Like many other major life decisions, plastic surgery is a journey that is unique to each patient. Each patient has to make a few decisions and choices that apply to all plastic surgery patients. If the right decisions are made, the chances of a successful cosmetic procedure increase exponentially. 

Here are a few decisions each plastic surgery patient has to make.

Choosing Your Plastic Surgeon

If you were choosing a carpenter to make furniture for your home, you would go for the carpenter with the most skill and experience to get the job done, right? This way, you are almost guaranteed to get the best quality furniture. 

Choosing the top plastic surgeon in Dallas, TX, is similar in that choosing the right surgeon to perform the cosmetic surgery will increase your chances of getting your desired results.

Your plastic surgeon should be board certified and have hospital privileges to work from the medical facility of their choice. In addition, your surgeon should have adequate training to work in the field of plastic surgery you are interested in.

Scheduling Appointments

During your appointments, your doctor will discuss essential plastic surgery details with you in preparation for the surgery. The doctor will also perform a physical exam to get a better understanding of what your plastic surgery goals are and what the best surgical approach is.

Your doctor will also discuss post-operative care options available to you. Modern treatment options like hyperbaric chambers are a great way to speed healing, reduce swelling and bruising, and improve scarring around incision sights.

It is essential that your doctor also runs tests before the cosmetic surgery to ensure your body can handle the stress of cosmetic surgery with a limited risk of complications. To ensure you qualify for plastic surgery, you can do the following things:

  • Quit smoking
  • Quit excessive use of recreational drugs
  • Get yourself in good health, like healing blood pressure
  • Maintain a stable weight
  • Ensure you are not pregnant

Lastly, your doctor should discuss payment options available to you. Most cosmetic procedures are elective, so most health insurance covers do not cover them. An exception to this is a procedure like breast reconstruction after breast cancer. Your total fee should be inclusive of post-operative consultations.

Surgery and Recovery

Once D-day is here, get to the hospital on time wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. Having a designated driver to take you home after the cosmetic procedure is advisable. Your doctor will have a brief consultation with you before the procedure and start the procedure, which should be an outpatient procedure.

After the surgery, your plastic surgeon will fit you with the necessary garments to help your body remain toned and heal. They will also prescribe pain meds if they haven’t done so. Once the anesthetic wears off, you can go home and start your recovery journey. You can expect to be in recovery for a day or several weeks, depending on the extent of the procedure.

Plastic Surgery FAQ

Does race affect plastic surgery results?

Race does not affect plastic surgery results in the anatomic aspect, but it may affect the type of plastic surgery you wish to get. All skin types have similar healing properties. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimates that cosmetic procedures performed on Asian Americans have increased by 125% between 2005 and 2013.

The rate increased by 56 percent for Hispanics and 35% for African Americans. The disparity in increased rates is attributed to varying rates of purchasing power. In modern society, cosmetic surgery is nothing, if not a sign that one has money to burn.

How long after cosmetic surgery on the face can I wear makeup?

Patients can typically start wearing makeup after seven days. This number of days may increase if your healing rate is slower than expected. You may have to wait for two weeks before resuming the makeup application. To be on the safe side, make sure you consult your plastic surgeon for further advice.

Will hyperbaric treatment speed up my healing?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy exposes your body to pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. We all need oxygen to heal. This treatment helps your body absorb the maximum amount of oxygen to support healing. So yes, HBOT can accelerate healing by up to 75%. It can also help reduce bruising, swelling, and inflammation after plastic surgery.

What are the chances of scarring and hair loss after plastic surgery?

Most surgeries require incisions to be made, which most likely leave scars. An experienced plastic surgeon can create incisions on discreet parts of the face to avoid hair loss. If scars are a major concern, your plastic surgeon can also recommend a few procedures that require little to no incisions on visible parts of the face.