Plastic
surgery is a specialized branch of surgery concerned with
the repair of deformities and correction of functional deficits.
These are intimately related and concerned with the restoration
of form and function. Reconstructive surgery encompasses a
wide range of procedures, including hand surgery, correction
of birth defects, and repair following traumatic injuries
and cancer surgery. Aesthetic or cosmetic surgery is the treatment
of displeasing physical characteristics. This includes procedures
such as face lifts, breast augmentation, liposuction and other
procedures aimed at enhancing the patient's self image. Dr.
O'Loughlin takes pleasure and satisfaction in working with
patients to achieve their aesthetic and reconstructive goals.
| Dr.
O'Loughlin is an expert in the field of cosmetic,
reconstructive, hand and microsurgery. His
specialty includes:
Complete facial surgery, skin cancer surgery, laser
surgery, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast
reconstruction and breast reduction. Below are
details of the various cosmetic procedures. |
Click
here
to visit the American
Society of Plastic Surgery for detailed information on
the various procedures.
|
Abdominoplasty
(Tummy Tuck) |
|
Procedure
|
Flatten
abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening
muscles of abdominal wall. |
| Length |
2
to 5 hours |
| Anesthesia |
General
or local with sedation |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Either,
depending on individual circumstances and extent of surgery |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
pain, swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin,
bruising, tiredness for several weeks or months |
|
Risks
|
Blood
clots, infection, bleeding under the skin flap, poor healing
resulting in conspicuous scarring or skin loss, need for
a second operation |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: 2 to 4 weeks. More strenuous activity:
4 to 6 weeks or more.
Fading and flattening of scars: 3 months to 2
years. |
Breast
Enlargement
(Augmentation Mammaplasty) |
|
Procedure
|
Enhance the size of breasts using inflatable implants
filled with saline. |
| Length |
1
to 2 hours |
| Anesthesia |
Local with sedation, or general |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Either
depending on individual circumstances and extent of surgery |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
soreness, swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising.
Breast sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks. |
|
Risks
|
Lack
of implant permanence - surgical removal or replacement
of the implants may be required to treat problems, including:
deflation, the formation of scar tissue around the implant
(capsular contracture), which may cause the breast to
feel tight or hard; bleeding or infection. Increase or
decrease in sensitivity of nipples or breast skin, occasionally
permanent. Mammagraphy requires a special technique. (Note:
Some women have reported symptoms similar to those of
immune disorders. Ask your doctor about these and other
FDA concerns.) |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: a few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3
to 4 weeks. Fading of scars: several months or a year
more. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Variable.
Implants may require removal or replacement. |
|
Breast
Lift (Mastopexy) |
|
Procedure
|
Raise and reshape sagging breasts by removing excess skin
and repositioning remaining tissue and nipples. |
| Length |
1
to 3 hours |
| Anesthesia |
Local with sedation, or general |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient. Sometimes inpatient |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin,
permanent scars |
|
Risks
|
Thick,
wide scars; skin loss; infection. Unevenly positioned
nipples. Permanent loss of feeling in nipples or breasts. |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: 1 week or more. Strenuous activities: 1 month.
Fading of scars: several months to a year. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Variable; gravity, pregnancy, aging, and weight changes
may cause new sagging. Results may last longer or be enhanced
when breast implants are inserted as part of the procedure. |
Chemical
Peel
(Phenol and trichloroacetic acid [TCA]) |
|
Procedure
|
Restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged
facial skin, using a chemical solution to peel away skin's
top layers. Works best on fair, thin skin with superficial
wrinkles. |
| Length |
1-2
hours for full face |
| Anesthesia |
None; sedation & EKG monitoring may be used |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient. Full-face phenol peel may require admission
for 1-2 days. |
|
Side
Effects
|
Both:
Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness, acute
sensitivity to sun. Phenol: Permanent lightening of treated
skin; permanent loss of ability to tan |
|
Risks
|
Both:
Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up
of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. Phenol:
Abnormal color changes (permanent); heart irregularities
(rare). |
|
Recovery
|
Phenol:
Formation of new skin: 7 to 21 days. Normal activities:
2-4 weeks. Full healing and fading of redness: 3 to 6
months. TCA: New skin within 5-10 days. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Phenol: Permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin
ages. TCA: Variable (Temporary) |
|
Ear
Surgery (Otoplasty) |
|
Procedure
|
Set prominent ears back closer to the head, or reduce
the size of large ears. Most often done on children between
the ages of 4-14 years (occasionally covered by insurance) |
| Length |
2-3
hours |
| Anesthesia |
Young children: usually general. Older children and adults:
general or local, with sedation |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
throbbing, aching, swelling, redness, numbness |
|
Risks
|
Infection
of cartilage. Excessive scarring. Blood clot that may
need to be drained. Mismatched or artificial looking ears.
Recurrence of the protrusion, requiring repeat surgery. |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work or school: 5-7 days. Strenuous activity, contact
sports: 1-2 months. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Usually permanent |
|
Eyelid
Surgery (Blephoraplasty) |
|
Procedure
|
Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the
eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle (upper-eyelid
surgery may be used if used to correct visual field defects) |
| Length |
1-3
hours |
| Anesthesia |
Usually locally with sedation or general |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary
dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing,
sensitivity to light for first few weeks. |
|
Risks
|
Temporary
blurred or double vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling
at the corners of the eyelids. Dry eyes. Formation of
white heads. Slight asymmetry in healing or scarring.
Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent).
Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery).
