Endoscopic plastic surgery minimizes incision size using an endoscope functions as a viewing device. It consists of a tubular probe fitted with a tiny camera and bright light, which is inserted through a small incision; and a viewing screen to magnify the transmitted images of the body’s internal structures. The surgeon watches the screen while moving the tube through the surgical area.

Advantages of Endoscopy

Because it involves smaller incisions, endoscopy leaves very minimal scarring. To insert the probe, only a few incisions less than one inch long are required. For procedures such as breast augmentation, only two incisions may be necessary. Shorter incisions also reduce risk of sensory loss due to nerve damage. Also, bleeding, bruising and swelling may be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, the recovery period tends to be shorter with no need for an overnight hospital stay. Many endoscopic procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with sedation.

Special consideration and risks

The endoscopic plastic surgery approach has only recently been applied to plastic surgery procedures. There are some known risks, which vary in severity depending on the procedure being performed. These include infection, fluid accumulation beneath the skin (which must be drained), blood vessel damage, nerve damage or loss of feeling, internal perforation injury, and skin injury.

And, keep in mind that if a complication occurs at any time during the operation your surgeon may have to switch to an open procedure, which will result in a more extensive scar and a longer recovery period. However, to date, such complications are rare—estimated to occur in less that 5 percent of all endoscopic procedures.



Thanks to Dave Stringham for contributing this article to our Plastic Surgery blog:

Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

Advancement in cosmetic surgery has spawned wide interest. Plastic surgery procedures are now safer, more affordable and more convenient. You have many options for plastic surgery. However, choosing the right cosmetic surgeon and appropriate treatment can be difficult with out proper guidance. The following is advice for beginners looking into plastic surgery.

Plastic Surgery Advice for Beginners

When it comes to plastic surgery, avoid a rushed decision. As many cosmetic procedures involve permanence, careful thought is a necessary component of the decision-making process. Examine the reasons you are considering plastic surgery. Is this a choice that you’re comfortable with?

Advice for Beginners Looking Into Plastic Surgery: Research

It’s important to make an informed decision about any cosmetic surgery procedure. Start by gathering information online. Web sites such as DocShop.com are places where patients can educate themselves about various medical treatments. Discover the benefits and limitations associated with the cosmetic procedure in question. Learn the risks and weigh the pros and cons.

Advice for Beginners: Schedule a Plastic Surgery Consultation

A consultation is required before any plastic surgery procedure. This is also a perfect opportunity to ask questions and air concerns. Be forthright about your interest in the treatment of choice. Tell the cosmetic surgeon why you feel the procedure is necessary. Describe your desired results.

Your doctor will conduct a medical examination, evaluating your overall health. As part of the consultation, the surgeon will describe realistic results, along with potential complications associated with the procedure. Other treatment options may also be introduced. For example, facial plastic surgery candidates have various options, depending on the condition of the skin. The surgeon will want to customize the best treatment to achieve desired results.

Advice for Beginners Looking Into Plastic Surgery: Find an Experienced Surgeon

A skilled cosmetic surgeon is essential for a positive experience with plastic surgery. Request credentials from the surgeon. A qualified plastic surgeon is board certified by an accredited association, such as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Ask questions about the level of expertise regarding your desired treatment. Ask to see a portfolio of plastic surgery photos.

What Makes a Good Candidate for Plastic Surgery?

A good candidate for plastic surgery is fully informed about the benefits, limitations and risk. Candidates for cosmetic surgery are in good physical health, with a grounded outlook regarding the results. To ensure a successful outcome, patients are expected to follow pre and post operative directions.

Understanding the Benefits and Limitations of Plastic Surgery

Plastic surgery has helped millions restore confidence about physical appearance. While medical advancement in the field of cosmetic surgery has increased safety, there is no surgery without risk. Possible complications vary for each procedure. Common risks may include scarring, infection, allergic reaction to the anesthesia and numbness. Be sure you understand the specific risks for the cosmetic procedure in question.

While plastic surgery has many benefits, treatment must be chosen for the right reasons. Cosmetic surgery is not a proxy for positive self-image. It will not cure depression or win a job promotion. There is also a chance you may be dissatisfied with the results.

How Much Does Plastic Surgery Cost?

The cost for plastic surgery varies according to geographic location, the surgeon’s experience and difficulty of the procedure involved. Since cosmetic surgery is an elective procedure, it’s unlikely that the cost is covered by insurance. However, financing options are available. Ask your surgeon or visit DocShop.com for details.



Thanks to Keion Moradi for contributing this article to our Plastic Surgery blog:

Certified Cosmetic Surgeon

Can you answer jersey’s question about Plastic Surgery?:

I’m 17. I’ve never had a nose job/ rhinoplasty before. I have always wanted to change my nose and always knew wat kind of nose I want. I have been saving up and have enough money.
The only thing is doctors say about unrealistic expections so I don’t want them to think I am unrealistic but i really want Elisha Curthbert’s nose. Currently it looks like Ashlee Simpsons’s before surgery (mines a little smaller but u get the point) Do you think if I showed them photos of her nose that they could make mine similar? Or would they send me away because I am unrealistic Do many people take a photo of someone to show what kind of nose they want?

