FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions plastic surgery patients most often ask about their intended procedures.

FAQ

Your consultation with a cosmetic surgeon can be divided into the following parts:
Discussion
Evaluation
Computer Imaging (other than breast surgery)
Quoting of fees
Discussion of financial options
Finally, a tour of the operating room (if available

In most cases, consultations usually last for the duration of 60 to 90 minutes. You can best utilize this time to discuss your goal and concerns with the physician. You may have more than one procedure to discuss, if so then feel free to discuss about all of them. The cosmetic surgeon will take all the procedures into account and let you know about the benefits you will be getting and also the possible risk that may be involved with the surgery.

Most people try to visualize how they are going to look like after they have the surgery done. In such scenarios the computer imaging gets a near- exact picture of the post surgical-results which helps you to set a realistic expectation.

Preparing for a cosmetic surgery is not an uphill task, however for excellent result you need to follow the instructions provided by the surgeon. Most surgeons will provide you with a timeline guide covering all the required aspects. During this time the surgeon may summon you to have a few consultations, making sure that you are on the right track.

Some common guidelines that you need to make sure of before having any kind of cosmetic surgery:

Say goodbye to smoking. Nicotine messes with the body’s natural healing process; it constricts our blood vessels and decreases the flow of blood.
To avoid any adverse effects it is best to quit smoking at least three to four weeks before the date of operation
Say goodbye to drinking. Consumption of alcohol results in increased bleeding, which in turn may elevate the chances of possible infection, and it also restricts our immune system.
If you are under any medication. If you are going through any medications then it is best to let your surgeon know about all the details related to it.
Maintain a healthy diet and make sure that you are getting the right amount of sleep. A well balanced diet providing your body with all the required amount of nutrients will strengthen and empower the healing rate.
Also, water is a great detoxifier. Make sure that you start drinking a lot of water well before the date.

Here you need to understand that any surgical process involves a certain amount of risk. Factors like infection, bleeding, damage to the nerves, anesthetic reactions etc., all come to play when you about surgery and cosmetic surgeries are not very different. Your best move is to find an experienced surgeon, and making sure that you adhere to all the instructions.

A good cosmetic surgeon will always give priority to your safety, in case of any possible risk, he will let you know all that there is to know about it so that you can make a concrete decision whether to go ahead with your plan or not. The good thing about cosmetic surgeries is that complications are very rare, and just in case there is a complication, it is usually correctable.

There can be a wide variety of cosmetic surgeries, from injectable filler to breast or tummy reduction; all falls within its domain. Injectable filler usually takes little or no recovery time, while major surgeries like breast or tummy reduction may take even weeks.



Abdominoplasty

Although many patients are seen to have no requirement for additional surgery after a post-abdominoplasty pregnancy, some did require a mini-abdominoplasty, and there are others who required a reoperation. The problem is that there is no way for a surgeon to predict the category a patient is going to fall into. Therefore, we recommend deferring your surgery until after your final pregnancy.

A tummy tuck can give you a tucked-flat tummy and eliminate the stretch marks present on your abdomen typically from your naval to above the pubic area.
Surgeons recommend patients to wait for a minimum of six months post delivery before they have their surgery.

Yes, both tummy-tuck and thigh lift can be done at the same time. In fact this combination is often selected by many patients and is quite popular.

A mini tummy tuck is the lesser version of a full scale tummy tuck; basically it is the less aggressive approach. In case of a full scale tummy tuck most of the skin from the naval point to just above the pubic area is removed, the muscles are tightened up to the ribs, and the open area is covered by the remaining skin which is stretched all the way down. While in case of a mini tuck a much smaller area is involved. It generally covers only the lower abdomen region.

A mini tummy tuck is done under the influence of either general or deep (level IV) sedation.

Most of the reported complications after a tummy tuck include:

Infection of skin, fat.

Seroma, which is a condition expressed by an accumulation of fluid underneath the mobilized fat and skin.

Obesity and smoking proves to be a hindrance in the healing process.

A small opening at the point of incision might occur.

The good news is that these complications are easily managed by a surgeon.



Facelift

Almost every one of us wants to look young, have a glowing skin, nice complexion and a neat facial appearance. The great tragedy of us mortals is that age betrays us all. As we grow older we develop wrinkles, sagging cheeks etc, all these can be termed to be signs of ageing. If you see these signs and want to avoid them they you probably need the help of a cosmetic surgeon. While Facelifts can be done through both surgical and non surgical ways, you need to consult with your surgeon about what option will best fit your requirements.

