Plastic and Esthetic Surgery

Breast Enlargement

Breast enlargement, technically known as augmentation mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure to enhance the size and shape of a woman's breast.By inserting an implant behind each breast, surgeons are able to increase a woman's bustline by one or more bra cup sizes.

The implant is usually inserted through an incision made in the natural crease beneath the breast. It is also possible to make the incision in the armpit or around the edge of the areola. The procedure generally requires an overnight stay in hospital but can be performed as a day case.

A breast enlargement operation will be performed under a general anaesthetic and will take approximately 1-1 1/2 hours. A small incision will be made in the crease of the underside of the breast, the armpit or lower edge of the areola. Your Cosmetic Surgeon will advise you on the most appropriate procedure for you. Once the incision is made, the Cosmetic Surgeon will create a pocket for the implant to lie in. This may be either beneath the muscle or beneath the breast tissue. Your size and shape will determine the outcome of the position of the implant and will be discussed fully at consultation with the Cosmetic Surgeon. Following the surgery you will have stitches (these may be dissolvable) in place, covered with a dressing and a sports bra. You will be advised to have your stitches removed, if applicable, at 7 days after your operation, or in accordance with your Cosmetic Surgeon's instructions, and to continue to wear the sports bra 24 hours a day for up to 3 months.

Facelift

Facelift is a cosmetic surgery procedure used to reposition sagging facial tissues and remove redundant facial skin.

The surgeon begins the incision in the area of the temple hair, just above and in front of the ear, and then continues around the lobe, circling the ear before returning to the point of origin in the scalp. The skin is raised outward before the surgeon repositions and tightens the underlying muscle and connective tissue. Some fat may be removed, as well as excess skin. For men, the incision is aligned to accommodate the natural beard lines. In all cases, the incision is placed where it will fall in a natural crease of the skin for camouflage.

After trimming the excess skin, the surgeon closes the incisions with fine sutures and/or metal clips, which permit surgery without shaving hair from the incision site. Depending on the extent of the surgery, the process can take from two to four hours. When the procedure is performed with a combination of mild sedatives, local anesthesia, and a mild intravenous anesthesia, the patient will experience little discomfort. Some surgeons prefer to use general anesthesia for facelifts. Following the surgery, the surgeon will apply a dressing to protect the entire area where the incisions have been made.

In some cases, a drainage tube may have been inserted during surgery. This will be removed on the first or second day after surgery. All sutures and staples are usually removed within five to 10 days following surgery.

Recovery usually takes two to three weeks, though many patients go back to work in two weeks. Scars are usually not noticeable after enough time has passed for them to mature. In any case, they are easily disguised in natural skin creases, by the hair, or, in persistent cases, by makeup until total healing has occurred. Bear in mind that the aging process continues after surgery and that some relaxation of tissues will occur over the first few weeks.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a procedure that can help sculpt the body by removing unwanted fat from specific areas, including the abdomen, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, upper arms, chin, cheeks and neck. Although no type of liposuction is a substitute for dieting and exercise, liposuction can remove stubborn areas of fat that don't respond to traditional weight-loss methods.

The best candidates for liposuction are normal-weight people with firm, elastic skin who have pockets of excess fat in certain areas. You should be physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in your expectations. Your age is not a major consideration; however, older patients may have diminished skin elasticity and may not achieve the same results as a younger patient with tighter skin.Liposuction carries greater risk for individuals with medical problems such as diabetes, significant heart or lung disease, poor blood circulation, or those who have recently had surgery near the area to be contoured.

The time required to perform liposuction may vary considerably, depending on the size of the area, the amount of fat being removed, the type of anesthesia and the technique used.There are several liposuction techniques that can be used to improve the ease of the procedure and to enhance outcome.Liposuction is a procedure in which localized deposits of fat are removed to recontour one or more areas of the body. Through a tiny incision, a narrow tube or cannula is inserted and used to vacuum the fat layer that lies deep beneath the skin. The cannula is pushed then pulled through the fat layer, breaking up the fat cells and suctioning them out. The suction action is provided by a vacuum pump or a large syringe, depending on the surgeon's preference. If many sites are being treated, your surgeon will then move on to the next area, working to keep the incisions as inconspicuous as possible.Fluid is lost along with the fat, and it's crucial that this fluid be replaced during the procedure to prevent shock. For this reason, patients need to be carefully monitored and receive intravenous fluids during and immediately after surgery.

After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. Occasionally, a small drainage tube may be inserted beneath the skin for a couple of days to prevent fluid build-up. To control swelling and to help your skin better fit its new contours, you may be fitted with a snug elastic garment to wear over the treated area for a few weeks. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.