Q&A

"Am I a good candidate for cosmetic plastic surgery?"

If you have identified a specific facial feature or part of your body that bothers you, your desire to change it is realistic and self-motivated, and you are in generally good health, then it is likely that you are a good candidate for cosmetic surgery. However, the best way to find out if you can benefit from cosmetic surgery is to have a consultation with one of the board-certified plastic surgeons at Cosmetic Surgery Associates of New York.

"What will the consultation be like?"

You should come to your consultation prepared to discuss your goals and expectations for surgery. After you have given us a brief medical history and one of our doctors has examined the area that bothers you, he will discuss your treatment options. You will learn how the recommended procedure is performed, the expected recovery period and the cost. You may be shown a computer image of yourself to give you a better idea of the potential results of surgery. After all your questions have been answered, you may decide to select a date for your surgery.



"How much in advance of a special social event should I plan my cosmetic surgery?"

The length of the healing process following cosmetic surgery varies with the type and extent of the procedure. Certain nonsurgical procedures such as Botox and collagen injections require no recovery period; you can be treated on your lunch hour and attend a party that night. Following a facelift and eyelid surgery, you might feel like going out in public with makeup and dark glasses after just a few days, but you will not see your final results for several weeks or longer. The length of time required for full recovery also depends upon your individual healing characteristics. Some people bruise less and heal faster than others.

"How long will the results of cosmetic surgery last?"

The results of some cosmetic surgical procedures -- such as nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), ear reshaping and chin augmentation -- generally are permanent. Other procedures such as facelifts and eyelid surgery are very long-lasting, but the face will continue to age so that, over a period of many years, the rejuvenating effects of an earlier surgery may be diminished. At that point, you may elect to have another procedure performed, or not -- depending on how you feel about the changes you see. Breast procedures such as augmentation, reduction or lifting, are also long-lasting; the breasts, like the face, are subject to the forces of gravity, so subtle changes may occur over time. However, after having cosmetic surgery, you should always look younger and better than you would have without the surgery!