Archive for the ‘Prepare for Plastic Surgery’ Category

What Makes a Good Plastic Surgeon?

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Style 32S Body Shaper Brief from Contour

If you look through the Yellow Pages under the heading “plastic surgeons,” you’ll probably find dozens to choose from. Look again under the heading “cosmetic surgeons,” and you’ll likely find several more. Trying to sort through these lists to find the best possible plastic surgeon for your cosmetic plastic surgery procedure or reconstructive procedure can be a daunting task. Here are some things to consider.

First of all, make sure that your cosmetic surgeon is board certified. Board certification is a step beyond medical school and residency, so it proves that your plastic surgeon has gone the extra mile to make sure he (or she) has received the proper training.

Next, Make sure your plastic surgeon of choice has experience with the type of procedure you’re undergoing. For example, if you’re having a tummy tuck and lipo, you’ll want to ask how many tummy tuck and lipo procedures your surgeon does each year. If it’s only a few, you may want to choose another surgeon.

Find out if the plastic surgeon you’re considering has a Web site or other social presence. Having a Web site or posting to social media sites won’t make someone a better plastic surgeon, but it will give you a place (or multiple places) to get more information about the surgeon’s background. For example, many plastic surgeons post information about their educational background and experience on their Web sites or on their Facebook or My Space pages. Web sites and social media sites are also a good place to look for patient testimonials and before and after photos.

Talk to your plastic surgeon candidates about what happens before, during, and after plastic surgery, including what type of post surgery support you will receive. Also ask if you’ll need to purchase any plastic surgery garments to be worn after cosmetic surgery. Post surgical compression garments help the surgical site to heal. Depending on what type of procedure you’re having, post plastic surgery, you’ll likely need one or more compression garments.

And finally, although price is certainly not the most important thing, you do need to choose a plastic surgeon who is within your price range. Many plastic surgeons offer payment plans if you do need to go a little over budget.

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Posted in Plastic Surgery Recovery, Prepare for Plastic Surgery | 4 Comments »

Should My Cosmetic Surgeon Be on Facebook?

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Check out ContourMD on Facebook

Should you “like” your plastic surgeon on Facebook or “follow” his tweets on Twitter? Cosmetic surgeons are increasingly embracing technology by using social media to connect with their patients and to engage potential new patients. But is this really a good idea? Here are some reasons why it might be.

Social media sites allow plastic surgeons to create a more personal presence so that patients can get a better feel for who they are and what their philosophies are about certain practices or procedures. Now let’s examine some specific social media sites to see how they can help your cosmetic surgeon to communicate with you or to improve his or her practice.

If your plastic surgeon has a Facebook page, it’s likely that he or she has included some personal information, such as educational experience, board certification, and practice experience. Your cosmetic surgeon’s Facebook page may also include testimonials from satisfied patients and before and after procedure photos. A Facebook page is also a good place for your plastic surgeon to post messages about new procedures, changes in office hours, or information about new staff members.

A Twitter account will also allow your plastic surgeon to send brief updates about recent changes in practices or policies. Another good use that a plastic surgeon may have for a Twitter account is to post links to articles describing new innovations in plastic surgery. Your plastic surgeon may also use Twitter to inform patients about unexpected schedule openings, so you may be able to snag that last-minute appointment you’ve been waiting for.

LinkedIn is a good site for any professional. It will allow your plastic surgeon to link to other cosmetic surgeons, which provides your surgeon with access to consultations with other plastic surgery experts. LinkedIn also gives plastic surgeons an opportunity to share information with each other so that they can stay on top of what’s going on in their field.

YouTube is a good way for plastic surgeons to introduce themselves to potential new patients. An introductory video might include a brief description of the surgeon’s credentials and a virtual tour of the office. YouTube can also be a useful tool for showing video animations of procedures so you can see, in advance, what will happen during your plastic surgery procedure.

So go ahead and click the “like” button on Facebook or follow your plastic surgeon on Twitter. You might be glad you did.

ContourMD is on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn … follow us, friend us, watch us and connect with us for news, updates, promotions and a tad bit of humor!

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Posted in Plastic Surgery Recovery, Prepare for Plastic Surgery | 7 Comments »

Working Out After Brachioplasty

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
Style 32S Body Shaper Brief from Contour

Style 32S Body Shaper Brief from Contour

If you’re preparing to have an arm lift, or brachioplasty, you may wonder how long after surgery you can get back to your fitness routine. Like all surgeries, there is a period of recovery after brachioplasty before strenuous activities may be resumed.

The first few days after surgery you won’t feel like exercising. You’ll have some discomfort and swelling, and possibly bruising. Your surgeon will have you wear an arm lift compression garment and may recommend elevating your arms. And you’ll have incisions that must be protected and allowed to heal.

Short walks are a good gentle exercise to start with. You shouldn’t lift or swing your arms much, and avoid lifting anything heavier than a few pounds. As you feel better, you can take longer walks, do gentle stretching, and begin low-impact exercises with your lower body, such as a stationary bike.

After ten to fourteen days, the swelling and bruising should be much improved, and you and your surgeon can discuss the activities that are appropriate as you continue to heal. It may be some time before it’s okay to lift heavy weights or do strenuous arm exercises. And your incisions must heal before you can swim.

There are several ways you can help yourself recover faster from plastic surgery. Plan to take it easy during your recovery, communicate with your surgeon, and do follow your surgeon’s orders. As with any plastic surgery, wearing a compression garment is always recommended.  ContourMD has a wide variety of compression garments with sleeves that are ideal for arm lift surgery.

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Posted in Arm Lift Surgery, Plastic Surgery Recovery, Prepare for Plastic Surgery | No Comments »

How Do I Prepare for Plastic Surgery?

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
transparent female nude art

Proper preparation for plastic surgery will help with the recovery time

When you prepare for plastic surgery, you can reduce both pre-operative stress and recovery times. Here are some useful tips:

  1. Ask your surgeon what types of prescription or over-the-counter medications should be avoided. And what types of vitamins are recommended for post surgery recovery.
  2. Quit smoking at least two weeks in advance of the operation when you prepare for plastic surgery. Smoking can cause post-operative complications that can delay recovery.
  3. Buy at least two weeks’ worth of groceries, prescription medications, homeopathic medicines, dressings, gauze and antibacterial soap before the surgery. You’ll also need plenty of ice for cold packs to reduce the swelling.
  4. Arrange for someone to transport you to and from the hospital. Someone should also stay with you for the first three days after the surgery in case of post-operative complications.
  5. Discuss a proper post-operative diet with your surgeon when you prepare for plastic surgery. Foods that are high in protein and low in sodium may speed your recovery.
  6. Wear loose clothing on the day of the surgery,  you may need additional room for any post-operative support garments.

It is recommended that you have at least two compression garments on hand.  Since they will be worn throughout the day, you should have an extra compression garment on hand while the other is being cleaned.

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