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What is Plastic Surgery?

Plastic surgery is a surgical sub-specialty that deals with the healing and restoration of patients with injury, disfigurement or scarring resulting from trauma, disease or congenital defects. It includes aesthetic, or cosmetic surgery to correct or rejuvenate facial and bodily features not pleasing to the patient. Derived from Greek, the word plastic means molding or giving form and does not refer to the use of plastic materials.

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What is the difference between a physician and a plastic surgeon?

Training to become a plastic surgeon is a difficult task. To become board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery a physician must complete a specialized post-graduate training course of five to seven years. Background training usually includes a thorough grounding in general surgery however, a background in ENT or orthopedics may be acceptable. The final two to three years of training must be in an approved plastic surgery training center. Prior to official certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery the physician must pass a rigorous set of both written and oral examinations. While numerous physicians use the term "plastic" surgeons only those certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are true plastic surgeons.

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Does certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery ensure that a patient will get a perfect result from an operation?

No. Healing of operated tissue is affected by several factors, and some of these are beyond the control of the surgeon. As in any other type of medicine, no guarantee of perfection or even a good result can be given. By making sure to do your homework before choosing a plastic surgeon, you can check out a surgeons' training, skill, and experience to better ensure your safety and desired results. Board certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery means that the surgeon has completed the rigorous requirements for full time practice as a specialist in plastic surgery.

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What questions should I ask before choosing a plastic surgeon to make sure he/she is qualified to operate on me?

Bringing a checklist of questions can help ensure the safety and quality of your procedure. Questions to ask are:

• Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
  • When the doctor claims to be board-certified, ask by which board. Only the ABPS is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties to certify doctors in the area of plastic surgery.
    
    
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this surgery?
  • Some surgical procedures can be performed in the doctor's office or other outpatient facility but it is important to find out if the doctor has operating privileges in an accredited hospital for the same procedure you are having. Before granting operating privileges, hospital review committees evaluate a surgeon’s training and competency for specific procedures.
    
    
• Where will you perform my surgery?
  • If it's in an office-based facility, ask if it's accredited. Most states don't require ambulatory or office-based facilities to be accredited, but voluntary application can be made to an accrediting body such as the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities. Such accreditation means the facility has met strict requirements and denotes a high standard of care.
    
    
• How many procedures of this type have you performed?
  • Also ask what training has been completed, especially in new techniques. Ask to see certificates of training.
    
    
• What are the risks involved with the procedure?
  • There are risks with any surgical procedure. Find out what they are, how often they occur, and how they will be handled if they do occur.
    
    
• What is the expected recovery time?
  • Be sure to discuss postoperative restrictions on activity and typical time periods for resuming work.
    
    
• What is your policy on surgical revisions?
  • Some cases may require revisions to achieve the desired results. Find out about any costs for which you may be responsible.
    
    
• How much will the surgery cost?
  • Cosmetic surgery is not covered by insurance, and payment usually is required in advance. Costs include the surgeon's fee and fees for the surgical facility and anesthesia. Other possible costs are the preoperative physical and blood work, medications, surgical garments and private-duty nursing.

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Is cosmetic surgery affordable? Do you offer financing?"

Yes and Yes! For your convenience we accept all major credit cards, and Care Credit financing has been quite successful in helping my patients achieving their goals. With low monthly payments even major surgeries are now affordable. You can log on to Care Credit to see sample monthly payment plans.

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What procedures do plastic surgeons perform?

Aesthetic (also called cosmetic) problems with the face, neck and trunk, including forehead, eyes, nose, ears, lips, chin, neck, breasts, abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, calves, arms, and skin.
Congenital deformities of the hands and face, including clefts of the lip and palate.
Benign (non-cancer) and malignant (cancerous) tumors of the head and neck, skin and soft tissues.
Traumatic injuries of the bony facial skeleton and hand as well as soft tissue injuries of any part of the body.
Surgery of the hand.
Surgery of the jaw and facial skeleton.
Any type of skin cover and replacement problems.
All types of reconstruction following removal of cancer resulting in disfigurement of any part of the body including the face, breasts, trunk.

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Is a plastic surgeon a skin specialist?

Dermatologists specialize in skin, but the plastic surgeon has an equally important role of the treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the skin. The skills of a plastic surgeon are especially needed when large areas of the skin must be removed and replaced especially where disfigurement may result or when these areas are in conspicuous areas such as the face. Plastic surgeons also perform skin resurfacing techniques, for cosmetic purposes, in order to achieve healthier looking skin by reducing facial wrinkling and pigmentary changes of the skin.

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Will I have a scar after plastic surgery?

Scarring is inevitable of healing, however a very fine lined scar placed in the correct orientation may be virtually invisible. A plastic surgeon spends years trying to master techniques to place scars in the most desirable location. Plastic surgeons will try to make incisions in areas that will not show, like under undergarments or along natural creases. Scars will normally fade over time, but certain areas of the body such as the back and chest, produce more severe scarring regardless of the technique used for reconstruction and closure. The severity of the scarring varies from person to person.