For many people, the holiday season is a time to reunite with friends and family members you haven’t seen all year. But if you’ve recently had plastic surgery or a cosmetic procedure, the anticipation of these gatherings can leave you feeling anxious and stressed. Will they like your new look? Will they notice? Will they say you made a mistake? Don’t let the stress of what could happen ruin your holiday spirit. Check out these tips for how to answer some of the most awkward, uncomfortable post-op questions.
“Have you had work done?”
While most people won’t be this bold in their questioning, we all know someone who will unabashedly ask if you’ve had work done – whether you have or not. Before you get defensive or vow to never speak to your Aunt Ruth again, think about how you’d want to answer that question.
First of all, you don’t owe anyone an explanation, so a simple yes or no will suffice if that’s all you’re willing to say. If you’d like to go further, you can divulge which procedures you had. If you aren’t willing to share that you’ve had surgery, say no and change the subject. If you simply can’t lie to your grandma’s face, simply say, “I’ve been taking better care of myself,” and leave it at that. You are neither confirming nor denying having surgery, but you’re also still telling the truth.
“Why did you do that to your body?” or “You looked better before.”
No matter how satisfied you are with your results, negative comments can be very hard to hear – especially if they are critical of your appearance. If someone has the audacity to tell you that you looked better before, or asks you why you’d change something that was in their opinion “perfectly fine” before surgery, brush off their comments and say, “I’m very happy with how I look, I’m sorry you don’t agree.”
Often, it can be hard for people to accept a dramatic physical change of a loved one, but just as often those comments can be motivated not out of dislike, but out of jealousy. If you look and feel better and are carrying yourself with more confidence, some people may consciously or subconsciously try to sabotage you to feel better about themselves. This is not your problem, it’s theirs, so don’t take it personally.
“Can I feel your implants?”
Believe it or not, if you’ve gotten breast implants there will be people who ask to feel them. How you respond to that is entirely your choice. Some women don’t mind allowing friends or family to get that close. But if that’s not something you’re comfortable with, don’t feel pressured into saying yes to keep the peace. Simply say “no, thank you,” and change the subject. It’s your body – you don’t owe anyone an explanation, or an examination.
“What’s your secret?”
Hopefully you have the kind of friends and family who will ask you what your secret is instead of coming right out and asking what work you’ve had done. There are so many ways to answer this question that you can adjust to reveal as much or as little as you want. If you are not comfortable with sharing anything, you can simply respond, “I’ve been taking better care of my skin,” or, “There’s no secret – just living a healthier lifestyle.”
Remember: Chances are you’re going to get questioned about your transformation sooner or later. If you’re at all uncomfortable with this idea, practice answering these questions with confidence, and don’t stress!
If you have any questions, or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Chau, please call 888-966-9471.