Plastic surgery cost: USA vs. Europe

Prices for plastic surgery depend not only on the type of the procedure performed but also on the area, country, region and clinic. Usually prices for cosmetic surgery in Western European countries are about 20 % to 30 % lower than the same prices in the USA. Costs for plastic surgery in Eastern European countries are even more attractive to the patients. These prices are usually 40 % to 70% lower comparing to the same procedures in the US.

Plastic surgery cost

People might be concerned about the quality of the same cosmetic procedures in Europe and USA. Even though the difference in costs is comparatively big, patients gain the same exclusive quality and excellent service both in the United States and Europe. The same surgical procedures usually cost less in Europe due to lower specialist’s charges and lower operating room maintenance fees.

Since plastic surgery costs differ significantly, a new type of tourism, called a healthcare tourism, has developed. A lot of people living in the countries, where plastic surgery costs more, travel to countries, where cosmetic surgery prices are lower. It is quite beneficial, since money left from the difference in prices can cover transportation, accommodation and leisure expenses. Moreover, if everything is wisely organized, some money can be left on a side. And people, who anyway are planning on traveling to Europe, can combine both traveling excitement and additional changes in their appearance and life.

Plastic surgery in the USA and Europe

Plastic surgery in Europe and the United States of America differ not only in prices for the procedures but also in the professional quality of surgeons. This does not mean that plastic surgeons in Europe are less experienced, skilled or have a lower education. In the United States surgeons tend to specialize in one particular sphere or procedure and, hence, the same doctor cannot perform several different procedures. For example, if a cosmetic surgeon specializes in abdominoplasty or breast surgery, the same specialist will not agree on performing facelift . Whereas in Europe, plastic surgeons are offering numerous services of the high quality and, therefore, the patient can get both a facelift and tummy tuck at the same clinic. This is even convenient and time-effective.

If you are considering having a plastic surgery abroad, you might want to compare the prices and services in the United States and Western or Eastern European countries. There are a few travel agents, who organize healthcare travels, and you might want to use their advice or choose their services in organizing your travel. Another possibility is to look for it on the net and this article is a possibility to compare prices for cosmetic surgery in USA and Europe.

Prices, listed on this site, include the surgeon’s charge, operating theatre fee, anesthesia fee and implant fee. If you are considering having plastic surgery and you are inquiring for the price of a particular procedure, make sure you ask for total cost. It is important, since very often only surgeon’s fee is told on the phone or given on a specific internet site, and when you get a check you might experience nothing less than a huge shock.

Prices, listed below are average for cosmetic procedures in accredited surgeon’s offices, accredited surgery clinics, accredited hospitals and surgery centers. Costs for cosmetic surgery are about the same in different areas of USA. It might only be more expensive to get a cosmetic surgery procedure in the States of California or New York, Where prices for the same procedure might be by 50% higher than in other regions.

Procedures  Average fees in USA  Fees in Western Europe   Fees  in Eastern Europe
 Blepharoplasty  $4000 – $5,500  $3000  $2000
 Botox  $200 – $400 per area   $200  $100
 Breast augmentation (saline)  $5000 – $6,500  $4,500  $3,500
 Breast augmentation (silicone)  $6000 – 8000  $5000  $4000
 Breast elevation  $5000 – $6000  $4,500  $4000
 Breast reduction  $6000 – $8000  $5000  $4,500
 Cheek or chin implants  $3000 – $4,500  $2,500  $2000
 Deep chemical peel  $3,500 – $5000  $2000  $1,500
 Facelift  $7000 – $9000  $6000  $5,500
 Forehead lift  $3,500 – $5000  $3000  $2,500
 Laser hair removal  $300 – $800 per area  $250 – $800  $200 – $600
 Laser eye surgery  $3,500 – $4000  $2,500 – $3000  $2000
 Lip augmentation  $600 – $2000  $500 – $1,500  $1000
 Liposuction (1 area)  $2,500 – $4,500  $2,500  $2000
 Liposuction (3 areas)  $5,500 – $7000  $5000  $4000
 Liposuction (4 areas)  $8000 – $10000  $6,500  $5,500
 Male breast reduction  $5000 – $6000  $4,500  $4000
 Rhinoplasty  $5000 – $6000  $4,500  $4000
 Pectoral implants  $6000 – $7000  $5,500  $5000
 Otoplasty  $3000 – $4,500  $2,500  $2000
 Tummy tuck  $6000 – $8000  $5,500  $5000

