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Surgery is something my female patients see as a positive choice - here’s why.

The public view of plastic surgery never ceases to sadden me. Like most surgery it’s a brave, sometimes protracted and often difficult process. It warrants sympathy, looking after and homemade soup; not shame, hiding away or finger wagging. Data shows that those under-going aesthetic surgery take many years, often decades to think about it, save up for it and discuss it. It is rarely a single one-off procedure, it may require a course of treatments, requires maintenance and upkeep and every step runs the gauntlet of complications. The ‘fi’x is never that quick and TV unfortunately tends to focus on extraordinary, weird and ‘botched’ despite that not being a reflection of real life.

Rozina: ‘My patients are thoughtful and make their own decisions - it’s a positive choice.’

Society is not up in arms or massively concerned when a male chooses to see a plastic surgeon; They’ve obviously made their own decision. There’s no outcry that it may be a decision made in haste or for the wrong reasons. However when a sentient, self-determining female comes to see a surgeon, there are cries of peer pressure, oppression even self-mutilation. To me as aplastic surgeon trained in reconstruction and aesthetics, I’m in awe of the bravery of my clients, admiring of their zest for life and find the media culture to be ignorant scare mongering and aspiration-shaming designed to silence women and limit their choices.

Actually thoughtfulness, decisiveness and discussion are even more true in the case of female aesthetics clients than any other patient group. Women will have done their research, asked around, thought about it for approx. 20 years, taken another 2 years to check out potential doctors, talked about options with family, friends, and often turned to online forums. – discussion groups that exist for just THAT purpose…ladies like to chatter! Aesthetics patients may arrange for several consultations before deciding to proceed. There is nothing impulsive, ill-though out or hurried about the decision. Yet too often the media likes to portray the process as having no legitimacy or thought, it must be emotional or making up for a deficit in character.

I’m obviously very blessed as an experienced high profile FRCS plastic surgeon to have my choice of clients. My clientele are high-end, discreet, intelligent, of independent means, they are well-informed, knowledgeable and appreciate good value therefore are willing to invest in themselves, for their own benefits and pleasure. They take responsibility for their own actions and the possible consequences of treatment. They choose to look as they prefer, the best they’ve ever felt, not what nature, time and circumstances dictated. Well considered and carried out surgery, filler, non-surgical interventions are not easily discernible and I’m certainly never going to tell.

For every gorgeous but over-blown celebrity sexpot, there's dozens of mothers, business women and members of professions. In real life, most people who come to see a plastic surgeon have professions and personal or social commitments that don’t require them to be ‘pouty, bouncy or bikini clad’. They are just normal women aspiring to be more attractive, confident and body positive.

When I do see younger individuals (male and female).. These young adults come accompanied by family..and want to look more normal...not less!

Aesthetic surgery is a powerful resource and is often deployed against manifestations of the psyche, secret fears, long-held fallacies, unmet desires. As a caring and empathetic clinician I have to decipher all these unvoiced concerns whilst I guide clients to their best decision. Where necessary, I offer that the scalpel is too blunt a tool. Surgery can’t heal a psychological wound, but sometimes it can be the vital first or last step in a process. For those without underlying psychological issues, aesthetic surgery is an invaluable tool for those looking to enhance their beauty, their relevance and their longevity. How powerful and proactive that is. It’s not a surgery of necessity or scarcity.

There are many reasons to seek to revamp yourself…whether getting over highs like childbirth or lows like illness …whether you seek to change direction by altering self-perception or change how others see and treat you. Maybe it's not a change at all, it's a reclamation of the face/figure that has brought you so much joy, success and happiness. Surgery obviously doesn't give you joy, success or happiness, how you feel about it does that. That's why it's called aesthetic surgery - a melding of physical and psychological that's undertaken using trust, communication, understanding and only lastly knife or needle.

Remember also , it takes immense emotional resolve to cope with aesthetic changes. The cognitive dissonance of NOT seeing what you expect to see can be jarring - pre-operatively and of course post operatively. Pre op we dismiss it as ‘life’ or age …post- op we foolishly call it a complication!

So, let’s not call it cosmetic. It’s not a cover up or superficial façade. It's fundamental to psyche, self esteem, social status, relationships and even career prospects. It can be life enhancing, life changing. It can appease concerns you’ve never been able to verbalise but couldn’t live with either - you didn't feel yourself or your best. Now you do, you can love yourself enough to forget yourself and get on with living. Being able to make such positive body choices for yourself is true empowerment. Being comfortable in your own skin defines peace of mind and emotional freedom.

Yet still too often, plastic surgery is the butt of harsh criticism or derision in public discourse. Why? We don’t mock people who care about dental hygiene...do we laud those who have halitosis and lose all their teeth by forty and sneer at those with fillings, or crowns? Isn't it along the same spectrum of functional and aesthetic self care?

As I see it, only the most fearful in society mock those who attempt to ‘better themselves’ or broaden their horizons. ’ Au natural’ aint always all that! What’s wrong with self-improvement? self determination? self realisation? Maybe it’s resentment at life being lived in a different way?

Take a deeper look. My aesthetic clients are well-informed women of independent means and minds who want to nurture and grow their physical aspirations as much as their emotional, social and career ones. They are willing to fly the world or travel the country for the surgeon of their choice. Finding the ‘right doctor’ means there has to be an understanding, an aesthetic congruence, a therapeutic partnership. They have high expectations and their articulation and understanding is rewarded with open communication, up-to-date information, excellent service and great outcomes.

I no longer bother to read most media or social media diatribes on plastic surgery…they're invariably sensationalist, simplistic and emphasising the most grotesque aspects. They have no understanding of the patient journey, the surgeon or the training. They often pander to the most mean minded or spiteful whims and sadly they gloss over the physical difficulties, psychological hurdles and benefits of aesthetics practice. The portrayal really is one dimensional, cartoonish and just ‘cosmetic'