The Psychology of Plastic Surgery in Your 20s
Podcast: The Psychology of your 20s
Episode: 361. The psychology of plastic surgery ft. Dr. Rady Rahban
Host: Jemma Sbeg
Guest: Dr. Rady Rahban
Date: December 4, 2025
Overview
This episode dives deep into the complex relationship between plastic surgery and psychology, especially as it relates to people in their 20s. Jemma Sbeg welcomes Dr. Rady Rahban—a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience—to discuss everything from the motivations behind cosmetic procedures to body image, the influence of social media, and the importance of finding the right patient-doctor fit. The conversation is candid and nuanced, acknowledging both the positive and problematic aspects of aesthetic surgery.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Dr. Rahban’s Background & Philosophy
[05:32-08:24]
- Dr. Rady Rahban practices in Beverly Hills and describes himself as a "unicorn" in the field for performing a wide range of surgeries: face, nose, eyelids, breasts, belly, and beyond.
- He was drawn to plastic surgery for its unique blend of design, science, and entrepreneurship:
"Plastic surgery is that beautiful fusion... the perfect tricycle; it's business, medicine and design all merged into one." – Dr. Rady Rahban [07:34] - He emphasizes humility, reverence, and the trust inherent in the surgeon-patient relationship:
"I have always been in awe with what I get to do on a daily basis. I never take it lightly." – Dr. Rahban [09:31]
2. Defining Plastic Surgery vs. Cosmetic Procedures
[11:17-14:50]
- Dr. Rahban explains medical training and how the titles "plastic surgeon" and "cosmetic surgeon" are often used interchangeably but are not the same.
- Plastic surgery residency is rigorous and diverse, whereas the label "cosmetic surgeon" can be adopted with minimal additional training, which is a source of confusion and risk for patients:
"Your listeners need to sadly do their homework." – Dr. Rahban [14:48] - Jemma echoes that these distinctions matter:
"If you're going to permanently change the way you look and undergo surgery, it's not something necessarily to skimp on or to cut corners with." – Jemma [14:50]
3. Who Gets Surgery in Their 20s and Why
[15:37-18:14]
- Surgery in the 20s isn’t new, but demand is growing and trending younger, largely due to social media.
- Traditional procedures for 20-somethings include breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and chin implants for clear, life-impacting concerns.
- More extreme or unnecessary surgeries, such as brow lifts, "cat eyes," mini facelifts, and rib remodeling in very young adults, are rising in popularity but seen as potentially problematic:
"The only reason that is occurring is social media. The end." – Dr. Rahban [15:50]
4. Social Media, Filters, and Dysmorphia
[19:25-24:58]
- The inherent human pursuit for beauty predates social media, but platforms like Instagram have "poured gasoline" on this drive—creating demand for unrealistic, often fabricated ideals (heavily edited, filtered).
- Dr. Rahban discusses the psychological fallout of this, especially among young, vulnerable users:
"You now see 25 images within five seconds... these images are bombarding you. Secondly, they are not real." – Dr. Rahban [21:41] - The “distance” between one’s actual self and the idealized, online self fuels unhappiness:
"Your happiness is based on the delta between where you are and where you think you ought to be." – Dr. Rahban [23:00]
5. Can You Be Body Positive and Want Surgery?
[31:26-36:01]
- Jemma raises the “body positivity” paradox: can someone love themselves and still want surgery?
- Dr. Rahban insists the best surgical outcomes arise in people who are overall confident and well-adjusted, but have a specific, defined concern:
"The ideal patient is one who comes to you who is otherwise very happy in their life... the correction... can for sure, and I have now witnessed it for 20 plus years, dramatically change, enhance, and improve the quality of life of that person." – Dr. Rahban [31:51] - "Bad" features are entirely subjective and self-determined—the desire to change is relative, not absolute:
"There is no such thing as bad. If that girl or that guy loved those features, then it would be good to them." – Dr. Rahban [36:17]
6. Drawing the Line: When Surgery Is Not the Answer
[41:03-50:26]
- Not everyone seeking cosmetic surgery is a good candidate.
