This is a good article from The New York Times about Gerald Pittman a plastic surgeon here in Manhattan. It makes a strong case of how to avoid plastic surgery. I think it’s a little exaggerated, like surgery is the absolute last resort (after all he makes his living by operating),  but there is a lot of truth to it.

Believe it or not most good plastic surgeons turn down a large percentage of their prospective patients. Some are just not candidates for surgery. That could be because they are not psychologically realistic about the results, they are poor candidates for the particular surgery they want (i.e. an obese person wants a tummy tuck or a heavy smoker wants a facelift) or the surgeon’s personality and the patient’s just don’t mesh.

The best thing you can do as a patient is be realistic about the results (liposuction and tummy tucks are not dieting substitutes) and try to be in the best physical shape before the procedure. This combination of positive attitutde, good surgical judgement on the part of your surgeon and prime physical condition, is the best way to insure a a great result.