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CHAPTER 11 - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Anyone considering plastic surgery should visit the official website of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (www.plasticsurgery.org) where you can click on "Learn about procedures" and then go to "make the right choice". Here, you can find answers to whether plastic surgery is the right choice for you as well as find out what procedures are available, what questions to ask, and what to expect.
The most important credential to find out when looking for a plastic surgeon is whether the surgeon is certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery, as this means that they have completed accredited surgical and plastic surgical residency programs as well as successfully completing the written and oral board examinations. The American Board of Plastic Surgery is the only board recognized by The American Board of Medical Specialties that certifies surgeons in plastic surgery of the face as well as the entire body. It goes without saying, that you should also have a comfortable rapport with the surgeon you choose.
The U.S. government does not regulate who performs plastic surgery. Any licensed physician can perform plastic surgery in an office setting in a given state, but unless a person has specific certification from one of the state specialty boards, it would not be possible to perform plastic surgery in a hospital setting or in most well regulated out-patient surgery centers.
Good training is an essential part of a plastic surgeon's credentials. You have the right to ask where a surgeon completed medical school, residency, and plastic surgical training. If that information is not readily available, you can do your own research. The state medical society and American Board of Plastic Surgery should be able to provide you with this information.
The cost of the initial consultation depends on the complexity of the problem and the time spent discussing the ways to achieve patient goals and this can vary from $125 to $250. Many surgeons would deduct the consultation fee from the cost of a cosmetic procedure if a person decides to proceed with surgery.
The word plastic is derived from the Greek word plastikos which means changeable or moldable. We perform procedures which change the shape or form of a body part or area. Of course, there are times when implantable materials are used, but plastic is not one of them.
Skin type and race do play a major role in the final appearance of scars but do not impact the healing process per se. In general, people with fair, thin skin that burns easily tend to have the least visible scarring while people with darker, thicker skin that tans easily have an increased chance of developing thicker or darker scars. Of course, we have trained for many years in surgical techniques to make the best possible scar for a given person. There are certain skin resurfacing techniques including laser resurfacing of the face, microdermabrasion and peels that are not recommended for darker skin types, however, healing from surgical procedures such as liposuction, tummy tucks, eyelid lifts and breast reduction or enhancement is not usually impacted by skin type.
Scars formed by the body after an injury or surgery are merely the physical evidence that the body has healed a wound. A scar is part of the "trade-off" to achieve a better shape or contour on a part of the body. But even though the scars are permanent, we make every attempt possible to conceal them along natural skin creases, behind the hairline, at the junction of a natural skin color change, and in areas that are normally covered by clothing. Of course, scars related to breast surgery and body contouring procedures are always planned in areas that are not visible in a bathing suit.
Unfortunately, there are no surgical techniques for eliminating cellulite. We do not know of any topical creams, lotions or ointments that are effective. Hopefully, some day there will be new technologies to finally address this problem.
Unfortunately, improvements in the contours of the eyelids, face and breasts after skin tightening procedures are still subject to the continued effects of aging, gravity and sun damage. But the improvements after rejuvenation surgery allow you to always remain 10 to 15 years "ahead" of your same age peers who have not undergone cosmetic procedures and certainly "ahead" of what you would look like had it not been for the procedure.
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