for you to feel guilty for wanting to change your physical appearance. That won’t stop some people from judging you, though, both for wanting the procedure in the first place and for how much you spend on it. And there are risks to any surgery.

But there are also great benefits to be had from cosmetic procedures. It’s not just about the superficial change. It’s about feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin.

So if plastic surgery is something you want to do for yourself, don’t let fears hold you back.

For more advice on common plastic surgery fears, you can find You're Not a Vanity Purchase on Amazon.

Dr. James C. Marotta is a dual-board-certified facial plastic surgeon on Long Island, New York, with degrees from some of the world’s finest institutions, including Columbia and Yale Universities. Dr. Marotta is a fellow of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), and since 2013, he has consistently been named the Best Cosmetic Surgeon on Long Island. Dr. Marotta has appeared in a variety of TV and print media, including Harper’s Bazaar, Huffington Post, and Fox 5 NY. While he is deeply dedicated to his work, family remains the center of Dr. Marotta’s life. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, traveling, playing sports, and cooking.