Is There Plastic Surgery for the Arms?
Given all the attention to having a flatter belly, firmer breasts, and fuller buttocks, you may not have considered the idea of plastic surgery for the arms.
Then again, you may have. Particularly if you find yourself dodging sleeveless clothing or covering up on the beach to avoid exposing the loose and saggy skin under your arms.
While liposuction can do the trick where there is minimal sagging and good skin laxity, plastic surgery is the best approach for more advanced cases. And it’s highly effective.
What Is Plastic Surgery for the Arms?
You might be quite trim. You eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. Yet, no matter how many times you hit the arm weights each week, you’re still noticing that ‘batwing’ effect. And yes, it’s frustrating.
In these cases where aging and/or weight loss have left saggy upper arms that are disproportionately wider in circumference than the remainder of the arm, diet and exercise are not going to be a fix. This is when plastic surgeons will typically recommend brachioplasty.
Known more simply as an arm lift, brachioplasty removes the excess skin and fat that hangs from the upper arms. The end result is a sleeker, more toned upper arm with no more sagging skin or irregular bulges.
The Brachioplasty Procedure
Brachioplasty is generally done on an outpatient basis and under either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Your board-certified plastic surgeon will discuss the best option for your specific needs.
Once you are adequately sedated, your surgeon will begin with an incision either inside the arm or on the back of the arm. The incision length and pattern vary from patient to patient depending on how much excess skin needs to be removed and where it’s located.
Your plastic surgeon will do everything in his or her power to limit the incisions and scarring as much as possible. However, in cases where there is a lot of excess skin and fat, a longer incision may be required. And while this will leave a scar, it will fade significantly over time.
Regardless of the incision, excess fat is either directly excised or removed through liposuction. From there, underlying tissue is tightened and then reshaped using internal sutures. Then the skin is smoothed over the resulting toned contour.
Finally, incisions are closed with either absorbable sutures or with stitches that will need to be removed within a week or two of the procedure.
What to Expect During Recovery
First, plan to take at least a few days to a week off from work to facilitate your recovery. Particularly if you have a very physical job.
As with any surgery, you will likely feel some soreness for the first few days so your surgeon will prescribe pain medication to provide comfort as you heal.
You may also notice some swelling and bruising for the first week or so after the procedure. It’s important that you wear the prescribed compression garment to offset this and promote quicker healing.
Finally, you’ll want to avoid any heavy lifting or vigorous exercise until the incisions are fully healed. After that, you are good to go to the gym or the beach or anywhere else you want to show off your gorgeous new arms!
Are You Interested in Brachioplasty?
With the huge array of other confidence-boosting cosmetic procedures available, it only makes sense there would be plastic surgery for the arms.
So if you’re frustrated with jiggly upper arms that don’t get any more toned with diet and exercise, contact us today for a free consultation. And start shopping for sleeveless clothes again!
What Is Otoplasty?
If you scan through a class picture of elementary school children, you’re bound to see one or two kids with some sort of ear abnormality.
For many of these kids, their ‘unusual’ ears are a source of embarrassment. Some of them grow into adulthood without the issue being addressed and are forced to navigate some rather awkward social situations. The lucky ones get otoplasty.
Which leads to the question, what is otoplasty?
What Is Otoplasty?
Cosmetic ear surgery that’s performed on the visible part of the outer ear (known as the auricle) is known as otoplasty. It’s performed on both children and adults.
Under the umbrella of otoplasty, there are three different procedures.
Ear pinning is recommended when the patient has prominent ears that expand out from the sides of the head. An ear reduction helps patients who have oversized ears – also known as macrotia. Finally, augmentation is for those who have misshapen, small, or underdeveloped auricles.
Those Who Benefit From Otoplasty
The majority of people who seek otoplasty tend to have congenital ear conditions. For many, the auricle didn’t develop properly. This can result in protruding, constricted, or misshapen ears.
Otoplasty corrects these conditions.
But otoplasty doesn’t just address congenital anomalies. Patients who have sustained ear injuries or trauma from car accidents, dog bites, etc. will also benefit from otoplasty. A common injury among boxers, wrestlers, and martial artists is cauliflower ear. Otoplasty addresses that as well.
Since the auricle doesn’t reach 90% of its adult size until the age of five, that’s the minimal age for otoplasty. Of course, adults of all ages can get otoplasty. Patients should be in good health and be non-smokers or quit smoking weeks before the procedure.
