Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery

Breast Augmentation Cost – Breast Augmentation Recovery

Breast augmentation, also called augmentation mammaplasty or a “boob job”, is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures performed. The surgery is done to increase the size of the breasts or to restore the normal contour of the breast after mastectomy. A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a surgical procedure to change the appearance of the breasts without implants, by redistributing the breast tissue and sometimes moving the nipple. A breast lift can also be performed in conjuction with a breast augmentation.

When considering Breast Augmentation, there are a number of different possible choices that the patient needs to consider:

• the different types of breast implants available
• the position that the implant will be placed
• and the incision that the surgeon makes to insert the breast implant

What should I ask when consulting with a Cosmetic Surgeon who does Breast Augmentation or Breast Lift surgery?

• Ask whether he or she is board certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and whether or not they have had specific training in this procedure.
• How much experience has the surgeon had performing breast augmentations, breast implants or breast lifts?
• You will want to find a surgeon who is well trained and experienced and with whom you feel a rapport.
• What complications are possible, and how would they be handled?
• Ask to see some breast augmentation before and pictures of patients following surgery.
• Am I a good candidate for breast augmentation, and what sort of breast implants and placement would the surgeon recommend?
• What will be the entire cost of breast augmentation procedure, including all fees for the anesthesia and hospital or clinic?

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Zerona Laser – Zerona Cost and Zerona Reviews

A new non-invasive form of liposuction, known as Zerona cold laser, has been getting great reviews from those who’ve undertaken the laser lipolaser treatment. So what is this "Zerona Laser" non-invasive lipolaser treatment?

What is Zerona Laser?

The Zerona laser system, which was introduced in 2008, is based on low level laser therapy (LLLT) that uses Erchnoia cold laser technology to target subcutaneous fat cells. The energy that is released by the Zerona laser does not heat up the surrounding tissue, hence the term “cold laser”. The laser does this by disrupting the adipose (fat) cell membrane, creating a temporary “pore” which releases cellular content into the interstitial fluid surrounding the cells. The emulsified fatty materials are removed from the interstitial fluid by the lymphatic system, and eliminated by the body as waste product. This cold laser technique does not damage the delicate capillaries in the area being treated.

The results of a pilot study using Zerona’s low level laser technique was presented in 2008 to the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery, and subsequently the procedure received FDA approval for its use in the United States. Other countries such as Canada, Australia and Europe followed suit and also approved the Zerona laser technique for lipolaser non-invasive surgery.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Zerona Laser Instead of Normal Liposuction?

• The Zerona laser body contouring procedure is a much better option when compared with other invasive liposuction surgical procedures, as the patient does not have to have any incisions made as with normal liposuction, that uses a cannula to remove fat cells.

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Tummy Tuck – Should I Have One and What Does A Tummy Tuck Cost?

Sometimes skin and abdominal muscles become overstretched due to weight gain, weight loss, pregnancy, prior surgery or some other reason, and exercise and weight loss alone are not enough to give someone the appearance they desire. The purpose of the “tummy tuck”, also known as an abdominoplasty, is to tighten the musculature of the abdomen, remove excess skin (and sometimes fat) to give an appearance of a smaller, firmer, waist and abdomen. A tummy tuck is not alternative to weight loss, rather it is a way to tighten and firm the abdominal tissue which has been overstretched, though sometimes removal of some excess fat is part of the procedure. Overall, most patients are very satisfied with the results of a tummy tuck and see a significant improvement in their appearance.

What do I need to consider before seeing a Cosmetic or Plastic surgeon?

When you visit a surgeon to discuss a tummy tuck, you will need to discuss

• your past medical and surgical history
• what medications, if any, you are currently taking
• any allergies or bad reactions to medicines you have had in the past
• your goal for the surgery and what you are expecting from the tummy tuck
• the cost of the procedure

You will need to discuss what your expectations are with the surgeon, and he or she will tell you whether or not they are realistic.

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What’s Involved in a Breast Lift, or Mastopexy?

Mastopexy, which is commonly referred to as a breast lift or a boob lift is a cosmetic procedure to raise and firm the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. A woman’s breasts will often change over time, especially after pregnancy, breastfeeding and weight fluctuations, and they may lose their shape and firmness. Part of the loss of tone and firmness may be hereditary or just due to gravity and aging. The areola may also become enlarged over time and a breast lift, or mastopexy, can reduce this too. The overall aim of breast lift surgery is to restore a youthful look to your breasts, and most patients experience a lot of satisfaction with the results

A breast lift will not change the size of your breasts or make them look fuller, or smaller. You may want to consider breast augmentation if you would like fuller, larger breasts, or breast reduction surgery if you feel your breasts are too large or are causing you pain due to their weight.

