There’s a lot of perception out there that plastic surgery exists only as a quick fix for obesity or being overweight. This is actually a dangerous assumption: more and more medical evidence is pointing to the fact that obesity can actually increase the risks and side effects for plastic surgery. It’s important to acknowledge that plastic surgery is a very serious procedure, and managing existing health conditions before the surgery is essential for a safe procedure. The more you can do to make it as safe as possible, the better your plastic surgery results and experience will be.
The Facts About Obesity
Recent studies have shown that obese plastic surgery patients are 35% more likely than non-obese patients to visit the hospital to treat complications related to plastic surgery. Overall, 3.2% of obese plastic surgery patients developed complications when compared to the .9% of non-obese patients who had developed complications.
It’s Incredibly Expensive
It’s an unfortunate fact that most insurance companies won’t cover treatment for complications that arise from plastic surgery. Research has shown that on average, obese patients had to spend $3,900 more on health care costs after liposuction, $7,100 more after a “tummy tuck” and $7,400 more for breast-reduction surgery. It’s already taxing and difficult to have to recover from further complications from surgery; but having extra expenses for an already expensive surgery can create a lot of unnecessary stress and hardship.
It’s Not Just Aesthetic Procedures
These risks and extra costs are present even when it’s not a cosmetic procedure. When it comes to breast reduction and breast reconstruction surgery, obese women were nine times more likely to develop complications to reconstructive surgical procedures. The most common complications for these surgeries are inflammation, infection, and fluid buildup.
What Can We Do?
A great plastic surgeon will always do their best to reduce any kind of risk for plastic surgery procedures. That’s why many surgeons request that a patient lower their weight before a procedure to a healthy BMI, also known as Body Mass Index. Your BMI is a range of weights associated with different heights, and many people can look up their healthy BMI ranges themselves. In fact, many body sculpting procedures like liposuction and the tummy tuck are designed for people who are close to their ideal weight, but need to remove stubborn fat that is resistant to diet and exercise.
In the end, it’s ultimately good for you to stay at your healthy weight even after your procedure—many body contouring procedures like tummy tucks lose their results if the patient regains their weight afterwards.
Want a safe plastic surgery experience with a highly-trained plastic surgeon? Contact the offices of Dr. Florence Mussat for a consultation on pre-surgery weight loss.
There are two main things that will decide how well your breast augmentation will turn out: your surgeon, and your recovery—and for you to have a safe and healthy recovery, you need to do quite a bit of planning. So before your breast augmentation procedure, learn exactly what you need to do to make sure your home recovery goes swimmingly.
The Day of the Surgery
For the first 24 hours of your recovery, it’s really important that you have a responsible adult help take care of you. You just had an invasive surgery, and there’s going to be a lot things that you can’t do by yourself. So just for your peace of mind, try to have a buddy with you that can help you with lifting things, going to the bathroom, and getting food.
Your Recovery Space
Make sure that your recovery space is as serene and stress-free as possible. Nothing helps the healing process more than being calm. Make sure all your chores are done and all your things are organized and tidy. Also, move food and other necessities to shelves that are within reach—it’s hard to reach above your head after a breast augmentation surgery.
Get Cocoa Butter
You’ll be able to shower, at the soonest, the day after surgery. You want to make sure that the shower doesn’t dry out your skin (which will be tight at this point), so get some cocoa butter that you can gently rub on your skin to moisturize it.
Make a Recovery Station
You should set up an unbelievably comfy spot where you can spend most of your recovery time. Make sure it has lots of pillows, blankets and cushioning, and try to put supplies and recovery items nearby so you don’t have to move much.
Make Ready-to-Eat Meals
You should pre-prepare some meals before your surgery so that you won’t have to do much cooking during your recovery. Make some dishes that you can freeze or microwave really easily, or maybe stock up on some pre-packed snacks like oatmeal or Jello. A light diet that won’t upset your stomach, like toast, soup, and crackers is the best option.
Ice Packs
Stock up on lots of ice packs! Ice packs are soothing, easy to make, and can help get swelling down. Make sure to make them the night before your surgery, so that they’ll be ready when you need them.
Do you want your breast augmentation experience to go perfectly? Contact one of the best plastic surgeons in Chicago, Dr. Florence Mussat for a consultation.
