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What
is Plastic Surgery?
Plastic
Surgery is a surgical specialty devoted to reconstruction of
facial and body defects related to birth defects, trauma, burns
and other disease processes. Plastic surgery also provides
personal enhancement, purely for cosmetic reasons, with
procedures such as, but not limited to, facelift, nose reshaping
and breast augmentation and reductions.
What
does the word plastic mean in relationship to plastic surgery?
The
word "plastic" does not mean artificial.
It comes from the Greek word plastikos, meaning
"to mold or shape." Most of the techniques used in all
aspects of plastic surgery today can have their origins traced
to reconstruction of war injuries.
What
is the difference between cosmetic surgery and reconstructive
surgery?
Cosmetic
Surgery is performed to reshape normal structures
of the body, purely at the patient’s request, to change their
look or perhaps even improve appearance and self-esteem.
Cosmetic Surgery is not covered by insurance.
Reconstructive
surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the
body, caused by disease, congenital defects, trauma, infection,
tumors, etc. It is generally performed to improve function, but
may also be done to provide a more normal appearance.
Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by insurance.
What
is the most common plastic surgery?
The
most common reconstructive procedure is the excision and defect
reconstruction of benign tumors and cancerous lesions. The most
common cosmetic procedures I do are facelift, eyelid lift,
breast procedures, liposuction and nose reshaping.
Which
procedure do men have done the most?
Eyelid
surgery and nasal surgery.
Can
teenagers have cosmetic surgery?
About
3% of all cosmetic procedures are performed on patients under
18. The most common is nose reshaping and breast reduction for
both male and female.
Is
there a fee for cosmetic consultation?
We
offer a complimentary consultation for cosmetic surgery. You
need to plan on visiting with us for about 45 minutes to an
hour. This is our opportunity to get to know each other and make
certain you leave with enough good information, given to you in
plain English, so you can go home, think this over and decide if
it’s for you or not. First, you’ll visit with Sharon who
will discuss the procedure with you, sparing no details. Then,
you and I will get acquainted. I’ll go over all the details of
the surgery, the expected benefits, alternatives and possible
complications and what is done to correct them should they
happen. This is called an informed consent. You may be shown
videos or other visual aids.
What
is the intended use of the photos you show us?
I
(Sharon) primarily take all the photos. Photos are a tool for
planning surgery. They are a part of your permanent medical
record. They are
only shown to help enhance the explanation of a procedure, the
resulting scars, etc., not to imply a specific result.
You are only shown photos of those patients who have
granted permission.
OK,
here’s the photo disclaimer.
Any inconsistency in distance and/or the lighting is only
related to the fact that I’m one heck of a plastic surgical
nurse, but a photographer, I’m not! For 28 years now, Dr.
Ahmed has scolded me because ---- I’m talking, I’m waving my
hands and I stand here and I stand there. You get the picture.
Consistency is not my forte. I’m right brained and proud of
it!
Forgive
me my photographic inconsistencies….I will do better next
year.
(New
Year’s Resolution , since 1980)
Sharon
Hopper, R.N. C.P.S.N.
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