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The First Steps
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Cosmetic surgery has become a part of our society. Not just for
the rich and famous any more !
If you're considering cosmetic plastic surgery,
please ask your plastic surgeon for further information about the
particular procedure and what you expect.
In addition, please note that all surgery carries
some uncertainty and risk, including the possibility of infection,
bleeding, blood clots, and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. You
can reduce your risks by choosing a qualified plastic surgeon and
closely following their advice, both before and after surgery.
You should understand that the circumstances and
experience of every individual will be unique. We do not offer a surgery consultation service,
please seek a medical practitioner for advice.
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Choosing a Surgeon
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Always
verify the physician’s medical license, certifications and their
professional society memberships.
Ask about
the surgeon’s medical education and training specifically to cosmetic
surgery. How often have they perform the procedure you are considering
and what do they specialize in ?
Ask for
referrals from other client and see before and after pictures of his
work.
Don’t be
afraid to consult with more than one cosmetic surgeon, and discuss the
surgeons techniques and your expectations
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BREAST
LIFT
(Mastopexy)
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Procedure: |
Enhance the size of
breasts using inflatable implants filled with saline. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary soreness,
swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breast sensitive
to stimulation for a few weeks. |
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Risks: |
Lack of implant
permanence -- surgical removal or replacement of the implants may
be required to treat problems, including: deflation; the formation
of scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture), which
may cause the breast to feel tight or hard; bleeding or infection.
Increase or decrease in sensitivity of nipples or breast skin,
occasionally permanent. Mammography requires a special technique. (Note:
Some women have reported symptoms similar to those of immune
disorders. Ask your doctor about these and other FDA concerns.) |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: a
few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4 weeks. Fading
of scars: several months to a year or more. |
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Duration
of
Results: |
Variable. Implants may
require removal or replacement. |
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BREAST
ENLARGEMENT
(Augmentation Mammaplasty)
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Procedure: |
Enhance the size of
breasts using inflatable implants filled with saline. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary soreness,
swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breast sensitive
to stimulation for a few weeks. |
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Risks: |
Lack of implant
permanence -- surgical removal or replacement of the implants may
be required to treat problems, including: deflation; the formation
of scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture), which
may cause the breast to feel tight or hard; bleeding or infection.
Increase or decrease in sensitivity of nipples or breast skin,
occasionally permanent. Mammography requires a special technique. (Note:
Some women have reported symptoms similar to those of immune
disorders. Ask your doctor about these and other FDA concerns.) |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: a
few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4 weeks. Fading
of scars: several months to a year or more. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Variable. Implants may
require removal or replacement |
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MALE BREAST REDUCTION
(Gynecomastia)
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Procedure: |
Reduce enlarged, female-like breast in men using liposuction
and/or cutting out excess glandular tissue. (Sometimes covered by
medical insurance.) |
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Length: |
1 hour or more. |
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Anesthesia: |
General or local. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning
sensation. |
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Risks: |
Infection. Fluid accumulation. Injury to the skin. Rippling or
bagginess of skin. Asymmetry. Pigmentation changes (may become
permanent if exposed to sun). Excessive scarring if tissue was cut
away. Need for second procedure to remove additional tissue. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 3 to 7 days. More strenuous activity: 2 to 3
weeks. Swelling and bruising: 3 to 6 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
permanent |
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CHEMICAL PEEL (Phenol and trichloroacetic acid [TCA])
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Procedure: |
Restore wrinkled,
blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a
chemical solution to peel away skin's top layers. Works best on
fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours for full
face. |
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Anesthesia: |
None; sedation & EKG
monitoring may be used. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient.
Full-face phenol peel may require admission for 1 to 2 days. |
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Side Effects: |
Both: Temporary
throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute sensitivity to sun.
Phenol: Permanent lightening of treated skin; permanent loss of
ability to tan. |
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Risks: |
Both: Tiny
whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin
allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. Phenol: Abnormal
color changes (permanent); heart irregularities (rare). |
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Recovery: |
Phenol: Formation
of new skin: 7 to 21 days. Normal activities: 2 to 4 weeks.
Full healing and fading of redness: 3 to 6 months
TCA: New skin within 5 to 10 days. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Phenol:
permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages. TCA:
variable (temporary). |
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DERMABRASION
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Procedure: |
Mechanical scraping of
the top layers of skin using a high-speed rotary wheel. Softens
sharp edges of surface irregularities, including acne and other
scars and fine wrinkles, especially around the mouth. |
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Length: |
A few minutes to 1
hour. May require more than 1 session. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local, numbing spray,
or general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary tingling,
burning, itching, swelling, redness. Lightening of treated skin.
