Good health is essential to looking and feeling our best. We can't separate the inside from the out.  Doctors offering aesthetic services, such as cosmetic surgery and dermatology, often say that patients see the best results when they're in good health. But what is "good health?"

Definition of health

The definition of health by the World Health Organization (WHO) is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.
When surgeons use the term "healthy" it means that the patient does not have any medical condition that would prevent general anesthesia or would lead to a higher risk surgery.

10 predictors of good health

  1. Youth
  2. Good diet
  3. Routine exercise
  4. Good heart and lung function
  5. Non-smoker
  6. No substance abuse
  7. Zero to low alcohol intake
  8. Near ideal body weight
  9. Good mental status
  10. Positive psychological outlook

Diet and exercise

Although you have little to no control over some factors affecting your health, such as your genes and environment, you can control other factors that will help you stay physically and mentally healthy.
Following a nutritious diet and exercising regularly are two of the best things you can do for your health. Even though a hectic schedule or other health concerns might sometimes make you feel like you have little to no control of your diet and exercise choices, try to remind yourself you ARE in control.
Getting 20-30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity each day, consuming foods with high nutritional value, and limiting caloric intake to maintain a stable, healthy body mass index (BMI) are positive choices only you can make for the health of your body and mind.
In addition to choosing a nutritious diet and exercise routine, making other positive lifestyle choices, such as not smoking and limiting alcohol intake, can also help you stay healthy.
When you're committed to a nutritious diet and exercise routine but can't manage to get rid of fat in problem areas, cosmetic procedures, such as liposuction may be an option.

Health and plastic surgery

When a plastic surgeon says that you should be in "good health," they are concentrated on the fact that you do not have any illnesses, chronic conditions, or genetic disorders, or psychiatric disorders that may negate your safely having an elective plastic surgery procedure.  More specifically:
  • Psychiatric illnesses also are not absolute contraindications, but a psychiatrist or psychologist should evaluate you to be sure that you don't have any underlying problems that may interfere or complicate your procedure, such as Body Dysmorphic Disorder.  BDD is typically an aboslute contraindication to cosmetic surgery, as it is a chronic mental disorder involving obsession with physical flaws.

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