These are average prices listed above. They might vary in $500-1,000. Bear in mind, that the cost of a surgical procedure will be determined by the surgeon on your initial consultation. Finally, saving some money is a great thing but sometimes you might want to get a procedure for a higher price rather than risking your health or even life. Remember, your health has the greatest value.

Reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive surgery is a broad branch of surgery that involves procedures that help to change abnormal and damaged tissues or organs in order to restore their function and normal appearance. Even though most of the procedures are performed by plastic surgeons, this type of surgery differs from cosmetic one. The goal of cosmetic procedure is to change features that a patient is not happy about and features that do not match the ideal ones. Reconstructive surgery procedures are done on damaged parts of the body, either due to birth defects, development deterioration, injury, disease, tumors or infection.

More than one million reconstructive surgery procedures are done annually. The aim of this type of plastic surgery is to help patients at all ages. Young children may need reconstructive surgery due to development abnormalities or birth defects. Young adults may undergo such procedures caused by injury, disease or infection. And older patients sometimes need reconstructive procedures to improve problems due to aging.

All reconstructive procedures are performed to restore function of the damaged structures of a human body. Moreover, they are also performed to improve the looks. Even though perfection cannot be obtained with any type of surgery, modern reconstructive surgery techniques can do miracles.

Candidates for reconstructive surgery

Patients, who may need to have reconstructive surgery , are divided into two general groups. The first one includes patients who need this type of surgery due to birth defects, such as cleft-lip, palate or hand deformities, extra or absent fingers, birthmarks and many more. All these defects are usually improved in an early childhood, so the decision is made by parents of the patient.

The second group involves patients who need reconstructive surgery development abnormalities, caused by injury, tumor, infection or any other disease. This group also includes patients, who need to undergo a reconstructive procedure to change abnormalities caused by aging process A few examples of such changes are sagging breasts, drooping eyelids, tumors due to old age and others.

In most of the cases function of an organ is restored, and this is the main goal. In addition external looks are also being enhanced.

Reconstructive surgery

In childhood most of the reconstructive procedures are performed to reconstruct abnormalities due to birth defects. Most common surgeries are otoplasty, rhinoplasty , oral cavity surgery to restore cleft-lip and palate, hand deformities, eye deformities, different inborn tumors that interfere with function.

Later most common cosmetic procedures are wound treatment, reconstructive procedures to restore function and appearance of paralyzed organs, breast reconstruction procedures after breast cancer, tumor surgery, breast reduction , blepharoplasty to improve drooping eyelids.

Laser surgery is one of the most modern treatments in reconstructive surgery. With the help of different types of lasers, surgeons can safely remove different birth marks, benign or malignant skin growths, treat scars. Laser treatment is safer; it minimizes bleeding and leaves smaller, less noticeable scars.

Wound treatment is one of the most common reconstructive procedures that are performed by a plastic surgeon. If a wound has straight edges on the skin surface it is usually cured with direct closure, taking care to leave the scar as unnoticeable as possible.

Wide wounds are treated with the use of skin grafts. A kin graft is a piece of healthy skin taken from one area of the body to cover the skin defect in another area. Plastic surgeons try to match the skin of a wound as much as possible in color, texture, elasticity and so on. There are three main types of skin grafts: split-thickness, full-thickness and composite ones. Each of them is used to cover different types of skin defects.

More complicated techniques of wound treatment are tissue expansion and flap surgery. Tissue expansion may seem uncomfortable for patient temporarily but it has a lot of advantages: it provides with more matching skin, less visible scars, lower risk of losing a skin graft. Whereas flap surgery involves microsurgical techniques to close wounds where not only skin but also fat tissue, muscles were lost and to restore the function of the organ.