What to Expect From the Procedure
Because there are different types of procedures, there is no one-size-fits-all. The specific surgical technique depends on the patient’s needs.
In general though, there will be an incision on the back of the ear or inside the folds. The ear tissue will be manipulated to either remove skin/cartilage, fold and shape the cartilage, or graft cartilage to the ear.
Any incision made is closed with stitches.
In most cases, otoplasty is done as an outpatient procedure that takes between one and three hours. Because the procedures tend to be outpatient, surgeons typically use local anesthesia with a sedative.
For younger children, however, the surgeon may choose general anesthesia.
Recovery
Once the procedure is complete, a compression bandage will be applied to the ears and kept there for the first 24 hours. After that, lighter dressing will cover the surgical incisions. It’s important that the dressing is kept clean and dry.
Avoid sleeping or resting in any position that will put pressure on the ear(s). Also, while the ear(s) are healing, it’s best to stick with clothes that button or zip up rather than those that need to be pulled over the head.
And for parents of children having otoplasty, they’ll need to be watchful that their child doesn’t touch or scratch his or her ear(s).
Most patients can expect to return to normal activity within a few days – although rigorous physical activity should be avoided for a couple of weeks during healing.
Could Otoplasty Help You or Your Child?
Now that you know the answer to the question of what is otoplasty, it’s time to consider it as an option for you or your child.
Contact us today to talk with our board-certified surgeons to find out how we can help.
We will happily advise you on the next best steps for getting this confidence-boosting procedure.
Pioneers of Plastic Surgery – Dr. Harold Gillies
The long-term disabilities from World War I were overwhelming. Many men came off the battlefield quite disfigured.
Not only were they in pain, but the disfigurement impacted their prospects for work. And the government offered little financial or social support.
Fortunately, pioneering surgeons like Dr. Harold Gillies were changing the face (literally) of surgery and providing needed relief for many of these men.
The Early Days
Treating facial injuries on the frontline was difficult, to say the least. Gaps and holes in the face were stitched together leaving jagged scars. And because there was so much missing flesh, the scars would tighten as they healed and pull the face into permanent grotesque expressions.
Some men were blinded or had a hole where their nose was. Others were unable to eat or drink because of severe deformities in the jaw. They had to be fed sitting up so they didn’t suffocate when they laid down.
The early days of skin grafting were awkward and unpleasant. A large flap of skin was lifted from somewhere near the wound and swung over the injury site. To maintain the blood flow and increase the chances of the graft being accepted, however, it was not severed from the donor area.
Then came Dr. Harold Gillies.
Dr. Harold Gillies
The history of plastic surgery dates back to 800 BC – though it was highly rudimentary at that point. By the Civil War, experimentation had advanced. Even so, the results were often disappointing and soldiers were left with gaping holes in their faces.
During World War I, Dr. Gillies worked at a French military hospital and was horrified by the head injury patients. He knew something needed to change. Working alongside other surgeons and dentists, as well as portraitists and sculptors, he explored new skin graft and bone repair procedures.
He recognized that the flaps in the above-mentioned surgical procedure would curl in on themselves when under tension. He proposed sewing the flaps into a tube to increase blood supply and also decrease the risk of infection.
Then once the tubed flap was attached near the injury site, it could be cut away from the donor area. From there, the skin could be opened and spread out to cover a wider area.
The procedure was a success.
Ushering in the Dawn of Modern Plastic Surgery
Dr. Harold Gillies had the courage to commit himself to a burgeoning wing of surgery that many told him he’d never make a living doing. By the time he had settled into Britain’s Queen’s Hospital, he and his team had advanced the field of reconstructive surgery to help thousands of veterans live a more normal life.
His work also laid the foundation for modern plastic surgery that would grow in strength and stature by World War II to provide the veterans of that war with even more life-changing procedures. And luckily so.
How Can Modern Plastic Surgery Help You?
Pioneering surgeons like Dr. Harold Gillies had a huge part in advancing plastic surgery and making it accessible to and safe for so many people today.
So if you’re considering a plastic surgery procedure, you can do so with peace of mind.
Further that peace of mind by working with only board-certified surgeons. Contact us today to see how plastic surgery could change your life for the better.
Is There Plastic Surgery for Congenital Anomalies?
