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Plastic Surgery Resources
When you’re considering plastic surgery, it’s important to have information to help you make the best decision for your desired outcomes. Explore our plastic surgery resources and education to help you make an informed choice.
Guide to Surgery
It is important to adhere to certain guidelines when you undergo any surgical procedure. Please review our guide to surgery to learn what to do before and after surgery to assist your medical team in providing a safe and comfortable experience.
How To Choose a Plastic Surgeon
The choice to undergo plastic surgery of any kind is a highly personal one. It’s important to find a surgeon who will be sensitive to your needs and who has extensive experience in this field. When choosing a surgeon, there are several important factors to consider, including:
Educational Background
Following completion of medical school, a board-certified plastic surgeon serves first as a surgical resident for at least 3 years where they undergo rigorous training in all aspects of surgery and then 3 years of focused plastic surgery training. The process can take 6 to 8 years or more and many further their training in fellowships including hand, microvascular, craniofacial, pediatric, and aesthetic.
Certifications
A fellow of the American College of Surgeons is often listed as "FACS." Fellowship indicates the surgeon's education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the ACS.
Among the factors to look for in selecting a plastic surgeon is membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). All ASPS members need to have proper training and adhere to ethical standards, as well as being required to operate in accredited surgical facilities that have passed rigorous external review of equipment and staffing.
Risks
Most cosmetic surgery is extremely safe in the hands of surgeons certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. However, even with the highest level of care, every surgery carries risks as well as benefits, and these should be discussed thoroughly before your surgery.
- Multiple procedures performed at the same time may increase the risks of surgery.
- There are risks associated with anesthesia, analgesics, and antibiotics.
- Smokers are at greater risk of complications, including delayed wound healing, skin loss, scarring, and poor surgical outcome.
- Patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, lung disease, diabetes, or obesity have a higher risk of developing complications.
- Other risks include deep vein thrombosis (formulation of blood clots in the veins) and pulmonary embolism (a blood clot that goes to the lungs preventing the lungs from exchanging air). Factors such as general anesthesia and prolonged operating time appear to increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Possible complications for any surgical procedure include:
- Complications related to anesthesia, including pneumonia, blood clots and, rarely, death
- Infection at the incision site, which may worsen scarring and require additional surgery
- Fluid build-up under the skin
- Mild bleeding, which may require another surgical procedure, or bleeding significant enough to require a transfusion
- Obvious scarring or skin breakdown, which occurs when healing skin separates from healthy skin and must be removed surgically
- Numbness and tingling from nerve damage, which may be permanent
You can reduce your risk of suffering these unwanted effects by checking your doctor’s credentials and investigating the facility where your surgery will happen. Educating yourself about the procedure and possible risks and discussing your concerns with your doctor will also help you manage your expectations and reduce the risk of complications.
New Patient Forms
Please complete these forms prior to your visit and bring them to the office in order to streamline your appointment.
Financing
If you are thinking about plastic or cosmetic surgery, cost is always an important consideration.
Most reconstructive plastic surgery procedures are considered medically necessary and are covered by insurance. Cosmetic procedures are not typically covered by insurance. There are some procedures that fall into a ‘gray-area’ and may be covered by insurance in certain situations. If you have a question about insurance coverage, our staff can help you gather more information.
If plastic surgery cost is not covered by insurance, which is usually the case, you still have several options to consider. We accept cash, checks, and credit cards. Other options include lending companies, some of which specialize in financing for medical procedures. UConn Health is not affiliated with any lending companies.
If you would like additional information about plastic surgery and associated costs, please let us know. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have or to schedule an initial plastic surgery consultation and discuss these topics.