Reconstructive surgery specialists

Specialists from different branches of surgery perform reconstructive procedures. These are dental surgeons, who reconstruct different abnormalities of oral cavity and face. Facial surgeons treat facial tumors, wounds and different birth defects. Eye surgeons may improve drooping eyelids that interfere with vision. Orthopedic surgeons will restore function of a skeletal system.

Reconstructive surgery cost

Many reconstructive procedure costs are covered by health insurance. However, it depends very much on the type of health insurance and type of a procedure. If you are considering a reconstructive procedure, check with your health insurance whether they cover all expenses of a certain type of plastic surgery and also consult your doctor about it.

There are a lot of options to improve or restore function of a certain organ or structure. If you do not know whether a doctor can help you or not, do not hesitate to ask your health care professional to refer to a certain specialist.

Ethnic rhinoplasty

Individuals of different races differ from one another in certain anatomical features. There are specific anatomical differences between the noses of nonwhites and those of whites. Even though, sometimes people want to gain features that are distinctive for another race, most usually individuals undergoing plastic surgery wish to improve their appearance by keeping their ethnical features. And hence, plastic surgeons should be aware of these racial differences and should use specific surgical techniques to gain desired aesthetic results.

The idea of multiracial rhinoplasty evolved in 1913 when Schultz published his work characterizing typical black nose. Many authors have pointed out that noses of non-whites are broad, flattened, with thick nasal skin and huge amount of subcutaneous tissue. However, these stereotypic characteristics differ in individuals. Even though individuals are of the same race, their noses may differ dramatically.

Ethnic rhinoplasty

Patients, who seek ethnic rhinoplasty procedure, usually want to improve their appearance by keeping their racial heritage characteristics. Candidates for this type of plastic surgery are those, who have characteristics of the nose typical for their race. People, who have noses with widened bases, thicker skin, flat bridge etc., may want to improve aforementioned features and gain more prominent nose by keeping in their ethnic group.

Differences in nasal anatomy

African American nasal anatomy differs from others in skin thickness and abundant fibrofatty tissue. Nasal bridge consists of short bones, and is flat and wide. The tip of the nose is usually bulbous and of minimal definitions. The nostrils are flaring and horizontal. These are the features that individuals of African American decent want to correct but not change completely in order to keep their racial characteristics.

Hispanic nose also has a thick skin with a wide bridge. Its tip is also bulbous, of minimal definition with abundant nasal soft tissue. The base of the Hispanic nose is wide, thick, with flaring and horizontal nostrils.

Asian nasal anatomy differs a bit more from the African American and Hispanic nasal anatomy. Skin of the Asian nose is thick and sebaceous, and also heavy. Its bridge is wide. The tip of the nose is bulbous, with thickened skin, abundant nasal soft tissue and of minimal definition. But both the doctor and the patient should understand the presence of individual varieties.

Best candidates for ethnic rhinoplasty

Who are the best candidates for ethnic rhinoplasty? Basically these are multiracial individuals, who want to improve their nasal appearance and preserve defining racial features. These patients should be in a good general condition, have no major physical or mental disorders which would limit the possibility of plastic surgery. Also, this individual should have realistic expectations for this procedure.

The incidence of ethnic rhinoplasty has increased during the recent years. Imptoved new surgical techniques and excellent technology as well as good advertising campaign made ethnic rhinoplasty procedure more favorable to multiracial patients. Since populations of multiracial immigrants are growing, the amount of multiracial individuals requesting for ethnic plastic surgery is increasing, especially in large centers of urbanization. In some places the doctor might have only nonwhite patients. Some surgeons only practice in ethnic plastic facial surgery.

Ethnic rhinoplasty surgery

The aims of ethnic rhinoplasty may vary from individual to individual, but there are some major points that in ethnic rhinoplasty. The surgeon aims to make the nasal bridge slightly thinner. Most of the multiracial patients wish to see their tip of the nose more refined, increased in rotation and projection. Since skin soft tissue is abundant in most non-white individuals, most doctors try to give the soft tissue slight thickness in order to provide excellent definition of the tip of the nose.