Liposuction Surgery Cost

Liposuction was originally used in treating cellulites that are found in woman’s body parts, of all ages. During the first years of this discovery, many people believed that liposuction is the greatest inventions because it could treat skin irregularities.

According to various studies, cellulite and liposuction go hand in hang because this surgical procedure helps in the removal of unwanted fats beneath the skin, which causes the bulky, orange-peel look called cellulites.

While the accumulation of cellulite and liposuction procedure can keep your skin smooth free of sags and silky, liposuction is still not considered as a method for weight loss or as a treatment for cellulite. The hips, neck, chin, cheeks, upper arms, abdomen, thighs, buttocks and knees are common areas that build up cellulite and liposuction can remove these unwanted fats instantly.





The Effectiveness of Liposuction and Cellulite Treatments

Cellulite and liposuction go together perfectly. However, when performed alone, liposuction is not a complete solution for treating cellulites. Liposuction and cellulite treatments like Mesotherapy, Endermologie and Thermage can be an effective combination in warding off those unwanted rippling of the skin.

Although many people are claiming the effectiveness of liposuction in cellulite removal, there are no scientific explanations to prove these claims. In fact, the resulting lax skin after a liposuction procedure could increase the appearance of cellulites.

Along with removal of cellulite and liposuction, new and advanced non-surgical techniques are being developed to smooth down deep tissues that cause dimpling of skin. By focusing on increasing blood flow, new treatments for cellulite and liposuction combined can achieve in an improved general cellular function and reduced fatty tissues.

If you wish to remove your cellulite and liposuction is the first thing you considered, it is best to shop around for additional non-surgical methods to help in obtaining your desired smooth, dimple-free, silky skin.

Although removing cellulite and liposuction procedures combined with other methods, could take some dedicate, time and money, these treatments are all worth it once you feel the smooth skin that were once your problem areas.

In order to ensure the removal of cellulite and liposuction procedures will not yield complications or side effects, it is best to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to be able to make an informed decision on which surgical and non-surgical options will solve your cellulite problems for good.



Thanks to Lee Milne for contributing this article to our Plastic Surgery blog:

Cosmetic Breast Surgery

Who in their right mind would go to Mexico for plastic surgery? After all, isn’t it a third world country?

Mexico is not exactly a first world country, but, at least in its metropolitan areas, it is far from a third world country.

It is also home to a fine medical school at the University of Guadalajara, where a lot of American students receive their medical degrees. Guadalajara is also the location of the prestigious Institute of Reconstructive Surgery which has been educating physicians from around the world in the latest surgical techniques for over 35 years.

Guadalajara alone has more than 75 certified plastic surgeons and most of the hospital facilities are first rate. Another benefit is the culture of care you will find in Mexico. Unlike most US doctors who seem to be in an eternal rush to get their patients out of their offices, in Mexico doctors spend time listening to their patients’ needs and responding to their concerns.

Most of the doctors in Mexico speak at least a little English. Many of them have taken graduate courses or have done their internships and/or residencies in the States. Some are Board Certified by US licensing agencies.

In addition to Guadalajara, there are many fine plastic surgeons in Mexico City and the northern city of Monterrey. There are also many clinics along the Texas, Arizona and California borders, but there you are taking a bigger chance that the care will not be first rate. If you are considering a border clinic, take extra care in checking out the physicians and the facilities.

The cost of a face lift in Guadalajara is about $2500 US. A full suite of services including lifting the eyelids and forehead will run about $6000. These include your hospital or clinic stays.

Even Botox injections are substantially cheaper.

There are services such as Airlift, Inc., which is owned by a nurse, which arrange everything for you, from your flight down, your accommodations while in the county and the doctor, nursing and hospital fees.

In many cases, you can arrange to recuperate in a pleasant facility with round the clock nursing care. By the time most of the swelling and bruising are under control, you will be ready to return home with your new look.

There is a downside however. One of the reasons US care is so expensive is malpractice lawsuits. One of the reasons that Mexican procedures are so cheap is that malpractice is not recognized in Mexico. So, if something does go wrong, you will have no recourse.

However, thousands of Americans, Canadian and even residents of South America flock to Mexico every year for face lifts and other cosmetic procedures. I have been living part time in Mexico for over nine years and have many friends who have had successful surgeries.

Check out the credentials of any physician you are considering carefully, Try to get references. If possible visit one of these cities beforehand so that you can become familiar with the facilities available and you can meet with some of the plastic surgeons.

There is a large ex-patriot community in and around these cities. You can always find help and references by visiting with some of these residents, who are among the biggest consumers of this type of care.

If you have a little sense of adventure and wish to save thousands of dollars on cosmetic surgery, Mexico might be the place for you.

For more information on plastic surgery, visit http://www.ageless-beauty.com/ antiaging-cosmetic-procedures.html



Thanks to Jean Bowler for contributing this article to our Plastic Surgery blog:

Breast Augmentation Average Cost