We love having plastic surgeon Dr. Brandyn Dunn on our podcast episode, The Psychology of Plastic Surgery; discussing expectations, realities, disappointment, and the recovery process with Dr. Brandyn Dunn because he is new and hot off the press, knows all the latest and greatest information coming out, and has his hands on the dial today. He’s honest and excellent at what he does.
When doing plastic surgery, you always want a doctor with a good bedside manner and who you feel very comfortable with. Your personalities need to match so that you can understand him when he explains things to you, and he can understand you. Chemistry with your doctor is essential, and if you don’t feel right, you should probably find somebody else before getting started. We chose Dr. Dunn for this episode because he has an excellent bedside manner and is so gentle with his patients that we love his honesty in all his answers.
This topic is not often discussed because it’s very personal to each person, but I think it’s important to discuss it, and Dr. Dunn explains it very well.
Dr. Dunn said there’s a lot of psychology going into plastic surgery. He looks at his patients through two lenses. One is the physical: what are their concerns, how old are they, what is their skin texture, and what is their lifestyle? The other lens is looking at where they’re sitting in their life and their support system. Who are they? What is their job? What is their motivation for this procedure?
Plastic surgery, being elective, not only transforms your features but also your mental well-being and psychological perspective. It's crucial for the doctor to help patients understand and set realistic expectations, ensuring they are fully aware of what they’re getting into.
Regrettably, many plastic surgeons prioritize financial gain over patient well-being, often neglecting to explain the potential downsides. This approach can leave patients dissatisfied with the outcome, underscoring the importance of understanding and accepting the risks involved.
I tell an insane story about observing a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon a few years ago, speaking to a patient, and what happened next. But you have to listen to the podcast to get this story. Haha.
Dr. Dunn explains the 80/20 rule, a principle that plastic surgeons have used for many years to help patients understand the expectations of plastic surgery. The rule is simple: if you are unhappy with 80% of the photos taken of you and only happy 20%, then consider plastic surgery. The plastic surgeon's goal is to reverse this ratio, making you 80% pleased with the pictures you look at and only 20% of the time not pleased. This is considered a success in plastic surgery. Patients need to understand that, going into the procedure, there may be some angles and some things that will not be perfect in their eyes after surgery.
Dr. Vicki explains that many people expect they will look 100% perfect after plastic surgery, but this is not a realistic expectation. It is important to explain to patients the realistic outcomes of the procedure so they know what to expect on the other end. Then there is the issue of people who are not satisfied coming back to try and get free procedures to try and fix what their expectations were in their heads. This is a common issue that needs to be addressed. Patients need to have realistic expectations about the results of their surgery.
Sometimes plastic surgery doesn’t go as planned, and there is a need for some fixing, but there are also a lot of bad surgeons out there who do bad jobs. Patients need to understand that all of the aftercare, taking out sutures, walking them through postop, and helping them with visits are included in the price of the surgery. No insurance’s going to help take care of that. The years of follow-up you have all come with that first single payment. Often, in the first year, if some revisions are needed, they are usually taken care of at the original fee, but after that, your surgeon may charge for change. Every surgeon is different, so you must get that cleared up initially.
Many disappointments associated with plastic surgery may be due to the plastic surgeon's inability to clearly explain what to expect and the healing process in the beginning.
Dr. Vicki asked if artificial intelligence would help with the morphing technology in the videos showing what you could look like after. Dr. Dunn agrees that it will be transformative.
In school, plastic surgeons do not learn psychology. Understanding patients and their psyches is really in the plastic surgeon's hands. That’s why it’s essential to ensure that your surgeon explains everything in the beginning clearly so you understand what will happen. If you don’t, maybe meet a couple more surgeons to ensure you feel comfortable with your chosen one.
When dealing with cosmetic surgery, a lot of times, you’re dealing with people who have depression, anxiety, or body dysmorphia before going into it. Body dysmorphia and identifying it is one of the main things taught in their training. With these types of people, they will still be unhappy after the surgery. It’s not the patient’s job to identify this. It is the doctor’s job to understand it and know what they’re dealing with.
Dr. Dunn said that 95 to 99% of his patients have regular things that need fixing. It’s very satisfying when you’re able to help them. They have realistic expectations. Most of these patients are happy with their results, which helps their self-esteem and makes them feel better about themselves.
The healing process for facial plastic surgery typically spans 3 to 6 months, and for rhinoplasty, it can extend up to a year to a year and a half for full results. Most doctors provide aftercare instructions and a means of communication for any concerns or questions. This ongoing support is crucial for patient comfort and reassurance.
You want to make sure you have personal contact with your doctor and that they give you a way to reach them because you don’t want to go to another doctor who could give you the wrong information. You also don’t want to turn to the Internet or your friends. You want to be able to reach your doctor. If that is not possible, I recommend interviewing other doctors who will give you better aftercare.
Dr. Dunn finalizes the episode with the cosmetic surgery paradox. With social media and influencers making cosmetic surgery more familiar to the public, people feel more comfortable with themselves and like themselves for how they are. But these days, we're also more accepting of people having plastic surgery. It’s exciting to see these two rules of thought working together. Plastic surgery is becoming a lot more common these days.
We all agree on the show that everybody should do what they want to do and not force judgment on other people. Do what you want to do, and don’t be judging.
SHOW NOTES
transformative plastic surgery
body dysmorphic syndrome/disorder
