If you’re considering plastic surgery, a part of you may wonder if the procedure you’re envisioning will truly make you happy in the long run. After all, you may feel dissatisfied with your chest size or saggy tummy today, but will physically altering these features make you feel better about yourself in general?

According to a European study released in March, cosmetic procedures like a breast lift or tummy tuck might be able to do just that – provided you have realistic expectations about how much your life will change. Researchers from the Ruhr-University Bochum in Germany and the University of Basel in Switzerland analyzed the psychological impact of plastic surgery on 554 patients over the course of a year. They contrasted the reported general emotional state of these individuals with people who had expressed interest in plastic surgery but chose not to get it, and others who never considered such procedures.

Ultimately, they found that people who underwent plastic procedures with realistic expectations about the results – ie, they didn’t believe “all of my problems would be solved” or “I’ll be completely different,” ScienceDaily reports – saw notable improvements in their well-being after surgery.

“Overall, the results reveal positive outcomes of receiving aesthetic surgery across areas, including anxiety, social phobia, depression, body dysmorphia, goal attainment, quality of life, life satisfaction, attractiveness, mental and physical health, well-being, self-efficacy and self-esteem,” the study abstract states.

To truly reap the benefits of plastic surgery, you have to realize what these procedures are and are not capable of. The best way to ascertain this is to contact a board-certified Miami plastic surgeon. Dr. Christopher Craft can answer any questions you have about breast lifts, liposuction and other procedures.