Acute sensitivity to sun; loss of ability to make pigment (tan). |
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Risks: |
Abnormal color changes
(permanent). Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring;
flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 2 weeks.
More strenuous activities: 4 to 6 weeks. Fading of
redness: about 3 months. Return of pigmentation/sun exposure: 6
to 12 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent, although
new wrinkles may form as skin ages. |
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EAR SURGERY (Otoplasty)
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Procedure: |
Set prominent ears back
closer to the head, or reduce the size of large ears. Most often
done on children between the ages of 4 and 14 years. (Occasionally
covered by insurance.) |
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Length: |
2 to 3
hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Young children: usually
general. Older children or adults: general or local, with
sedation. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary throbbing,
aching, swelling, redness, numbness. |
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Risks: |
Infection of cartilage.
Excessive scarring. Blood clot that may need to be drained.
Mismatched or artificial- looking ears. Recurrence of the
protrusion, requiring repeat surgery. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work or
school: 5 to 7 days.
Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Usually permanent |
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EYE LID SURGERY (Blepharoplasty)
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Procedure: |
Correct drooping upper eyelids and
puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and
muscle. (Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if
used to correct visual field defects) |
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Length: |
1 to 3 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Usually locally with sedation or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary discomfort, tightness of
lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of
eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for first few weeks. |
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Risks: |
Temporary blurred or double vision.
Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the eyelids. Dry
eyes. Formation of whiteheads. Slight asymmetry in healing or
scarring. Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely
permanent). Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further
surgery). Blindness (extremely rare). |
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Recovery: |
Reading: 2 or 3 days. Back to work:
7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or more. Strenuous
activities, alcohol: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling
gone: several weeks. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Several years. Sometimes permanent. |
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FACE LIFT (Rhytidectomy)
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Procedure: |
Improving sagging
facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat,
tightening muscles, redraping skin. Most often done on men and
women over 40. |
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Length: |
Several hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation,
or general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient.
Some patients may require short inpatient stay. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising,
swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry
skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where
beard-growing skin is repositioned. |
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Risks: |
Injury to the nerves
that control facial muscles or feeling (usually temporary but
may be permanent). Infection, bleeding. Poor healing; excessive
scarring. Asymmetry or change in hairline. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 10 to 14
days. More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising:
2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Usually 5 to 10 years. |
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FACIAL IMPLANTS
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Procedure: |
Change the basic shape
and balance of the face using carefully shaped implants to build
up a receding chin, add prominence to cheekbones, or reshape the
jawline. |
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Length: |
30 minutes to 2 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient.
Occasionally overnight hospital stay. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary discomfort,
swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness. In jaw surgery,
inability to open mouth fully for several weeks. |
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Risks: |
Shifting or imprecise
positioning of implant, or infection around it, requiring a second
operation or removal. Excess tightening and hardening of scar
tissue around an artificial implant ("capsular contracture"),
causing unnatural shape. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: about 1
week. Normal appearance: 2 to 4 weeks. Activity that could jar or
bump face: 6 weeks or more. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent. |
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FORHEAD
LIFT (Browlift)
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Procedure: |
Minimize forehead
creases, drooping eyebrows, hooding over eyes, furrowed forehead
and frown lines by removing excess tissue, altering muscles and
tightening the forehead skin. May be done using the traditional
technique, with an incision across the top of the head just behind
the hairline; or with the use of an endoscope, which
requires 3 to 5 short incisions. Most often done on people over 40 |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary swelling,
numbness, headaches, bruising. Traditional method: Possible
itching and hair loss. |
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Risks: |
Injury to facial nerve,
causing loss of motion, muscle weakness, or asymmetrical look.
Infection. Broad or excessive scarring. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 7
to 10 days, usually sooner for endoscopic forehead lift. More
strenuous activity: several weeks. Full recovery from
bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Limit sun exposure for several months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Usually 5 to 10 years |
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HAIR REPLACEMENT SURGERY
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Procedure: |
Fill in balding areas
with a patient's own hair using a variety of techniques
including scalp reduction, tissue expansion, strip grafts, scalp
flaps, or clusters of punch grafts (plugs, miniplugs and
microplugs). Works best on men with male pattern baldness after
hair loss has stopped. |
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Length: |
1 to 3 hours. Some
techniques may require multiple procedures over 18 months or
more. |
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Anesthesia: |
Usually local with
sedation. Flaps and tissue expansion may be done with general
anesthesia. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary achy, tight
scalp. Unnatural look in early stages. |
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Risks: |
Unnatural look.
