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ABDOMINOPLASTY
(Tummy
Tuck) return to top |
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Procedure: |
Flatten abdomen
by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of
abdominal wall |
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Length: |
2 to 5 hours |
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Anesthesia: |
General, or local
with sedation |
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In/Outpatient: |
Either depending
on individual circumstances and extent of surgery |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary pain.
Swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising,
tiredness for several weeks or months. |
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Risks: |
Blood clots,
infection, bleeding under skin flap, poor healing resulting
in conspicuous scarring or skin loss. Need for a
second operation |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 2
to 4 weeks More strenuous activity: 4 to 6 weeks or more
Fading or flattening of scars: 3 months to 2 years. |
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BREAST ENLARGEMENT(Augmentation
Mammaplasty)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Enhance
the size of breasts
using inflatable implants filled with saline. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
General. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary soreness,
swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breast
sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks. |
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Risks: |
Lack of implant permanence
-- surgical removal or replacement of the implants may be
required to treat problems, including: deflation; the
formation of scar tissue around the implant (capsular
contracture), which may cause the breast to feel tight or
hard; bleeding or infection. Increase or decrease in
sensitivity of nipples or breast skin, occasionally
permanent. Mammography requires a special technique. (Note: Some women have reported symptoms
similar to those of immune disorders. Ask your doctor about
these and other FDA concerns.) |
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Recovery: |
Back to work:
a few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4
weeks. Fading of scars: 6 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Variable. Implants may
require removal or replacement. |
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BREAST LIFT
(Mastopexy)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Raise and reshape sagging
breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning remaining
tissue and nipples. |
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Length: |
1 to 3 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
General. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient.
Sometimes inpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising,
swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin. Permanent
scars. |
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Risks: |
Thick, wide scars; skin
loss; infection. Unevenly positioned nipples. Permanent loss
of feeling in nipples or breast. |
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Recovery:
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Back to work: 1 week or
more. Strenuous activities: 1 month. Fading of scars:
6 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Variable; gravity,
pregnancy, aging, and weight changes may cause new sagging.
Results may last longer or be enhanced when breast implants
are inserted as part of the procedure. |
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CHEMICAL PEEL
(trichloroacetic acid [TCA],
Obagi Blue Peel)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Restore wrinkled, blemished,
unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a
chemical solution to peel away skin's top layers. Works best
on fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours for full face. |
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Anesthesia: |
None |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute
sensitivity to sun. |
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Risks: |
Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up
of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. |
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Recovery: |
New skin within 5 to 10 days |
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Duration of
Results: |
variable (temporary) |
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EAR SURGERY
(Otoplasty)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Set prominent ears back
closer to the head, or reduce the size of large ears. Most
often done on children between the ages of 4 and 14 years.
(Occasionally covered by insurance.) |
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Length: |
2 to 3 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Young children: usually
general. Older children or adults: general or local, with
sedation. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary throbbing, aching,
swelling, redness, numbness. |
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Risks: |
Infection of cartilage.
Excessive scarring. Blood clot that may need to be drained.
Mismatched or artificial- looking ears. Recurrence of the
protrusion, requiring repeat surgery. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work or school:
5 to 7 days.
Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Usually permanent. |
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EYELID SURGERY
(Blepharoplasty)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Correct drooping upper
eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess
fat, skin, and muscle.
|
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Length: |
1 to 3 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Usually locally with
sedation or general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary discomfort,
tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness,
burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to
light for first few weeks. |
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Risks: |
Temporary blurred or double
vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the
eyelids. Dry eyes. Formation of whiteheads. Slight asymmetry
in healing or scarring. Difficulty in closing eyes
completely (rarely permanent). Pulling down of the lower
lids (may require further surgery). Blindness (extremely
rare). |
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Recovery: |
Reading: 2 or 3 days. Back
to work: 7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or
more. Strenuous activities, alcohol: about 3 weeks.
Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Several years. Sometimes
permanent. |
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FACELIFT
(Rhytidectomy)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Improving sagging facial
skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat,
tightening muscles, redraping skin. Most often done on men
and women over 40. |
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Length: |
3 to 5 hours |
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Anesthesia: |
General. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. Some
patients may require short inpatient stay. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising,
swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling,
dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears,
where beard-growing skin is repositioned. |
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Risks:
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Injury to the nerves that
control facial muscles or feeling (usually temporary but may
be permanent). Infection, bleeding. Poor healing; excessive
scarring. Asymmetry or change in hairline. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 10 to 14 days.
More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising: 2
to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Usually 5 to 10 years. |
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FACIAL IMPLANTS
return to top |
|
Procedure: |
Change receding
chin through use of implant |
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Length: |
30 minutes to 2 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually Outpatient in office procedure |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary discomfort,
swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness. |
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Risks: |
Shifting or imprecise
positioning of implant, or infection around it, requiring a
second operation or removal. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: about 1 week.
Normal appearance: 2 to 4 weeks. Activity that could jar or
bump face: 6 weeks or more. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent. |
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FOREHEAD LIFT
(Browlift)
return to top |
|
Procedure: |
Minimize forehead creases,
drooping eyebrows, hooding over eyes, furrowed forehead and
frown lines by removing excess tissue, altering muscles and
tightening the forehead skin. May be done using the
traditional technique, with an incision across the top of
the head just behind the hairline; or with the use of an
endoscope, which requires 3 to 5 short incisions. Most
often done on people over 40. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours. |
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Anesthesia: |
General. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary swelling,
numbness, headaches, bruising. Traditional method:
Possible itching and hair loss. |
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Risks: |
Injury to facial nerve,
causing loss of motion, muscle weakness, or asymmetrical
look. Infection. Broad or excessive scarring. |
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Recovery:
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Back to work:
7 to 10 days, usually sooner for endoscopic forehead lift. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Full
recovery from bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Limit sun exposure
for several months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Usually 5 to 10 years. |
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LIPOSUCTION
(Suction-Assisted Lipectomy)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Improve body shape by
removing exercise-resistant fat deposits with a tube and
vacuum device. Common locations for liposuction include chin, cheeks, neck,
upper arms, above breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs,
knees, calves, ankles. |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours or more. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local or general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising,
swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation. |
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Risks: |
Asymmetry.
Possible rippling of skin, pigmentation changes or skin injury. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Infection. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks.
More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks. Full recovery from
swelling and bruising: 1 to 6 months or more. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent, with sensible
diet and exercise. |
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BREAST REDUCTION
(Gynecomastia)
return to top |
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Procedure: |
Reduce breast in using liposuction and/or cutting out excess
glandular tissue. (Sometimes covered by medical insurance.) |
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Length: |
1 hour or more,
possible one night stay with 24 hr. observation |
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Anesthesia: |
General |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising,
swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation. |
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Risks: |
Infection. Fluid
accumulation. Injury to the skin. Rippling or bagginess of
skin. Asymmetry. Pigmentation changes (may become permanent
if exposed to sun). Excessive scarring if tissue was cut
away. Need for second procedure to remove additional tissue. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 3 to 7 days.
More strenuous activity: 2 to 3 weeks. Swelling
and bruising: 3 to 6 months. |
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Duration of
Results: |
permanent |
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NOSE SURGERY
(Rhinoplasty)
return to top |
|
Procedure: |
Reshape nose by reducing or
increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of tip or
bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle
between nose and upper lip. May also relieve some breathing
problems. (May be covered by insurance.) |
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Length: |
1 to 2 hours or more. |
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Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or
general. |
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In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
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Side Effects: |
Temporary swelling, bruising
around eyes, nose and headaches. Some bleeding and
stiffness. |
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Risks: |
Infection. Small burst blood
vessels resulting in tiny, permanent red spots. Incomplete
improvement, requiring additional surgery. |
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Recovery: |
Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks.
More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid
hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks. Final
appearance: 1 year or more. |
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Duration of
Results: |
Permanent. |
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