Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery

Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery, Lois W. Stern, Infinity Publishing, 2006

Whether or not to have cosmetic surgery is one of the biggest decisions a woman will ever make. This book will make that decision much easier.

The first question to be answered is: Why? If your self-image is in bad shape, cosmetic surgery can make a huge difference in your personal life (and your sex life). If your "problem" is deeper, like clinical depression or Body Dysmorphic Disorder, a mental health professional will help a lot more than a plastic surgeon.

Do not choose your surgeon based on his (usually it is a man) TV ads, or because he is a member of your
church. Go to more than one surgeon; feeling comfortable with him is most important. After he agrees to do
the surgery, disclose all medical problems or conditions you may have, no matter how small, and all
medications you are taking. The doctor and anesthesiologist need to know in advance. Do some research on
Doctor X. Is he Board Certified in your surgery? Has he done a number of them? Is his facility properly accredited?

Friends and family members may have very different reactions to the thought of cosmetic surgery. Do not
be surprised, or hurt, at reactions ranging from Whatever to Are You Insane?

When it comes time for the surgery, be prepared. Clear your calendar for a couple of weeks. Stock up on
soft foods. Have someone stay with you for the first couple of days after the surgery, armed with many
packages of frozen peas (for the swelling). People recover from surgery at different speeds, so don't panic if you are recovering "too slowly." Last but not least, you chose Doctor X for this surgery, so trust that he and his staff know what they are doing.

This book is full of comments from regular women who had surgery, for a variety of reasons, along with
the author's own cosmetic surgery story. It has many checklists and questionnaires, to help the reader decide
if this is such a good idea. It also has a list of questions to ask a cosmetic surgeon. Plastic surgery is not for everyone, but for those who are considering it, this book is very highly recommended. It will help answer any and all questions.