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What should you ask yourself if you’re considering a cosmetic or reconstructive procedure?
1. Are cosmetic procedures safe?
Fortunately, more and more people are discovering the truth about plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery is a worthwhile interaction between the surgeon and patient if this is done in the light of accepted standards, in terms of safety and technique. Today’s modern techniques and proven procedures can help you not only look better but feel better as well. Risk and complication are inherent part of any cosmetic or aesthetic surgical procedure. And as a plastic surgeon we must be aware and familiar with all possibilities, how to prevent and address if such problem would arise. And also there is certain procedure that could be done in the outpatient clinic; however there are cosmetic operations that are safer when performed in the hospital with appropriate operative setting.
2. Could I feel any pain during and after the cosmetic procedure?
Patient who presents for aesthetic surgery poses an unusual challenge to us Plastic Surgeons and Anesthesiologist. Some patients are frightened and apprehensive, given the nature and circumstances of the procedure, the patient usually expect a smooth and uncomplicated procedure. It is our (Surgeon and Anesthesiologist) main goal to provide you a pleasant and worthwhile experience as mush as possible. There are certain procedure that could be done under local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of surgery and comfort ability of both patient and the plastic surgeon. There are also means or medication to lessen the patient apprehension or anxiety that could be given prior to the procedure. Due to increasing interest in pain management, there are new drugs that are now available in the market, this are FDA approved drugs for pain management with improved efficacy and compliance.
3. Is plastic surgeon for reconstruction only, what is the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon?
The surgeon can not call himself a plastic surgeon unless he can do both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. Since the very root of almost all cosmetic/aesthetic procedure can be trace from early reconstructive procedure. Thus a surgeon whose main interest is aesthetic plastic surgery, must have a firm foundation on the reconstructive surgery, to better grasp on the basic principle and application of cosmetic/aesthetic plastic surgery. Reconstructive plastic surgery is a prerequisite in training for all plastic surgeons. So plastic surgeons are both an aesthetic/cosmetic surgeon and reconstructive surgeon. You may inquire to your doctor regarding his/her background or training in reconstructive surgery.
4. Who can and should perform cosmetic surgery?
It seems that a lot of medical specialists both surgical and none surgical claims they can do cosmetic/aesthetic surgical procedure. Do not scout and look for the least expensive or the cheapest doctor; take note and value the qualification, training and experience of the doctor you want to consult to. Ask about formal training and the numbers of years of training in the field of aesthetic plastic surgery. It takes a minimum of 6 to 8 years of formal training in big hospital institution to train a plastic surgeon, not just a year or less of preceptor or observer ship in clinics or small hospital, locally or in other country. Do not allow yourself to undergo any procedure in a recreational or residential area. Make sure that the clinic is well equipped, certified and able to fulfill the standards set by any local health authority.
5. How could I know a plastic surgeon from other medical specialty doing cosmetic procedure?
Know your doctor. Inquire about your doctor’s formal training or the institution he/she trained in and the length of time he/ she took the training. Plastic surgeons are those that completed at least six to eight years of formal training in plastic and reconstructive surgery in accredited training hospitals; this includes three to five years of general surgery residency and three years of plastic surgery residency. Reconstructive plastic surgery is a prerequisite in training for all plastic surgeons, since most of the basic principles in cosmetic/aesthetic procedure are derived from reconstructive surgery. So inquire to your doctor regarding his/her background or training in reconstructive surgery. Due to increasing interest in aesthetic surgery by the public and doctors alike, there is a lot of cosmetic procedure being done by non-qualified doctors and even non doctors. Review their credentials, formal training and qualification. Try to visit their website, your surgeon must be able to provide you details of their training and credentials in the field of plastic surgery.
6. How much will the surgery cost and will I be able to afford it?
This is the most frequently asked question in any cosmetic surgery consultation. Patients often select their surgeon, base on the price they offer . In the Philippines, when compared to other country such as the United States, the costs of most cosmetic/aesthetic procedure by certified plastic surgeon are much affordable. Since most of the consultation with a plastic surgeon has the objective and desire for improvement in form and/or function, the success of your surgery is largely dependent on the your choice of surgeon, cost should not be your main concern for your decision to undergo cosmetic surgery. Your surgeon's skills, training and qualification can make all the difference between a good result and one which will require correction and additional expense, and thus it is best to choose a surgeon who has completed a formal residency training program in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
7. How long could I go back to work or resume my daily activity?
Most cosmetic procedure definitely would require you certain amount of time for rest, this will allow you to recuperate from surgery as well as to relax. The amount of time will greatly depend on several factors, such as extent of surgery, age of the patient and other medical condition that should be taken into consideration. For major or medium procedure such as e.g. abdominoplasty, face lift, liposuction ect. this would usually require a hospital confinement of 1 to 3 days, home rest for a few days then patient may be allowed to do light activity. For minor procedure such as eyebag removal, rhinoplasty, ect., patient may be required to rest for 1 to 2 days then may resume light activity after. It would be advisable for you to discuss this extensively with your plastic surgeon if you’re considering to under go a particular cosmetic surgical procedure.