Ethnic rhinoplasty involves a few different surgical procedures to improve appearance or function. Septoplasty with or without Graft Harvesting is most usually used in patients with a curved nasal septum. Incisions and skeletonization is needed for primarily open technique. Nasal tip surgery is applied to achieve better appearance of the nasal tip. Other procedures include the following: osteotomies, harvest/placement of autologous and/or alloplastic grafts, and alar base reduction.

It is quite complicated to describe individuals, who request ethnic rhinoplasty . It is just as hard as to describe white people, who want to have facial plastic procedures. Younger multiracial individuals usually want to undergo facial plastic surgery to improve their appearance and to keep their ethnic characteristics. Older patients want to reverse effects by aging on their noses. However, there is a great deal of individual, who want to have their nasal function restored. But no matter for what reason, aesthetic or functional, ethnic rhinoplasty is quite a frequent plastic surgery among multiracial individuals.

Pregnancy after tummy tuck

Tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty in professional medical language, is a plastic surgery procedure during which excess fatty tissue and skin are removed from the abdomen and the abdominal muscles are tightened, if needed. This procedure is usually needed for women, whose skin and muscles have stretched after pregnancy. But even though this procedure is performed after pregnancies, some women may want to have a baby afterwards, and then they start to worry if they can.

Women, who think they will want children in the future should wait for tummy tuck and have it after all pregnancies. But this is only in the ideal world. Often women change their mind, and decide to plan another pregnancy. Pregnancy after abdominoplasty is of course possible, and many women become pregnant after this procedure, but patients should bare in mind that flattening work and work on the muscle might be undone.

During pregnancy the skin and muscles of the abdominal area stretches out. Fat pockets that are resistant to diet and exercise build up on the abdomen and abdominal skin becomes loose. These all outcomes of pregnancy can be eliminated by adbominoplasty.

However, when a woman becomes pregnant after tummy tuck, the abdominal area treated by this procedure becomes affected and stretches out again in order to fit for the growing fetus. Abdominal wall muscles that had been restored by abdominoplasty can separate again. Re-stretched and loose skin can not look normal again.

Although, former abdominoplasty is not a risk for an unborn fetus, but it can change a women’s appearance. If the skin becomes loose again and muscles stretch out during pregnancy after tummy tuck, additional abdominoplasty procedure can be performed in order to improve the appearance of the abdomen.

Wet and super wet liposuction

There are various liposuction techniques used in plastic surgery today. Wet and super-wet techniques are one of the newest ones and have a lot of advantages. These two methods are very similar to each other.

Wet liposuction

During wet liposuction method a certain amount of fluid is injected before the procedure. This fluid consists of intravenous salt solution, a local anesthetic substance lidocaine and adrenaline, a medication that make the blood vessels contract. This fluid is injected into the areas where fat is to be removed.

Injection of medical solutions has a lot of advantages and is preferred by many plastic surgeons. Due to these techniques fat are eliminated more easily. During this method of liposuction less blood is lost and anesthesia is provided for the plastic surgery. Due to fluid injection bruising is less visible after surgery.

During wet technique an incision is made on the skin. Then a surgeon inserts a tiny metal tube under the skin into a fatty tissue. This tube is moved around in the fatty tissue. Afterwards, fatty deposits are suctioned with the help a vacuum pump or syringe.

Super wet liposuction

The difference between a wet and super-wet technique is in the amount of medical solution injected. During super-wet technique the amount of fluid injected prior to liposuction is usually equal to the amount of fat to be removed. During wet technique a smaller amount of fluid is injected.

Techniques used in liposuction usually depend upon a surgeon, his/her professional skills and preference. Do not hesitate to ask your doctor for more information on the method of liposuction to be used, its advantages and disadvantages.

Facelift creams

As people get older, more and more of them starts to think about the aging process and how their faces changed through the years. Maybe you look into the mirror but what you see does not please you. You are not satisfied with how your face looks like and due to aging face is not the same as it used to be in the youth. And when you think that it is impossible to turn back the hands of time, you might be wrong.

There are a lot of beauty products that can help you regain youthful looks with plastic surgery . These are facelift creams that help you improve the appearance of the facial skin and diminish the signs of aging. These creams may also be used in order to intensify the results of various non-surgical facelift procedures.

