Sponsored by: Lexington Medical Center

As we usher in a new year, many Americans are considering ways to improve their physical and emotional health. Resolutions to diet, exercise and lose weight may be the most common.

But what if you eat right and work out already, and still can’t lose those love handles? How do you combat the drooping eyelids that make you appear exhausted when you’re alert? What do you do about your bra size?

These are some of the issues confronting millions of Americans who consider plastic surgery every year. If any of these issues sound familiar, you might be a good candidate.

Before you decide to have surgery, though, it’s important to be informed. Here are seven facts about plastic surgery all patients should know, according toTodd S. Lefkowitz, MD, FACS, at Lexington Plastic Surgery, a Lexington Medical Center physician practice in West Columbia.

1. Plastic surgery is increasingly popular among men.

Although many men are still wary of plastic surgery, they comprise an increasing percentage of outpatient plastic surgery business. Dr. Lefkowitz says male patients tend to choose from a variety of office procedures such as Botox and dermal fillers as well as face and neck lifts, eyelid surgery, and gynecomastia correction.

2. Women often seek treatment after bodily changes brought on by childbirth.

For women who have breast changes, loose skin or belly fat after having children, plastic surgery can correct what regular diet and exercise sometimes can’t.

3. The best plastic surgery candidates only want to fix one or two things.

If you’re unhappy with your entire body, plastic surgery is probably not going to make you happy. Patients who tend to be highly satisfied with their procedures want to fix the one or two things that impact their self-confidence the most.

4. Some people should not have plastic surgery.

Dr. Lefkowitz will turn down potential patients if he doesn’t think plastic surgery is the solution to their problems. People who seek surgery to fix their marriage or straighten out their personal life are going to be disappointed when they discover that those issues remain despite a slimmer waist or smoothed-out wrinkles.

5. Do your homework and trust your face and body to a board certified plastic surgeon.

Any physician can offer cut-rate plastic surgery procedures. Board-certified plastic surgeons have spent many years studying the science and honing their craft. Dr. Lefkowitz is a dual board-certified plastic surgeon.

6. The biggest problem with plastic surgery is bad plastic surgeons.

We’ve all seen and heard the horror stories, but they aren’t generally the work of experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons. Do your research before selecting a surgeon. “After a face lift by an experienced surgeon, you shouldn’t look like you’ve been in a wind tunnel,” said Dr. Lefkowitz.

7. The doctor’s staff really, really matters.

When asked how important is the staff at a doctor’s office is to the overall patient experience, Dr. Lefkowitz replied, “One hundred eighty thousand percent.  They are a direct reflection on the surgeon. If you have one inkling of doubt about the office staff, turn and run away.” The doctor also added that his staff spends many hours training in every detail of the practice.

The recipe for a great plastic surgery experience is patients with reasonable expectations, surgeons with the proper credentials, and office staffs that treat their customers like royalty. In those situations, plastic surgery can boost self-confidence and improve your overall outlook.

For more information about Lexington Plastic Surgery, visit them online at LexPlasticSurgery.com or call (803) 936-7045. They can also be found on social media at Facebook.com/LexPlasticSurgery and Instagram.com/LexPlasticSurgery.