Special offers for facial rejuvenation are the perfect way to reduce wrinkles and sagging skin, keep your facelift results looking their best, or enhance the results of a recent face lift. Contact the office of double board certified Atlanta plastic surgeon, Dr. John LeRoy today!
One of the most pervasive messages in my blog is that patients need to choose a plastic surgeon who is board-certified and is experienced in their specific procedure, and that their surgeon also needs to be someone they can trust. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. You may live in a small town or another area where there isn’t a wide selection of qualified surgeons. Or, you may know of a great surgeon, but their office is hours or states away. So which is better – settling for a surgeon nearby or traveling to the surgeon you want?
Pros and Cons of Accepting a Surgeon Nearby
It’s certainly not a good idea to just pick the plastic surgeon who’s closest to your home, but working with a surgeon who’s nearby has definite advantages. First of all, it makes the logistics of the surgery easier. While plastic surgery is done on an outpatient basis so you can go home the same day, most patients will need someone to drive them to and from the surgery. It’s much easier to find someone whose schedule can accommodate a 30-minute drive than a three-hour drive. You’ll also be going to your surgeon’s office several times throughout the process (consultation, surgery, and a few follow-up visits), so travel time is certainly a factor to consider.
It’s also helpful to have your surgeon nearby during your recovery. It’s very common for patients to have questions about whether certain stages of their recovery are normal, and to seek additional guidance. It’s comforting for patients to know that if they’re concerned, they can be at their surgeon’s office in half an hour for an evaluation.
There are clear benefits to choosing a plastic surgeon who’s near you, but if there aren’t any well-qualified surgeon within a reasonable distance of your home, the decision becomes more complicated. If your surgeon isn’t board-certified or hasn’t performed a facelift in five years, all the convenience in the world won’t improve your chances of getting a good result.
Pros and Cons of Traveling to a Highly Qualified Plastic Surgeon
If you don’t live near any plastic surgeons who you feel are qualified enough to make you feel comfortable, your other option is finding a surgeon elsewhere in the country and traveling to them. But before I discuss this, please note that I’m referring to traveling to another part of your own state or to another state within the US for the purposes of using a more qualified surgeon. This is different than plastic surgery tourism (traveling to a different country for cheaper surgery). Having surgery in another country carries a long list of vital risk factors, and it is not recommended for your health and safety.
Traveling within the US for a more qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon, however, can be a viable option for some patients. Not only does this allow you to choose from a wider pool of highly experienced surgeons, but it gives you more freedom to choose a surgeon you can trust. A trusting relationship and open communication are important for your health as well as your results, so in some cases, this is worth traveling for.
Still, there are downsides to keep in mind. Long flights and long car rides shortly after surgery can raise your risk for complications. As anyone who flies regularly knows, it’s also easy to pick up a cold or flu from a plane full of people, and this can slow down your facelift recovery. Your surgeon may recommend that you stay in his/her city for a certain number of days after surgery to minimize these risks. It all depends on your procedure and your specific circumstances, but be sure to discuss this with your surgeon at your initial consultation.
There are many pieces of the puzzle that need to be in place for you to get your best plastic surgery results, from your health to the surgeon to your post-surgical care. By weighing the options above, you can give yourself the strongest opportunity to become your most confident and beautiful self. To find out more about facelift surgery or my minimally invasive Band Aid Facelift or Band Aid Micro Mini Facelift, contact my Atlanta plastic surgery office. Be sure to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Google+ as well for more helpful patient tips.
My recent encounter and procedure with Dr. LeRoy and his staff produced great results and was an all-around excellent experience. Best money I’ve ever spent!!!
-Band Aid Facelift Patient
When you think about someone’s appearance, you rarely consider their ears. Our ears have a more subtle effect on how we look than our eyes or our hair, but they still play a role in our overall appearance, and as a result, they affect how confident we feel. Luckily, if you aren’t happy with your ears, there’s probably a solution. Cosmetic ear surgery (called otoplasty) can treat a variety of aesthetic concerns, including the most common complaints below:
Protruding Ears
Ears that appear to “stick out too far” are the most common reasons patients seek ear surgery. The procedure is often called “ear pinning,” and it’s done with a small, discreet incision in the back of the ear. Through this incision, I can either sculpt the ear’s cartilage or use long-term sutures to give the ear a new shape and keep it closer to the side of the head.
