Optimism is a powerful force. It is the mental attitude of believing that good things will happen and that your goals can be achieved. It is more than wishful thinking—it’s a confident, hopeful outlook on life that shapes how we handle challenges. Optimists predict positive futures and focus on what is possible, not just what’s probable.

At Orange County Plastic Surgery and in our personal lives, Dr. Ekstrom and I try to live by this mindset every day. Optimism allows us to stay energized, focused, and open to new possibilities, both personally and professionally. Optimism is about maintaining hope and confidence—trusting that with effort, persistence, and faith, things will work out for the best.

An optimist sees challenges not as roadblocks but as detours leading to growth. It becomes a mental habit of looking for what is good and believing that life is fundamentally worthwhile, even in difficult times. And perhaps most importantly, optimism is active—it’s not simply expecting success but anticipating it and taking steps to make sure it happens.

Most of us live somewhere on a spectrum between optimism and pessimism. Some are natural-born optimists, others have to work a little harder at it. I can safely say that in my family, we lean strongly toward the bright side—and the best example of this is my 99-year-old mother, Jadviga.

My mother still lives independently in Trenton, Ontario. She tends her garden, grows vegetables, cooks, and bakes constantly. Her bacon buns have become her “currency,” a gesture of love she shares with friends, neighbors, her doctor, pharmacist, neighbors and priest. But beyond her energy and independence, what stands out most is her lifelong optimism.

She endured the horrors of World War II and displacement from her native Latvia. Yet she never allowed bitterness or fear to define her. She looked ahead, embracing her new life in Canada with gratitude and hope.

At 99, her optimism continues to drive her forward. For her birthday this May, she flew to California—with my sister—to celebrate with us. Just last month, she flew to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to attend a distant relative’s wedding. While there, she toured the Pier 21 Museum, Canada’s equivalent of Ellis Island, where our family first stepped onto Canadian soil after crossing the Atlantic on a freighter in April 1951.

Before that trip, she renewed her passport—for another ten years! A few weeks ago, she pulled out her tomato plants, planted bulbs for spring, and proudly announced that she had mastered the WhatsApp video feature on her new cell phone so she could see and video chat with relatives in Latvia and us.

This morning, she mentioned she was putting away her summer clothes and bringing out her winter wardrobe after an early snowstorm. And of course, she’s already planning her 100th birthday celebration in May!
If there’s a living example of optimism, it’s my mother—a reminder that a hopeful heart and a positive outlook can sustain us through any season of life.

Jadviga Bunkis, the eternal optimist, at age 10 in Latvia and now, in Canada, planning her 100th birthday.

My Mom at the Pier 212 Museum in Halifax, Nova Scotia, pointing out a photograph of the MS Anna Salen, the ship that brought us to Canada from a refugee camp in Germany in 1951.

My Mom with the groom at the Halifax wedding three weeks ago.

My Mom with her latest great grandchild – socialization is what keeps her going!

Let’s start with a quick quiz:

Which of the following statements about optimism and healing is true?
A. Optimism only affects mood, not physical recovery.
B. Optimists tend to experience slower healing due to higher expectations.
C. Optimism has been linked to faster recovery, less pain, and greater satisfaction after surgery.
D. Optimism is determined entirely by genetics.
E. Optimism has no measurable impact on inflammation or immunity.

✅ Correct answer: C. Numerous studies show that optimism is associated with faster healing, less need for pain medication, fewer complications, and higher patient satisfaction.

I learned the importance of optimism, growing up on a dairy farm in Minnesota, while dreaming about becoming a physician. I studied the effects of optimism, or lack thereof, during my psychiatry training, before I embarked on a career as a plastic surgeon. In aesthetic surgery, we often focus on technical precision and post-operative care—but a vital ingredient in recovery is often overlooked: the patient’s mindset. Optimism isn’t just a pleasant attitude; it’s a measurable factor that directly affects physical healing.

A systematic review of patients undergoing heart bypass surgery found that those with higher levels of optimism had fewer complications, less rehospitalization, and improved quality of life (PubMed, 2022). Another meta-analysis of over 80 studies reported a consistent positive link between optimism and better overall physical health outcomes (Oxford Academic, 2009).

For aesthetic patients, this translates into several meaningful benefits:

Faster healing and reduced pain: Optimism is linked to lower pain scores and quicker recovery after surgery. Optimists have lower inflammation markers and better immune responses, as shown in studies on stroke and surgical recovery (American Heart Association, 2020).

Less dependence on pain medication: Patients who expect to recover well often perceive less pain and use fewer analgesics.

Higher satisfaction with results: Optimistic patients focus on long-term improvements rather than temporary swelling or bruising, leading to greater overall satisfaction.

Optimism also promotes practical healing behaviors—better nutrition, exercise, sleep, and adherence to post-operative instructions. Patients with a positive mindset tend to follow through on wound care, attend follow-up visits, and engage proactively in their recovery.

If you’re preparing for any aesthetic procedure, consider cultivating optimism as part of your surgical preparation. Here are three simple exercises:

1. Visualize your successful recovery each morning.
2. Keep a gratitude journal—write down three good things daily.
3. Use positive self-talk: “I am healing well. I am improving every day.”

For you, our patient, this means that cultivating a positive outlook matters — not superficially, but as part of your preparation and recovery framework. We invite you to orient your mindset toward the future you want (vibrant, rejuvenated, active), rather than the short-term discomfort.

In my practice with Dr. Bunkis, we emphasize not only the technical excellence of facial rejuvenation, but also the environment and mindset in which healing takes place. As my colleague often says: we perform beautiful surgery — and optimism helps turn that into beautiful living.

Optimism is not just “thinking good thoughts.” It is a practical, evidence-based adjunct to surgical recovery that each of us can encourage and embrace.

At Orange County Plastic Surgery, Dr. Bunkis and I believe that surgery restores form—but optimism helps restore spirit. By combining precise technique with a hopeful outlook, our patients truly experience beautiful healing from the inside out.

This female in her 50’s sought consultation with facelift surgeon, Dr. Juris Bunkis of Orange County Plastic Surgery in Corona del Mar/Newport Beach, California with regards to facial rejuvenation. She told us that she had been very attractive in her youth but now disliked the signs of aging she saw in the mirror and felt that she was starting to look like the mother she remembered. The options were reviewed and she decided to have an endoscopic brow lift with external screw fixation, Dr. Bunkis’ Natural A to V facelift with a neck liposuction, and upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasties. She loved the result and to this day, 20 years later, still looks 15 years younger than her actual age. (Actual patient of Dr. Bunkis.)

This 29-year-old patient who had an 80 lb weight loss and was left with significant loose skin and laxity, presented to Dr. Deborah Ekstrom of Orange County Plastic Surgery for consideration of gynecomastia surgery. He was very motivated and eager to have this procedure. He is shown here before and after an open resection of his gynecomastia tissue and skin excess and free nipple grafting. He was absolutely thrilled with the results of his surgery with Dr. Ekstrom – the results for him were lift changing! (Actual patient of Dr. Deborah Ekstrom.)

Orange County Plastic Surgery at CosmetiCare
1101 Bayside Drive, Suite 200
Corona del Mar, CA 92625

Take the elevator to the second floor (Suite 200) and check in with the front desk for your consultation or follow-up.
Free Parking Available.