What should I discuss with a plastic surgeon if I am considering having breast lift surgery?

If you are considering a mastopexy, you should try to find a reputable and experienced cosmetic surgeon, preferably one who is board certified by the relevant authority in your country and one who has specific training in this type of surgery. You will want to see before and after pictures of patients who have had the surgery.

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What is Eyelid Surgery or Blepheroplasty?

Eyelid surgery can improve the appearance of the eyes, making you appear younger and more well rested. Eyelid surgery is also known as blepharoplasty and it can involve surgery on the lower eyelid, the upper eyelid, or both. Eyelid surgery can improve the appearance of eyes that have loose or sagging skin around the eyes, fatty deposits, double eyelids, droopy eyelids, or bags underneath the eyes. Eyelid surgery is also sometimes indicated to restore sight that has been obstructed from droopy eyelids. However, it will not remove wrinkles around the eyes, lift a sagging eyebrow or remove dark circles from under the eyes. For smoothing out wrinkles or lifting an eyebrow, consider either a laser face lift or a forehead lift procedure.

What Should I Expect During a Consultation With a Plastic Surgeon About Eyelid Surgery?

• If you are considering blepharoplasty, you should be in good general health.
• You will be asked about your past medical and surgical history, what medications you take, and if you have any allergies to medications or have had any problems with anesthesia in the past.
• You will be asked detailed questions about your eye medical history, such as whether you have frequent dry eyes, glaucoma, eye related allergies and other medical conditions such as thyroid disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
• You will have pictures taken to document the current condition of your eyes.

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Breast Reduction Surgery – The Cost, Procedure and Recovery

Breast reduction, or reduction mammaplasty, is a common plastic surgery procedure which is performed to reduce the size of breast tissue in either women or men. It is very often done because the large, pendulous breasts are interfering with the quality of life of the patient, causing discomfort and back pain. Overly large breasts may cause neck, back, and shoulder pain, as well as skin irritation and sometimes breathing difficulties. Because of these reasons the cost of breast reduction is usually covered by medical insurance.

Breast reduction may also be performed on males who have acquired gynecomastia (enlargement of breast tissue) which does not respond to medication treatment. If the amount of tissue to be removed is relatively small for either the female or male patient, liposuction may be performed rather than a full surgery.

Breast reduction is almost never done on a woman who has not yet reached eighteen years of age, and it is not recommended for those who plan to breast feed as the surgery can interfere with the function of the milk ducts.

What Should I Discuss with my Plastic Surgeon prior to undergoing Breast Reduction Surgery?

• If you are a patient considering breast reduction surgery, you should find a reputable, experienced plastic surgeon to discuss whether or not you are a good candidate for the surgery, and what you can expect as a result.
• Try to find a surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons, or the relevant authority in your country.
• Ask if he or she has had specialty training in this procedure and how many they have performed

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Face Lift Surgery: Mini Face Lifts and Laser Face Lifts – The Risks and Costs

A face lift, also known as a rhytidectomy, is a procedure performed to reduce the visible signs of aging that occur over time that occur on the face and the neck. Our skin naturally undergoes changes over time, becoming less elastic and perhaps less youthful looking. Many factors contribute to this such as a person's genetics, their exposure to sun, their overall health, and whether or not they have a significant smoking history. Face lift surgery won't stop the aging process of the skin. It can, however, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, firm up the skin and eliminate some sagging.

Face lift surgery is usually done to:

• eliminate the “sagginess” or jowls that may appear because of loss of muscle tone
• smooth out the deep creases, below the eyes and along the nose extending down to the mouth
• reduce or eliminate a double chin appearance, which may occur even in a person of normal weight due to loose skin and fat deposits under the chin and jaw

Procedures that are often performed at the same time as the face lift are a brow lift to correct a sagging or deeply furrowed brow, and an eyelid lift to improve the appearance of sagginess around the eyes.

What are the options available to a patient considering a face lift?

The general options are a full face lift, mini face lift and laser face lift surgery

• A traditional, full face lift involves an incision which starts at the hairline in the temple region, extends down in front the ear lobe and goes behind the ear to the lower scalp. The deeper layers of the muscle and tissues may be lifted, and fat may be re-sculpted and repositioned.

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What is Rhinoplasty? And What Does a “Nose Job” Cost

Rhinoplasty or a "nose job" as it's commonly known, is the surgical modification of the nose, usually performed for cosmetic reasons, though it is also done to restore the nose after trauma or burns, to correct a structural abnormality such as a deviated septum or to correct a defect from birth. It is one of the most commonly performed surgeries and the second most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedure overall. In the U.S., about 300,000 people per year currently undergo rhinoplasty.

