Is It Time for Plastic Surgery?

I’ve had three plastic surgery consultations — once for a neck-lift, which I didn’t go through with; once for my under-eye bags, which I lost a deposit on because I didn’t go through with it; and once for my upper eyelids, which I had done.

The eyelid surgery was super easy. I had a local anesthetic, chatted with the doctor throughout the procedure and was very pleased with the results. So why did I chicken out on the other two surgeries? They were more complicated and required more downtime. After all, who wants to go under the knife unless they have to?

And in the case of my under eyes, I met a beauty professional at a party two nights before the scheduled operation who convinced me not to have the surgery. “It will accentuate the hollows under your eyes,” the stranger said, assessing my face.

Plastic surgery is never a good choice if your only reason is to look younger. Because you’re not going to. I know that. And besides, on the days I feel really upset about those under-eye bags I can camouflage them with concealer. Basically, I was, and am, happy with the way I look. Especially when I see photos of Diane Keaton and Diane Von Furstenberg, who are aging without intervention. But for those who have health issues or are unhappy with their looks, cosmetic surgery can lead to improved self-confidence, which, if you ask me, is a pretty good reason to opt for change.

In January, lawyer, journalist and The View co-host Sunny Hostin revealed in People magazine that she underwent a breast reduction and lift, as well as liposuction, the past summer. “I feel like a better version of myself,” she said. Now age 52, after years of struggling with back pain and body-image issues as a result of her double-D breasts, which she often had to tape down or try to wrangle into two sets of bras, the choice to have plastic surgery was, as she put it, “a health decision and a self-care decision.”

Let me be real. Just because I chickened out on cosmetic surgery doesn’t mean that one day I won’t opt to do some surgical repair work. I’m keeping my options open. But if I do, I’ll make sure it’s for the right reasons. Is plastic surgery for you? Read on.