Blindness (extremely rare). |
|
Recovery
|
Reading:
2-3 weeks. Back to work: 7-10 days. Contact lenses: two
weeks or more. Strenuous activities. Alcohol: about 3
weeks. Bruising & swelling gone: several weeks. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Several years. Sometimes permanent. |
|
Facelift (Rhytidectomy) |
|
Procedure
|
Improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin
by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, redraping
skin. Most often done on men and women over 40. |
| Length |
Several
hours. |
| Anesthesia |
Local with sedation, or general. |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient
stay. |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
bruising, swelling, numbness and tiredness of skin; tight
feeling, dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind
ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned. |
|
Risks
|
Injury
to the nerves that control facial muscles or feeling (usually
temporary but may be permanent). Infection, bleeding.
Poor healing; excessive scarring. Asymmetry or change
in hairline. |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: 10-14 days. More strenuous activity: 2-3 weeks.
Bruising: 2-3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several
months. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Usually 5-10 years |
|
Facial
Implants |
|
Procedure
|
Change the basic shape & balance of the face using
carefully shaped implants to build up a receding chin,
add prominence to cheekbones, or reshape the jaw line. |
| Length |
30
minutes to 2 hours |
| Anesthesia |
Local with sedation, or general |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient; occasionally overnight hospital stay. |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness.
In jaw surgery, inability to open mouth fully for several
weeks. |
|
Risks
|
Shifting
or imprecise positioning of implant, or infection around
it, requiring a second operation or removal. Excess tightening
and hardening of scar tissue around an artificial implant
("capsular contracture"), causing unnatural
shape. |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: about 1 week. Normal appearance: 2-4 weeks. Activity
that could jar or bump face: 6 weeks or more. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Permanent. |
|
Forehead
Lift (Browlift) |
|
Procedure
|
Minimize forehead creases, drooping eyebrows, hooding
over eyes, furrowed forehead and frown lines by removing
excess tissue, altering muscles and tightening the forehead
skin. May be done using the traditional technique, with
an incision across the top of the head just behind the
hairline; or with the use of an endoscope, which requires
3-5 short incisions. Most often done on people over 40. |
| Length |
1-2
hours |
| Anesthesia |
Local with sedation, or general |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness.
In jaw surgery, inability to open mouth fully for several
weeks. |
|
Risks
|
Injury
to facial nerve, causing loss of motion, muscle weakness,
or asymmetrical look. Infection. Broad or excessive scarring. |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: 7-10 days, usually sooner for endoscopic forehead
lift. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Full recovery
from bruising: 2-3 weeks. Limit sun exposure for several
months. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Usually 5-10 years |
|
Laser
Facial Resurfacing |
|
Procedure
|
Smooth the face and smooth fine wrinkles using a carbon
dioxide laser device that treats layers of damaged skin.
Softens lines around the eyes and mouth and minimizes
facial scars and unevenly pigmented areas. |
| Length |
A
few minutes to 1 hour. May require more than 1 session. |
| Anesthesia |
Local with sedation, or general. |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient, unless combined with other surgical procedures
that require hospitalization. |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
swelling, discomfort. Lightening of treated skin. Acute
sun sensitivity. Increased sensitivity to makeup. Pinkness
or redness in skin that may persist for up to 6 months. |
|
Risks
|
Burns
or injuries caused by laser heat. Scarring. Abnormal changes
in skin color. Flare-up of viral infections ("cold
sores") and other infections (rare). |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 4-6 weeks.
Complete fading of redness: 6 months or less. Return of
pigmentation/light sun exposure: 6-12 months. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Long-lasting, but does not stop aging. New wrinkles, expression
lines may form as skin ages. |
|
Liposuction |
|
Procedure
|
Improve body shape by removing exercise-resistant fat
deposits with a tube and vacuum device. Can be performed
using the tumescent technique, in which targeted fat
cells are infused with saline containing solution with
a local anesthetic before liposuction to reduce post-operative
bruising and swelling. Common locations for liposuction
include chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above breasts,
abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles.
For
larger volumes of fat or for fibrous body areas, ultrasound-assisted
lipoplasty (UAL) may be used. UAL is a new technique
in which an ultrasound probe is inserted beneath the
skin to "liquify" the fat before it is suctioned.
|
| Length |
1-2
hours or more |
| Anesthesia |
Local, epidural, or general |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient. Extensive procedures may require short inpatient
stay |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
swelling, discomfort. Lightening of treated skin. Acute
sun sensitivity. Increased sensitivity to makeup. Pinkness
or redness in skin that may persist for up to 6 months. |
|
Risks
|
Asymmetry.
Rippling or bagginess of skin. Pigmentation changes. Skin
injury. Fluid retention. Excessive fluid loss leading
to shock. Infection. UAL: thermal burn injury caused by
the heat from the ultrasound device. |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: 1- 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 2-4 weeks.
Full recover from swelling & bruising: 1-6 months
or more. Use of tumescent technique or UAL may decrease
post-operative bruising and swelling. |
| Duration
of Results: |
Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise. |
|
Male
Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia) |
|
Procedure
|
Reduce enlarged, female-like breast in men using liposuction
and/or cutting out excess glandular tissue (sometimes
covered by medical insurance)
|
| Length |
1
hour or more |
| Anesthesia |
General or local |
|
In/Outpatient
|
Usually
outpatient |
|
Side
Effects
|
Temporary
bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation |
|
Risks
|
Infection,
fluid accumulation, injury to the skin, rippling or bagginess
of skin, asymmetry, pigmentation changes (may become permanent
if exposed to sun). Excessive scarring if tissue was cut
away. Need for second procedure to remove additional tissue. |
|
Recovery
|
Back
to work: 3-7 days. More strenuous activity: 2-3 weeks.
Swelling & bruising: 3-6 months. |
| Duration
of Results: |
permanent |
To
learn more, set up a consultation with Dr. O'Loughlin.
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