The number of plastic surgery procedures performed in the United States continues to increase. Driven by the quest for physical improvement and psychological enhancement, potential patients can be driven to undergo various procedures by the allure of these benefits. But being ready for plastic surgery is more than just wanting it and being willing to pay the money for it.

Many patients ask me if I think they are ready for palstic surgery. Such a simple question, however, deserves a more complex answer. Many of the really important consideration for a prospective patient can not be answered by your plastic surgeon.

The new science of evolutionary economics explains some of our irrational choices. How are you thinking about money?

Haven’t heard of evolutionary economics? It’s not surprising. This is a new area of study that looks into the biological and evolutionary forces that shape our economic decisions. It is related to behavioral economics, another discipline you don’t hear much about.

The behavioral perspective is more about describing what we do, while the evolutionary perspective is all about hypothesizing why we do it. For example, let’s look at an experiment that economists call the “Ultimatum Game.” It is typically played with two subjects.

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