Below are some of the most frequently asked questions patients have about plastic surgury issues. If you have any other questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to contact us.
Click on a question below to see the answer.
What is board certification in plastic surgery?
Board certification can be a confusing statement. However, there is only one board in the US for certifying plastic surgeons - the American Board of Plastic Surgery (
www.abplsurg.org). To be certified by the ABPS means that a physician is a plastic surgeon (not a dermatologist, ENT physician, etc.). They have completed years of plastic surgery training, undergone extensive examination process and review, and undergo ongoing education, patient safety, and examination. Other certifying boards (the american cosmetic surgery board, etc.) are not part of the American Board of Medical Specialties and are usually dermatologists, ENT, family practitioners, etc. who do not have extensive plastic surgery training.
Is plastic surgery safe?
All surgical procedures are accompanied by a certain degree of risk, whether the procedures are for medical or cosmetic reasons. Our team is dedicated to making your operation go smoothly. We careful review your medical history and current health condition before deciding if it is safe for you to proceed with surgery. It is important that you fully disclose all pertinent information so that we are able to make an accurate assessment of the risks involved. We will take every precaution necessary to reduce the possibility of any complications.
How do I know if plastic surgery is right for me?
There several important factors that come into play when deciding whether plastic surgery is the right option for you. One of the most important factors is your health. Being in good health greatly reduces the risk of complications occurring during surgery and leads to a speedy recovery. Next, you need to ask yourself what your motivations are. People who have plastic surgery generally find that the surgery enhances their overall appearance and self-esteem. Thirdly, you should have realistic expectations. Plastic surgery is both a science and an art, neither of which are perfect. Set reasonable goals as to the result you wish to achieve and be prepared to thoroughly discuss these goals during your initial consultation.
What happens during my initial consultation?
During your consultation we will discuss your desired changes and expectations, review your medical history and current health, perform a physical examination, and make an assessment on whether the procedure(s) in question are right for you. You will also watch a video providing you with information regarding the procedure you are interested in. This is a good time to ask specific questions about the procedure so that you are fully prepared, mentally and emotionally, for surgery. Consultations generally last about one hour. When a final decision is made, you will need to sign an informed consent stating that you are fully aware and understand what is entailed by your pending operation, including the potential complications and secondary effects.
How does smoking effect surgery my surgery and results?
Smoking can greatly compromise your ability to heal after surgery. Smoking constricts the small blood vessels in your body, decreasing blood flow to areas. After surgery, this can lead to poor blood flow to healing areas, resulting in slower healing and, sometimes, persistent non-healing wounds. Some studies report a 50% complication rate when comparing elective cosmetic procedures in smokers vs. non-smokers. As a rule, a patient should stop smoking at least three weeks prior to surgery and continue this until at least a month after the surgery. This includes the use of nicotine patches or gum (nicotine constricts your blood vessels as well).
Are breast implants safe?
The issue of breast implant safety has been a hot topic throughout the last few decades. As a result, more stringent standards have emerged in order to protect patients. Current breast implant procedures primarily use silicone shell implants filled with a saline solution. Occasionally, silicone-gel filler is used; but this is still highly regulated by the FDA, even though they have given their approval for silcione gel devices to return to the market for general use. All the concerns regarding silicone gel devices and a connection to serious systemic health diseases have been examined and found to be unfounded.
Sometimes, an implant will rupture or leak. With saline implants, the saline is safely absorbed into the body. The rupture rate for saline devices is around 1% per year. With the new silicone gel devices, a rupture does not result in leakage of silicone into the breast tissue since the gel is cohesive and sticks together (think of cutting a piece of firm pie). If rupture or leaking is detected early, the implant can be easily replaced. Other possible complications from breast implant surgery may include blood clotting or pooling, overly sensitive breasts or loss of sensation in the breasts, capsular contracture (a hardening of the tissues surrounding the implant). malposition of the breasts over time, and late term infection of the devices.
Breast implants are not permanent devices. The average life span of a device varies (10-20 years), but if you are young, chances are you may need to have your implants replaced more than once. We take every precaution necessary to reduce the possibility of any complications.
For more information on breast implants, please visit the Mentor implant website (http://www.breastimplantsbymentor.com/).
How do I know what size I will be after Breast Augmentation?
In breast augmentation, it is hard to guarantee a certain cup size, since each bra maker is different. A C-cup in a Victoria's Secret bra may be a small D-cup in another makers bra. After listening to the patient and performing an examination, the desired breast size is made based upon multiple factors. How much breast tissue a patient already has, how wide her breasts are, how much extra breast skin is present, and how large a patient desires to be all play a role in determining a final implant size, and hence final breast size.