Facelift creams

There are a lot of different facelift creams available on the market, they are all based on different methods, and all of them are advertised to have great results. In this article we will present you several facelift creams, and maybe it will broaden your knowledge on them.

Scientists had studied the impact of certain vitamins on the appearance of the skin. It was first thought that vitamins like A, E and C help to improve skin health only through oral use. These vitamins have antioxidative properties and can preserve skin and provide safety from damaging oxidation processes. Dermatologists had doubted earlier whether these substances can penetrate into the skin through it pores after topical use. New technologies have made it possible. Now it is certain that creams, consisting of vitamins A. E and C are known to have great influences on the appearance of the skin.

Vitamins C and E are antioxidants due to their ability to fight free radicals and decrease the environmental damage to the skin. Free radicals weaken the skin by thinning the dermal layer of the skin. Wrinkles are known to occur due to environmental damage, e.g. due to free radicals, and due to age. It was first thought that facelift creams enriched with vitamins could only neutralize free radicals but they could not stop the time. However, now it is clear that vitamin C helps collagen to reproduce itself in the skin, therefore helping wrinkles to disappear.

Other facelift creams are not only offering vitamin protection but also consist of collagen. This collagen in facelift creams is enabled by high-tech to get through the skin pores and create instant facelift effect. There are a lot of various brand names of such creams available on the market.

Another scientific invention that help people to look younger than they are for a longer period of time, is botox-like creams, that do not include botox and can be used at home without doctor’s supervision. These advanced non-surgical facelift measures involves chemicals that stop the facial muscles from contracting without an injection. A consumer should rub these facelift creams into the skin and wait for its effect. According to many consumers, the effect is just as fabulous as the one of a real facelift or botox procedure. In addition, it costs a lot less than other surgical or non-surgical facelift methods – therefore you can safe thousands of dollars by using facelift creams.

Home-made facelift cream recipe

For those, who want to safe even more and still get perfect effect, might want to try making a facelift cream by themselves. You will only need several cheap products available at the supermarket. This facelift cream is easy to make and it will not take too much time. And here is the recipe:

60 grams blended oils

30 grams coconut oil or cocoa butter

15 grams ounce beeswax

100 grams distilled or purified water

2-3 teaspoon active royal jelly

30 drops grapefruit seed extract

You should mix oils and beeswax in a bowl, then let it boil for about 8 minutes on a low heat. Do not forget to stirr from time to time. When this mass is melted, pour water after removing the bowl from the stove. Use an electric mixer to get a thick substance. Add grapefruit seed extract to it. And you have a home-made facelift cream. Put into glass jars for storage. This cream takes only 25 minutes to make and can be stored for 4 months in a cold dry place.

Facelift recovery

Recovery after facelift surgery isn’t very long or stressing but one should be aware that results are not visible immediately. Normally the face looks a bit pale, swollen and bruised. One should not be shocked to see that face does not look better or may seem to look even worse straight after surgery. These features should disappear in a few weeks and great results will be noticeable.

Also, the skin of the face may feel numb and it is quite usual after the procedure. This feeling should fade away in a several weeks or months.

A patient may feel some pain or discomfort in the surgical area. It can be controlled with pain medications. One should inform a doctor immediately about severe pain, numbness or immediate swelling.

Bandages and dressings are usually removed in 24 or 48 hours after facelift . According to a doctor’s opinion it may take up to five days to remove dressings. Drains or drainage tubes are normally removed with the first change of the dressings and is usually one or two days after the procedure.

Stitches at the face area are taken out after five or six days. Stitches or metal clips at the scalp stay intact for several days longer. This is because the scalp takes a bit longer to heel compared to face.

One should stay in bed with one’s head elevated for one or two days post-operatively. This makes the swelling decrease a little bit. The surgeon will instruct a patient on how one should behave after surgery.

Healing process

The patient should have somebody who could drive him/her home after facelift surgery. Normally patients are able to move around after several days post-operatively. But one should bear in mind that getting back to normal is a part of gradual healing process, which may to take up to six months.

As the skin is very sensitive and numb after surgery, its responses are strange in the beginning. Therefore, special care should be taken with face and hair.

