Frequently Asked Questions
What questions should I ask before choosing a plastic surgeon to make sure he or 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 board certified?
- When the doctor states he/she is board-certified, ask by which board.
- 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 surgeons training and competency for specific procedures.
- 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 surgeons 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. New York State does require that if a physician is operating out of his office he/she must be accredited, such accreditation means the facility has met strict requirements and denotes a high standard of care.
- If it’s in an office-based facility, ask if it’s accredited. New York State does require that if a physician is operating out of his office he/she must be accredited, 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 can include fees for the surgical facility and anesthesia. Other possible costs are the preoperative physical and blood work, medications, and surgical garments. We offer on-site financing with CareCredit.com , making surgery a realistic option for just about anyone.
Facts & myths about plastic surgery:
- Myth No. 1 - Plastic surgery involves plastic implants.
- Surgical synthetics are used in a small fraction of plastic surgery procedures, but most common plastic surgery procedures do not involve synthetic implants at all. In fact, "plastic" surgery got its name from the Greek word "plastikos," which means "to mold".
- Surgical synthetics are used in a small fraction of plastic surgery procedures, but most common plastic surgery procedures do not involve synthetic implants at all. In fact, "plastic" surgery got its name from the Greek word "plastikos," which means "to mold".
- Myth No. 2 - Ordinary people can't afford facial plastic surgery procedures.
- Costs vary depending on the extent of surgery, the skill and training of the surgeon, and the geographical location, but many procedures fall in the $500 - $6,000 range and are quite affordable with a payment plan.
- Costs vary depending on the extent of surgery, the skill and training of the surgeon, and the geographical location, but many procedures fall in the $500 - $6,000 range and are quite affordable with a payment plan.
- Myth No. 3 - Facial plastic surgery is just for older women who want to retain the appearance of youth.
- Men and women of all ages have plastic surgery, and not to just look younger. Even young people are candidates for certain procedures. Nasal surgery, for example, and surgery to correct misshapen ears may be done even earlier. Teens with severe acne can benefit from skin resurfacing procedures, and permanent acne scars can be considerably improved as well.
- Men and women of all ages have plastic surgery, and not to just look younger. Even young people are candidates for certain procedures. Nasal surgery, for example, and surgery to correct misshapen ears may be done even earlier. Teens with severe acne can benefit from skin resurfacing procedures, and permanent acne scars can be considerably improved as well.
- Myth No. 4 - Plastic surgery will leave noticeable scars.
- Any cut that penetrates all of the skin's layers will produce a scar, but facial plastic surgeons are skilled in placing and closing the incisions in a way that minimizes obvious scarring. Most plastic surgery scars fade to fine white lines that disappear into natural facial creases.
- Any cut that penetrates all of the skin's layers will produce a scar, but facial plastic surgeons are skilled in placing and closing the incisions in a way that minimizes obvious scarring. Most plastic surgery scars fade to fine white lines that disappear into natural facial creases.
- Myth No. 5 - You can’t be seen out in public for weeks after facial plastic surgery.
- The healing period for many facial plastic surgery procedures is one to two weeks. Much of the swelling that may occur resolves within this period, and any discoloration can be effectively camouflaged with high-coverage cosmetics.
Additional FAQ's
- What is aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery?
- Aesthetic surgery, also known as cosmetic surgery, seeks to improve an individual’s appearance. These types of operations most often involve the nose, ears, face, forehead, eyelids, breasts, abdomen, hips and thighs.
- Aesthetic surgery, also known as cosmetic surgery, seeks to improve an individual’s appearance. These types of operations most often involve the nose, ears, face, forehead, eyelids, breasts, abdomen, hips and thighs.
- How is a face lift done?
- During a face lift incisions are made in the hair line, temple region extending down in front of the ear and then around the back of the ear into the hairline. These incisions vary depending on the technique used by your plastic surgeon. Many plastic surgeons are well trained in more than one face lift technique. The skin of the face and neck is dissected into the cheeks and neck allowing it to be mobilized upward producing a tightening and smoothing result. Many plastic surgeons can now also tighten the muscular layers underneath the skin as well during a face lift procedure. Years of specialized training are necessary to safely perform this procedure. The results can be subtle or drastic depending on the condition of the facial area prior to the surgery and the desired results.
- During a face lift incisions are made in the hair line, temple region extending down in front of the ear and then around the back of the ear into the hairline. These incisions vary depending on the technique used by your plastic surgeon. Many plastic surgeons are well trained in more than one face lift technique. The skin of the face and neck is dissected into the cheeks and neck allowing it to be mobilized upward producing a tightening and smoothing result. Many plastic surgeons can now also tighten the muscular layers underneath the skin as well during a face lift procedure. Years of specialized training are necessary to safely perform this procedure. The results can be subtle or drastic depending on the condition of the facial area prior to the surgery and the desired results.