What is BIA-ALCL?
Breast Implant Associated - Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a very rare type of Non- Hodgkins Lymphoma that can occur in the scar capsule around a textured breast implant. It is not a breast cancer. BIA-ALCL is multifactorial, with chronic irritation, bacterial contamination, genetic predisposition, and implant surface texturing all playing a role. As of 2019, roughly 500 unique confirmed cases of BIA-ALCL have been identified over the past 20 years worldwide. All confirmed cases have had one thing in common - the presence of a textured shelled implant at some point placed in the breast. Most cases present 8-10 years after placement of the textured implant, and present as a painless swelling of the breast that then reveals cancer cells in the fluid around the implant. When identified early the treatment is to remove the complete scar capsule and implant, although some of the cases have needed chemotherapy. There have been 16 deaths attributed to ALCL. Currently, we estimate that the risk of developing ALCL depends on what type of texturing the implant shell has. If the implant is smooth, then the risk should be 0% since there are no documented smooth shell implant cases. With a macro textured implant (Allergan/ Natrelle Biocell), the risk may be 1/3,000. In a micro textured implant, the risk should be markedly smaller - 1/80,000. Please see
textured implant removal for more information.
Will I have drains after my surgery?
The placement of drains depends on the surgery and the extensive nature of each surgery. Drains are used to evacuate blood or other fluid from surgical spaces. For most surgeries, the decision to place a drain is made on a case per case basis. However, for breast augmentation, we do not use drains routinely. The surgery is performed in a matter which leads to almost no bleeding or fluid production. In addition, having a drain in provides a potential entrance for bacteria to enter around the implant after surgery.
Can I have several procedures performed simultaneously?
It is a relatively common practice for a plastic surgeon to perform multiple procedures during one operation. This allows the surgeon to better “sculpt” your final appearance. In addition, having several procedures done simultaneously saves you the expense of paying the operating room and anesthesia costs more than once. However, having too much done at one time can lead to complications. The decision to have multiple procedures done depends on which procedures are being done, the extent of surgery, the operating time, and your age/health. Ultimately, the surgeon decides whether or not it is appropriate to include more than one procedure in your operation.
If I gain weight after liposuction, will the fat return to the areas that were suctioned?
Generally, liposuction removes most, but not all of the fat from an area. Once that fat is gone, it is gone. However, the remaining fat cells can swell as weight is gained. Also, other areas that were not "problem areas" before the surgery may become problem areas after is weight is gained.
Does it matter how old I am?
Due to the variety of procedures available in plastic surgery, there can be no blanket rule on age although age will be taken into consideration when planning your operation. People of all ages have taken advantage of the image-enhancement offered by plastic surgery. There are even procedures appropriate for young children. It is important to realize the limitations of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery cannot “fix” every situation or reverse the aging process. What is a good procedure for one person may not be an appropriate procedure for another. We are committed to making your plastic surgery experience a successful one.
How long will it take to recover from my surgery?
Generally, post-operative instructions call for rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. The length of recovery varies with each procedure and is different for each individual. Bruises usually disappear within a few days, and most swelling is gone in a matter of weeks. If you follow our post-operative instructions carefully, you will be able to enjoy your normal activities within no time. Your scars will fade over time but are permanent. We take care to conceal any scars so that they are barely visible. The effects of plastic surgery become more evident over time with certain procedures taking up to a year for your body to fully adjust and settle into its new look. When you come in for your consultation we can discuss your expected recovery period and any post-operative instructions in detail.
Will my insurance cover the surgery?
Insurance providers generally cover costs for reconstructive surgery but not for cosmetic surgery. For example, insurance providers will often pay for breast augmentation to reconstruct a breast following a mastectomy; breast reduction to remedy back pain caused by heavy breasts; eyelid surgery to remove sagging skin that blocks vision; nose surgery to allow for a patient to breathe better; or tummy tucks to remedy the vertical separation of abdomen muscles known as diastasis. Insurance providers are required by law to cover breast reconstruction surgery and any cosmetic operations necessary to create symmetry in either breast. If your surgery is covered by insurance, pre-certification is required. We will be happy to assist you with the process.
Do you offer patient financing through the office?
We do work with a finance company (
www.carecredit.com). Carecredit is a division of GE, and is the largest patient finance company. They make it very easy for patients to obtain a loan. However, some of the patient financing companies charge very high interest rates unless you can pay off the loan within a few months. We tell our patients that, if they can, it is in their interest to get a personal or home equity loan from their bank instead. They end up with a much lower interest rate that they would otherwise. For cosmetic surgery procedures, payment must be made the day of the surgery in full. We accept cash, a cashiers check, checks from financing companies, or money orders.