BREAST ENLARGEMENT (Augmentation Mammaplasty)
Procedure: Enhance the size and shape of breasts using artificial implants.
Length: 1 to 2 hours
Anesthesia: Local, with sedation, or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary soreness, swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breasts sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks.
Risks: Infection. Asymmetry. Tightening and hardening of scar tissue around the implant ("capsular contracture"), or rupture of implant; either may require surgery to release the scar tissue or to remove or replace the implant. Increase or decrease in sensitivity of nipples or breast skin, occasionally permanent. Accurate mammogram requires special technique. (Note: Some women have reported symptoms similar to those of immune disorders. Ask your doctors about these and other FDA concerns.)
Recovery: Back to work: a few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4 weeks. Fading of scars: several months to a year or more.
Duration of Results: Variable. Implants may require removal or replacement.
BREAST LIFT (Mastopexy)
Procedure: Raise and reshape sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning remaining tissue and nipples.
Length: 1.5 to 2 hours
Anesthesia: Local, with sedation, or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin. Permanent scars.
Risks: Thick, wide scars; skin loss, infection. Unevenly positioned nipples. Permanent loss of feeling in nipples or breasts.
Recovery: Feeling better and back to work: 1 week or more. Strenuous activities: 1 month. Fading of scars: several months to a year.
Duration of Results: Variable; gravity, pregnancy, aging, and weight changes may cause new sagging. Results may last longer when combined with implants.
COLLAGEN / FAT INJECTIONS
Procedure: Plump up creased, furrowed, or sunken facial skin; add fullness to lips and backs of hands. Works best on thin, dry, light-colored skin.
Length: 15 minutes to 1 hour per session
Anesthesia: Collagen: usually none; local may be included with the injection. Fat: local
In/Outpatient: Outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary stinging, throbbing, or burning sensation. Faint redness, swelling, excess fullness.
Risks: Collagen: allergic reactions including rash, hives, swelling, or flu-like symptoms; possible triggering of connective-tissue or autoimmune diseases. Both: Contour irregularities; infection.
Duration of Results: Variable; a few months to 1 year
DERMABRASION
Procedure: Mechanical scraping of the top layers of skin using a high-speed rotary wheel. Softens sharp edges of surface irregularities, including acne and other scars and fine wrinkles, especially around the mouth.
Length: A few minutes to 1.5 hours. May require more than 1 session.
Anesthesia: Local, numbing spray, or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary tingling, burning, itching, swelling, redness. Lightening of treated skin. Acute sensitivity to sun; loss of ability to make pigment (tan).
Risks: Abnormal color changes (permanent). Tiny whiteheads (temporary). Infection. Scarring. Flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores.
Recovery: Back to work: 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 4 to 6 weeks. Fading of redness: about 3 months. Return of pigmentation/sun exposure: 6 to 12 months.
Duration of Results: Permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages.
EYELID SURGERY (Blepharoplasty)
Procedure: Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. (May be covered by insurance if used to improve vision).
Length: 1 hour
Anesthesia: Usually local with sedation. Occasionally general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for the first few weeks.
Risks: Temporary blurred or double vision; blindness (extremely rare). Infection. Swelling at corners of the eyelids; tiny whiteheads. Slight asymmetry in healing or scaring. Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent). Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery).
Recovery: Reading: 2 to 3 days. Back to work: 7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: 2 weeks or more. Strenuous activities: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.
Duration of Results: Usually permanent
FACELIFT (Rhytidectomy)
Procedure: Improve 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.
Length: 2 to 3 hours
Anesthesia: Local, with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient stay.
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.
Risks: Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles, feeling (usually temporary but may be permanent). Infection. Poor healing; excessive scarring. Asymmetry or change in hairline.
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.
Duration of Results: Usually 5 to 10 years
FACIAL IMPLANTS
Procedure: Change the basic shape and balance of the face using carefully styled implants to build up a receding chin, add prominence to cheekbones, or reshape the jawline. Implants may be made of natural or artificial materials.
Length: 30 minutes to 2 hours
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Occasionally overnight hospital stay.
Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness. In jaw surgery, inability to open mouth fully for several weeks.
Risks: Shifting or imprecise positioning of implant, or infection around it, requiring a second operation or removal. Excess tightening and hardening of scar tissue around an artificial implant ("capsular contracture"), causing unnatural shape.
Recovery: Back to work: about 1 week. Normal appearance: 2 to 4 weeks. Activity that could harm or bump face: 6 weeks or more.
Duration of Results: Permanent
FOREHEAD LIFT (Browlift)
Procedure: Minimize forehead crease, drooping eyebrows, hooding over eyes, furrowed forehead, and frown lines by removing excess tissue and redraping skin. Most often done on men and women over 40.
Length: 1 to 2 hours
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, numbness, headaches, bruising. Possible itching and hair loss for several months. Change in hairline.
Risks: Injury to facial nerve, causing loss of motion, muscle weakness, or asymmetrical look. Infection. Broad or excessive scarring.
Recovery: Back to work: 7 to 10 days. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Limit exposure to sun for several months.
Duration of Results: Usually permanent
HAIR REPLACEMENT SURGERY
Procedure: Fill in balding areas with a patient's own hair using a variety of techniques including scalp reduction, tissue expansion, strip grafts, scalp flaps, or clusters of punch grafts (plugs, miniplugs, and microplugs). Works best on men with male pattern baldness after hair loss has stopped.
Length: 1 to 3 hours. Some techniques may require multiple procedures over 18 months or more.
Anesthesia: Usually local with sedation. Flaps and tissue expansion may be done with general anesthesia.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary achy, tight scalp. Unnatural look in early stages.
Risks: Unnatural look. Infection. Excessive scarring. Failure to "take." Loss of scalp tissue and/or transplanted hair.
Recovery: Back to work: 2 to 5 days. More strenuous activities: 10 days to 3 weeks. Final look: may be 18 months or more, depending on procedure.
Duration of Results: Permanent
LIPOSUCTION (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy)
Procedure: Improve body shape using tube and vacuum device to remove unwanted fat deposits that don't respond to dieting and exercise. Locations include: chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles.
Length: 1 to 2 hours or more, depending on extent of surgery.
Anesthesia: Local, epidural, or general.
In/Patient: Usually outpatient. Extensive procedures may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation.
Risks: Infection. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Fluid accumulation. Injury to the skin. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Asymmetry. Pigmentation changes (may become permanent if exposed to sun).
Recovery: Back to Work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks. Swelling and bruising: 1 to 6 months or more.
Duration of Results: Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise.
MALE BREAST REDUCTION (Gynecomastia)
Procedure: Reduce enlarged, female-like breasts in men using liposuction and/or cutting out excess glandular tissue. (Sometimes covered by medical insurance.)
Length: 1 ½ hours
Anesthesia: General or local
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation.
Risks: Infection. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Fluid accumulation. Injury to the skin. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Asymmetry. Pigmentation changes (may become permanent if exposed to the sun). Excessive scarring if tissue was cut away. Need for second procedure to remove additional tissue.
Recovery: Back to work: 3 to 7 days. More strenuous activity: 2 to 3 weeks. Swelling and bruising: 3 to 6 months
Duration of Results: Permanent
NOSE SURGERY (Rhinoplasty)
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.)
Length: 2 hours
Anesthesia: Local, with sedation or general
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, bruising around eyes and nose, headaches. Small bleeding and stuffiness.
Risks: Infection. Small burst blood vessels resulting in tiny, permanent red spots. Incomplete improvement, requiring additional surgery.
Recovery: Back to work or school: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks. Final appearance: 1 year or more.
Duration of Results: Permanent
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