Even though the patient can stay up at home and he/she does not have to stay in bed for the whole time, some restrictions to normal activities are necessary to help the healing process. Instructions will be given by the surgeon.

No alcohol should be used for a few months post-operatively. Steam baths and saunas should be also avoided for several months. In addition, one should avoid strenuous exercise, also sexual intercourse and heavy housework for at least two weeks. The patient is allowed to walk or perform mild stretching exercise after surgery. In addition, one should try to rest for as long as possible since the body needs additional energy in the healing process.

One should be aware that the face may feel and look differently at the beginning. Patients should avoid using a pillow for several weeks post-operatively since it may damage the skin, fixed during facelift procedure. Swelling and puffiness may critically change facial features. One may feel stiffness in facial movements and scars are both noticeable by the patient. Bruising of the face may prolong for about a month in some cases. The patient may get exhausted very easily after surgery. All these post-operative conditions lead many patients to disappointment or even depression at first.

Luckily, most of these patients start feeling better when the healing process progresses and surgery results start to get noticeable. This happens usually by the end of the third or fourth week, when the patient’s appearance and mood get better. Patients are able to continue with work about two or three weeks after facelift procedure. Remaining bruising may be masked with special makeup.

Patients should be very realistic about their expectations from the facelift surgery. They should also bear in mind that the results are not noticeable straight after the procedure. Such patients are usually more satisfied with final results, feel happier and not depressed. Patience is very important in the healing process.

Hair around the temples may be thinner and facial skin may be dry and rough for a few months. Since the bear-growing skin is moved up behind the ears and neck during facelift procedure, men may have to shave there – behind the ears and neck.

Scars are left unnoticeable. They are usually hidden by the hair or in the natural lines of the face and ears. Either way, scars usually become invisible with time, since they fade away. Therefore, one should not be worried or bothered with visible scars at the early times after the facelift surgery.

Facelift surgery is frequently a great success to people who chose it and met their goals. Their face starts to look younger with firmer, tighter facial skin. Facelift, however, does not stop the process of aging or stop the clock. Since one’s face does not stop to age, the patient might want to have a facelift performed one or several times after the first one. The need for another facelift procedure may be apparent after 10 or 20 years. But one should realize that he/she will look better years later than if one has never had the facelift procedure at all.

Abdominal liposuction

Abdominal liposuction , in other words, lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, is a common surgical cosmetic procedure that helps to sculpt one’s body by removing unwanted fat from the abdomen. It is one of the most popular plastic surgery in the United States of America. It is not, however, a substitute for diet and this surgery does not lower the body weight, it only removes fat that is resistant to diet or different forms of exercise.

Abdominal liposuction

Many people all over the world suffer from fat accumulation on their bellies. This accumulation may be inherited or gained, due to overweight or after pregnancy. People try to change this by excessive exercise and diet. Even though people lose weight they might find themselves disappointed about not having their abdomens look flat. This gives an unbalanced look due to protruding belly because of fatty tissue accumulation on it. Luckily, abdominal liposuction , including new techniques, such as, the tumescent liposuction , ultrasonic-assisted suction liposuction , and super-wet technique, helps to get rid of unwanted fat on the belly and get a great and balanced new look.

Abdominal liposuction surgery

Before starting to plan one’s surgery, a person needs to find out if he/she is suitable for abdominal liposuction. One should bear in mind that the higher the goal, the greater participation of the patient is needed. If a person wants the abdomen to look flat and athletic, one will have to put some efforts in specific exercise. It is also important to have realistic expectations, since this cosmetic surgery will change the appearance of one’s body and might even raise one’s self-esteem it will not, however, change other people’s opinion towards a patient.

People, who want to have abdominal liposuction, should be in a good physical and psychological condition. In order to achieve better results, a person should also be of normal weight, have firm skin of a good elasticity. Therefore even though a patient’s age is not a limit, younger people tend to experience more significant results post-operatively than the older ones. Additional diseases or conditions, such as, diabetes, heart or lung disorders, may add a greater risk to such patients.