Facial ageing involves sagging of the soft tissues as well as a considerable loss of volume. While a facelift will restore the soft tissues (cheeks, neck etc.) as well as the jaw-line; it can be safely said that facelifts cannot restore the volume of your face to its exact normalcy, although some amount of volume is usually restored. However the good news is that the volume can be enhanced with fillers and injectable.

On an average a facelift can be safely said to last for about six to ten years, although the time varies from individual to individual. Factors like lifestyle, diet, medical health also play their role in determining the longevity of a facelift. Surgeons are unanimous on the fact that smoking decreases the longevity of a facelift, while physical and mental wellbeing enhances it.

Most cosmetic surgeons are opposed to performing a facelift for people under the age of 40. Unless, of course the surgery is strongly indicated, which would require restoration of sagging cheeks, neck skin and jawline, problems that normally comes into play only after 40. In case of younger people the signs are volume-loss, a sign which can be restored to normalcy by the use of injectables and fillers and which does not necessarily requires a facelift.



Brow Lift

If you are asking whether complete elimination of the horizontal lines (wrinkles) is possible with a Brow Lift, then the answer is, “maybe yes”. However if you are asking if the wrinkles can be reduced to such an extent that it would make a significant change in the way you look, then the answer is, “Yes definitely”.

Depending on the variables of skin, a browlift may last from 5 to 10 years. It can be further prolonged by use of fillers and injectables.

The standard operating procedure for a brow lift is making an incision across the top of the head from ear to ear. In this process the brow is detached from the underlying bone and then the muscles between the eyes are weakened; finally the brow is pulled back, while a strip of scalp is removed. The brow is considered to be successfully lifted once the two edges are brought back together.

The endoscopic brow lift involves a different operation process. Here three to five incisions are made, each measuring about three-quarters of an inch long. These incisions are made in the hair bearing scalp; once this is done, an endoscope is placed, and detachment of the scalp from the bone is then accomplished while the endoscope provides pictures which is viewed on a video monitor. An endoscopic Brow Lift is considered to be more advantageous than the age old brow lift technique.

A proper brow lift can disrupt the muscles which cause wrinkles between the eyes. This can greatly improve the deep wrinkles and make you look significantly better, but complete elimination may not be possible.

While the operation itself will be painless because of the administration of anesthesia, there has been a few reported cases where some patients described having headaches after having the operation, which are short lived. Other than that, any significant sign of discomfort has not been reported. Your surgeon will prescribe you a postoperative pain management which is sure to handle and cases of discomfort.



Blepharoplasty

Here you need to understand that any surgical process involves a certain amount of risk. Factors like infection, bleeding, anesthetic reactions etc., all comes to play when you about surgery and Blepharoplasty is not very different.

The major cause of concern in case of Blepharoplasty is post operative bleeding. This can be so serious that it may result in visual impairment. Due to this reason a surgeon always considers the conditions that may predispose a patient to such a scenario. It is ensured that the patient is not suffering from high blood pressure and under any medication which may lead to thinning of blood. Another condition called ectropion may develop in the lower eyelids. This condition is rare and it involves the pulling down of the lower eyelids. Fortunately, techniques are available with a surgeon which will ensure the prevention of such a condition.

If you are suffering from the heaviness of the upper eyelids or are experiencing a loss of definition of the upper eyelid, (which is a result of excess skin in that specific area) also if your peripheral vision is restricted by hanging of the excess skin over the lid, then you should consider having an upper eye lift Blepharoplasty.

On the other hand, if you are suffering from unwanted bags or puffiness along the lower eyelids then you should consider having a lower Blepharoplasty.

Any type of operation is bound to leave behind scars, with time the scar of a Blepharoplasty will become less and less visible.Swelling and bruising may occur after Blepharoplasty, surgeons generally advices patients to sleep with their head elevated at a 30deg angle for the first few days in order to minimize swelling.

Other measures include application of ice compresses or bags of frozen peas on and off a 20 minute schedule. Pain management procedures are explained to the patients and suture is removed within four to seven days post operation. Patients usually are able to make public appearances within ten days post operation. The upper eyelid recovers quicker than the lower eyelids.



Breast Lift

Yes, you can have a breast lift if you are an A or a small B cup. In fact if the size is not a matter of concern than anybody can go ahead with a breast lift.

It's a question of what problem the patient wants to solve. An implant will add volume and symmetry to the breast, whereas a lift (mastopexy) is intended to solve the problem of sagging. Quite often those two problem exist simultaneously calling for a combination augmentation with lift.

