Aesthetic Surgery
Plastic surgery has two main components: reconstructive plastic surgery which is all about restoring function and appearance to the human body after illness or accident and aesthetic (often called “cosmetic”) plastic surgery, which is primarily to change the appearance from choice. Unlike most surgical specialties that are defined by an anatomical area, plastic surgery is defined by the surgical techniques that are carried out.
Tummy Tuck
Abdominoplasty
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, removes excess fat and skin and restores weakened muscles to create a smoother, firmer abdominal profile.
01.
Who is a good candidate for tummy tuck surgery?
A tummy tuck is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
In general, you may be a good tummy tuck candidate if:
-
You are physically healthy and at a stable weight
-
You have realistic expectations
-
You are a nonsmoker
-
You are bothered by the appearance of your abdomen
03.
How should I prepare for a tummy tuck?
In preparing for tummy tuck surgery, you may be asked to:
-
Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
-
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
-
Stop smoking
-
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
A tummy tuck may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, licensed ambulatory surgical center or a hospital.
If your tummy tuck is performed on an outpatient basis, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
05.
What results should I expect after a tummy tuck?
The final results of tummy tuck surgery may be initially obscured by swelling and your inability to stand fully upright until internal healing is complete.
Within a week or two, you should be standing tall and confident in your new slimmer profile. Your tummy tuck will result in a flatter, firmer abdominal contour that is more proportionate with your body type and weight.
02.
What are the risks of tummy tuck surgery?
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of tummy tuck surgery are acceptable.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks.
Tummy tuck risks include:
-
Anesthesia risks
-
Asymmetry
-
Bleeding
-
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
-
Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
-
Fluid accumulation (seroma)
-
Infection
-
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
-
Persistent pain
-
Poor wound healing
-
Possibility of revisional surgery
-
Recurrent looseness of skin
-
Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
-
Skin loss
-
Suboptimal aesthetic result
-
Unfavorable scarring
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It's important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
04.
What should I expect during my tummy tuck recovery?
During your tummy tuck recovery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and you may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling and support your abdomen as it heals following surgery.
Small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include:
-
How to care for the surgical site and drains
-
Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
-
Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
-
When to follow up with your plastic surgeon
Arm Lift
Brachioplasty
An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, reshapes the under portion of the upper arm from the underarm region to the elbow.
01.
What is an arm lift?
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that:
-
Reduces excess sagging skin that droops downward
-
Tightens and smoothes the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm
-
Reduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region
Fluctuations in weight, growing older and heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. This is a condition that cannot be corrected through exercise.
Arm lift surgery may be right for you if the underside of your upper arms are sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat.
03.
How should I prepare for arm lift surgery?
In preparing for arm lift surgery, you may be asked to:
-
Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
-
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
-
Stop smoking
-
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
Arm lift surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, ambulatory surgical center or a hospital. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery, and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
05.
What should I expect during my arm lift recovery?
During your recovery from arm lift surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling following surgery.
A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid.
You will be given specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing, specific concerns to look for and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
02.
Who is a good candidate for arm lift surgery?
In general, arm lift candidates include:
-
Adults with significant upper arm skin laxity
-
Adults of any age whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight
-
Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
-
Nonsmokers
-
Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations
04.
What are the risks of arm lift surgery?
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you'll have to decide if the benefits, risks and potential complications of arm lift surgery are acceptable.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure.
Arm lift surgery risks include:
-
Anesthesia risks
-
Bleeding
-
Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels and muscles
-
Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
-
Fluid accumulation (seroma)
-
Infection
-
Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
-
Pain, which may persist
-
Poor wound healing
-
Possible need for revisional surgery
-
Sutures may not absorb, but spontaneously surface through the skin, causing irritation, drainage and redness
-
Unsightly scarring
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It's important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
06.
What results should I expect after arm lift surgery?
The smoother, tighter contours that result from arm lift surgery are apparent almost immediately following your procedure. Initial results will be obscured by swelling and bruising, and a scar will remain where the incision was made.
Breast Augmentation
Augmentation Mammaplasty
Breast augmentation, sometimes referred to as a "boob job" by patients, involves using breast implants or fat transfer to enhance your breasts.
01.
What is breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation, sometimes referred to as a "breast aug" or "boob job" by patients, involves using breast implants or fat transfer to increase the size of your breasts. This procedure can also restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy, achieve a more rounded breast shape or improve natural breast size asymmetry.
03.
What are the risks of breast augmentation?
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.
Possible breast augmentation surgery risks include:
-
Anesthesia risks
-
Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL)
-
Bleeding
-
Changes in nipple or breast sensation
-
Fluid accumulation (seroma)
-
Formation of tight scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture)
-
Hematoma
-
Implant leakage or rupture
-
Infection
-
Persistent pain
-
Poor scarring
-
Possibility of revision surgery
-
Wrinkling of the skin over the implant
-
Wrong or faulty position of the implant
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
05.
