Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Blog | Dr. Linderman

Sutures are usually removed within seven to eight days following facelift surgery. The initial dressing and small surgical drains are removed one or two days after facelift surgery. Showering and hair shampoo are permissible at this time.

As cosmetic procedures go, facelift surgery is not a particularly painful operation. In selected patients it may be performed as an outpatient and pain controlled with oral pain medications. Head elevation and application of ice compresses are helpful in the postoperative period to reduce discomfort, swelling and bruising. Severe unremitting pain following facelift surgery may be due to a hematoma or blood collection and is cause to contact your surgeon.

As with many cosmetic surgery procedures the length of recovery for liposuction will be different from patient to patient. Most patients can expect of have some bruising, which may last up to a few weeks. Patients are usually sore and state like they feel they have overdone it at the gym. Prolonged periods of standing should be avoided in the first week but walking and a return to slow treadmill activities are encouraged. Swelling recedes after the first two weeks but it usually takes up to eight to ten weeks to see the final result of the liposuction fat removal. A compressive binder is worn for a month after surgery to reduce swelling and aid healing. Learn more about liposuction.

In the majority of cases, tummy tuck surgery is not covered by insurance. If a patient has an underlying hernia or weakness of the abdominal wall, insurance may provide some reimbursement. Tummy tuck surgery is often performed in combination with other procedures such as hysterectomy or urinary bladder surgery. In these types of cases, insurance will often pay for portion of the hospital and anesthesia fees as well as an overnight stay.

Yes there are scars after a facelift. All surgical procedures produce scars but some are less noticeable than others. Dr. Linderman minimizes scars by locating them in existing wrinkles, using small sutures and handling the tissues gently to obtain the best healing.

Exercise is discouraged for two weeks after facelift surgery due to the associated rise in blood pressure and possibility of bleeding and bruising. Sutures are usually removed within seven to eight days of surgery. Shampoo and showering are allowed after dressing and drain removal in twenty four to forty eight hours postoperatively.

There are four incisions that are currently employed in breast augmentation surgery. Every surgeon has his preferences and there are theoretical advantages and problems with each approach. In order of popularity the incisions are inframammary (breast fold), periareolar (around the areola), transaxillary (armpit), and transumbilical (around the umbilicus.

The inframammary incision is direct, provides excellent exposure and even with a suboptimal scar is hidden in the breast fold.

The periareolar incision usually produces an excellent scar but can be quite visible with poor healing. Some surgeons feel there is a higher incidence of capsular contracture due to the cutting milk ducts.

The transaxillary incision avoids a scar on the breast but a bad scar can be difficult to hide. Exposure may not be as good and correct implant position is harder to obtain.

The transumbilical approach is the least common, requires special instrumentation and poorer exposure.

A full tummy tuck begins with an incision above the pubic area that extends between the hipbones. Dr. Linderman then makes a second incision to separate the navel from the underlying tissue. He then separates the skin pulls it up to the level of the ribs. He then pulls the abdominal muscles together and stitches them into position. The navel is then relocated and stitched into place. Dr. Linderman replaces the skin (excess skin is trimmed) and sutures the original incisions. This procedure takes between two and five hours.
Immediately following tummy tuck surgery, the incisions are dressed with bandages to keep the skin in place. A tube is usually inserted to drain any excess fluids that will collect for about a day or so after. Patients may experience some swelling and discomfort, however your doctor can prescribe medication to alleviate these symptoms. Stitches are usually removed five to ten days following surgery, although deeper sutures may take up to three weeks. The specifics of each procedure, anesthesia used, and recovery time will vary with each patient.
Abdominoplasty surgery is performed under general anesthesia and often on an out-patient basis. Sometimes, patients choose to spend one night in hospital. Most patients are back to normal daily activities within two weeks but are asked to avoid heavy physical activity and heavy lifting for at least 6 weeks.
To learn more about tummy tucks, please contact Dr. Linderman at Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of Indiana today to schedule your initial consultation.