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Frequently Asked
Questions About Facial & Eye Plastic Surgery
What can facial and eye
plastic surgery do for me?
Cosmetic facial and eye
plastic surgery is not a fountain of youth, but it can
effectively reduce the tired and sad appearance of your jowls
and of your neck, reduce puffy eyelids, bags below your eyes,
wrinkles, acne scars, “smokers’ lines” around the mouth, growths
and improve sun-damaged skin. It is very important to discuss
your goals and expectations with Dr. Kass during your initial
consultation visit.
Will the surgery hurt?
For most of the
procedures that Dr. Kass does, there is little or no discomfort.
Not during, and not after the procedure. Of course, each
procedure is different, and every patient has a unique threshold
of discomfort. But most of the time, our patients report back
how amazed they were that they never experienced any discomfort
at all!
How long will it take to recover?
Following surgery, you
will need to give yourself time to heal. Bruising and swelling
are temporary inconveniences. Our staff will advise you to avoid
certain medications and herbal preparations before surgery to
minimize bruising. Cosmetics can be invaluable as a temporary
camouflage that can often be applied shortly following many
procedures.
How soon can I go back to work?
In most cases, recovery
time is five to ten days, depending on factors such as your age,
general health, and the extent of your aesthetic procedures.
Patients find that they can often return to telephone and
computer work within days of their procedures. We have had
a number of patients able to return to work the very next day
(and a handful of patients who actually began working on the
very same day) of their procedures!
How long does the improvement last?
The results can last for
many years. Your results will depend on your unique skin type
and how you care for your skin after surgery. If you carefully
protect your skin from damaging sun-exposure, you will have a
second chance at slowing down the sunlight-related aging
process.
Are there scars after surgery?
There are always scars.
However, in many cases the scars are hidden or so small that
they are not noticeable. For example, the endoscopic forehead
lift scars are very small and are hidden behind the hairline.
For a facelift, the scars are inconspicuously placed around the
ears. For lower eyelid surgery, the scars may actually be hidden
behind the eyelid so that there is no outer skin scar at all!
Will my medical insurance cover the procedure?
Cosmetic surgeries are
generally not covered by insurance.
How much is the surgery going to cost?
In order to provide you
with fees for procedures, Dr. Kass needs to see and evaluate
you. Each patient is different and has his or her own
combination set of problems, options, concerns and
structural/functional and aesthetic goals which must be
addressed individually and personally. Dr. Kass truly prides
himself on striving to correct for you the areas of your
greatest concern within a budget that you can afford. Especially
in the current economic downturn, Dr. Kass strives to provide
for you the greatest potential improvement with the greatest
value for your money. Naturally, Dr. Kass is aware of what
others in the community are charging for similar procedures and
sets his fees accordingly. Although his fees are comparable to
others in the community, Dr. Kass pledges to provide you with
the greatest professionalism, sense of ease, and the highest
quality of medical care available anywhere.
Is it to my benefit to do more than one procedure at a time?
Will I save money?
Of course. There is cost
savings to doing multiple procedures at the same time because by
doing multiple procedures, there is only one use of the
operating room and of the anesthesia and there is only one
postoperative course. For example, doing the upper and lower
eyelids at the same time is not as costly as doing just the
upper eyelids and returning to do the lower eyelids six months
later. Similarly, doing all four eyelids and a facelift together
costs less than the total price of paying separately for each
procedure over two operating sessions. Aside from cost savings,
patients benefit from having multiple procedures done together
because it means only one recovery period.
When is payment for surgery due?
For services which are
not covered by insurance our office will require at least a
deposit to confirm the date of surgery and then the balance two
weeks before the surgery is performed.
Can I finance my surgery?
Yes. We have several
different financing options available.
CareCredit is one of our
most popular options. We encourage you to ask early in the
conversation if this is an issue.
Where will my surgery be performed? Will my surgery be
performed under general or local anesthesia?
Today, these types of
procedures are rarely performed in hospitals, because there is
no need for hospitalization, hospitals have markedly higher
costs, and because there are real risks of hospital based
infections. Dr. Kass performs most of his procedures either in
Ambulatory Surgical Centers or in his office depending on
patient preference and on what procedures are being done. Almost
always, the procedures can be done either under general or under
local anesthesia and there are advantages to each. Before
surgery, Dr. Kass will definitely discuss these issues with you
to make sure that you will be the most comfortable and relaxed
as possible.
How long do I need to
be in town after my procedure?
After any surgical
procedure, Dr. Kass would request that you stay in town (or
relatively nearby), for at least one to two weeks, depending on
what it is that you have having done.
What should I avoid during my recovery period?
Typically, we ask
patients to refrain from doing any activity that has the
potential to raise blood pressure such as exercising, bending,
lifting, brisk walking and sexual activity. However, we do all
types of procedures on people of varying health so usually, most
people can resume all normal activities within a week or two. We
do ask that, if possible, patients not take medicines or
supplements which thin the blood, from two weeks before to one
week after the surgery. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve,
Motrin, Excedrin and Coumadin. Also avoid vitamins E & C and
herbal supplements such as Gingko Biloba and St. John’s Wart.
When will my first
follow up appointment be scheduled?
Anywhere from 1 – 10
days following surgery. Dr. Kass will determine this on the day
of your procedure. You will be given an appointment for your
first post operative visit along with detailed instructions. If
there are any questions, please feel free to call our office at
any time and we will be happy to answer them.
When will my stitches be removed?
Normally within 7-10
days, or when the wound is adequately healed.
Can I do anything to minimize bruising and swelling?
Yes. Sleep in a
reclining (not horizontal) position for 1 week following surgery
to minimize the collection of fluids in the face and eyelids.
Follow the instructions
you will be given about making and administering your cold
compresses. These will not only reduce bruising and swelling but
will maximize and promote healing.
Take all of your medicine as prescribed. However, if you feel
that one of them is causing a problem, then please stop it and
contact our office for instructions.
What else should I do?
The most important thing
for you to do is to … relax! Dr. Kass knows that you are
nervous. In fact, he would be a little concerned if you weren’t
at least a little nervous. And Dr. Kass knows and understands
that you have not done this before. But please be reassured that
we have. Many hundreds and thousands of times over 25 years in
practice. You are in excellent, professional, and compassionate
hands. Take a deep breath and relax. When it is over and you are
healed, you will be delighted, both with your results and with
the care you received. Really! |