If you’re not familiar with the term congenital anomalies, you may know them better as birth defects. Whatever the case, they are defined as structural or functional anomalies that occur in utero.
Some of these defects can be very serious and difficult, if not impossible, to resolve.
Fortunately, there is plastic surgery for congenital anomalies that are not as serious. Treatment involves many choices – the first of which is finding a highly skilled and board-certified plastic surgeon who is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
Is There a Cause?
Congenital anomalies can have many causes. And as much as the world at large would like to zero in on specific causes in order to eliminate birth defects, it’s just not that easy.
In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), only half can be directly linked to a specific cause. There are two general areas from which the cause may rise:
- Genetic/Inherited
These are the hardest to pinpoint because they exist on the DNA or chromosomal level. When there are too many or too few chromosomes, or the structures are flawed, it can lead to a variety of different conditions.
In some cases, there may be mutations in genes, or a recessive inheritance whereby two parents carrying a recessive trait but don’t present with the condition themselves will pass it on to their offspring. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an example.
- Multiple Factors
In many cases, birth defects are the result of a specific combination of genes and environmental exposures. Some children inherit genes that cause sensitivity to certain environmental triggers. This is the most common cause of a cleft lip or palate.
Plastic Surgery for Congenital Anomalies
Among the many congenital anomalies plastic surgeons treat, procedures for cleft lip and palate are among the most commonly performed.
This condition can undermine a developing child’s ability to eat, speak, hear, and breathe properly. Left untreated, it can negatively impact his or her development and optimal functioning. Plastic surgery can successfully repair this condition.
It’s not just cleft lips and palates though. Plastic surgeons provide profound and even life-saving treatments to those struggling with a variety of congenital anomalies. Working with a team of specialists in other areas, they can treat the following:
- Congenital breast reconstruction
- Ear deformations or malformations
- Poland syndrome
- Tuberous breast deformity
And the above list is only a smattering of the diagnoses different plastic surgeons across the country can treat – sometimes in stages and over years. It may seem like a long journey, but the destination is hugely rewarding.
Do You Struggle With a Congenital Anomaly?
If you have a treatable congenital anomaly and feel you would benefit from reconstructive surgery, contact us today.
With the prevalence of plastic surgery for congenital anomalies, there’s a good chance a surgeon can help. We’ll take the time to discuss all of the options available to you.
4 Myths About Plastic Surgery
With the onslaught of reality television shows and social media posts that put an emphasis on external beauty, the demand for plastic surgery procedures is on the rise.
Some view plastic surgery as the be all end all fix for all their problems. It is, of course, NOT that. And any surgeon making this claim is to be avoided.
Meanwhile, others think that plastic surgery is disgraceful and a part of the problem. This isn’t true either. Far from it. But with its increased popularity, the myths about plastic surgery keep coming. We’ll look at four of the more pervasive ones.
- Getting the Cheapest Surgeon Will Save You Money
Okay. Finding the cheapest surgeon WILL save you money. That statement alone is not a myth. It’s entirely true. At least, in the short run.
The problem is, when you seek out the least expensive surgeon, you’re putting your safety at risk. And you may not make this discovery until the damage has been done. Then you’re looking at even costlier procedures to attempt to fix the problem.
So be sure to vet a highly qualified plastic surgeon. Insist upon a doctor who’s certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. And steer clear of medical professionals who claim they’re board certified in “cosmetic surgery.” Such a board is not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and is considered illegitimate.
- A Tummy Tuck Is a Permanent Fix
Not to go all Buddhist on you, but nothing is permanent. The tummy tuck is no exception.
Yes, this procedure is very popular given there is minimum pain and downtime. It’s also highly effective – with the vast majority of patients loving the results for years. These same patients recognize, however, that a tummy tuck surgery is a stepping stone. They are careful to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes exercising and eating well. When these actions are done in tandem with a tummy tuck, the results are outstanding. But it does require a commitment from the patient.
- Your Surgeon Should Have Amazing Hands
Of course you want your surgeon to have technical ability. I.e. he/she should be good with their hands. But what truly matters is a surgeon’s ability to plan, make decisions, and pivot when needed.
In fact, what you really want is a surgeon with a good head on his or her shoulders, as it accounts for about 80% of a procedure’s success. A good surgeon has a keen sense of creativity paired with knowledge. He or she not only knows what they’re able to, but – and perhaps more importantly – what they’re not.