8. Would the scar after surgery be visible and how long would the effect of surgery last?
Majority of incision done in cosmetic plastic procedure are oriented and designed so that the resulting scar will be fine, flat and concealed lying within the natural lines or junction of the face or body. With no or minimal distortion of adjacent anatomic part. The length of time that an effect of a cosmetic surgery would last, will greatly depend on the type of surgical procedure that you undergone and other factors, such as diet and exercise for example will prolonged and improved the result of abdominal liposculpturing procedure. It is advicesable that you discuss this in details with your plastic surgeon. So that you may be aware of the things that may or may not affect your planned cosmetic procedure.
9. Are implant materials safe? What is the current consensus regarding silicon breast implants and its safety?
Implants (Silicon, Gortex, Marlex, and Collagen ect.) come in different materials and physical forms (solid, liquid, smooth of rough) depending on the specific use of the implant. There are several characteristic or property to consider for an implant materials for us to say that it is safe for medical use. These are biological compatibility, nontoxic, nonallergenic, produces no foreign body inflammatory reaction to the body, resistant to microorganism ingrowth, non deformable and could be easily removed when indicated. Most of the implant use for cosmetic procedure nowadays was able to fulfill these criteria. However, their use should be guided by clinical study and your doctor must be aware and able to provide you with this data. A lot of American association and organization had done extensive study with regards to safety of silicon breast implants in cosmetic plastic surgical procedure. According to these researches, there is no evidence or established link between silicon breast implant and human toxicity or disease syndrome. Though it was found that, cancer detection by mammography could be more difficult. However newer innovations in Radiology were discovered that was able to address this problem.
10. Is Botox (Clostridium Botulinum Toxin A) injection safe, could I still move my face after the procedure?
Botox is a sterile and highly purified protein toxin, initially marketed and use for neurologic problems or illness like neuralgia and headache. Now, its use in the field of medical cosmetics has been recognized and well documented. At present it is registered with the US-FDA for the treatment of frown lines. It is a safe treatment modality when used properly in terms of indications and dosing. Botox are commonly used to treat dynamic fine lines of the face such as crow’s feet or smile lines. It is not true that Botox treatment would freeze facial expression; this is a common misconception regarding this treatment modality. We would advice you to discuss this in details with your plastic surgeon.
11. At what age do most people have Cosmetic Surgery? Is there a right age for any Plastic Surgery Procedure?
Aging is an inevitable fact of life. The aging process is affected by multiple factors such as sun exposure, genetics or familial predisposition, work, stress ect.. The age at which a patient may seek cosmetic enhancement procedure will depend time of onset, of the signs of ageing or bodily changes brought about by physiologic cycles such as pregnancy. These signs could be in the form of skin laxity, redundancy, striae, lost of soft tissue volume ect.. Ageing usually start to manifest as early as 3rd decade of life or even earlier in patients with risk for premature ageing syndrome ( e.g. Cutis Laxa). The average age of patients receiving Cosmetic Surgical procedure is 40 years old. But there procedure that are commonly requested by the younger age population, like breast augmentation, Rhinoplasty and liposuction. And there also procedure that is commonly requested by the older age group, these are face lift, breast lift, blepharoplasty and Botox. There is no such thing as right age for a patient to undergo a plastic surgical procedure. This will depend on the individual indication of each procedure and the specific concern of the patient. But all patients must be individualized, since there is no standard cosmetic procedure that is applicable for all. Your doctor/surgeon must be knowledgeable of the various indication and contraindication of each cosmetic procedure he has to offer you, as well as his limitation.
12. Do I need anesthesia for a Plastic Surgery Procedure ?
Cosmetic Surgery could be a worthwhile experience for every patient seeking surgical enhancement. Almost all cosmetic plastic surgical procedure would require some form of local or general anesthesia, depending on the extent of the procedure, risk factor, comfortability of the patient and preference of the plastic surgeon. I would be advisable for you to discuss this extensively with your surgeon.
13. How many cosmetic procedure could I have at the same time ?
There are procedures that can be done with another procedure, but there is certain plastic operation that is best done alone. This will depend on the extent of the procedure. medical risk factor of the patient, surgeon’s skills and the physical set up of the facility to which the procedure will be done. Multiple procedures are done at the surgeon’s discretion. There are also advantage and disadvantage in combining procedure and doing it separately. It would be best for you to consult this in detail with your plastic surgeon.
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