5 questions to ask post-divorce before getting plastic surgery

5 questions to ask post-divorce before getting plastic surgery

“Was it the stress of the marriage, or just that I had turned 55?” one woman wrote on RealSelf about contemplating a facelift post-divorce.

“It seemed that suddenly I was looking much older, my jawline had crumbled, my neck was sagging, and my mouth lines made me look angry,” she continued. “I thought how nice it would be to get a facelift. I had lost 20 years, and I wanted some of it back!”

Considering divorce is a major life change, so it’s understandable that many people start thinking about other changes, too.

“We often see patients who have just divorced or are still going through the process,” said Dr. Thomas Trevisani Sr., an Orlando, Florida, plastic surgeon. “These patients are very motivated to get back into the dating scene and are seeking improvements in their appearance.

“Most of the time, it serves as a confidence boost,” he added. “Sometimes the partner was not supportive of their weight loss or healthier lifestyle, and when they divorce, their ex becomes jealous of their success and the attention they are getting.”

After divorce, both women and men seek out procedures as a confidence boost, especially as they re-enter the dating world. Credible doctors will consider emotional stability before agreeing to perform procedures. They say that it’s important that you are doing it for you.

“I sometimes ask what the motivation is for having the surgery now, if they have a specific timeframe and why,” said Dr. Victor Ferrari, a Charlotte, North Carolina, plastic surgeon. “If their reasoning sounds legitimate, I don’t hesitate to operate. If I am concerned that somehow they think this may get their spouse back or retaliate at someone in some way or get revenge, then I recommend they wait.”

Related: That aha moment: What inspires women to make a change.

Most popular procedures

For non-surgical treatments post-divorce, women and men typically seek the same procedures. Botox and injectable fillers are popular choices to soften lines and add youthful volume to the face. When it comes to surgical procedures, men and women tend to differ.

Doctors on RealSelf say that women most often seek mommy makeovers, a combination of procedures that often includes a tummy tuck, breast augmentation or breast lift, and sometimes liposuction. Rhinoplasty is also popular, and facelifts for older women.

Men typically seek rhinoplasty, liposuction and eyelid surgery to boost confidence after a divorce.

“It is too early to say if it will change my life,” said the RealSelf facelift reviewer above about her choice. “However, it is already abundantly clear that I am going to look much prettier.”

5 questions to ask yourself

Considering a treatment during or after a divorce? Doctors on RealSelf say you must ask yourself:

1. Do I want to change my appearance for myself, not my ex or to attract a future partner?
2. Do I think this will help get my partner back?
3. Am I using this as a distraction from my emotions rather than dealing with them?
4. Have I sufficiently researched the procedure and potential doctors?
5. Am I prepared to finance the procedure?

Still want to book a consult? Be sure to ask your doctors these 20 essential questions.

Information was provided by realself.com