Often the best cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical are the ones that you can’t notice immediately. This might sound strange because the aim of cosmetic treatment is to improve the appearance, but in reality small, subtle and natural changes often make the most impact because they are exactly that: natural. Really good cosmetic surgery will make any necessary changes but try to make them look as if they had always been there. Surgery that is instantly noticeable is never really the desired outcome as this means the surgery is obvious.

According to most patients who have had successful surgery, the most pleasing aspect of after-surgery life is when someone pays them a compliment for looking good but can’t quite put their finger on why. Obviously this is a generalisation and some people actually want their surgery to be recognised immediately, but they are perhaps interested in surgery for slightly different reasons.

The real aim of cosmetic surgery is to help people who have been struggling for many years with one aspect of their appearance. This has often been the source of much anxiety and they may even have been bullied or teased about it in the past. These types of surgeries include ear surgery, rhinoplasty surgery and surgery to correct birth defects or damage caused by injury.

For more mature patients, the main aim of restorative surgery is to look younger and healthier without anybody knowing they have had surgery. Procedures like facelifts, brow lifts and cheek implants can make subtle changes to the face that still look real but leave you looking and feeling much better about yourself. The exact same is true about cosmetic dentistry. For patients who opt to have tooth whitening treatments, the last thing they want is to be left with teeth that look ridiculously white to the point that they look unnatural. This would defeat the object of most cosmetic procedures, which is to make you look better without exaggerating the fact.

Cosmetic practitioners are experts in their field and understand the needs and desires of patients. They do, however, have a responsibility and a duty of care to only

perform procedures which will enhance the appearance of the patient and will be able to discuss at length the best way of doing that.