- I Can Use Plastic Surgery Later to Fix the Results of My Bad Habits
When you’re young you feel invincible. People in their 20s and even 30s are able to throw a lot at their bodies and bounce back relatively quickly. They’re still able to handle the ill effects of smoking cigarettes, eating poorly, and exposing their skin to the sun.
That changes though once you hit your 40s. And for folks in that age range and beyond, the ones who look and feel the youngest established preventative behaviors during their younger years.
So if you’re still young enough that you can take your health and your skin for granted, we encourage you to not do that! While there are plastic surgery procedures that will rejuvenate and revitalize up to a point, maintaining a healthy diet and exercise and protecting your skin when you’re young will go the true distance as you age.
Don’t Buy Into the Myths About Plastic Surgery
If you’re considering a procedure to instill a more youthful appearance and feel better about yourself, don’t believe the myths about plastic surgery that say it’s just vanity. It’s not.
Looking better CAN make you feel better.
You’ll just need to be aware and informed about your surgeon and your procedure to have the best possible outcome. So contact us today to speak with a compassionate, caring, and board-certified surgeon. We’ll ensure you have the most optimal experience.
Are There Different Breast Implant Placement Options?
If you’re considering breast augmentation, you’ve probably researched different types of implants, and started thinking about the size you want.
But did you know that there are different breast implant placement options too? (Great! Another thing to think about!)
This is a good thing, though. To get the most natural look for your breast implants, the last thing you want is a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Especially when it comes to the procedure.
What Are the Breast implant Placement Options?
You don’t need to stress too much. Fortunately, there are only two options. The breast implant is placed under your breast tissue and over your chest muscles, or under the breast tissue and partially under the pectoralis major.
Both provide great results and which one is right for you will come down to a number of factors that you’ll discuss thoroughly with your board-certified plastic surgeon. He or she will provide you with the choice that will deliver the best aesthetic results.
For the sake of understanding the difference between the two, here’s how they compare:
Over the Muscle
Also referred to as sub glandular placement, the over the muscle option involves placing the implants on top of the pectoralis major muscle but under the glandular breast tissue.
Because this option produces a lifted appearance, it’s often recommended to patients whose breasts tend to sag from having a larger amount of natural breast tissue. The tissue offers support and coverage for the implants. Without proper coverage, the implant can take on the appearance of being artificially inflated.
Another benefit of sub glandular placement is the ability of the implant to move with the breasts over the years as they go through changes. This gives them a more natural appearance for many years. In addition, over the muscle placement is a slightly easier procedure and requires a little less recovery time. Since the chest muscle isn’t altered, there’s no risk of the implants visibly distorting during exercise of daily movements.
That said, there IS a slightly increased possibility of visible folds or rippling with this sort of placement. Especially for patients with less natural breast tissue. In addition, subgladular implants tend to interfere more with mammogram readings and may result in the patient having to incorporate ultrasounds or other modalities.
Under the Muscle
Not to be confused with the term sub glandular, the sub muscular (under the muscle) procedure is a bit more involved. In this case, the implant is placed under the skin, fat, glands, AND the pectoralis major.
Yet, it’s also placed on top of the inner pectoralis minor and serratus muscles. Doing it this way allows for the pectoralis major muscle to cover the top and side of the implant while the natural breast tissue covers the bottom and outer edge. This creates a smoother and more natural looking transition from the chest to the implant.
Sub muscular implants interfere less with mammogram readings and they have a lower incidence of capsular contracture.
Even so, the more complicated nature of the procedure means there is usually a slightly longer surgery time and recovery period. This is because the surgeon has to cut and detach the pectoralis major muscle. There’s also an increased chance of the implants becoming distorted when the chest contracts, and/or migrating upward toward the armpit. Patients usually experience diminished strength in the chest muscles after this surgery as well.
So your plastic surgeon will carefully consider whether this placement option is your best bet.
Are Breast Implants Right For You?
When it comes to choosing between the two breast implant placement options, you can take heart in knowing that you’ll never be alone in that decision.
Contact us today to set up your free consultation and get started.
After an examination, your surgeon will discuss your goals and expectations with you. From there, the two of you will decide which option is right for you.
Can Vaginal Laxity Be Repaired?
Okay. Vaginal laxity may not be the topic of conversation at the dinner table.
