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| Category: Plastic Surgeon |
Date published: March 16, 2005 |
 There are some times when plastic surgery is needed, such as to cover up a scar from cancer or some other unfortunate body trauma. Then there are the other times when it's for pure vanity reasons. And since there are so many of you twentysomethings out there that are just dead set about getting it done, let me point you in the right direction. I don't ever want you to go out there unprepared, so this issue, with the help of Michael Columbus, MD, a plastic surgeon with The Plastic Surgery Group, the Plastic Surgery Group in Cincinnati, OH, we are going to take a look at plastic surgery.
Derived from the Greek word plastikos, which means to mold or shape, plastic surgery has been around for centuries. Historians report that there are documents proving Ancient Egyptians used reconstructive, grafting and facial surgery. (It would be many years later before someone decided it would be a great idea to use plastic surgery to restore or create aesthetic beauty.)
Plastic surgery was developed to repair damaged body parts. For example, it was primarily used during World War I when soldiers were suffering from severe facial and head injuries. In order to close these serious wounds, doctors had to come up with some creative restorative measures. So they began grafting skin from other parts of the body and reconstructing areas that had been blown off.
Types of Procedures There are two basic types of procedures: non-invasive and invasive. Non-invasive procedures don't require you to be cut open, such as a chemical peel, collagen treatment and Botox®. Some non-invasive procedures can be done in the doctor's office and only take moments to perform. While invasive procedures such as a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and liposuction are more intense and require several hours of surgery. Plus, after an invasive surgery you will need to spend at least an hour in the recovery room and have someone bring you home and stay with you for the remainder of the day.
Prices for these procedures vary from $800 for a Botox® procedure to $5,000 and more for a face lift; at least those were the prices I found. But it also depends on how much work and where you are getting it done that can affect the price of plastic surgery.
Just as an FYI: plastic surgery is not just for women; men are getting implants, liposuction, and nose reconstruction, among other things. (I know I'm not the only one who saw the MTV special where that guy got calf implants.)
Step One: Contemplate and Debate Before going into the surgeon's office, do your research. Read current magazine articles; watch Plastic Surgery Beverly Hills on TLC or Dr. 90210 on E! or some other TV special, and surf the Internet to see what information you can find to make sure you know what you are getting into. Take note of all the pros and cons and what can go wrong such as brain damage, heart attack, stroke, nerve damage, complications from anesthesia, etc.
I am not trying to scare you but just make sure this is something you really want to do and that you are not doing it to keep a lover in your life or be part of the `in' crowd. Do it for no one else but YOU.
Step Two: Consult with a Physician When going in for your initial consultation, the first people you will meet are the doctor's staff. "This is an opportunity to get to know the people who will work with you throughout the entire process. The staff should be quite knowledgeable about the procedures and the options available,"* says Columbus.
After you meet with the staff, you will have a private consultation with the doctor. During this consultation you will get a chance to voice all your concerns and questions. As an aside, just because you want a certain procedure doesn't mean you can have it done. A lot of it depends on your body and bone structure. An experienced surgeon can help you determine whether the requests you want are realistic or help you make a better decision to fit your lifestyle. "Many patients seeking a certain procedure have considered doing something completely different after meeting and talking with their plastic surgeon,"* says Columbus.
When you are completely comfortable with the doctor, staff and the procedure, it's time to set up the appointment. "The key is finding a physician and a team of skilled doctors and nurses who will take the time to listen to your needs, address your concerns and help you to determine what course of action is appropriate for you,"* says Columbus.
Step Three: Preparing for surgery After you've set up your appointment, you will need to meet with your personal physician to get your medical history and a physical to see if you are healthy enough to undergo this type of surgery. When you have passed that stage, you'll move on to a pre-operative appointment to get any special instructions concerning your diet, activity levels, sleeping instruction, wound care and pain relief after your surgery as well as any prescriptions you may need. Make sure you pay attention and carefully follow the instructions. This will also be the time for you to schedule post-operative appointments so that the doctor can monitor your healing progress after the surgery.
Step Four: Recovery Everyone's recovery time is different and not everyone experiences unbearable pain. Depending on what you have done you could be out of commission for three days to three weeks. Sometimes there can be problems such as minor infections or wound healing improperly but that can be treated during a doctor's visit. But there are times when major complications arise and there may need to be an immediate surgery or a later one to correct any problems.
So there you have it folks. This is just a brief overview of what to expect during your process. As always I strongly suggest you do your research beforehand. Good Luck!
Below is a list of questions Columbus suggests you ask a potential surgeon: Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery? Do you have hospital privileges to perform this surgery? If so, at which hospitals? How many procedures of this type have you performed? Where and how will you perform my surgery? Is the surgical facility accredited or in the process of being accredited by a national or state- recognized accrediting organization? What are the risks involved with my procedure? How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery? Will I need to take time off work? If so, how long? How much will my procedure cost? Are financing options available?
*Taken from an article titled Chronology of Beauty by Michael Columbus, MD
ChaChanna Simpson is the publisher and editor of Twentity.com, the free ezine for twentysomethings, featuring cheap and free events every Wednesday. Subscribe at www.twentity.com
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