What is breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation, sometimes referred to as a "breast aug" or "boob job" by patients, involves using breast implants or fat transfer to increase the size of your breasts. This procedure can also restore breast volume lost after weight reduction or pregnancy, achieve a more rounded breast shape or improve natural breast size asymmetry.
02.
Who is a good candidate for breast augmentation?
Breast augmentation is a deeply personal procedure, and it's important that you're doing it for yourself and not for someone else, even if that person has offered to pay for it. Patient satisfaction is high, specifically when they want the procedure themselves.
You may be a candidate for breast augmentation if:
-
You are physically healthy and you aren't pregnant or breastfeeding
-
You have realistic expectations
-
Your breasts are fully developed
-
You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too small
-
You are dissatisfied with your breasts losing shape and volume after pregnancy, weight loss or with aging
-
You are unhappy with the upper part of your breast appearing "empty"
-
Your breasts are asymmetrical
-
One or both breasts failed to develop normally or have an elongated shape
04.
How should I prepare for breast augmentation?
In preparing for breast augmentation, you may be asked to:
-
Get a blood test
-
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
-
Stop smoking
-
Avoid taking aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory drugs as they can increase bleeding
-
Stop taking recreational drugs, such as cocaine
Breast augmentation surgery should be performed in an accredited outpatient or ambulatory surgical center or a hospital. This is for your safety. If your surgeon has an informal setting, he or she may not be a board-certified plastic surgeon.
If your breast augmentation is performed on an outpatient basis, arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
06.
What results should I expect after breast augmentation surgery?
While a breast augmentation yields larger breasts right away, the final results may take a few weeks as the swelling subsides and the skin stretches. Some patients may need to wear a bandeau to help shape their breasts, especially if they have underlying asymmetry or very small breasts to start with. Incision lines may take several months, even a couple of years, to fade.
Breast Lift
Mastopexy
A breast lift, also known as mastopexy, raises the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue to create a more youthful breast contour.
01.
Who is a good candidate for breast lift surgery?
You may be a candidate for breast lift surgery if:
-
You are physically healthy and maintain a stable weight
-
You do not smoke
-
You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts sag or have lost shape and volume
-
Your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous
-
When unsupported, your nipples fall below the breast crease
-
Your nipples and areolas point downward
-
You have stretched skin and enlarged areolas
-
One breast is lower than the other
03.
How should I prepare for breast lift surgery?
In preparing for breast lift surgery, you may be asked to:
-
Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
-
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
-
Get a baseline mammogram before surgery and another one after surgery to help detect any future changes in your breast tissue
-
Stop smoking
-
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
Breast lift surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical center, outpatient or ambulatory surgical facility or a hospital.
Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
02.
What are the risks of breast lift surgery?
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of breast lift surgery are acceptable.
Breast lift risks include:
-
Anesthesia risks
-
Bleeding or hematoma formation
-
Breast asymmetry
-
Breast contour and shape irregularities
-
Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or permanent
-
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
-
Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
-
Fluid accumulation
-
Infection
-
Poor healing of incisions
-
Possibility of revisional surgery
-
Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
04.
What should I expect during my breast lift recovery?
During your breast lift recovery, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions after the procedure is completed.
You'll need to wear an elastic bandage or support bra to minimize swelling and support your breasts as they heal.
A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.You will be given specific instructions that may include:
-
How to care for your breasts following surgery
-
Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
-
Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
-
When to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
Be sure to ask your plastic surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your individual breast lift recovery period.
Gynecomastia Surgery
Male Breast Reduction Surgery
Gynecomastia surgery reduces breast size in men, flattening and enhancing the chest contours.
In severe cases of gynecomastia, the weight of excess breast tissue may cause the breasts to sag and stretch the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). In these cases the position and size of the areola can be surgically improved and excess skin may be reduced.
Plastic surgery to correct gynecomastia is technically called reduction mammaplasty.
01.
Who is a good candidate for gynecomastia surgery?
Gynecomastia surgery candidates include:
-
Men whose condition cannot be corrected through alternative medical treatments
-
Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
-
Nonsmokers and non-drug users
-
Men with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for improving the physical symptoms of gynecomastia
-
Men who are physically healthy and of relatively normal weight
-
Men who have realistic expectations
-
Men whose breast development has stabilized
-
Men who are bothered by the feeling that their breasts are too large
Adolescents may benefit from surgery, although secondary procedures may be needed in the future should breast development continue.
03.
How should I prepare for gynecomastia surgery?
In preparing for gynecomastia surgery, you may be asked to:
-
Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
-
Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
-
Stop smoking
-
Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding
The success and safety of your gynecomastia procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You'll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.
Male breast reduction surgery may be performed in an accredited, office-based surgical facility, licensed ambulatory surgical center or a hospital. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.
02.
What are the risks of gynecomastia surgery?
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of gynecomastia surgery are acceptable.
Gynecomastia surgery risks include:
-
Anesthesia risks
-
Bleeding (hematoma)
-
Blood clots
-
Breast asymmetry
-
Breast contour and shape irregularities
-
Changes in nipple or breast sensation may be temporary or permanent
-
Damage to deeper structures – such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles and lungs – can occur and may be temporary or permanent
-
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
-
Fatty tissue found in the breast might die (fat necrosis)
-
Fluid accumulation (seroma)
-
Infection
-
Persistent pain
-
Poor wound healing
-
Possibility of revision surgery
-
Reactions to tape, suture materials, glues, topical preparations or injected agents
-
Unfavorable scarring
04.