- Red flags:
- A disconnect between the patient’s concerns and objective reality
- Believing the procedure will "change their whole life"
- Dismissal of risks
- Mental health conditions or emotional instability
- Unrealistic expectations (desiring celebrity-level results, excessive procedures)
- The patient-surgeon relationship is a "forever responsibility"; thus, Dr. Rahban screens extensively:
"Remember, I don't want to be entangled in a marriage with someone with a bad outcome." – Dr. Rahban [45:43] "Most consults that surgeons do is about 15 minutes... my consults are one hour. What do you think I'm doing for the additional 45 minutes?" – Dr. Rahban [50:07]
7. Addressing Surgery Addiction & Body Dysmorphia
[62:21-66:08]
- The much-feared “surgery addiction” and true body dysmorphia are rare (0.000001% of patients).
- Most botched or excessive outcomes are due to poor or unethical providers, not psychologically disordered patients.
- For true dysmorphic patients, the surgery is part of a psychological compulsion, akin to addiction:
"It is the same exact area in the brain that leads to cocaine addiction, alcoholism, gambling, pornography. It is an impulse." – Dr. Rahban [66:08] - The real issue is not just the patient, but the providers enabling and profiting from these impulses:
"The sick part isn't that they are [addicted], the sick part is who would have done that to her." – Dr. Rahban [64:55]
8. Timeless Advice for Patients and 20-Somethings
[66:38-72:56]
- The biggest myth: plastic surgery is inherently bad or frivolous. When done for the right reasons, with the right provider, it can be life-changing.
- However:
- "Plastic surgery is now being treated like getting extensions. They have lost their reverence for it... treat it with the reverence that it deserves." – Dr. Rahban [68:00]
- Cheap, quick, or impulsive surgery decisions (especially due to financial constraints in your 20s) are very risky.
- Advice: If you can’t afford the surgeon you trust, WAIT and save up.
Life Advice for People in Their 20s
- Dr. Rahban counsels against “over-planning”:
“I spent too much of my young adult worrying about getting where I needed to go in life... I was too worried about making it to my end destination and not enough time smelling the roses.” [70:42] - Choose a path worthy of traveling, but don’t white-knuckle the journey.
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
-
“Plastic surgery is that beautiful fusion...the perfect tricycle. It's business, medicine and design all merged into one.”
– Dr. Rahban [07:34] -
"The only reason that is occurring is social media. The end."
– Dr. Rahban, on extreme surgeries among the young [15:50] -
"You now see 25 images within five seconds... these images are bombarding you. Secondly, they are not real."
– Dr. Rahban, on social media's impact [21:41] -
"Your happiness is based on the delta between where you are and where you think you ought to be."
– Dr. Rahban [23:00] -
"The ideal patient is one who comes to you who is otherwise very happy in their life... a very finite issue, one that can easily be agreed upon..."
– Dr. Rahban [31:51] -
"Plastic surgery is now being treated like getting extensions. They have lost their reverence for it... treat it with the reverence that it deserves."
– Dr. Rahban [68:00] -
"It is the same exact area in the brain that leads to cocaine addiction, alcoholism, gambling, pornography. It is an impulse."
– Dr. Rahban, on surgery addiction [66:08] -
"For the type A people out there, you can probably release the reins a bit and you'll, as long as you're headed in the right direction, you'll probably get to your end destination without having to knuckle grip it all the way there."
– Dr. Rahban, life advice [71:14]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 05:32 – Dr. Rahban’s background and holistic view of aesthetic medicine
- 11:17 – Difference between plastic and cosmetic surgery; importance of qualifications
- 15:37 – Plastic surgery trends and motivations by decade
- 19:25 – Social media’s impact on beauty standards and body image
- 31:26 – Can you be both body positive and want surgery?
- 41:03 – Screening for suitable candidates and ethical dilemmas
- 50:07 – The long consult: how Dr. Rahban ensures emotional readiness
- 62:21 – Myths about surgery addiction and body dysmorphia
- 66:38 – What Dr. Rahban wishes patients knew; warning against impulsive decisions
- 70:42 – Life and career advice for people in their 20s
Conclusion
This episode offers a multidimensional look at plastic surgery, cutting through social media myths, and addressing both the empowered and problematic sides of body modification in young adulthood. Dr. Rahban’s approach is practical and compassionate—rooted in ethics, patient-centered care, and a nuanced understanding of beauty, insecurity, and self-image. The key takeaways: choose wisely, be patient, and remember that self-worth isn't found on an operating table (or on Instagram).
Guest Resources:
Host Contact:
- The Psychology of Your 20s Instagram
- Feedback/questions: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com