But if you’re not familiar with the term, it’s a condition whereby the tissues outside the vagina loosen. This can lead to problems with the tissues twisting or even escaping the labia.
For many women who experience vaginal laxity, it can be an embarrassing and troublesome situation. It can even negatively impact sensation during intercourse. And it’s more common than you might think.
What Causes Vaginal Laxity?
Vaginal laxity is often the result of vaginal childbirth. Especially for women whose vaginal tissues were overstretched from having large babies and/or multiple births. For them, the vaginal tissue simply lost the ability to bounce back. This could have been further compounded by the use of forceps or other delivery instruments.
But aging is also a factor. With aging comes a reduction in collagen production. And collagen is a crucial protein for providing support to the tissues. So even women who didn’t experience childbirth can struggle with vaginal laxity. Plus, vaginal health changes tremendously in the years following menopause which complicates things further.
Can Vaginal Laxity Be Repaired?
In an attempt to avoid surgery, many women engage in pelvic floor training. They engage in isometric exercises such as Kegels to tighten the vaginal muscles. And while most women would not be advised against doing Kegel exercises, there’s currently no evidence to suggest they do anything for increasing vaginal tightening.
Fortunately, there are other options – both non-surgical and surgical. And each of these solutions is fairly simple and straightforward.
Taking the Non-Surgical Route
For women who are planning to have more children (or those who aren’t ready to try surgery yet), laser energy and radiofrequency (RF) treatments can be highly effective.
In both cases, the tissues are heated in order to increase collagen formation. Laser energy heats the vaginal tissues at a more surface level than RF and might be chosen in cases where the laxity isn’t as severe.
Meanwhile, RF takes the heating a bit deeper. A recent study shows the benefits of performing surface cooling after an RF treatment increases vaginal tightening and sexual function while protecting the vaginal skin.
So laser energy and RF could be fantastic options for treating vaginal laxity. Even so, some patients feel more confident in going the surgical route.
Opting for Vaginoplasty
Vaginoplasty is a procedure that falls under the wider umbrella of vaginal rejuvenation and it sounds more daunting than it is. Actually, it’s a minimally invasive procedure that involves tightening the vaginal canal and surrounding muscles. This is achieved by altering the lining of the vaginal canal, as well as the vaginal and perineal muscles.
Another benefit? Vaginoplasty can treat the urinary incontinence that becomes so common among women at later stages of their lives.
While this procedure stands well on its own, some patients choose to combine it with the aforementioned laser and RF treatments to reach optimal tightening as well as increasing natural lubrication.
The Solution Is in Sight
If you’re troubled by vaginal laxity, you do NOT have to accept it as a fact of motherhood and/or growing older. And fixing it is not a huge to-do.
So take the next step.
Contact us today to set up a free consultation to discuss treatment options such as laser energy, RF, or vaginoplasty. You deserve this!
What’s the Best Nutrition Before and After Plastic Surgery?
Despite the relative ease with which so much plastic surgery is now performed, it’s important to remember that, yes, it IS still surgery.
How you care for yourself pre- and post-op matters. That also means paying attention to nutrition before and after plastic surgery.
So if you’re planning to have a procedure and are a fast food junkie with a penchant for salt, sugar, and fat, you’ll need to prepare to make some adjustments.
Getting Proper Nutrition Before and After Plastic Surgery
Paying attention to what you eat during this time is crucial. Choosing healthy foods will make a big difference in the success of your procedure as well as how quickly you recover.
There are certain foods before and after plastic surgery that you’ll want to include in your diet, and others you’re better off avoiding.
Preparing For Your Surgery
It’s important to start prepping your body for surgery by avoiding foods that cause inflammation. Your body will be providing enough of that on its own as a natural reaction to the surgery. And this is normal.
Too much inflammation, however, is going to slow down or even halt healing. So it’s best to go into the procedure with as little inflammation as possible. Alcohol and sugary foods are two of the biggest offenders.
You also want to avoid foods that are high in sodium so you can regulate your blood pressure and reduce bloating. That means reading labels for sodium content and ditching the obviously salty snacks for a bit.
- Choose Fruits, Veggies and Whole Grains
Fresh fruits and veggies are always a sure bet. Fruits like apples, oranges, and bananas, and veggies such as carrots, broccoli, and even lettuce are low in sodium, contain only natural sugars, and are loaded with vitamins and nutrients.
