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Published:
April 8, 2005

Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies

Overview

Cosmetic surgery is one of today’s hottest topics. From daytime talk shows and popular magazines to conversations at the salon, it seems that almost everyone has had it, is thinking about it, or knows someone who is getting it. Statistics show more and more women—and men—are having cosmetic surgery. And with all the options now available, it’s important to be fully informed before you make any decisions about having a procedure.

Now, Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies is here to guide you through today’s top procedures, candidly addressing both the benefits and the risks. R. Merrel Olesen, MD, the medical director of the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, and Marie B.V. Olesen, a nationally known cosmetic surgery consultant, give you the tools you need to:

  • Decide if surgery is right for you
  • Find a qualified surgeon
  • Set realistic expectations
  • Evaluate the costs
  • Enhance your recovery and results

This plain-English

guide shows you how to take advantage of all the advances in cosmetic surgery while avoiding the pitfalls that could compromise your safety or the quality of your result. From implants to liposuction to Botox, you’ll understand the right questions to ask your doctor, how to prepare for surgery (both physically and financially), and the best ways to influence the healing process. You’ll also:

  • Discover the latest surgery techniques and medications
  • Understand the different surgeon specializations
  • Sort through the various non-surgical facial treatments
  • Evaluate your post-op care options
  • Cope with complications
  • Deal with family, friends, and coworkers before and after surgery

Complete with lists of questions to ask before surgery and top Web sites for cosmetic surgery information, Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies is a practical, friendly guide that will help you say hello to a new you!

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About The Author

R. Merrel Olesen, MD has over 30 years of plastic surgery experience. He has written patient information and informed consent materials used by millions of patients. Marie B.V. Olesen has worked with hundreds of plastic surgery practices to help them understand how to meet the needs of cosmetic surgery patients.

Sample Chapters

cosmetic surgery for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, ask detailed questions to find a qualified surgeon and facility for the procedure. When meeting with a cosmetic surgeon, look for red flags that suggest that you should consider a different doctor.

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Articles from
the book

Saline and silicone implants both have advantages, and both types of implants can and do produce excellent breast augmentation results. Because of current FDA restrictions, for most women having breast augmentation, saline implants are the only option. Silicone implants can be used for reconstructive purposes during augmentation procedures — if you have had previous breast reconstruction or a chest wall deformity, if there's a large difference in your breast sizes, or if you also need a breast lift at the same time.
If you’re considering cosmetic surgery, ask detailed questions to find a qualified surgeon and facility for the procedure. When meeting with a cosmetic surgeon, look for red flags that suggest that you should consider a different doctor.
You may have exercised hours each day and watched your calories but still don't look the way you want in your dress or bikini. Or perhaps you just want to be your best and have decided to give yourself a present. You've decided that liposuction may be just what you want. A careful preconsultation evaluation of your own body and the goals you want to reach will make your consultation and decision-making process easier.
Choosing a surgeon is the single most important decision you will make when it comes to cosmetic surgery. Take enormous care going through the selection process, and ask these questions, that a good, dependable surgeon should willingly and openly answer: Are you a board-certified plastic surgeon? (If not, are you board eligible or does your training and certification include the procedure I’m considering?
Only when you are realistic about the real risks of having cosmetic surgery, the costs, and the recovery can you make the best possible decision for yourself. Remember, you're in the driver's seat here, and the choice is yours. You can say "aye" or "nay" to cosmetic surgery. One thing is certain: You'll be the one who has to live with the consequences, whatever you do.
Your cosmetic surgery can be performed in a hospital, independent surgery center, or office-based surgery suite. Wherever the surgery is done, make sure it’s a safe, accredited facility, so ask these questions: Is my surgery going to be performed at the hospital or an ambulatory outpatient surgery center? These facilities have to adhere to the highest safety standards.
Preparation for a skin peel depends mainly on the type of skin you have and will ultimately be decided by your doctor. Fair-skinned people may not need to be treated before peeling. If you have skin of color, however, then you're at increased risk of developing dark spots following your peel. In this case, a pretreatment regimen including glycolic acid, hydroquinone, and Retin-A (retinoic acid) is frequently suggested to help minimize the possibility of postoperative hyperpigmentation, make your peel more uniform, and decrease your downtime.
You've heard the terms plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and reconstructive surgery bandied about, and you're confused. No wonder. You'll see both medical and marketing uses of these terms and when you see them, you need to know what they mean. When you hear the word plastic, you probably think of the modern material that's molded into myriad products — patio chairs, kids' toys, kitchen glasses, and airline knives and forks.
Searching for a cosmetic surgeon is more manageable when you use a clearly defined system to make the choice — consider all options and weigh them cautiously. If you’re consulting with a cosmetic surgeon and any of the following red-flag situations occur, you might want to consider looking for a different surgeon: During an appointment or pre-consult The phone isn’t answered promptly or is answered by a machine.
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