It's that time of the year when people are planning their New Year's resolutions. Whether you're committing to lose weight or becoming more financially stable in 2015, January 1st is about becoming the "you" you want to be.
If 2015 is the year you will be considering cosmetic surgery, whether it be a face lift, tummy tuck, or the popular Brazilian butt lift, there are a few things you should be doing now.
According to Dr. Gregory Wiener M.D. FASC, Board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago, creating a healthy lifestyle is of the utmost importance before undergoing any type of surgical procedure.
"We want to make sure prospective patients know that cosmetic surgery is not a fix-all for an unhealthy lifestyle," Dr. Wiener told us. "There are a few things folks should do prior to scheduling any plastic surgery to help make it a safer, more positive experience."
Check out Dr. Wiener's top 3 New Year's resolutions for those considering cosmetic surgery in 2015.
Quit Smoking. While this should be on every smoker's to-do list, it's especially important for people who will be going under the knife.
"Smoking causes constricted blood vessels and reduced oxygen levels in the blood cells, both of which can lead to infection and slowed recovery," warned Dr. Wiener.
Lose Weight. This is particularly important for patients who are obese. "Patients who are significantly overweight run the risk of blood clots and expose themselves to problems with healing," cautioned the expert.
"While it's not necessary to be your ideal weight prior to surgery, maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) is very important."
Lower Blood Pressure. Stabilizing high blood pressure before elective surgery is critical. "Because general anesthesia is used, having normal blood pressure levels is crucial," Dr. Wiener explained.
"High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and blood pressure medicine can cause bleeding during and post-surgery. It's best to get this under control pre-surgery," he said.
Ready to revamp yourself for 2015? Tell us with a note below!