Breast augmentation is a serious surgery, and just like your surgeon, you need to be prepared. If you’re considering a breast augmentation, make sure to look over this list of things to bring for your procedure:
Bring a Buddy
One of the most important things to bring to your procedure? A responsible friend. Because of the nature of the surgery and anesthesia, you’re not allowed to go home alone. So make sure you have someone that can drive you to the procedure and take you home. It’s also highly recommended that you have someone with you throughout the day after the surgery; it pays to have someone there that can help you around the house and make sure you’re okay.
ID
Don’t forget to bring your ID!
Clothes
The good news: you don’t have to look amazing for your procedure, just be comfortable. You should bring loose-fitting clothing that opens from the front; trust us, you don’t want to have to put a shirt on over your head after your surgery.
Snacks
It’s recommended that you don’t eat or drink before your surgery, so you might be unbelievably hungry when you wake up from the surgery. It’s a good idea to bring snacks to the procedure to eat afterwards, but make sure they’re light and won’t upset your stomach. Find something that’s easy to eat and will settle your stomach; ginger ale with a bendy straw and crackers are a good bet.
Prepare your Prescriptions
Some doctors ask that you bring a list of prescriptions that you take; some even ask that you bring the medication itself.
Pads
If you think you’re going to have your period during the surgery, make sure to wear and bring pads only. It’s not recommended that you use a tampon during breast augmentation.
Pillows
If you want to maximize your comfort level right after the surgery, bring pillows for the car ride home. Doctors advise that you keep your chest elevated at all times to reduce swelling, so it might be a good time to invest in an incline pillow that will let you sleep without having to prop yourself up all the time.
Don’t Bring
It’s not necessary to bring a car full of supplies to your breast augmentation, but there are actually few things you really shouldn’t bring to the procedure: leave your earrings and any body piercings at home before your surgery. Your plastic surgeon will provide a special bra for you to wear post-surgery, so leave your Victoria’s Secret Push-Up at home.
Now are you ready for your breast augmentation procedure? Get started with your breast augmentation journey by contacting one of the best female plastic surgeons in the world, Dr. Florence Mussat.
The facelift—to the common person it’s one of the most popular facial rejuvenation procedures for celebrities. But how much do you actually know about it? If you’re considering one, are you informed enough to decide if it’s right for you? The number one question you need to ask yourself before committing to a facelift is, am I ready for a facelift? Let’s make sure you are.
Who’s the Perfect Candidate?
One of the most important things to consider before getting a facelift is if it’s the right procedure for you. Perfect candidates for the facelift are people who are close to their ideal weight but have prominent jowls, sagging skin on the face and neck, nasolabial folds, and wrinkles. Their main target problems would be in the mid-face area and below. A good candidate would also have strong facial structures and great skin elasticity, while a poor candidate for a facelift would be a long-time smoker.
Supplies:
You need to be well stocked even before your surgery date; you’ll need a variety of supplies on hand at your place of recovery that’s easy to access. Imagine having to rush around in a panic trying to stock up when you’re supposed to be peacefully recovering from your facelift. Sounds stressful, right?
You’ll Need:
- An incline pillow. After a facelift, you need to keep your head upright at all times to reduce swelling, even when you’re sleeping
- A handheld mirror to check your bandages and sutures easily
- Meals made in advance
- Easy to digest food like Jello, oatmeal, protein shakes and yogurt
- Gauze dressings and baby wipes
- Frozen gel packs or peas
- Shirts, sweaters, or jackets that open from the front (easier to put on)
- Balms, ointments and creams for the incision
Some Other Things to Consider
You’ll need someone who can drive you home after the procedure, so enlist a responsible friend or family member to help you. If you regularly get your hair done, always do it before the procedure. It will be mighty uncomfortable to have a perm or hair coloring done while recovering from a facelift.
Finally, make sure your place of recovery is organized and calming. Make sure all your things, including appointments, bills, chores etc. are in order. Staying stress-free is also essential to having an easy recovery.
So there it is, a few things to think about before jumping into a facelift. We saved the best for last, however, since the most important thing to think about is getting an expert plastic surgeon. You can take care of that now by contacting the skilled, experienced Dr. Mussat and scheduling a consultation for the facelift.
