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Any operation can yield a complication and facelift is no exception.  Fortunately, these are usually minor, and seldom does the patient suffer significantly.  Major complications are just not acceptable in elective cosmetic surgery cases. Hematoma - bleeding can sometimes begin after the operation is over and accumulate under the skin.  The blood needs to be evacuated and the bleeding stopped.  Occasionally this will require a return to the operating room. Smaller hematomas can be drained at the bedside.  The incidence is about 5% of cases. When properly dealt with hematomas do not affect the outcome of the operation. Seroma - serum [...]

A procedure that is increasing in popularity is the “Brazilian Butt Lift” which is a trade name of sorts for buttock volume enhancement using autologous fat.  As fat grafting or transfer, in general, becomes better understood and predictable, patients are getting better and better results. The procedure is a lot more than just adding fat to the buttock region.  Almost always excess fat in peripheral areas such as the lower back (love handle) is reduced.  The idea is to properly frame the gluteal area.  This fat then becomes a source of material for the areas to be augmented. Areas remote for the gluteal [...]

Closed Capsulotomy for capsular contracture is controversial.  Many plastic surgeons refuse to perform the maneuver and the manufacturers of implants don’t want their implants exposed to it.  Nevertheless, I continue to offer it and have never really had any problems over many years.  Let me make the case why closed capsulotomy should at least be considered. Capsular contracture occurs when the capsule that forms around each and every breast implant shrinks around the prosthesis and squeezes it, making it feel firm and sometimes even distorting the appearance.  We really don’t know what triggers this aesthetic problem, although there are some interesting [...]

Rhinoplasty (also called a nose job) is again becoming a popular procedure.  The nose is front and center on the face and even small adjustments can significantly change the harmony of the face.  In most cases, results are predictable and patients now can get an idea of what to expect by way of video imaging. There was a fall-off in the popularity of the procedure over the past few years.  Most of this decline was probably due to the economy.  However, the media made exaggerated coverage of really bad nose jobs (think Michael Jackson) that probably scared many who were considering [...]

Breast implants can be placed through 5 possible incisions. It can be confusing for the patient to pick the best approach for their situation. I offer 4 of the 5 incision options, but prefer the inframammary for reasons to be discussed. The 5 potential breast implant incisions: Axillary (through the armpit). In this approach (which is sometimes assisted by an endoscope) a tunnel has to be created to permit the development of the pocket.  It would be considered a “remote” approach.  Obtaining symmetrical pockets is a bit harder and occasionally the implants can fall into the tunnel when the patient is recumbent [...]

For an elective aesthetic procedure, it is crucial that negative side effects are few and minor.  With breast augmentation, the worry at one time was that the implants might increase the risk of the disease. There was also concern that the presence of a breast implant might compromise the diagnostic capabilities of mammograms.  Women with implants might be further along in the disease at the time of detection.  Fortunately, none of this is true.  Nevertheless, many women remain misinformed. There are lots of published studies related to breast cancer and breast implants.  Some are contradictory.  In distilling the information there is a [...]