Cosmetic surgery can do many things, but not everything. SO if you have decided to have cosmetic surgery, it is important that you go into it with realistic expectations.

Here are some of the things that you can reasonably expect cosmetic surgery to do:

• It can change your appearance.
• It can improve your appearance.
• It can give you a slimmer body profile.
• It can tone the skin.
• It can give you a younger appearance.
• It can increase or augment certain body parts, if that is what you want.
• It can decrease the size or shape of certain body parts, if that is what you want.
• It can give you a more symmetrical appearance.
• It can reduce the appearance of scars or imperfections.

There are also many things that you should NOT expect cosmetic surgery to accomplish:

• It won't make you happier.
• It won't give you a better relationship.
• It won't improve your marriage.
• It won't help you find your perfect mate.
• It won't get you a better job.
• It won't automatically give you more confidence.
• It won't change anything about your past.

It's also important to be realistic about how much pain to expect and how long it will take to recover. In addition, you need to be realistic about cost and financing and about what you can afford. Remember that this is in fact very serious surgery. So be sure to consider the many non-surgical alternatives beforehand.

It is important that you go into any cosmetic surgery with the facts. Talk to your cosmetic surgeon beforehand about how much of a change in appearance you can expect. Ask to see before and after photos of people with similar issues, so you can get a better idea of what the differences will be.