FAQ - About Cosmetic Surgery

What is Cosmetic Plastic Surgery?
Will there be a visible scar after the surgery?
Which parts of the body need plastic surgery intervention?
Which are the most common plastic surgeries?
How long does it take?
Who is a candidate for plastic surgery?
What are the risks with plastic surgery?
What about smoking? Does smoking cause complications?
How much pain will I feel after my surgery?

What is Cosmetic (Plastic) Surgery?

Plastic surgery is a medical and cosmetic specialty that deals with the correction of physical aspects of the body. Sometimes by correcting the physical aspects of a body part, such as the nose, there’s a change in the function of it. For example, the person may breathe more easily after the surgery is performed. Plastic surgery has two main parts, aesthetic also called cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery.

Cosmetic surgery is chosen by people who are not satisfied with a facial characteristic or body characteristic and would like to change it permanently. Cosmetic or plastic surgery is also dedicated to enhancing the functions of the body and to improving the daily life of a patient.

Reconstructive surgery is intended to correct a physical abnormality caused by a birth defect, disease or tumor, physical trauma, or infection. The word “plastikos” comes from the Greek language, meaning “giving shape.”

Will there be a visible scar after the surgery?

Unfortunately incisions are unavoidable in these types of surgeries. Any time a cut is made in the skin, there will be a scar. However, incisions are usually made in areas of the body that are not visible. Due to technological advancements and the techniques used, methods now exist that minimize the size of these scars. As time passes by, scars eventually fade; how fast they do depends on the type of the incision or surgery and also varies from person to person.

Which parts of the body need plastic surgery intervention?

Cosmetic surgery procedures can be done on almost every part of the face (neck, nose, eyes, ears, chin, cheekbones, forehead, mouth) and the body (breast, tummy, leg, arm, buttocks). Scar revision and liposuction can also be performed on most areas of the body.

Which are the most common plastic surgeries?

Some of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures are:

How long does it take?

The length of the operation depends on the procedure. Usually surgeries take an average of 1-3 hours. This doesn’t include a pre-surgery prep time and the recovery time.

Who is a candidate for plastic surgery?

If a person has realistic expectations and an understanding of the limitations of his/her own body, that person is a good candidate. Good patients have a strong self-image, and well-developed reasons for pursuing a plastic surgery procedure. They don’t want plastic surgery just because a spouse or boyfriend tells them to have it.

What are the risks with plastic surgery?

Like any other surgeries, plastic surgery carries some risks, such as bleeding, possible infection, bad reactions to anesthesia, and others. Because of this, we ask our patients to strictly follow our surgeons’ before and after surgery instructions.

What about smoking? Does smoking cause complications?

We ask patients to quit smoking 2 weeks before the surgery and for 3-4 weeks afterwards. Smoking interferes with the healing process and can cause complications.

How much pain will I feel after my surgery?

It depends of course on what kind of cosmetic surgery you are going to have. There is no surgery that comes without pain and discomfort. Tummy tuck surgery and breast augmentation (implant under muscle), which involve the muscles, are usually more painful than other procedures. After the surgery, patients can take painkillers and other medications prescribed by the surgeon.