Post-Divorce Plastic Surgery

   Considering plastic surgery after your divorce? You’re not alone. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 11 million people had plastic surgery in 2006 alone. For many patients, a divorce or other dramatic life change was a motivating factor in their decisions to receive treatment. More than 40 percent of women in a national survey conducted by the National Women’s Health Resource Center sought to improve their physical appearance after a divorce or other significant life transition.

According to Dr. Arthur W. Perry, author of "Straight Talk about Cosmetic Surgery," potential patients typically fall into one of two categories. “There are people who have always been unsatisfied with their appearance -- these people have rhinoplasties (nasal surgery) for large noses, chin implants for small chins, and ear setbacks for protruding ears,” he says. “And then there are those people who were happy with their appearance when they were young but are disturbed by the changes of aging. These people might have facelifts or eyelid lifts, and also abdominoplasties (tummy tucks) and breast lifts.”

In order to address these concerns, many people turn to breast augmentation, nose reshaping, and liposuction, which were the three most popular surgical cosmetic procedures in 2006, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Women are not the only ones receiving plastic surgery, however. "Plastic surgery among men is getting more and more popular. It's become more acceptable for men to be concerned about appearance," says Dr. Larry Fan, the founding director of the Bay Area Center for Plastic Surgery in Oakland, Calif. Men, who comprised nine percent of all patients in 2006, most often receive nose reshaping, eyelid surgery, and liposuction, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

In addition to improving physical appearance, plastic surgery can also alter a patient’s self esteem and outlook on life. ”Plastic surgery can improve how a person looks and feels about themselves,” says Dr. Jean M. Loftus, author of "The Smart Woman’s Guide to Plastic Surgery." “I have seen patients at all times of their lives - not just [after] divorce - who become more confident and feel better.”