The most frequent questions around cosmetic surgery

Question: What is the most popular procedure in cosmetic surgery ?

Dr.Aslani:In women breast augmentation and liposuction, in men gynecomastia(male breast reduction),rhinoplasty and liposuction. This only reflects my personal experience though. Different surgeons may have different views regarding that

Dr.Aslani:You can prepare your skin with antiseptic solutions like for instance Hibiclens. You can furthermore treat your skin with moisturising lotions. I am unsure what effect that really has, but this is recommended. I do regard beneficial effects from so-called “scar-ointments” as purely fictional.

Question:Is it true that cosmetic surgery in Spain is more popular than anywhere else in Europe?

Dr.Aslani:Yes, I should think so.

Question:Do you think that the current situation has got an adverse effect on quality in cosmetic surgery , especially in Spain ?

Dr.Aslani:I hope not, but I am very much afraid this may well be the case.

Especially in the cosmetic surgery sector in Spain, we see very aggressive marketing moves from UK companies into the sector. We are seeing more and more petients hooked on unrealistic promises paired with ridicolously low pricing. I am afraid that this will not have any good long term effect neither on the cosmetic surgery sector in Spain, nor in the UK:

Question:Is it true that I can only have my eyelids done twice in a lifetime ?

Dr.Aslani:No, not entirely. You are likely to refer to the lower eyelids. There may be some truth in that regarding them though.Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is considerbly more complicated than upper.

Question:Is a deep peeling a good subtitute for a facelift ?

Dr.Aslani:Absolutely not. The mechanism as well as the indication are completely different. A peeling tackles different problems than a facelift.

The two can be combined, but I suggest to do one after the other and not two at the same time.

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

The tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is probably the most dramatic operation within the spectrum of Aesthetic plastic surgery.

No other operation gives such a radical change in overall body appearence in such a short time, it is not precisely a small operation, but patient satisfaction rates with the tummy tuck are generally very high. Beware that abdominoplasty implies a ceratin recovery time, which will depend on the amount of tissue removal and muscle tightening.

Best indications for a tummy tuck are sagging skin and distended abdominal muscles after massive weight loss, multiple pregnancies and especially twin pregnancies.

I do furthermore observe a correlation beteen high birth weight of children and indications for a tummy tuck, this leads to further distension of the midline abdominal muscles, which results in bulging of the  abdomen, which patients tend to mistake for being obese. This is why most patients finally having a tummy tuck originally ask for liposuction. However in these situations liposuction my possibly worsen the prexisting condition of sagging skin. The deciding manouvre  in the tummy tuck is to tighten the midline abdominal muscles.

Another common finding in patients requesting abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is previous extensive weight loss, often after gastric banding.

A tummy tuck can be combined wit liposuction of the flanks, the so-called”love handles”, which is a useful addition to a tummy tuck generally.

Liposuction in the midline of the abdomen is usually not advisable, it can in fact possibly a hazard to the viabililty of the skin flap of the tummy tuck.

Normally I suggest patients to defer possible liposuction in the midline area to a second session if desired but normally patients are so happy with the tummy tuck that the do not even want this.

This however, depends on the case.

Liposuction of the flanks, on the other hand, is a useful addition to a tummy tuck.

There is no interference with the blood supply of the tummt tuck skin flap and it prevents a detrimental shift of patients attention from the midline to bulging sides to tackle that problem in one go.

Recovery period after a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) will largely depend on body mass index and  body mass index. In very large resections, need for blood transfusions may arise, autologous transfusions (donation of patienst own blood before procedure) may be desirable.

However, this is reserved for very large procdures or operations where a tummy tuck is combined with another operation.

Dr.Alexander Amir  Aslani, MD, EBOPRAS

Hospital:
Chief Surgeon and Head of Department
Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery
Hospital Quiron Malaga
Avda.Imperio Argentina, 1
E-29004 Malaga
Spain
www.quiron.es

Private practice:
Cirumed Clinic
Avda.Ramon y Cajal 7-4°
E-29601 Marbella/Malaga
Spain
Phone:+34 607 307 515
info@cirumed.es
www.cirumed.es