A doctor will give specific instructions on diet and smoking before surgery. Usually surgeons ask their patients to quit smoking for two weeks prior to and after the procedure. Abdominal liposuction is most often performed in an out-patient department but, if larger amount of fat needs to be removed, the surgery might be carried out in a hospital. Abdominal liposuction is a procedure, during which a small incision is made usually in the belly button or in the bikini area and a small cannula is inserted into the fat layer underneath the abdominal skin. This tube or cannula is used to break up the fatty deposits on the belly and remove them by a powerful vacuum pump. The surgeon removes unwanted fat and sculpts the area of the abdomen. A small incision is them stitched and they tend to be nearly invisible. The surgery lasts from 1 to 2 hours depending on the amount of fat removed.

Suction lipectomy methods

Various suction lipectomy methods slightly differ from one another. During super-wet liposuction a fluid containing a saline solution and adrenaline is injected into the fat deposit area, which helps to break the fat tissue easier and reduces bleeding in the surgical area. Tumecent technique also involves injection of fluid but in larger quantities and has similar advantages. The most recent method, ultrasound assisted liposuction applies ultrasound waves to break the fatty tissue but uses regular ways to remove it from the abdomen.

After abdominal liposuction

Patients should not expect to gain a great new look straight after the plastic surgery . Healing is a continuous process and, therefore, some discomfort, swelling, bruising, and pain may be apparent post-operatively. These symptoms usually last for 3 to 6 weeks but swelling might be present for half a year. A patient is able to return to work and normal activities within two weeks but exhausting activities should be avoided for about four weeks. Cosmetic results should be visible within a month or 6 weeks after surgery. And final contour will be apparent within three months post-operatively when most of the swelling disappears.

Abdominal liposuction side-effects

Even though abdominal liposuction is not a very complicated plastic surgery procedure, as with all surgery, it has certain risks. Complications are rare but still possible. One of the most common complications is infection. Clot formation, delay in heeling are also possible. Although ultrasound assisted technique is considered to be a safer option, long-term results are yet not known. The risk of drug reactions is possible in people who are allergic to certain substances. And although scars are usually invisible after abdominal liposuction , some irregularities or even asymmetry of the treated area is possible, particularly in older patients or those with low skin elasticity.

Abdominal liposuction cost

The cost of the procedure depends upon the extent of the surgery, technique used, and clinic. It also may differ in various regions. The average price varies from $3,000 to $6,500.

The results of abdominal liposuction are long-lasting, since fat cells from a certain area are removed during the procedure. However, additional weight gain might lead to accumulation of fat in the close areas resulting in uneven look and contour. But if a person continues with regular exercises and healthy diet, the results of the surgery should be satisfying for a long time post-operatively.

Reverse abdominoplasty

Excess skin above the belly button troubles many women. And this is no surprise. In many of such cases the main thing to blame is pregnancy, weight gain and weight loss. As big or flabby abdomen can make women feel unhappy the big part of them are sweating in the gym and trying various programs of body shaping which is sometimes not enough. There is always another option and in it can be an abdominoplasty . This time there will be an introduction to one of the specific type of it – the reverse abdominoplasty.

Reverse abdominoplasty

Reverse abdominoplasty is a very uncommon plastic procedure and is not offered by all surgeons. It might be used together with the breast reduction or breast lift (mastopexy). Or for those individuals whose skin above the navel is very lax. Still the main purpose stays the same – improve an abdominal contour and in this case especially in the upper part of the abdomen. And it appears that for some people the results can be achieved mush better by pulling the excessive skin upward rather than to the bikini zone. Of course the liposuction can not be avoided.

During the consultation the doctor will evaluate your health condition and determine the level of fat in the abdominal area. All your habits such as smoking, drugs, medications and so on will be examined. You will discuss the procedure it self and the results. Photos can serve as very good examples to create an impression how the look changes after the procedure. If you are a smoker you will have to stop it some time before the plastic surgery . Also if you take oral contraceptives you will be asked to cut down on them in order to reduce the risk of clotting after the surgery. To let you know that if your health is poor or you have the extensive abdominal scars you may not be a candidate for such surgery

Reverse tummy tuck surgery

How is it performed? The incision is made below the breasts in the lower portion of the rib cage in a shape of inverted V. The upper incision is made first. As the flap is pulled over the lower abdomen the lower incision is made. Not working under the large skin flap it is easier for a surgeon. Also an advantage of this procedure is that a patient can not be kept exposed for a long time due to the possible fluid loss. This procedure allows remove the excess skin and tighten the waist. The disadvantage goes for the vertical part of incision. Well the scar may be hidden by the breasts in some level.

