What gives? -- The Post Cosmetic Surgery Depression

Monday October 16, 2006 | Posted in:
When, during the first few days after surgery, you begin to question if you ever should have had the plastic surgery in the first place -- to the point of being self-apologetic. Or you begin to think you are 'ugly', still, and that the bruising and swelling will never go away.

Fret and all, these are the times when you and cosmetic surgery patients all over experience fits of depression, marked sadness or anxiety in the recovery period.

Many cosmetic surgery patients go through post-surgery depression, and the experts are saying that, in fact, this rather gloomy emotional condition is quite normal. For one, revision surgery patients -- especially after their primary surgery turned out to be not as they thought it would be, feel miserable. A person who just had liposuction may find herself bigger than she were pre-operatively.

The medical field recognizes this condition as the "surgical let down" period. In fact, this has been noted as the number one reason for depression. This occurs when the physical adrenaline rush period coupled with feeling of emotional and mental excitement has elapsed.
While recovering, a patient starts to believe all is going to be wonderful and thinks that as soon as the cast, bandages or support garments come off their apprehensions are over and a perfect nose will sit on her face. Only to discover that she doesn't look much different, quite the opposite, she is all bruised and swollen.

Suddenly, there is a general sense of disarray. "What gives?"..."What the heck did I pay for already?".

Post surgery depression can also be blamed to the after effects of anesthesia, post-surgical traumatic stress syndrome, medications, and constipation and other temporary digestive problems from the pain medications and antibiotics.   The latter can back everything up and make one feel bloated and sometimes even cause abdominal pain. One may then feel troubled thinking of dreadful side effects occurring on them.

With some procedures one may not be able to move her head normally for a while, heck she cannot even sleep on her stomach or side.   And it doesn't make things any better when one is being restricted to low impact activities such as staying in bed and sleeping upright for weeks.

If a person had a rhinoplasty, she probably cannot stand the bruising up on her very nose, add to the fact she cannot possibly, comfortably breathe. And when its break time she probably will not enjoy the aroma of her blackest coffee. For others their lips may be swollen out to a lopsided pout. Worse is when they might not be able to speak correctly – for long, pray not.

All these pains and discomforts, although are not life threatening, can inflict depression ranging from feelings of dejection to restlessness – and whatever emotions in between.

While it isn't exactly fun for some patients, others actually have ways of coping. Good for those who may have rationally understood that their case may not be ideal but they have expected to feel and look better afterwards. Some patience works.

Understanding that this is a “natural” phase of the healing process may help patients cope with their emotional state. The experts cannot stress this enough: a brief period of "let-down" or depression after cosmetic surgery is very normal.
One needs to know that this was bound to happen.

Some plastic surgery clinics provide their patients with "motivational" post-operative emotions reminders. As the healing progresses, doubts and anxious thoughts usually subside. If it does not, the surgeon can clarify some things as well as possibly suggest a therapist.

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