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Frequently Asked Plastic Surgery Questions
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General Questions
What is Plastic Surgery?
Plastic surgery is a surgical sub-specialty which addresses the healing and restoration of injuries, disfigurement or scarring caused by trauma, disease or congenital defects. The ‘plastic’ in plastic surgery does not refer to the use of plastic materials but rather is derived from the Greek word for molding or giving form. Plastic surgery includes the specialty of aesthetic, or cosmetic, surgery, which corrects or rejuvenates features of the face and body that a patient does not find pleasing. .
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How does a doctor become a plastic surgeon?
Doctors must undergo extensive training in order to become a plastic surgeon. A specialized post-graduate training course lasting five to seven years must be completed in order to become board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). A surgeon’s background training often includes an extensive foundation of general surgery, though a background in orthopedics or ENT is sometimes acceptable. Surgeons then spend the final two to three years of their training in an approved plastic surgery training center. Before being officially certified by the ABPS, a demanding set of written and oral exams must be passed. Only surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are true plastic surgeons.
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Does certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery guarantee that a patient’s procedure will go perfectly?
Because there are several factors that can affect the healing of operated tissue, some of which are beyond the control of the surgeon, certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery cannot guarantee perfection or even a good result. However, by carefully researching and selecting a board certified plastic surgeon with the appropriate training, skill, and experience, you can better ensure the safety and optimal result of your procedure. A surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery has completed extensive requirements in order to become a specialist in full time practice in plastic surgery.
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Are there any questions that I should ask potential plastic surgeons before choosing one to perform my surgery?
Because choosing a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon can help to ensure the safety and quality of your procedure, there are certain questions that you should ask before selecting surgeon, including the following:
- Is the surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- It’s important that you ask any doctor claiming to be board-certified which board they are certified by. The ABPS is the only board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties for certifying doctors in plastic surgery.
- Does the surgeon have hospital privileges to perform this surgery?
- Though many surgical procedures can be performed in a doctor’s office-based facility or an outpatient facility, it is still important that you determine whether or not a doctor has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure that you are undergoing. Having operating privileges indicates that a surgeon’s training and competency for specific procedures has been reviewed by a hospital committee.
- Where will my procedure be performed?
- Be sure to ask if the facility where your procedure will take place is accredited. Many states do not require accreditation by ambulatory or office-based facilities. However, these facilities can voluntarily apply to an accrediting body like the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, and they must meet strict requirements and provide a high standard of care in order to be accredited.
- How many procedures of this type has the surgeon performed?
- Also ask about any training, particularly in new techniques, that the surgeon has completed and ask to see any certificates of training that he or she may have.
- What are the risks associated with the particular procedure?
- Because there are risks associated with any surgical procedure, be sure to find out what they are, how frequently they occur, and how the surgeon will handle them if they do occur.
- How long is the recovery?
- Ask about the recovery time as well as any postoperative restrictions on activity.
- What is the surgeon’s policy regarding surgical revisions?
- Because some cases may require that revisions be performed in order to obtain the desired result, it’s important that you find out beforehand the surgeon’s policy on revisions and any costs which you may be responsible for.
- What is the cost of the surgery?
- Insurance typically does not cover the cost of cosmetic surgery, and surgeons usually require payment in advance. The total cost of surgery will include the surgeon’s fee, fees for anesthesia and the surgical facility, and other potential costs like those for preoperative physical and blood work, medications, surgical garments and private-duty nursing.
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What types of procedures do plastic surgeons perform?
Plastic surgeons perform a variety of procedures, including the following:
- Aesthetic, or cosmetic, procedures treating problems of the face, neck and trunk, including the forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, chin, neck, breasts, abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, calves, arms and skin.
- Congenital deformities of the hand and face which may include clefts of the lip and palate.
- Benign and malignant tumors found on the head and neck, skin and soft tissues.
- Traumatic injuries occurring on the bony facial skeleton and hand, along with soft tissues injuries occurring on any part of the body.
- Hand surgery.
- Surgery of the jaw and facial skeleton.
- Skin cover and replacement problems.
- Reconstruction procedures following cancer removal resulting in disfigurement of a body part, including the face, trunk, and breasts.
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What is aesthetic surgery?
Aesthetic surgery is another term for cosmetic surgery. The goal of aesthetic surgery is to improve an individual’s appearance. The most commonly performed aesthetic procedures involve the nose, ears, face, forehead, eyelids, breasts abdomen, hips, and thighs.
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Are plastic surgeons skin specialists?
Though dermatologists specialize in skin, plastic surgeons have an equally important role in treating benign and malignant tumors of the skin. This is particularly true when large areas of skin must be removed and replaced, which may risk disfigurement, and when conspicuous areas like the face are involved. There are also skin resurfacing techniques that plastic surgeons perform for cosmetic purposes which can achieve a healthier look by reducing facial wrinkling and pigment problems.
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Will my plastic surgery procedure leave a scar?
Scarring is inevitable with plastic surgery. However, a well-placed, very fine line scar can be virtually invisible after healing. Plastic surgeons spend years mastering techniques designed to place scars in desirable locations, and they do everything they can to place incisions in less visible areas, such as within natural creases or areas covered by undergarments. Though scars usually fade with time, there are some areas of the body that produce more extensive scarring regardless of the technique used, including the back and chest. In addition, each person will heal different and the severity of scarring will vary accordingly.
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Is skin grafting always used for plastic surgery?
