Points to consider about facial cosmetic plastic surgery
| General Considerations | Medications | Activities |
| Medical Photography |

General Considerations

Results in any form of plastic surgery depend not only on the skill and experience of the surgeon, but also on the health, skin texture, bone structure, and healing capacity and the particular problem of the patient. "Those who expect miracles or magic from plastic surgery, risk disappointment." It is necessary for those undergoing such surgery to have a sensible attitude, emotional maturity and to understand that "improvement is a more realistic goal than is perfection". The media has repeatedly given to the public much information regarding cosmetic surgery but unfortunately, in most instances, it has added unnecessary sensationalism. This may have encouraged some patients to expect a miraculous transformation or to seek absolute perfection. Such patients are not suitable candidates for cosmetic facial surgery. On the other hand, a surgeon who does not strive for absolute perfection by paying meticulous attention to every detail may not be a suitable choice.

We must not forget that facial cosmetic surgery has to combine art and science together with aesthetics as the measure of a successful result. In choosing the surgeon, it is essential to be sure that he not only has manual skill and artistic imagination but also the scientific understanding of the function of the body parts which will be surgically altered. While he will make every effort to satisfy the patient's individual expectations, it should be understood that sometimes the patient's desires are surgically unattainable. Therefore, the patient must ultimately trust the professional judgment of the surgeon "for only he can evaluate artistic goals within the framework of functional anatomic limitations".

The practice of surgery is based on a thorough knowledge of the basic medical sciences and clinical problems that require many years of studying, practice and constant efforts of self improvement, revision and comparison of results on the part of the surgeon. It also involves, however, many factors which are impossible to predict, such as the patient's ability to heal and to resist complications. For this reason "it would be unethical for any physician to guarantee the results of any treatment he renders or operations he performs. He can only guarantee to do the best he can to help the patient".

The amount of pain and discomfort following facial surgery varies with the type of operation and the individual patient's sensitivity. Generally, a small quantity of pain-killing medication is necessary. Recovery after some operations is painless. The patient is incapacitated to some extent following these operations and he or she must be mature enough to tolerate the discomfort, realizing that it is only temporary. Cosmetic operations would not be so popular today if the risks were substantial. Complications are rare but they do exist. I will answer any questions with regard to the specific risk of any operation you are contemplating, during your office consultation.

All wounds heal by scar formation. The surgeon has little control over this process after the operation has been performed. However, the incisions for various cosmetic procedures are carefully designed in order to make the scars inconspicuous.

Cosmetic surgery constitutes a purely elective procedure. "It is not an emergency or medically necessary treatment" and the fees are payable before surgery. The operation can be planned well in advance, enabling the patient to have sufficient time to arrange his or her finances.

"Payment in advance does two things: it assures the surgeon that the patient is not undertaking elective surgery he/she cannot afford at the time and it assures the patient that his/her surgical fee for that particular operation, and the usual post-operative care is paid in full, and there will be no unexpected additional charges by the surgeon.

The surgical fee in some instances will differ for a similar operation depending on the amount of work required. Please be sure to discuss the particulars of your payment with me personally.

Health insurance does not cover the costs of cosmetic surgery. Sometimes, when a cosmetic improvement is the by product of another operation or part of it is designed to improve function or relieve symptoms, the insurance company may contribute towards the expenses to some degree.

 

 

Points To Consider About Facial Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic facial surgery is designed mainly to enhance one's appearance by camouflaging the signs of aging or by changing unsightly anatomy in order to bring harmony to all of the facial features.

The face and neck show signs of aging earlier than other parts of the body, therefore cosmetic facial surgery is the most commonly sought after service in our youth-oriented society.

During the last two centuries, hair styles and fashion have been changing rapidly but the image of beautiful facial features has remained the same. It is not uncommon to see a girl or woman who would be quite beautiful were it not for the shape of her nose. Nasal plastic surgery constitutes a large portion of cosmetic facial operations and is performed on many young people and frequently on aging patients in conjunction with facial and eye rejuvenating procedures.

Cosmetic facial surgery is not limited to women alone. It is becoming increasingly popular with men, particularly those active in business and public life, so that they may remove the "tired look" caused by the aging of skin. There are those who also request a consultation with a facial cosmetic surgeon although they feel that they have a reasonably attractive look. In such instances skillful, but not extensive, surgery can further enhance the individual's appearance. This publication has been prepared to give general information to those considering such operations. It is intended to give you true facts with emphasis on limitations so that you may gain a realistic and untouched picture. If you have been misinformed through nonscientific sources about the "miracles" of plastic surgery, I want to disappoint you before you make your decision to become my or anybody else's patient. If you have little information, I wish to share with you the truth about the work of a facial cosmetic surgeon.

In discussing various cosmetic procedures, only the most common principles are outlined. There are variations and only during a consultation will the patient's individual problems be carefully evaluated and clarified.

Plastic surgery is performed on all parts of the body, not only on the head and neck. There are plastic surgeons who practice their art on virtually any region of the body (hands, buttocks, thighs, breast, etc). There are also regional plastic surgeons who confine their interest to a particular area only, such as the face and neck. This specialization can be compared with the general trend in medicine where you will find experts in internal medicine, pelvic surgery, brain surgery or orthopedic surgery, just to name a few.

A great deal of research and postgraduate training of already fully qualified surgeons has been taking place under the auspices of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery since its foundation in 1964. A sister organization of specialist surgeons, the Canadian Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, was established in 1980.

I would like to emphasize to all my patients contemplating plastic surgery that I perform only facial cosmetic plastic surgery - I do not perform general plastic surgery.

All the patients shown on this web site are examples of my own work.

 

 

Medications

Please make sure you report, during the pre-operative consultation, all the medications you are taking.

Any medicine containing aspirin (enquire with your druggist if necessary) must be discontinued or substituted by your family doctor for two weeks before the operation and at least one week after the surgery.

Birth Control pills or any medication containing sex hormones (used for menopause or after gynecological operations) must be discontinued for two months after a chemical peel, laser skin resurfacing or dermabrasion, in order to decrease the risk of hyperpigmentation of the treated skin. You can continue with these medications for any other type of facial surgery.

Post-surgical depression is not unusual and is unrelated to the course or outcome of your surgery. It is not profound and dissipates within three to ten days without medication.

 

Activities

Strenuous exercise and heavy work (lifting and moving heavy objects) must be delayed until the third post-operative month. Some activities may gradually be commenced during the sixth post-operative week. This will vary with the type of surgery carried out.

Getting out of bed and walking around as soon as the sense of balance returns to normal speeds up the recovery process.

Avoid prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions (i.e. sunshine or frost) during the first eight months after surgery.

 

 

Medical photography

All patients undergoing facial cosmetic surgery are required to have medical photographs taken. The purpose of medical photography is multiple. The photographs provide accurate documentation of the appearance of the part of the body that will undergo surgery. Although the surgeon examines the patients in his office on more than one occasion, the photographs are necessary for him to do his " homework" the day before the operation. For those who are interested, for an additional fee, digital computer imaging is also available. The photographs are also displayed on a screen in the operating room during surgery for easy reference. They show the patient's features affected by the force of gravity in an upright position. Some of these features change considerably while the patient is lying on his or her back on the operating table.