Infection. Excessive scarring. Failure to "take." Loss
of scalp tissue and/or transplanted hair. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: usually
2 to 5 days. More strenuous activities: 10 days to 3
weeks. Final look: may be 18 months or more,
depending on procedure. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent. |
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LASER FACIAL RESURFACING
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Procedure: |
Smooth the face and
smooth fine wrinkles using a carbon dioxide (CO2)
laser device that treats layers of damaged skin. Softens lines
around the eyes and mouth and minimizes facial scars and
unevenly pigmented areas. |
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Length: |
A few minutes to 1
hour. May require more than 1 session. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation,
or general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient,
unless combined with other surgical procedures that require
hospitalization. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary swelling,
discomfort. Lightening of treated skin. Acute sun sensitivity.
Increased sensitivity to makeup. Pinkness or redness in skin
that may persist for up to 6 months. |
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Risks: |
Burns or injuries
caused by laser heat. Scarring. Abnormal changes in skin color.
Flare-up of viral infections ("cold sores") and other
infections (rare). |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 2 weeks.
More strenuous activities: 4-6 weeks. Complete fading of
redness: 6 months or less. Return of pigmentation/light sun
exposure: 6-12 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Long-lasting, but does
not stop aging. New wrinkles, expression lines may form as skin
ages. |
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LIPOSUCTION
(Suction-Assisted Lipectomy)
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Procedure: |
Improve body shape by
removing exercise-resistant fat deposits with a tube and vacuum
device. Can be performed using the tumescent technique,
in which targeted fat cells are infused with saline containing
solution with a local anesthetic before liposuction to reduce
post-operative bruising and swelling. Common locations for
liposuction include chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above
breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles.
For larger volumes of fat or for fibrous body areas, ultrasound-assisted
lipoplasty (UAL) may be used. UAL is a new technique in
which a ultrasound probe is inserted beneath the skin to "liquify"
the fat before it is suctioned. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours or more. UAL:
20-40 percent longer than traditional liposuction. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local, epidural, or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient.
Extensive procedures may require short inpatient stay. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising,
swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation. Tumescent:
Temporary fluid drainage from incision sites. UAL: Larger
incisions for cannula. |
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Risks: |
Asymmetry. Rippling or
bagginess of skin. Pigmentation changes. Skin injury. Fluid
retention. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Infection. UAL:
thermal burn injury caused by the heat from the ultrasound
device. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 1 to 2
weeks. More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks. Full recovery from
swelling and bruising: 1 to 6 months or more. Use of tumescent
technique or UAL may decrease post-operative bruising and
swelling. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent, with
sensible diet and exercise. |
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NOSE
SURGERY (Rhinoplasty)
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Procedure: |
Reshape nose by
reducing or increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of
tip or bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle
between nose and upper lip. May also relieve some breathing
problems. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours or more. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation,
or general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary swelling,
bruising around eyes, nose and headaches. Some bleeding and
stiffness. |
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Risks: |
Infection. Small burst
blood vessels resulting in tiny, permanent red spots. Incomplete
improvement, requiring additional surgery. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 1 to 2
weeks. More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid
hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks. Final appearance: 1
year or more. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent |
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TUMMY
TUCK (Abdominoplasty)
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Procedure: |
Flatten abdomen by
removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of abdominal
wall. |
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Length: |
2 to 5 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
General, or local with
sedation. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Either depending on
individual circumstances and extent of surgery. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary pain.
Swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising,
tiredness for several weeks or months. |
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Risks: |
Blood clots. Infection.
Bleeding under the skin flap. Poor healing resulting in
conspicuous scarring or skin loss. Need for a second operation. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 2
to 4 weeks. More strenuous activity: 4 to 6 weeks or more.
Fading and flattening of scars: 3 months to 2 years. |
The information about cosmetic surgery on this site should not
be construed as, or take the place of, qualified medical advice. Any decision
regarding cosmetic surgery should be made only after consultation with an
accredited doctor with proven experience in this specialized field.
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