A breast lift is aimed at providing you with the best achievable size while keeping scars to the minimum. The scarring that is required for a breast lift depends upon the degree of sagging. Surgeons generally employ a short scar around the areola and down to the fold of the breast which is all that’s required to give you the best possible breast size. The general thumb rule is that if your nipple is below the breast fold then you need a breast lift.



Breast Reduction

You should wait till you stop breast feeding. Even after this you should wait a couple of months as your breast size will change during this time and you need to let it settle down. Once you are out of this duration you can go ahead with the reduction.

LOBR of liposuction only breast reduction is a process to reduce the size of the breast by removing fat and breast tissue. Here the skin is not removed; rather it is retracted to modify the breast size. This process is useful for patients who care more about the breast size that the shape.



Breast Augmentation

Yes, it is considred generally safe to have breast implants. Breast prostheses are some of the most intensely scrutinized and tested medical appliances ever produced. Factors like ageing and pregnancy can affect the appearance of your breast, whether you have implants or not. Most patients find little difficulty in breastfeeding after having augmentation surgery.

The silicone gel breast implant ‘phobia’ stems from the 1980s and 1990s when many women had their ruptured silicone implants removed. The FDA got silicone gel implants off the market in 1992. However, repeated studies have shown them to be very safe.

Countries around the globe use silicone gel implants. Outside the US, saline implants are rare. For more details you can log on to the website www.breastimplantsafety.org

Yes, it is considred generally safe to have breast implants. Breast prostheses are some of the most intensely scrutinized and tested medical appliances ever produced. Factors like ageing and pregnancy can affect the appearance of your breast, whether you have implants or not. Most patients find little difficulty in breastfeeding after having augmentation surgery.

Cosmetic surgeons around the world are of the opinion that implants usually last about 10-15 years. However this varies from patient to patient, another factor is the nature of implant i.e. saline or silicone implant. A saline implant has a typical deflation rate of 1% per year. The deflations of saline implants are spontaneous and not trauma related.

First generation silicone implant patients reported that their implants lasted about 20 on average. Silicone implants have evolved a long way, the current version of the implants are 4th or 5th generation implants. Now they are less susceptible to rupture as a much more cohesive gel and better shell designs are used. It can be safely said that breast implants won’t last a lifetime. They will need to be replaced at some point and the process of replacement will be a bit easier than the original surgery.

Smoking constricts our blood vessels, thereby restricting our blood flow, which in turn prevents the supply of essential nutrients that are required for the natural healing process. Also, the incidence of complications like wound infection and skin death is much higher in the case of smokers. Surgeons around the word advise patients to stop smoking at least two weeks prior to the date of operation in order to avoid such complications.

es, you may experience a decline in nipple sensation around the time of breast augmentation, but the good news is that it usually regained in about 12 to 18 months.

es, the visible stretch marks on the breast can be greatly improved with a breast implant.

About 80 to 90% of the patients reported that they went pain free in about three days. The surgery itself takes about one to two hours and patients usually go home on the same day. They are fit enough to even make a public appearance during the same evening and can have a shower in about 24 hrs from the surgery. Surgeons usually advices a pain management system comprising of some muscle relaxers; most patients never even elect to take any pain medicine simply because they never needed it. In about two weeks you shall be able to visit the gym and start lifting weights, you can resume your office even the next day after surgery. However if you plan on a vacation wherein you intend to get naughty enough to plunge into a lake or then ocean then you better wait for at least four weeks after the date of surgery. This is because experiments have proved that a complete submersion of the breast in water may cause implant infection.

Both saline and silicone devices are approved by the FDA. The choice of a particular device will depend upon the patient’s individual preference. Having said that, it must be maintained that the silicone implant will give you a more breast-like feeling and they last longer that saline implants. Silicone gel breast implant is specially recommended for patients with very thin tissues as they have low visible rippling. Both saline and silicone gel is implanted below the muscle.

Cosmetic surgeons around the world are of the opinion that implants usually last for about 10 years. However this varies from patient to patient, another factor is the nature of implant i.e. saline or silicone implant. A saline implant has a typical deflation rate of 1% per year. The deflations of saline implants are spontaneous and not trauma related. Silicone implants have been a vogue since 1960s, those were the first generation silicone implants and patients reported that they lasted for about 20 to even 30 years.

Silicone implants have evolved a long way, the current version of the implants are 4th or 5th generation implants. Now they are less susceptible to rupture as a much more cohesive gel and better shell designs are used. It can be safely said that breast implants won’t last for life; they will need to be replaced at some point and the process of replacement will be a bit easier than the original surgery.