Reasons for wanting to undergo plastic surgery are very personal and important. It all boils down to what you want and why you want it. The clearer you are on what you want and why you want it, the better your surgeon will be able to offer advice and recommendations.
It is beneficial to find a surgeon who is willing to discuss all aspects of the procedures that interest you, in order to empower you to make the best decision for yourself. Deciding to undergo any surgery is not to be taken lightly, and it is important that you are comfortable every step of the way.
I recommend having a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with whom you are comfortable and can discuss your goals. Make sure you and your surgeon are on the same page when coming up with a surgical plan, and see if their aesthetic matches yours. Many surgeons will also allow you to speak with previous patients of theirs, which can be helpful to ensure that you’ve chosen the right surgeon for yourself.
Fillers may be a good option for you in order to correct the dents you are noticing. A long-lasting filler such as Radiesse or Artefill can result in long-term to permanent correction to these dents. Another possible long-term option may be fat injections, as well as cheek implants if the dents are pronounced. If the dents are mostly superficial though you may be better off sticking with the fillers mentioned above.
I recommend that you search for a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area who is a teaching physician or consultant for filler procedures, so that you can ensure that you are in the hands of an expert injector.
It is generally not advisable to have these three procedures done at the same time. Combining body contouring procedures such as this, especially when they are somewhat time intensive procedures increases post-operative complications.
These types of body contouring procedures are very common after a significant weight loss, but it is best to practice a bit of patience. You should consider factors, such as: is it safe? What might your recovery time entail?
Give it some thought, and decide on which procedure you absolutely can’t wait to have done, just in case multiple procedures prove impossible. It is advisable to first meet with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. The two of you should then discuss a surgery plan which is tailored specifically to your needs and goals and that prioritizes your safety.
It’s Been a Good Trip…
I just recently returned from a very successful medical mission in Ecuador. As a part of my non-profit organization, Destination Hope I do two of these medical missions each year. These missions are undergone to help and treat children in Third World countries suffering from facial deformities. I am passionate about helping children in need, and am so pleased with the success of this most recent venture.
People who are born with deformities often go through life in a constant struggle. They find themselves lonely, and fighting for acceptance from those they interact with every day. And for people in Third World countries, they often lack even the most basic of medical care. That means that despite how painful the deformity may be, they are forced to live with it.
This mission we traveled to Baeza Ecuador, which is in eastern Ecuador just at the entryway to the Amazon Basin. There were two plastic surgeons, and one otolaryngologist, and we ended up able to treat 52 patients in all.
The primary surgeries undertaken were cleft lip, cleft palate repair, and microtia repair. A microtia repair is a procedure involving the placement of a new external ear for patients that are not born with one, or who are only born with a small remnant of an ear. Correcting a cleft palate can mean a child no longer being seen as ‘dumb’ because of a speech problem.
Often times though, these aren’t the only types of needs of these children. Sometimes there are burn victims, or car accident victims, and often times both children and adults will walk for miles just for the chance to be seen by the doctors who visit.
All in all, this was a very successful mission, and very safe for our patients. And the feeling of truly helping someone in need just can’t be topped. I eagerly await the next mission.
You may be like many people who would like to improve their skin or body contour but automatically assume that you probably couldn’t afford the expense of a procedure.
With modern advances in cosmetic surgery and a new generation of ‘miracle’ anti-aging products available, there are many options which are much less expensive than you might expect. In addition, many procedures which once required a hospital stay and full anesthesia – and the expense that creates – can now be performed in a medical clinic by a board-certified plastic surgeon using local anesthesia
Some of the new dermal fillers such as Sculptra, Radiesse, or ArteFill, can accomplish a fresh youthful look for much less than you may think. The only way to get started is with a consultation, where all of the financial (and other) questions will be answered.
As a physician I am well aware of the detrimental effect that habitual smoking has on the health of any individual, and when the subject comes up I’m always quick to remind my patients of how much they have to gain by giving up the habit.
However, when I have a patient planning cosmetic surgery, I bring up the subject for a very specific and particular purpose.I strongly advise my patients who smoke to quit smoking for 6 to 8 weeks prior to scheduled surgery and throughout the post-operative recovery period.
Many studies have clearly shown that non smokers or those who quit temporarily have a lower risk of complications from anesthesia and during the operation itself and also far fewer post-operative complications.
Smoking inhibits the flow of blood to the heart, a vital process during surgery when the body is under stress.Smoking is also counter productive when it comes to post-surgical healing.It reduces the blood flow to the cell, inhibits the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen, and it reduces the amount of oxygen released to the cells, all processes essential to healing.