The Greek prefix “rhino” means “nose” and “plasty” is a suffix which indicates modification, derived from the Greek word “plassein”. Most people who get rhinoplasty, or “nose jobs” would simply like to modify their appearance. Nose jobs are one of the most common surgical procedures performed, and patients are on the whole very satisfied with the outcome.

Is a "Nose Job" for You? What You Need to Know Pre -Rhinoplasty Surgery?

If you are considering rhinoplasty, you will want to find a reputable cosmetic or plastic surgeon surgeon who has performed many of these procedures with good outcomes.

You will want to find out:

• how many rhinoplasty procedures he or she has done
• how frequently patients are satisfied with the outcome of their nose job
• you will want to see some nose job photos of patients before and after rhinoplasty surgery
• if the cosmetic surgeon is specialty trained in plastic surgery (usually called a fellowship)

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Laser or Tumescent Liposuction for Fat Removal – Which is Best?

Tumescent and Laser liposuction are the two main types of liposuction that are less invasive than traditional liposuction, and of those two, there a several variants of each. Tumescent and Laser liposuction share in common, techniques that minimise post-operative care, the need for an anaesthesiologist, post op bruising and the time taken to heal. It should be noted that liposuction is not a treatment for obesity - where the patients body fat is more than 20% of their total weight. An ideal liposuction candidate is at least 18 and in moderate to good health and only 20 - 25lbs (9-11Kg) overweight.

Tumescent Liposuction

Tumescent (tumescent means “swollen, puffy”) liposuction was first introduced in 1986. It involves injecting into the targeted subcutaneous fat deposits a large volume of sterile saline water. Usually the amount of saline solution is 2 to 3 times the amount of fat to be removed. This saline water is infused with lidocaine, a local anaesthetic and epinephrine, which constricts the blood vessels in the area to be operated on. Because of the large amount of saline solution used, tumescent liposuction is often referred to as “wet” or "super wet" liposuction.

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Overview of Current Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery Prices

It should be noted from the outset that plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery prices listed on this website are only to be used as a general indication of current surgery prices and will vary with location. Therefore you should treat these plastic surgery prices as a guide, albeit, a reasonably accurate guide, for the cost of elective cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures.

As the majority of plastic and cosmetic surgery is elective surgery, the patient generally will bear the full cost of the procedure and cannot claim cosmetic or plastic surgery costs or related hospital costs against a health fund.

Factors that will influence the cost of the surgical procedure are:

• Geographical location - in the United States plastic surgery prices are reasonably uniform across the board. But some areas are more expensive for surgery then others, such as New York, Palm Beach, Dallas and Beverly Hills.
• The reputation of the surgeon – this has a big bearing on the cost of cosmetic & plastic surgery procedures. A “celebrity” surgeon will generally charge more for the same procedure than a less well known surgeon.
• The type of surgical procedure – the most common cosmetic surgery procedures that people seek are:
  • Face Lift [Rhytidectomy] - prices ranging from $5000 to over $12,000, with high profile plastic surgeons charging in the upper range.
  • Liposuction [Lipoplasty] – a single area will cost from $2500 while multiple areas undertaken in the same operation can cost up to $10,000 (for treatment of 5 areas).
  • Tummy Tuck [Abdominoplasty] - ranges in price from $6000 to $9000 and the tummy tuck is often performed in conjunction with liposuction.
  • Breast Augmentation - a saline implant will cost from $4500 to $6500 while a silicone implant will be slightly more expensive at $5500 to $8000
  • Nose surgery [Rhinoplasty] - commonly know as a "nose job" can cost from $4500 to $6000. Re-shaping of the nose is the most requested form of plastic surgery today.

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The Facts on Thermage Skin Tightening

As people age the skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag. Wrinkles may also form around the eyes. These unsightly signs of aging can be reduced or eliminated by facial cosmetic surgery. However, not everyone wants to go under the knife. If you need a skin tightening procedure but are not ready for a surgical facial lift, Thermage may be the ideal option for you.

What Is Thermage?

Thermage is a non-invasive skin tightening procedure to smooth wrinkles and contour the skin. It uses a unique Radio Frequency technology to safely heat the inner layers of the skin, stimulate existing collagen, and promote the production of new collagen. A single treatment can improve the appearance and texture of your skin without surgery or injections and little or no downtime. Controlled heating of the skin’s inner layer or dermis causes the collagen to contract and grow thick, making the skin tighter and smoother. The heat stimulates the production of more collagen. Men and women who want a more youthful appearance without surgery, injections, lasers or chemicals can benefit from Thermage skin tightening. The procedure can take a few minutes to one hour, depending on the area of the skin to be treated. Skin preparation before the actual procedure may also be required.

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