The reverse abdominoplasty is usually performed on the outpatient basis. After the procedure you might still feel pain for a while. You will not be allowed to lift heavy things or reach them in a high level for more than a month. However you will be able to get back to work with these precautions in a week. This is not a scar free surgery and some minimal scars will be visible. And the complete results you will feel in about three months.

Speaking about the possible complications some patients gain fluid collection, begin to bleed, catch an infection, decreased sensation or wound separation.

Double eyelid surgery

Double eyelid surgery or Asian blepharoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgeries among the Asian population. Most of Asian individuals think that upper eyelid is more attractive and can help to look not so sleepy and younger, as well as allows for the ladies to create a more beautiful make-up. And this is not surprising, if we compare any sphere of our life we will find out that we always want something that we do not have a bit more.

The first mentioning of this procedure goes back to 1800 in the Japanese literature. An author of that article described the case when a surgeon created a fold to a second eye as the patient was born only with one fold at all.

To let you know almost half of Asian men and women are born without an upper crease or with the very low or weak one. The reasons for procedure differ according to an individual patient. In the very rare cases they want to look “more western”. In most common cases patients want to create a stable platform of skin above the lashes. Another part of patients desire to remove an excess skin or the fat from the fuller eyelids. Also for some people the drooping eyelids become an obstacle to see well that is why double eyelid surgery is a great help for their vision.

Asian blepharoplasty

Asian blepharoplasty has many differences from the Occidental one. First of all the differences relate to patient goals. In the Occidental eyelid surgery patients seek the rejuvenation for the upper lid. That is why the contingent is of older individuals. While the goal for the double eyelid surgery as it was mentioned is for creating a new crease for people with no crease or with the asymmetrical or unstable one. The most common patients in this case are in their twenties or young thirties. Comparing the number of men and women the latter seems to be more frequent one.

Technique of double eyelid surgery

The plastic surgery itself will have some stages. First of all you will discuss all the tiny things about the procedure and the healing period. The most important thing to discuss is your expectations and the reality. According to the shape and position of the eyelid crease as well as the height of the eyebrow the doctor would be able to tell and show you the result.

The surgeons may use different techniques. In most cases the small incisions are made and the excess fat and skin are removed.

There is an option to avoid the surgical intervention. Especially for young patients the procedure can be performed with no incisions at all. The results are permanent. If there is need to remove the fat or some extra skin this can be done with the special laser. Such surgery ends with no bruising and as follows you can return to work in a few days or a week.

Double eyelid surgery side effects and complications

After double eyelid surgery it is normal to swell and cold compresses can reduce the side effects (they are required to be used for two days). For some patients this cosmetic procedure can cause dry or sticky eyes what can be relieved by using eye drops or ointment. Speaking about the scars they are usually cured with the laser or hidden them with the eyelid folds. You are allowed to wash your face after 48 hours and the first signs of improvement start to show on the third day. Your stitches will be removed after five days.

As every plastic surgery this one might carry some complications as well. One of them is asymmetry. In this case you can expect to have another operation in a half year. Loss of crease happens very rarely but still happens. Ptosis occurs if it was failed to recognize a preexisting ptotic condition (it can be fixed using an open approach). If the correct approach was used and it happened so then it can be explained by some anatomical considerations. Retraction is question of time, usually it corrects over it. This depends on the type of technique was used. If it was an open approach then it is corrected by the suture method – incision is entered again and adjusted to the offending sutures.

Double eyelid surgery cost

To sum up, Asian blepharoplasty is a very popular surgical procedure in Asia and America and most commonly among women. There are various techniques each adjusted to individual situation. And the last thing to mention is the fee- it may cost you from 1000 $.