Whole grains are also highly recommended. Just be sure that if you’re getting them through bread, you check the sodium content. Some breads are high in sodium.
- Add In Smart Protein Choices
In addition, protein is key. To avoid the risk of increased bleeding during and after surgery, steer clear of red meat and stick with lean pork, chicken, or fish. Unsalted nuts and beans as well as eggs are also excellent sources.
You can also get protein from dairy products. Again, read the labels. You’ll need to stick with low-sodium and low-fat cheeses, milk, and yogurt.
After the Procedure…
Hopefully once you get used to a healthy and nutritious regimen before your procedure, you keep it up while you’re healing (and beyond!). As you heal, continue to avoid sugar, alcohol, and high-sodium foods.
Sticking with low-sodium and lean whole foods is going to help the body heal faster. Since vitamins and supplements are often discouraged post-op, it’s important you keep getting nutrients through natural sources. And just as protein is important before surgery, it’s essential during recovery. After all, it’s the main building block for new tissue.
Another consideration after surgery is any foods that will benefit your gut health. First, ensure that you’re keeping up with a high fiber diet to keep things moving in the intestinal department. Anesthesia can wreak havoc on regularity.
Also, because you’ll likely to be on a course of antibiotics, supplement with probiotics like miso and fermented foods, as well as prebiotics such as onions and garlic. These will infuse the good bacteria that gets eliminated with those antibiotics.
Finally, stay hydrated!!!!! Drinking plenty of water will keep inflammation and bloating down while aiding in slow digestion.
Are You Ready to Commit to Your Procedure?
Whether you’re looking to get a tummy tuck, eyebrow lift, or breast augmentation, attending to proper nutrition before and after plastic surgery is key.
So if you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today to set up your free consultation.
And start feeling better about yourself both inside and out!
Is Plastic Surgery Ethical?
Given the surge of reality television that exaggerates the horrors of plastic surgery gone wrong, you may be wondering, is plastic surgery ethical?
Obviously, nothing is perfect. There are always going to be crooked people who take advantage of vulnerable populations.
But if you’re considering reconstructive or cosmetic surgery, take the time to research your plastic surgeon and ensure that he or she is board-certified and experienced. That way, you can be almost certain that you’re dealing with an ethical doctor.
Reconstructive Vs. Cosmetic Surgery
Both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery fall under the umbrella of plastic surgery. Almost no one questions the validity of reconstructive surgery. Correcting an abnormality as the result of a birth defect, accident, surgery, or injury has always been socially acceptable. Particularly when it affects the functioning of the body.
The validity of cosmetic surgery, however, has long been debated and discussed. Even though it aims to also fix body imperfections, it is considered elective surgery -regardless of whether the anomaly is congenital or the result of illness.
For many decades, people felt that cosmetic surgery merely addressed vanity. The overriding belief was that people should just accept these imperfections and/or “age gracefully.”
This stance on cosmetic surgery is no longer the viewpoint throughout the medical industry or even society at large.
More Than Just Changing Appearance
In the last decade, psychology has emerged demonstrating that physical appearance can play heavily on one’s levels of self-esteem, confidence, and overall well-being.
Where it gets tricky is that some patients believe that cosmetic surgery will magically transform them to meet a specific criteria as dictated by society. Many don’t understand that these standards need to be adjusted for body proportions, age, and skin color.
An ethical surgeon will disclose this; stating as clearly and fully as possible every risk. Even those that are rare. He or she will also be clear about what the patient can realistically expect from the procedure rather than making false promises in order to get the job.
So Then When Is Plastic Surgery Ethical, And When Is It Not?
One of the biggest factors a plastic surgeon needs to consider is the psychological state of the patient. It’s one thing to help a patient feel better about him/herself by performing a procedure like a tummy tuck or a face lift. It’s another, altogether, to agree to perform a procedure on someone who is clearly in mental distress.
For example, if a patient comes in requesting multiple procedures in order to look exactly like a current celebrity. Or if a patient is clearly struggling with anorexia and is looking for a fat removal procedure.
So it’s clear that ethical plastic surgery involves a quest for complete psychophysical well-being from the patient. The objective is to create a fluid and peaceful coexistence between a patient’s outer and inner beauty. And that’s no easy feat.
