Even the most beautiful men and women have parts of their physical appearance that can be improved upon. Whether it’s a little bit of liposuction, larger breasts, or a facelift, these advancements in cosmetic surgery can be quite tempting. It’s as easy as going in and walking out a new person, right? Well, not quite. Here are 5 things to know before getting plastic surgery.

1. It can be potentially dangerous

Any time you go under the knife, you put yourself in a certain low level of risk. There are a number of things that can happen, including PSC or even death. Talk to your doctor about the risks of your particular surgery. You should also ask how to identify PSC and other problems after the surgery. If you recognize them in time, you can avoid disastrous results.

2. You will be in pain

Many people wake up from surgery shocked by the severity of the pain. While you will be given pain killers to manage the pain, it can still be quite intense. You will also be out of commission for some time. Be prepared not to do too much work or activity after surgery.

3. It is expensive

Insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic surgery. This means you will have to pay for it out of pocket. This will result in a cost of thousands of dollars. Luckily, many offices allow people to pay for their procedure in monthly payments. Talk to your surgeon to see what they can offer you.

Some people are tempted to go overseas to get discount surgery. This is an awful idea. Many of the discount surgeons don’t have the proper credentials. You may be able to see their lack of skill in the results of the surgery. Some people come back home disfigured. Others don’t make it back home. Stick to qualified surgeons with the proper credentials for the best results.

4. It can make you feel a lot better about yourself

People go into surgery for one main reason- to feel better about themselves. In many cases, it works. If you like the results, you will feel more confident. This added confidence can make a big difference in your life.

5. You need to have realistic expectations

While you may feel better about yourself after the surgery, you can’t expect to look completely different. Surgery can only do so much. It will not make you look like a supermodel. Most people who don’t like the results of their surgery simply had too high of expectations. Talk to your surgeon about what you can realistically expect from your surgery. In some cases, the results just aren’t worth going under the knife.

Everyone is beautiful. However, we can all be a little more beautiful. Plastic surgery is a great way to improve your appearance and your self-esteem. However, you need to be aware of the realities of cosmetic surgery. Talk to your surgeon to learn more.