It’s about choice.

So, of course, the next thing that I did was to go digging around for more deets on cosmetic procedures. Some are seriously invasive – hello lipo! – while others are non-surgical or superficial. From chemical solutions to transformative surgery, and everything in between, we caught up with the pros to give us some straight up advice on some of the more common procedures. It’s kind of interesting to note, some procedures have a higher level of satisfation than others – which begs the question – which procedures are really *worth it*? 

photo by Eric Prunier

Worth it: Breast Reduction

“By far, breast reductions produce the happiest post-op patients,” says New Bern, North Carolina board certified plastic surgeon and best selling author Dr. John Zannis, “The women (and sometimes men) that come to me for this procedure have usually been uncomfortable with the size of their breasts for years, in many cases since early puberty. You can really see an immediate boost to their confidence.” Overly large breasts have uncomfortable physical effects like chronic back pain and bad posture, but they can also become a huge self-esteem complex, especially for girls. Breast reduction surgeries report an extremely high satisfaction rate of almost 90% according to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Magazine. 

Skip: Lip Fillers

Lip fillers can work wonders but they’re tricky. They don’t look the same on everyone; your end result could be Kylie Jenner’s lipstick-empire-building pout or Donatella Versace’s trout mouth. They’re more of a toss up and depend on too many variables, from the natural curve of your lips to the skill of your doctor to the type of filler used.

Worth it: Non-Invasive Face Lifts

“Off the top of my head some of my happiest clients are non-invasive face lift patients,” says Dr. Kally Papantoniou, a board certified dermatologist who specializes in surgical and medical skin procedures at her New York office. “The skin on the neck and chin get a substantial lift and smooth with no cutting or general anesthetics, patients report not only looking younger but constantly say they feel better about themselves. Which is the key word I look for when gauging post-recovery satisfaction!”

Worth it: Rhinoplasty

“A rhinoplasty from a skilled plastic surgeon can completely change a face,” says Zannis. He adds, “The nose is the most protruding facial feature and sits right in the center; any sort of change alters how you look from different angles, how light and shadows hit you and can make the face look more symmetrical.” To become a full believer in the power of rhinoplasty just search “Bella Hadid before and after nose job” on Google. Literally a different person.  

Skip: Cheek Implants

Cheeks have a very prominent position in your face. Like tweaking your nose, tweaking the shape and size of your cheeks changes your whole look, but like any other facial implant or filler; they are not one size fits all. In older individuals cheek implants are just as likely to drag your skin down as smooth it. Good results depend on implant type, technique, original face shape, and considering the natural effects of aging in the future.   

Worth it: Body Contouring

“Body contouring is easily one of my top three highest patient satisfaction procedures” says Dr. Papantoniou who provides the procedure at her practice. “These are non-invasive fat loss techniques and they give truly amazing results after about 3 months of treatments. There is no downtime, no pain. Some patients come in for them during long lunch breaks! Patients lose whole inches. Again, the most telling sign is how they stress feeling good after the procedure.”

Of course, I’m not advocating that you *have to* do something, or even *should* do something, but I am saying that it’s not wrong if you want to. It feels like women are shamed a bit too much. On one hand, that super-fierce HD TV you have is zooming in down to the micro-pore and we’re seeing celebs and TV personalities losing their jobs because the soft and fuzzy days of old used to hide the wrinkles and imperfections better. Yet we’re also being told to grow old gracefully. So what is it? Are we too old for TV or are we not graceful if we chase the assets of our youths?

What’s wrong with vanity? Nothing. We dye our hair – or not. We do our nails – or not. We wear make-up, control-top panties, push-up and padded bras, tummy trainers and high heels that make our legs look hella-sexy, so we’re not vehemently opposed to modification and putting our best selves forward. If you feel better making a cosmetic change, whether through surgery or a trip to the drugstore, it’s your decision to make.

Frankly, I’m tired of being limited to bathingsuits lined with body armour and having clothing choices limited by the type of undergarment it can conceal. Having my babies didn’t do my already-larger-than-comfortable boobs any favours! I don’t see the harm in having a doctor put them back to a place and a size that makes my back feel better and gives me more options to enjoy life. (Perky. I want perky, okay? lol). And there’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t understand the stigma – so I suggest we disregard it altogether!