Plastic Surgery Primer Part I
By Susan Archer
Plastic surgery is an ever-growing field in the health and beauty world. Some of the results can be amazing and some can be horrendous. With the advent of TV shows like The Swan and Nip/Tuck we are increasingly exposed to the idea and the outcomes of cosmetic surgery and lots of us are liking what we see. The danger is that we come to have outrageous expectations and can end up making bad decisions based on a doctor telling us what we want to hear and not an honest evaluation of our particular situation. So listen up ladies and take this advice to heart, I want to help you avoid the tragic mistakes many have made.
I recently spoke with doctor Greene, a respected plastic surgeon in my area to get his advice about the when, where and why of plastic or cosmetic surgery. After reading this insider information you should be able to wisely choose a plastic surgeon near you.
Reasonable Expectations with Plastic Surgery
All decisions about getting plastic or cosmetic surgery must first and foremost be based on reasonable expectations, on both your part and the doctor’s. Cosmetic surgery cannot remake you, and dramatic transformations are difficult, fraught with dangers, and take a lot of time. The best value available in plastic surgery is in incremental improvement. You should be wanting to look a little better, seeking an improvement on what you already have; not starting over from scratch and developing a whole new you.
If you are seeking a mild improvement then you may be a good candidate for plastic surgery. On the other hand, if you want a total remake you are definitely not a good candidate for plastic surgery and should instead seek some psychological counseling to get your self-image on track.
Other things to expect: Pain, Disappointment, to be told No, a moderate amount of Recovery Time, and a Positive Change if you go through the process the right way with the right doctors.
Scars and Plastic Surgery
The first thing to know here is that there are always scars. In surgery of any kind an incision must be made, after all that is what surgery is. The trick to minimizing scars (and that is all that can be done) is complicated and multifaceted. If a doctor promises no scars this is a huge red flag, if they are going to lie to you about this aspect of the surgery what else might they be untruthful about – leave the office immediately.
What you really want to talk about is how the doctor plans to hide and minimize scarring. The most important aspects of scar minimization are placement of incision, size of incision, the closing of the incision and good post-operative care of the incision. Your doctor should be able to tell you what he or she will do to minimize scarring for each of these phases of care.
Dr. Greene also specifically warns against getting what is known as a transumbilical breast augmentation. The major selling point of this procedure is it’s “scar-less” outcome (the scar is hidden in the belly button). However, because the breast implant is placed on top of the pectoral muscle it is highly susceptible to moving around and becoming separated from the breast. Thus giving you a deformed double breast shape. It’s far better to stick with the more classic breast augmentation where the implant is placed under the pectoral muscle, a much more stable placement.
Liposuction and Cellulite – the Truth
The truth about Liposuction is that it doesn’t remove cellulite, it can’t even touch the stuff, and in fact it can only make cellulite worse! Don’t worry, that isn’t what liposuction is for, it is actually a procedure designed to remove pockets of fat and should be used only for specific trouble areas around the body. The biggest aesthetic danger with liposuction is an overzealous surgeon who removes too much fat. When this happens cellulite can often appear much more pronounced than before the surgery.
The key to avoiding this is again reasonable expectations from both you and your doctor. Large deposits of fat are not appropriate candidates for liposuction. Liposuction is best done in small amounts to get rid of unsightly pockets of fat that no amount of exercise and proper diet and remove. If you want to get rid of large amounts of fat you must lose it naturally first, then touch it up with cosmetic surgery.
Warning – liposuction is one of the most dangerous procedures in the plastic surgery tool kit. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons recommends taking no more than 6 pounds at a time. If your doctor wants to do more than this be sure to ask why and what risks are associated with the procedure. Taking too much tissue at once can lead to shock and cardiac arrest. This is due to the high percentage (up to 30%) of blood and interstitial fluid that makes up the tissue removed along with the fat.
This should get you off to a good start when seeking out information about plastic surgery. I will be publishing two more parts to this article coming very soon, so check back often for updates to my Plastic Surgery Primer.