To “beam with Pride” comes from within

by Courtney Caplin, MD, DMD
Cosmetic Surgeon Columnist

Although I hate the idea of judging a book by its cover, it is so commonly done and sadly has such a profound impact on our lives. As you may know, it’s a fact that people will generally sum you up and judge you within the first five seconds of meeting you. Those first seconds will be lasting.

The self-fulfilling prophecy speaks to this very matter. If we feel good about ourselves regardless of what the external shell looks like, we present well, and we are well received which then builds more confidence leading to an overall feeling of pride, which makes us feel good.

The opposite can be true, as well. If we don’t feel good about ourselves, the world recognizes it and does not give us respect, and we feel worse.

My goal as a cosmetic surgeon at Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates is to help the cover match the content of the book for the latter of those two examples. I have often seen patients who are young at heart, vivacious, energetic, 65-year-olds who hate it when their grandchildren grab their “turkey gobbler,” making them “feel their age.” Or a masculine, rugged, man who was born with the XX chromosomes and two extra appendages up top. Or a cross-fit fanatic, health-conscious 35-year-old who used to weigh 200 pounds more but has since changed their lifestyle, now tiny on the inside but rolls of extra skin on the outside. 

I am blessed that I can use cosmetic surgery to help make someone outside matches the way they feel inside. The true blessing, though, is then getting to see the overall change in that person’s character after surgery. We feel so strongly about this change that one of Cosmetic Surgery Affiliates tag lines is “Confidence is Priceless.” 

I recently received a message from a patient thanking me that “for once in my life i don’t hate myself when i look in the mirror.” <sic> This message came from a beautiful young girl inside and out. She is intelligent, hard-working, and kind, but did not like the bump on her nose.

I performed a rhinoplasty to correct the bump and placed a small chin implant.

To most, she still looks very much like herself, just a little softer and more feminine. Many people have asked what she has had done - her hair, a good night sleep? But to her, her life has completely changed. 

Little has changed on the inside,  so much has changed on the inside for her, increasing her confidence and creating pride in herself.

Outward appearance is not the only thing that matters though. Being healthier strongly affects how we feel. I always encourage a healthy lifestyle: diet, exercise and avoiding toxins. When we take care of ourselves, the more confident we feel. It’s healthier, so we live better (and longer), which leads to an overall improved attitude. 

But at the end of the day, we all know that beauty is within us, regardless of how we look on the outside.

Copyright The Gayly. 6/18/2019 @ 12:14 a.m.CST.