Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Blog | Dr. Linderman

In the vast majority of cases insurance will not pay for cosmetic surgery. With the increasing numbers of bariatric surgical procedures being performed, there is a very large patient population who present to the plastic surgeons office for removal of excessive amounts of redundant skin in various areas of the body resulting from massive
weight loss. These areas include the trunk and abdomen, extremities and breasts. In some cases partial reimbursement by insurance will cover more limited operations to remove large skin aprons from the abdomen that may cause hygiene problems.

This is perhaps one of the greatest myths in cosmetic surgery.

No surgeon or type of surgery can erase a scar. However scars can be improved and sometimes they can be almost imperceptible. Most scars will improve with time and the length of time is affected by a persons age and the location of the scar. Children’s scars may take longer to mature than older patients. Facial scars tend to improve, fade quicker, and are of better quality than scars of the extremities and trunk. Some areas such as the shoulder and chest may produce more noticeable scars. Afro-Americans may produce scars of poorer quality than Caucasians. Everyone is different and the scars their bodies produce are not always predictable.

A cosmetic surgeon may be able to improve the quality of scars and make them less noticeable. Placing scars in naturally occurring skin creases and locating them to minimize tension is very helpful. Widened scars can sometimes be revised and improved. The direction of a scar may be change by tissue transposition. Thickened scars may be injected with steroids to aid in softening, decrease of redness and maturation. In the final analysis, the scar will still be present but may be difficult to see.

A very significant number of breast augmentation and breast lift patients will have some differences or asymmetry between breasts. This can involve position, size and bony abnormalities. In most cases, these can be significantly improved but obtaining exact symmetry is not always possible. Cosmetic surgery in other areas such as liposuction and tummy may produce small differences. When your expectations are realistic, your plastic surgeon will make every effort to meet them. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Richard Linderman of Aesthetic Plastic of Indiana has helped thousands of patients obtain their individual goals.

Cosmetic surgery does not usually affect or impair muscle function. In tummy tuck surgery the abdominal muscles may have separated to produce a rectus diastasis and this is repaired by suturing the muscles together but their function should not be affected. In breast augmentation, the breast implants are often placed underneath the pectoral muscles but again the muscle function should not be affected.

Perfection is an ideal that is always sought and rarely achieved. This is true in life as in having a cosmetic surgical procedure. Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is a bench mark that your surgeon has completed specific training and has passed rigorous examinations administered by skilled plastic and cosmetic surgeons. This is only a guideline in obtaining a desired result in a particular patient. You must have realistic expectations as to the ultimate result of your surgery and your surgeon must assess whether her feels he can meet your expectations. All surgical procedures have risks and both the patient and the surgeon must discuss these candidly. Patients must be informed and realize that there are no guarantees but with realistic expectations, patient education and a skilled caring surgeon , a predictable outcome can be obtained.

When considering having a rhinoplasty procedure performed, it is important to be sure you are fully aware of the types of surgery that can be done and which one will best serve your needs. Your cosmetic surgeon should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both open and closed rhinoplasty techniques before any final decisions are made.

Open Rhinoplasty
The open rhinoplasty technique involves making a small incision in the columella. This is the section of skin at the bottom of your nose, between your nostrils. In open rhinoplasty, this incision is followed by lifting the skin away from your nose in order to expose the cartilage and bone underneath.

This allows the surgeon a better view of the area that will be altered during your procedure. It also allows easier access to the tip of your nose if you are requiring adjustments to that cartilage as well. The small scar left from open rhinoplasty usually heals with a barely perceptible scar.

Closed Rhinoplasty
During a closed rhinoplasty procedure, the surgery is performed inside the structure of your nose. When the procedure does not require any complicated re-structuring, your surgeon is able to perform a closed procedure, which leaves no exterior scarring.

Both open and closed rhinoplasty offer specific advantages to the patient. The determining factors as to which procedure is right for you will depend on the re-structuring and re-shaping your nose requires and the recommendations and preferences of your cosmetic surgeon. As with any cosmetic surgery procedure, be sure you contact a qualified and experienced cosmetic surgeon and discuss the details of the procedure in full before making any decisions.

With the popularity of elective cosmetic surgery, an increasing number of unqualified or poorly trained medical practitioners are performing both invasive and noninvasive types of cosmetic surgery. Any licensed physician can call himself or herself a cosmetic surgeon. How is a perspective patient to identify a qualified surgeon. Choosing a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons is a first step in ensuring quality care. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons ASPS was founded in 1931 and membership REQUIRES certification by The American Board of Plastic Surgery which is the only board dedicated to plastic surgery of the face and entire. Additionally, members of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons requires this same certification and practice concentration on cosmetic surgery. Dr. Linderman is a member of both of these organizations and specializes in cosmetic surgery.

Although there is no anatomical reason why a woman cannot breast feed after breast augmentation, I advise my patients of the risks involved. Patients can develop mastitis with breast-feeding, which can lead to increased scarring or capsular contracture around the breast implant. While this hardness may not occur it is an added risk that patients should be aware of.

At the current time patients older than 21 years old may choose to have either saline breast implants of silicone gel breast implants for breast augmentation. The advantages of saline breast implants are that if a deflation occurs, it is very easy to detect and correct with replacement. The implant deflation is covered under a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty. Saline implants are also less expensive and require a smaller incision for placement than silicone gel breast implants.