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Aesthetic surgery, also known as cosmetic surgery, encompasses a range of procedures to enhance or alter the body’s appearance for aesthetic purposes.
These procedures can include reshaping features, reducing signs of aging, or improving symmetry. They are often performed to boost self-confidence or address personal insecurities about one’s physical appearance. Aesthetic surgery is elective and differs from reconstructive surgery because it focuses primarily on enhancing aesthetics rather than restoring function.
Dr. Gopal Grandhige, one of the leading minds behind Formation, delves into the intricate web of motivations driving people toward aesthetic surgery. As a board-certified surgeon specializing in body contouring and sculpting, he sheds light on the deeper reasons behind the quest for physical transformation.
“People don’t usually recognize why they come in,” notes Grandhige, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of motivation. Beyond mere dissatisfaction with appearance, people seek surgery to align their external selves with internal desires. This profound connection between perception and emotion forms the cornerstone of aesthetic surgery.
“A whole part of it is based on the idea that people assign feelings to something they see in the mirror. If they feel uncomfortable at the pool, they attribute that to something in the mirror. People think, ‘I would feel comfortable at the pool if I didn’t look like this or if I looked like X.’” Grandhige explores people to understand why that is.
He underscores the importance of introspection when considering aesthetic surgery. He poses two fundamental questions, “What is your goal, and why do you seek to attain it?”
Delving beyond surface desires, patients uncover the deeper purpose driving their aspirations.
Highlighting the intertwining of goals and purpose, Dr. Grandhige illustrates the transformative power of purpose-driven objectives. Whether striving to “be around longer for your grandkids or to set a good example for your family, purpose adds endurance to your goals, meaning that on the days when you feel down, purpose can keep you going.”
“The goal provides you with happiness,” Grandhige says. “Happiness isn’t long-term, but there’s nothing wrong with it. Just remember, it comes and goes because happiness is associated with things—when we acquire things, we get happy. Then the happiness goes away, so we try to acquire something else.” At Formation, or any good aesthetic surgery center, the goal of the staff and team is to help you find that purpose “because there always is one.”
Finding the core reason for wanting to change on this level helps patients avoid the half-cooked desire to fix one thing and then another, chasing short-term happiness.
Finally, he says that if you want to look good and feel comfortable at the pool, you need to nail that “comfortable” part. Formation’s life coaching will help you achieve real happiness and true purpose and have a lifetime of beauty on the inside and the outside.
Amidst societal expectations and media influences, Grandhige offers insights into the nuanced landscape of aesthetic surgery. Contrary to popular belief, societal pressures are catalysts rather than primary motivators. Intrinsic desires for self-improvement and authenticity propel people toward aesthetic surgery.
Grandhige explains that most people who come in aren’t coming in because of something they’ve seen online via Instagram or TikTok. “That’s not the majority of people,” he says. “Based on a person’s underlying mental or emotional health, societal pressures can play either a large or small role in triggering the concept of self-acceptance and comfortability.”
“We all just want to feel complete. Whether it’s a new nose or hair color, we will look for anything that can give us that completeness, but the baseline issue is the underlying sense of self,” he says.
People are undoubtedly getting aesthetic surgery to look like a person they see, but people who come into Formation typically don’t come in for those reasons. “It’s not like a patient brings in a photo of Kylie Jenner and says, ‘I want to look like her.’ More often than not, a patient comes in and says, ‘I want to look like myself 15 years ago before I had two children.’”
Aesthetic surgery is about addressing a problem area that a patient can’t get rid of themselves. “If a patient puts a lot of energy into perfecting things on their body, they can eventually accept that they’ve done all they can. Like paying for a nicer car, you can pay to detail and create a nicer body.”
Beyond financial considerations, the actual cost of aesthetic surgery encompasses a holistic spectrum of value and fulfillment. Grandhige elucidates the diverse pathways individuals traverse in pursuit of physical transformation.
“When somebody has an idea of what they want, they’ll find what’s affordable to them and go after it. For example, a Louis Vuitton bag can be a street knock-off, a thrift store find, a canvas version in the store, or a full leather, customized piece of art. That’s the assortment that exists in aesthetic surgery,” Grandhige says.
From medical tourism and paying 15–20% of what you would pay in the U.S. to personalized interventions—-people are shopping around to find their price point, name brand, or knock-off.
“But with regards to real value, if the procedure or service answers the question of ‘what is the purpose of me getting aesthetic surgery,’ and that’s where an integrated health and wellness coach comes into play, then you can find real or immeasurable value.”
In the sun-kissed state of Florida, where beach culture thrives, aesthetic surgery isn’t just about vanity—it’s a profound interplay of motivations and societal influences. Grandhige shares stories that transcend conventional perspectives on cosmetic procedures. These are real examples of real people who come into Formation.
Meet an older lady who has weathered life’s storms: divorce, impressive weight loss, and the search for new beginnings. She yearns to wear something above the knee, to feel the warm sand between her toes while on the beach with her girlfriends. But her thighs and excess skin hold her back as she’s already put in the work to lose tons of weight on purpose. Her skirts and outfits seem to whisper her age, but she longs for a fresh start—she wants to wear something more fashionable.
Together, the Formation team and she explores the possibilities: tummy tucks, back lifts, thigh lifts, and arm lifts. She pens a check and commits to surgery, and then a week later, she calls Dr. Grandhige, tearing up. They sit down again, starting anew. This time, it’s not about incisions; it’s about understanding purpose. Tears flow as she unravels her fears and dreams.
However, after two sessions with an integrated health coach, she understands the motivations behind her getting aesthetic surgery: she wants to feel comfortable again.
Aesthetic surgery isn’t confined to people seeking reinvention and rejuvenation. Imagine a gym devotee with an eight-pack, sculpted muscles, and unwavering discipline. Despite his efforts, stubborn back fat clings to him like an unwelcome companion. For fit people who come in, the decision is typically clear: invest in permanent results.
At $8,000, it’s a no-brainer. They’ve already invested sweat equity; now it’s time to address that one elusive area. The gym mirrors reflect determination, but the operating room holds the promise of transformation.
In the realm of aesthetic surgery, motivations vary, but the desire for self-improvement unites us all. Whether it’s a tearful revelation or a pragmatic choice, each patient embarks on a unique journey—one that reshapes not only their appearance but also their sense of self.