Skin grafting is only necessary during a plastic surgery procedure when there is no better way to close a wound or defect. A qualified plastic surgeon will use his/her judgment in determining the best way to reconstruct a defect. Some skin grafts may appear to be a poor match in color and texture to the native skin, but this problem can be minimized by carefully selecting the skin graft donor site.
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What is a pedicle flap or graft?
A pedicle graft, also known as a pedicle flap, is a section of skin and its underlying subcutaneous tissue and/or muscle that is shifted from one area to cover an open wound or defect. The word ‘pedicle’ refers to the fact that the flap’s blood supply is never divided. A free flap, on the other hand, is a graft in which the blood supply is completely divided and reattached. Free flaps require specialized skill in microvascular surgery.
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What is rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty, also referred to as nose reshaping, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to improve the appearance of the nose and sometimes alleviate breathing problems.
There is surprisingly little pain associated with nose reshaping procedures. A splint is usually applied over the nose and sometimes inside of the nose, and this is often removed after five to seven days. Bruising may occur around the eyes and typically fades within one to two weeks.
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Is it possible to undergo a second rhinoplasty if you’re unhappy with the result of the first surgery?
Though touch-ups are sometimes necessary after a nose reshaping procedure, it’s often best to wait a year before undergoing a second surgery. It can take this long for the final results of the surgery to become apparent.
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What are some aesthetic surgery procedures that can improve an aging face?
Facial aging occurs in varying degrees and stages and can result from the natural aging process, heredity, and lifestyle choices. In order to address all areas of facial rejuvenation, plastic surgeons undergo training specific to this. A face lift may be performed to lift and tighten excess skin of the face and neck. Other procedures may be performed to improve the appearance of the eyes, forehead, chin, mouth, and neck. Some procedures may be performed with the use of an endoscope making them generally less invasive. Skin resurfacing procedures like chemical peels, laser resurfacing or other skin care treatments can be used to treat fine wrinkles of the face.
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How is a face lift performed?
There are several face lift techniques and different locations for the incision. However, the incision is commonly located within the hairline at the temple region, extending downward in front of the ear, and then continuing behind the ear and back into the hairline. Once the incision is made, the skin of the face and neck is dissected into the cheeks and neck and then pulled upward to tighten and smooth the skin. The muscular layers beneath the skin can be tightened as well. Depending on the condition of the face before surgery, the results can be subtle or very dramatic.
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Are there scars after a face lift?
While there are scars after a face lift, plastic surgeons are trained to place them as inconspicuously as possible. During the consultation, the surgeon should show you exactly where the scars will be located. In most cases, the hair conceals the resulting scars. Furthermore, makeup can be used to cover up any remaining marks.
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How do plastic surgeons correct excessive wrinkling and bagginess of the eyelids?
Excess wrinkling and bagginess of the eyelids can be corrected with eyelid surgery. Both the upper and lower eyelids can be treated by removing excess skin and fat, and tightening the lower lid if necessary. Eyelid surgery may be performed on its own or in combination with other procedures like a facelift or brow lift. Bruising and swelling is common after surgery and typically fades within one to two weeks.
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What sort of procedures are there to improve the appearance of breasts?
There are three procedures commonly performed to improve the appearance of the breast and these include breast augmentation, breast reduction, and breast lift.
Breast augmentation, also known as augmentation mammaplasty, is a procedure designed to enlarge or increase a small or undesirable breast size. Though there are different techniques for breast augmentation, saline breast implants are commonly used today. Depending on the patient’s physical make-up and her breasts, there are different positions which the implants may be placed in, as well as different incisions which can be made. The three main incision locations used include around the nipple areolar complex, below the breast, and in the arm pit (axilla).
For patients who are happy with the size of the breasts but have experienced sagging due to aging or pregnancy, a breast lift can help. There are a variety of breast lift techniques which may be used and the results are generally excellent.
Patients who have overly large breasts can undergo breast reduction to make them smaller. A variety of physical symptoms can result from large breasts including neck, shoulder and back pain, paresthesia of the arms, and shoulder grooves caused by bra straps. Extensive incisions are typically required for breast reduction surgery, though they are generally located in inconspicuous locations like the fold beneath the breast. Breast reduction can improve and often completely eliminate the physical symptoms associated with large breasts, and the surgery is often covered by insurance.
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Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
Good candidates for liposuction should generally be close to their ideal weight as liposuction is not intended for weight loss. Liposuction should be used to correct problem areas or fat bulges. As such, it is generally performed on patients with an area of fat that has proven hard to lose despite exercise and diet. Patients should not expect a weight change as the fat removed does not weigh a lot. However, liposuction does change a patient’s shape.
How long do the results of liposuction last?
The results of liposuction are long lasting provided the patient maintains a healthy life-style which includes exercise and a sensible diet. After fat cells are removed from an area, there is no longer a preferential fat storage area. This allows any future fat gain to be more evenly distributed over the rest of the body.
Where on the body can liposuction be performed?
While liposuction can be performed on most areas of the body, the most commonly treated areas include the abdomen, thighs and hips for women and the abdomen, breasts and hips for men. Other areas, such as the upper arms, buttocks and beneath the chin can be treated as well.
Are there scars after liposuction?
Though liposuction will leave scars, they are typically very small and placed in inconspicuous areas. In most cases, the scars heal well and are virtually undetectable.
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Dr. Stevens in People Magazine about his surgery on Sharon Osbourne.
Blepharoplasty
