Plastic Surgery Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (FAQ)
- How do I make a plastic surgery appointment?
- How much does plastic surgery cost?
- How long does the surgery take?
- What kind of anesthesia will you use?
- What are the risks involved with cosmetic plastic surgery?
- How long will it take me to recover from plastic surgery?
- How long will the results of plastic surgery last?
- Where do I park?
How do I make a plastic surgery appointment?
Once you've selected a plastic surgery physician, call the physician's office directly to schedule an appointment. The plastic surgery office staff will be more than happy to assist you. Most of our physicians offer early morning and evening appointment times to better fit your schedule and can accommodate your appointment within 2-6 weeks.
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How much does plastic surgery cost?
Click here for Patient Financial Information.
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How long does the surgery take?
The length of surgery depends on the type of plastic or reconstructive surgery you're having. Minor plastic surgical procedures can take less than two hours; more involved procedures can be longer. When you meet with your physician, he or she will be able to provide you with an estimate for how long you will be in the OR. Of course, the pre-surgical check-in process, the induction of anesthesia, and the recovery time post-surgery also add to the length of the time you spend in our care.
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What kind of anesthesia will you use?
Depending on the type of plastic surgery procedure, the physician's recommendation, your overall health, and your own preference, you may receive either local or general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia will be discussed in detail with an anesthesiologist before surgery as part of the routine pre-surgical process. The anesthesiologist will be able to answer any questions or concerns you have about your anesthesia options at that time.
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What are the risks involved with cosmetic plastic surgery?
One of the biggest risks in undergoing plastic cosmetic surgery especially is that in rare circumstances the outcome of the surgery may not match your own expectations for what you were hoping to achieve through cosmetic surgery. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you talk with your surgeon so that you have a very realistic set of expectations in terms of what cosmetic surgery can do for you. Cosmetic surgery is not a decision that should be entered into lightly – please give serious thought and consideration to whether cosmetic surgery is the right solution for you. Of course, selecting a highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeon can help minimize this risk.
Any surgery has some level of risk associated with it, even if there is only a remote chance of it occurring. Your surgeon will go through the risks of your surgery with you beforehand and ask you to sign a consent form acknowledging that they have talked to you about these risks. If you have any questions at all about those risks, we encourage you to discuss them with your surgeon at that time.
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How long will it take me to recover from plastic surgery?
Recovery time varies for each person, but most patients recover from anesthesia within a few hours. They initially feel groggy or nauseous, but these feelings tend to wear off soon after surgery. As with any surgical procedure, there is usually some pain or discomfort at the site of the incision. We encourage you to discuss any pain with your physician so that he or she can discuss potential treatment options to minimize that pain. As the surgical site heals, the pain will diminish.
You will probably initially have a dressing on your incision after plastic, cosmetic, or reconstructive surgery. Once the sutures are removed or dissolved (usually within 2-3 weeks), most dressings can be removed while the wound continues to heal. During your initial pre-surgical consult, your surgeon or his/her staff can provide you with information about activity restrictions after plastic surgery, how to care for your surgical site, and answer any other questions you may have about your post-surgical recovery.
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How long will the results of plastic surgery last?
This question is an excellent one to discuss with your plastic surgeon during your initial pre-surgical consult. The answer depends on our age, your general health, the type of plastic surgery procedure, and a number of other environmental factors. The results of reconstructive surgery procedures may remain for a lifetime, while the results of certain cosmetic surgery procedures may last a decade. While there are no guarantees, your plastic surgeon should be able to give you a rough estimate for how long you can expect the benefits of surgery to last.
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Where do I park?
Click here for MGH parking information
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