Plastic Surgery
- Plastic surgery can enhance our appearance and self-confidence, but it won’t necessarily change our looks to match the ideal.
- Before having surgery, patients are advised to think carefully about their expectations and discuss them frankly with their plastic surgeon.
- Realistic expectations will ensure that the patient will be very satisfied with the results.
- Specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery include guidelines on cleansing, eating, drinking, smoking, taking or avoiding certain medications is always given.
- Smoking decreases circulation and interferes with the proper healing. Therefore, it is essential to follow all given instructions.
- The weather and climate conditions do NOT interfere with the operation nor the safe recovery or the healing process for the majority of plastic surgery procedures. A little discomfort can be caused by the bandage or the pressure garment in higher temperatures. For some skin resurfacing and rejuvenating procedures, prolonged exposure to the sun is advised against as the skin needs time to build up resistance to the sun light before exposure. Even though sun block cosmetics are of a high standard we prefer to do peeling and resurfacing procedures from late autumn to early spring while the climate conditions are convenient.
- Complications are possible in plastic surgery, as with any surgery. They are infrequent and usually minor if the surgery is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon. These include infection, skin injury, bleeding, allergy to medicines, adverse reaction to anaesthesia, and fluid accumulation in the wound.
- Swelling and bruising appear in almost all the plastic operations because these are performed near the surface of the body including usually some skin or other tissue separation. The swelling develops during the first 2 days and decreases over the next 4-10 days.
- Scars are possible. Any procedure may result in noticeable scars, but many times these are inconspicuous and hidden. The possibility of keloid formation cannot be totally excluded. Patients experiencing keloid form of scars have to inform us properly. The number of our complaining patients is ZERO! We advise patients to have a look at the results of the doctor they are choosing.
- Pigment changes are rare and usually temporary. Prolonged changes may appear after skin resurfacing procedures and peelings if the skin is NOT sufficiently protected. Good sun block cosmetics are recommended.
- Asymmetries may be noticed after surgery. They may be pre-existing ones and not previously noticed by the patient until after the surgery when the patient and friends observe closely the results of the procedure. Although noticeable asymmetries are possible following surgery, severe and disturbing asymmetries in the practice of an experienced surgeon have to be excluded.
- Secondary correction is almost never needed after a plastic procedure is successfully completed. However, the need of a secondary correction or a so called ‘touch up’ usually happens due to the insufficiency of the surgeon. The late need for another operation is possible if the problem is progressing by age or other concrete reasons.