What should I expect during my gynecomastia surgery recovery?
During your gynecomastia surgery recovery period, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions and an elastic bandage or support garment may be used to minimize swelling and support your new chest contour as it heals after surgery.
A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
Rhinoplasty
Nose Surgery
Rhinoplasty, sometimes referred to as a "nose job" or "nose reshaping" by patients, enhances facial harmony and the proportions of your nose. It can also correct impaired breathing caused by structural defects in the nose.
01.
What rhinoplasty can treat?
-
Nose size in relation to facial balance
-
Nose width at the bridge or in the size and position of the nostrils
-
Nose profile with visible humps or depressions on the bridge
-
Nasal tip that is enlarged or bulbous, drooping, upturned or hooked
-
Nostrils that are large, wide or upturned
-
Nasal asymmetry
If you desire a more symmetrical nose, keep in mind that everyone's face is asymmetric to some degree. Results may not be completely symmetric, although the goal is to create facial balance and correct proportion.
03.
What should I expect during my rhinoplasty recovery?
-
During your rhinoplasty recovery, a splint and/or packing may be placed inside your nose and a splint or bandages placed on the outside to support and protect the new structures during initial healing.
-
While initial swelling subsides within a few weeks, it may take up to a year for your new nasal contour to fully refine. During this time you may notice gradual changes in the appearance of your nose as it refines to a more permanent outcome.
-
Swelling may come and go and worsen in the morning during the first year following your rhinoplasty surgery.
-
You will be given specific instructions that may include:
-
How to care for the surgical site
-
Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
-
Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
-
When to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
02.
What are the risks of rhinoplasty?
-
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of rhinoplasty are acceptable.
-
Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks or potential complications.
-
Rhinoplasty surgery risks include:
-
Anesthesia risks
-
Change in skin sensation (numbness or pain)
-
Difficulty breathing
-
Infection
-
Nasal septal perforation (a hole in the nasal septum) is rare. Additional surgical treatment may be necessary to repair the septum but it may be impossible to correct this complication
-
Poor wound healing or scarring
-
Possibility of revisional surgery
-
Skin discoloration and swelling
-
Unsatisfactory nasal appearance
-
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
04.
Who is a good candidate for rhinoplasty?
-
Rhinoplasty is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Liposuction
Lipoplasty
Liposuction, sometimes referred to as "lipo" by patients, slims and reshapes specific areas of the body by removing excess fat deposits and improving your body contours and proportion.
01.
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
Liposuction is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
In general, good candidates for a liposuction include:
-
Adults within 30% of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone
-
Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
-
Nonsmokers
-
Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring
If you are bothered by excess fat deposits located anywhere on your body that don't respond to diet or exercise, liposuction may be right for you.
03.
What should I expect during my liposuction recovery?
During your liposuction recovery, a compression garment or elastic bandages may cover treatment areas once your procedure is completed. These help to control swelling and compress the skin to your new body contours.
In addition, small temporary drains may be placed in existing incisions beneath the skin to remove any excess blood or fluid.
You will be given specific instructions that may include:
-
How to care for the surgical site and drains
-
Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
-
Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
-
When to follow up with your plastic surgeon
-
What liposuction can treat
-
Abdomen
-
Ankles
-
Arms
-
Buttocks
-
Cheeks
-
Chin
-
Hips
-
Knees
-
Neck
-
Thighs
-
Upper arms
-
Waist
-
Liposuction can be performed alone or along with other plastic surgery procedures, such as a facelift, breast reduction or a tummy tuck.
-
What liposuction can't do
-
Liposuction is not a treatment for obesity or a substitute for proper diet and exercise.
-
It is also not an effective treatment for cellulite—the dimpled skin that typically appears on the thighs, hips and buttocks—or loose saggy skin.
02.
What are the risks of liposuction?
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications of liposuction are acceptable.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure and any risks and potential complications.
Liposuction risks include:
-
Anesthesia risks
-
Bruising
-
Change in skin sensation that may persist
-
Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, lungs and abdominal organs
-
Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
-
Fluid accumulation
-
Infection
-
Irregular contours or asymmetries
-
Irregular pigmentation
-
Need for revision surgery
-
Persistent swelling
-
Poor wound healing
-
Rippling or loose skin, worsening of cellulite
-
Swelling
-
Thermal burn or heat injury from ultrasound with the ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty technique
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.
04.
What results should I expect after liposuction?
Liposuction is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else's desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Who is a good candidate for liposuction?
In general, good candidates for a liposuction include:
-
Adults within 30% of their ideal weight who have firm, elastic skin and good muscle tone
-
Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
-
Nonsmokers
-
Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for body contouring
If you are bothered by excess fat deposits located anywhere on your body that don't respond to diet or exercise, liposuction may be right for you.