Enlarged or Disproportionate Ears
It’s fairly common for patients to feel that their ears are disproportionately large for their head size, or that certain parts of their ears are too large. In this case, the procedure is similar to ear pinning. Through a discrete plastic surgery incision in the back of the ear, I can reshape the ear’s cartilage (or remove some cartilage if necessary) to give the ear a smaller and more desirable look. If the ears are different sizes, I can use this procedure to correct the asymmetry as well.
Ears with Shape Irregularities
While the two issues above are the most common ones, there are many ways ears can take on an irregular shape. Some patients have had their condition since birth, while others’ ears change shape due to an injury. Regardless, many patients can get the more symmetrical and subtle look with cosmetic surgery. Depending on your exact needs, cartilage can be re-shaped, removed, or sutured based on your specific needs.
We may not notice a person’s ears unless they’re particularly unique, but they play a part in how attractive people perceive themselves to be. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon, my goal each day is to help my patients become their most confident and beautiful selves. If your ears are standing in the way of this, I may be able to help. Schedule a cosmetic surgery consultation at my Atlanta office, and for more plastic surgery tips and helpful information, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+.
If you’re planning a facelift (or any cosmetic surgery), you’ve probably heard over and over how important it is to choose the right plastic surgeon. Of course, this is easier said than done. While I’ve spent the past 24 years on the other side of the desk as a plastic surgeon, I’ve learned some of the most important questions a patient should ask during their pre-surgical consultation. The following is a starting point to guide you toward a more helpful and successful consultation.
Questions about the Surgeon
You should look for a plastic surgeon who is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery – the only plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery board recognized by the American Medical Association.
When a hospital finds a plastic surgeon to be qualified, they will grant them admitting privileges, which means the surgeon can transfer you to the hospital for medical attention if needed. Not only is this an important safety measure, but it’s also a sign that the hospital has found the surgeon to be reputable.
Organizations like the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons only grant membership to qualified, experienced, well-trained surgeons, so this is another ideal criterion to look for.
A surgeon could have twenty years of experience in plastic surgery, but if they’ve only done ten facelifts or they haven’t done a facelift in many years, it’s cause for concern.
While there is a minimum amount of time each surgeon has to spend in training programs, some surgeons go above and beyond with additional residencies or fellowships.
Questions about the Procedure
With facelifts, there’s a large amount of variation from patient to patient. Personally, I developed a minimally invasive procedure called the Band Aid Mini Facelift which is performed in-office using general anesthesia, offering natural-looking results with half as much recovery time as a traditional facelift. However, I vary my facelifts and Band Aid Mini Facelifts for every patient based on their needs. Your surgeon should choose their approach based on the amount of improvement you’re looking for, the specific areas you want to address, your unique aging pattern, and other factors.
Depending on how extensive your surgery is, it may be performed in a surgical facility’s operating room or in your surgeon’s office. Regardless, find out more about the facility, its accreditations and licenses if applicable, and how well-equipped it is for the surgery.
This goes along with your surgical approach. Traditional facelifts are typically done with general anesthesia, while mini facelifts are often done using local anesthesia so you’re conscious (with or without relaxation medication) but comfortable throughout the procedure. Regarding your health and your surgical process, there are pros and cons to each, so be sure to discuss all your options.
Emergencies during plastic surgery are extremely rare, but you need to make sure you know that this could be handled if it did happen.
Surgery isn’t an instant cure-all – it takes time and healing for your results to appear, so make sure you know exactly what will be improved and what you should expect to see at each stage along the way.
You should have a clear picture of what your facelift recovery will be like, what complications to look for, and how to care for yourself and your incisions after surgery.
Every surgery has risks, although the risks of a serious complication are very low with a facelift that is performed by an experienced, trained, and qualified surgeon. Still, you need to be informed all the possibilities.
There are many steps you can take toward getting the best possible results from your plastic surgery, and knowing what to ask in your consultation is just one of them. The list of questions above is a great starting point, but feel free to add any other questions you may have. If you’re ready to schedule your consultation with me, call my Atlanta plastic surgery office. For more tips for plastic surgery patients and helpful facts about the procedures, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+.