1. Will cosmetic surgery make me look young again?
While cosmetic surgery will certainly improve your appearance
and, in many cases, make you more youthful-looking than before, it is a self-delusion
to believe - as many do - that cosmetic surgery can miraculously turn back
the clock to the extent that a person who's 40 plus will look 21 again.
This is simply not possible, and your level of satisfaction with the results
depends greatly on how realistic your expectations are. This cannot be emphasized
too often.
2. Are the results of cosmetic surgery "Guaranteed"?
Cosmetic surgery is not an exact science: in fact, it is
a combination of a science and an art. Besides, the final results depend on
a variety of factors, many of which are not entirely within the control of
the surgeon or the patient. To give one example: the healing process varies
from individual and is absolutely unpredictable. It depends on very many variables,
including the area operated upon, the quality of tissue, the blood supply,
the presence or absence of infection, the body's immune response to a foreign
body such as an implant, the level of personal hygiene maintained, and so
on.
For this reason, it is not possible to "guarantee results". What
is possible, however, is to maximise the potential for good results, and in
achieving this, your active involvement as a patient becomes very important.
the regular use of prescribed medications, observance of the recommended precautions
and hygiene measures, frequent follow-ups, a wholesome diet and a supportive
environment - all these can make the vital difference between poor and high-quality
results.
3. Is cosmetic surgery classed as "major surgery" with serious potential complications?
In skilled hands, cosmetic surgery very rarely produces
serious complications. This is nevertheless, "surgery", and as such
subject to a number of imponderables. Potential risks and complications can
range from minor and expected after-effects such as swelling, bruising and
discomfort to, more seriously (but also more infrequently), infection, implant
rejection and anaesthesia complications.
Modern medicine is equipped to tackle most of these adverse fall-outs but
you need to keep in mind that they do exist as possibilities. They are the
"calculated risks" you undertake when you undergo any surgery. Do
discuss them all with your surgeon in advance.
4. Are the scars of cosmetic surgery avoidable?
Any form of surgery leaves scars, and cosmetic surgery is
no exception. Despite what you may have hard or read, all scars are permanent
and cannot be erased. The cosmetic surgeon tries to make his incisions so
that the scars are hidden in the natural creases and body-fold areas. In most
cases, the scars fade gradually and become barely noticeable. Also, they can
be camouflaged with concealer and other make-up.
5. What is the duration of the actual surgery?
The duration of the operation varies, depending on the procedure
being undertaken and on the amount of surgery indicated for each patient,
but normally it ranges between 40 minutes to 3 ½ hours. A face lift,
for instance, takes about 3 ½ hours, breast implant surgery needs about
an hour and a half for each breast, while breast reduction takes much longer
- about 5 hours.
The time required for liposuction and lipo-transfer (auto-fat injection) is,
again, variable, depending on the part of body involved. A double chin correction
would take just 20 minutes, while liposuction around the hips, buttocks, thighs
and tummy takes about 2 hours.
6. Is the hair shaved in preparation for the surgery?
The hair from the eyebrows, eyelids and the head is not
shaved off completely. But, for surgery done on other parts of the body, the
hair on the concerned portion is completely shaved.
7. What type of anaesthesia is used during the surgery?
It depends on the surgeon's preference in terms of the
procedures being undertaken as well as the individual patient. Although general
anaesthesia is not normally require, the surgeon may opt for it in the case
of an especially nervous patient.
Many surgeons prefer a combination of a light general anaesthesia and local
anaesthesia, which appears to be most comfortable for the patient and allows
a light level of oxygen to be maintained during the surgery.
8. Are bandages always applied?
Following a face-lift, bandages are applied to the head,
chin and neck; they are changed 24 hours after the surgery, and the second
set of bandages left on for 48 hours more.
Bandages are also definitely applied to areas like the breast, tummy, hips,
thighs and buttocks, and the duration of each change of dressing varies according
to the area concerned.
Bandages are applied for several reasons. One of them is to keep the operated
area as immobile and as supported as possible. (This is also the reason that
telephone line calls, visitors and physical movements must be kept to a minimum
after the operations).
Bandages also help to prevent infection from external sources, as also injury/trauma.
9. How long is the hospital stay?
The usual hospital stay is one day(and admission is generally
on the day of the operation itself) because the surgery is in most cases superficial,
not involving manipulation of any of the vital organs such as the kidneys,
liver, intestine, pancreas or heart.
All the same, medicine is not an exact science. In unpredictable circumstances,
a longer hospital stay may be required and you should be prepared to stay
another night if the situation calls for it.
10. What can I expect in the post-operative period?
Irrespective of which procedure you may have undergone,
you can expect bruising, pain, swelling and discolouration. Before you see
the expected improvement, there is a period during which you will look quite
battered and bruised and 'strange' to yourself. During this phase, when you're
looking your worst, you may also experience at temporary period of mild emotional
depression - especially if you've had facial/eyelid surgery. It is not easy
to except looking bruised and swollen, particularly when you are natural expectation
are to look forward to an improved appearance. This is quite normal and should
not alarm you. Fortunately, this is a short-lived period as the improvement
in appearance gradually become noticeable
11. When are the stitches removed?
With a few expectations, nose, cheek and chin implants do
not require any removal of the sutures. Eyelid surgery sutures are generally
removed 3-4 days following the surgery. In the case of a face-lift, the stitches
come out about a week after the surgery. If everything goes well, the sutures
of breast surgery can be removed within a week or two.
Removing the sutures does not cause pain. It is advisable for you to stay
in town for about a week to ten days following any cosmetic surgery.
12. When can make-up be applied and one look socially presentable?
Eye make-up can usually be applied three days after the
sutures have been removed. This includes mascara, eye shadow and artificial
eyelashes. Facial make-up can usually be applied about the tenth day.
It is important that all makeup be thoroughly removed, using an upward motion.
Oil eye pads are recommended for the removal of eye make-up.
Gentle shampooing can be carried about five days after the surgery. The use
of a hair dryer is restricted. Tinting and colouring can usually be done about
three weeks after surgery.
13. How long will the results of cosmetic surgery last?
A face and neck lift, when combined with eyelid surgery,
actually retards the aging process. It continues, but at a slower rate. The
skin will not "suddenly fall down". That is impossibility. How long
the effect lasts varies from person to person, but generally it is between
5 to 10 years.
Some patients may never require another face-lift. Others may need one before
five years. In still other cases, where there is marked aging of the neck,
or excessive loose skin on the face, neck and jaw, it may be rarely necessary
to perform a second face-lift within a year to achieve the maximum possible
improvement.
Pouches under the eyes, once they are surgically removed, do not usually return.
But, as the ageing process continues, the skin in this area also becomes loose
and tends to hang; this may call for surgically tightening it up at a later
stage.
In the case of implants (whether in the chin, cheek, nose or breast), once
they are accepted by the body, the results are long lasting, virtually permanent.
