Dr Rashmi Shetty discusses ‘red flags’ of cosmetic procedures; experts weigh in

“Things are merging. You don’t want a template. You don’t want everyone with a big cheek bone, pointy chin, big lips, you wouldn’t look one from the other any different. Expressions are merging, you know again, Botox is overdone. So, you don’t seem to see expressions. Everybody is looking plastic, and you know literally can recognise a Dubai face and a Delhi face, so it’s become like that, which is scary (sic),” she said.

We talked to experts on how patients and doctors can exercise caution before going for a cosmetic surgery.

Dr Divya Asnani, dermatologist, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, tells indianexpress.com that doctors must first try to make their patients understand that “not everything will look good on the patient because everybody has a different facial structure”. “We can counsel them on what is required for their face and give them realistic expectations,” she said.

Concurring, Dr Deepak Rathore, consultant – plastic and reconstructive surgery, Yatharth Hospital, Noida Extension explained that these counselling sessions may involve active listening, empathy and validation of the client’s concerns and emotions, and can offer education about treatment options, realistic expectations and potential outcomes.

Additionally, the doctor and patient need to be agreeable on the expectations associated with the results of the cosmetic procedure.

“If they are not on the same page, what gets conveyed, and the end result may not be the same. The patient might have associated a lot of hopes with the surgery. These surgeries are expensive, leading to both financial and mental stress. A lot of procedures, once done, cannot be reversed back to baseline,” Dr Asnani noted.

“If at all the surgeon does not do the job properly, the look can be very plastic, which is bad because the patient usually wants a natural look,” she added.

Other than that, there are risks that can arise from any procedure.

“Botched plastic surgery can have significant physical and mental health impacts on individuals. Physically, complications such as infection, scarring, asymmetry and nerve damage may occur, leading to chronic pain, mobility issues and the need for corrective procedures. Mentally, patients may experience distress, depression, anxiety and a negative body image, impacting their self-esteem and overall quality of life,” Dr Rathore said.

In such a scenario, psychological counselling and support are often necessary to address these emotional challenges.