If there is question of instability on any level, it is the surgeon’s responsibly to perform a full and careful evaluation. An ethical surgeon (and this includes most plastic surgeons) will do just that. If the patient proves to be mentally balanced, possibilities and limitations will be discussed, along with cost-benefit ratio. Only once the surgeon is confident of the patient’s mental and physical states and the patient has fully consented will the surgery be scheduled.
Cosmetic Surgery Delivers The Whole Package
Are you considering cosmetic surgery but are still struggling to answer the question, is plastic surgery ethical? We understand. Cosmetic surgery has gotten something of a bad wrap for a long time.
Contact us today to put your mind at ease.
During your free consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeons, you’ll see how fully we grasp that there’s a wider notion of health that goes beyond merely the physical. With each patient, we address the whole person so you’ll feel confident and sure about your decision.
Are There Required Pre-Surgical Tests Before Plastic Surgery?
If you’re getting ready for a surgical procedure and your surgeon hasn’t ordered any pre-surgical tests, that’s a huge red flag. Like “run away screaming” huge.
Any surgical procedure should be preceded by at least a few tests. This includes plastic surgery procedures. These tests help find potential problems that could complicate surgery if not mitigated early.
The required pre-surgical tests before plastic surgery vary from person to person and depend on a number of factors.
Possible Pre-Surgical Tests Before Plastic Surgery
Pre-operative testing typically occurs a couple of weeks before your scheduled procedure so you’ll want to plan accordingly. Depending on your specific situation, the following tests might be required before your surgical procedure:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) With Differential
A CBC is a requirement for everyone. This test measures various aspects of your blood and reveals a lot about what’s going on in your body. Knowing the quality and amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets is crucial to the surgeon.
In addition, a CBC with differential will determine your levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit in your red blood cells to identify what risks you may have for anemia and infection.
- Urinalysis
The pre-operative urinalysis is a basic diagnostic test that’s routinely performed to suss out certain conditions and ensure that there are no infections present. If the urinalysis shows a urinary tract infection (UTI), the surgery will need to be postponed until the infection is fully treated. Given that UTIs are more common in women, a urinalysis is more often ordered for women.
- Complete Physical
For younger patients in good health, a complete physical may not be necessary. Older patients and/or those with pre-existing medical conditions, however, will need to undergo a physical in order to get medical clearance for the procedure.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)
An EKG or ECG test measures and records the electrical signals in the heart. This test is used primarily to identify any problems with the arteries and to rule out coronary issues before surgery. Primarily those with heart conditions will need to undergo an EKG/ECG.
- Chest X-Ray
For patients with heart and/or lung conditions, a board-certified plastic surgeon may also order a chest x-ray. It’s crucial that these organs are healthy enough to withstand the trauma and manage the taxing properties of the healing process.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Because a CMP examines the fluid balance in the patient’s body, it’s typically only ordered for patients who have metabolic issues (or have had them in the past.) It’s important that glucose, electrolyte, creatine, protein, and blood area nitrogen levels are balanced in order to perform surgery. If they’re not, they’ll need to be treated first.
- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
Many women know all about the HCG test. The other name for it is pregnancy test. HCG is the hormone that shows up in urine when a woman is pregnant. So if there’s any chance that a woman might be pregnant, she’ll need to be tested for HCG.
- Mammogram
Women who’ve elected to have breast augmentation surgery will need to get a mammogram (known less lovingly as the boob crusher) to ensure there are no abnormalities or cancer.
- HIV
There are extra precautions plastic surgeons need to take in treating patients who are HIV positive. Because of this, an HIV test may be ordered to ensure safety for both the surgeon and the patient.
- Nicotine
There’s nothing like nicotine in the body to increase scarring and slow wound healing. This is one of the big reasons that surgeons require you to quit smoking at least four weeks before surgery. Thus, the surgeon may order a test for nicotine to ensure that his or her work has the optimal outcome.
Pre-Surgery Testing Is Completely Individualized
Just as each patient is different, so too is every surgery. Pre-surgical tests before plastic surgery for your procedure may differ from those of others you know who’ve had procedures. Even if it’s the same procedure.
That’s why it’s important to choose surgeons who will take the time and do the footwork to be sure you have the best and SAFEST experience possible.
We’ve got you covered. Contact us today to set up your free and comprehensive consultation so you can begin your journey.
