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Q. What is the difference between cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery? A. Cosmetic surgery enhances specific features to improve one’s appearance and boost one’s self esteem. Reconstructive surgery is done to provide or improve / restore form and function in patients affected by birth defects, trauma, tumors, infection or developmental abnormalities.
Q. Who is a good candidate for cosmetic surgery? A. A good candidate for cosmetic surgery is one who understands the procedure, is realistic about the expectations and risks of surgery and of course is motivated by his/ her own desire. Also the candidates must be willing to follow orders and willing to tolerate unavoidable inconveniences like healing time, time for the swelling to come down, avoiding exposure to direct sunlight and refrain from smoking.
Q. What tests need to be done before surgery? A. All patients undergoing procedures under general anesthesia require basic blood tests. Older patients require an ECG and maybe a chest X ray at the surgeon’s and anesthetist’s discretion.
Q. Will it hurt? A. During the procedure our anesthesia staff will ensure that you are comfortable and feel no pain since you will be asleep. In cases where local anesthesia is used only the initial discomfort of a needle prick is felt. After surgery any pain or discomfort you experience will be dealt with by medication and usually subsides within a few days.
Q. How soon can I get back to work? A. Depends on the procedure done. In procedures not requiring hospitalization, usually 2 – 7 days is enough, but larger operations may require some additional time away from work.
Q.How long before the final result can be seen? A. This varies with the type of operation. Generally there will be swelling and bruising for some time. 80% of the swelling abates within a few days, but it takes 3 – 6 months for the final results to be seen. Q. Will there be scars? A. Yes, but they probably wont be noticeable. All efforts are made to keep the scars as minimal as possible and to try and hide them in natural lines and skin creases. In majority of the cases the scars settle with time and are barely noticeable. Q. Are there any risks and complications? A. As with any operation, there are risks. But in an otherwise healthy individual there is no increased risk of any kind. The most common risks are anesthesia related, bleeding, infection and significant scarring. Though these are infrequent, they do occur sometimes. Since potential complications vary with each procedure, these are usually discussed with you at the time of the consultation.
Q. How long will the results last and is the procedure a one-time job? A. This varies on the type of operation performed. Procedures that reshape such as surgery of the nose, chin, breast augmentation, reduction etc. offer permanent benefits. As the healing process is unique to each individual, though the surgeon will do his best to give you the best result, no guarantee or warranty can be given. In such cases sometimes a “touch up” or adjustment procedure is needed. If this should occur, the surgeon will not charge for the revision but the other charges like the anesthetist’s charge, hospital charges, implants and any other expenses are the patient’s responsibility.
Common Myths and FactsM: Only women go in for plastic surgery. F: More and more men are opting for plastic or cosmetic procedures to improve their looks, self-esteem and confidence.
M: Cosmetic or plastic surgery is only for models or film personalities and is of no use to the average individual. F : Though models or film and theatre personalities opt more readily to have a cosmetic procedure done, it is useful for any one who needs a flaw corrected as this give them confidence and boosts self esteem.
M: Plastic surgery involves taking skin from one area and putting it on another area. F : Though skin grafting is one of the commonly performed procedures in plastic surgery, it is only a single procedure out of many in the armamentarium of the plastic surgeon.
M : There will be no scars after plastic surgery. F : Scars will ‘always’ be there after a surgical procedure. Plastic surgery involves minimizing the scars and concealing them within skin creases or folds. M: Plastic or cosmetic surgery alone is enough. F : Plastic or cosmetic surgery along with proper exercise routine and proper diet can give you the best results. Things to do ponder before coming for a consultation
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