What is plastic surgery?
Contrary to its name, plastic surgery does not involve the
use of plastics during surgery.
The word plastic is taken from a Greek word that simply means 'moulding'
or 'giving form'.
What is the difference between cosmetic
and reconstructive surgery?
 Reconstructive
surgery- surgery to improve function or minimize disfigurement that
has occurred as a result of an accident, disease or birth defect.
Aesthetic or cosmetic,
surgery- designed to improve a person's appearance by
reshaping facial or bodily features
Are my medical records kept private and confidential?
Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your
privacy. Our staff are
bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment
regarding
your medical records.
Ordinarily we will not release the contents of your medical file without
your consent.
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
Patients seen for cosmetic and elective surgery do not need
a referral to make an
appointment.
However, if you see Dr. Olbourne for a reconstructive problem, you
may need a
referral for medicare rebate. It is best to check with your insurance
company directly
before making an appointment.
What should I expect during first visit?
The best and only way to find out if cosmetic surgery is
right for you, is to consult
your plastic surgeon, who will listen to your need, and examine
you and provide you
with educated advise. He can tell you what you need to know about
the procedure you
are interested in, or recommend another to meet your needs and goals.
During your initial visit, the doctor will explain the specific
procedure you want, help
you visualize the results and go over the risks. Although complications
are rare, all
surgeries, especially those that involve anaesthesia, carry some
risks. Your surgeon
will outline these for you based on the specific procedure.
What is scarring? Will they be noticeable?
A result of any surgical procedure is scarring. Each and every time
the skin is cut
either by scalpel or laser a surgical scar is produced. The quality
and appearance of
scars vary widely with the individual's healing process, the position
of the scar on the
body, and the degree of tension placed on the scar. The types of
scars can be influenced
by personal, familial and racial factors and CANNOT BE CONTROLLED
by the surgeon.
Will they be noticeable- Probably not. Your surgeon will make every
effort to keep
scars as minimal as possible and try to hide them in the natural
lines and creases of
your skin. For the majority of procedures, your scars will fade
over time and become
barely visible.
Will the cosmetic procedure or surgery hurt?
During a procedure anaesthesia ensures that you're comfortable
and feel no pain. If
general anaesthesia is used, you'll even sleep through the entire
operation After surgery
any pain of discomfort you may experience can usually be controlled
through medication
and will usually subside in a matter of days.
How soon can I return to work?
Again, this differs widely on the procedure that has been
performed, but on average,
most cosmetic surgery patients are back to work within 3 to 10 days.
Do I have to stay in the hospital overnight?
The majority of cosmetic surgery procedures do not require
hospitalisation. Some
breast reduction and some tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedures
may be require
an overnight stay, and are performed in the operating rooms at one
of the local
hospitals where you will stay overnight.
What is the Recovery from Plastic Surgery
Like? Will I be able to tolerate
the pain post-operatively?
Each patient will tolerate pain post-operatively in a different
way, and we consider this.
While some patients may describe the pain as an ache, others experience
greater
discomfort. Appropriate pain medications are prescribed for the
post-operative patients,
and these help minimize discomfort. Most facial cosmetic operations
have minimal
discomfort post- operatively. Liposuction is slightly more uncomfortable,
and operations
that require elevation or tightening of the muscles-such as an abdominoplasty
or breast augmentation have discomfort equal to that of a C-section.
When can I resume regular exercise?
The time a patient resumes regular exercises varies based on the
operation performed.
All patients are encouraged to start a slow walking routine on the
second postoperative
day. Regular aerobic and more vigorous activities are not allowed
during the first
2 weeks in order to decrease the risks of bleeding, swelling, and
bruising. Weight
lifting and contact sports are allowed at 1 month in most cases.
Medical Professionals
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