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Below you'll find some of the Frequently Asked Questions on Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery and related subjects put to Dr.Susheel Cleatus and his answers to them. The list of questions is by no means exhaustive and you are encouraged to contact Dr. Susheel Cleatus with your specific questions if they are not covered here. Please note that the information contained herein is primarily aimed at helping prospective patients, but by no means should the information supplied herein be taken as specific medical advice. Prospective patients are strongly recommended to consult Dr. Susheel Cleatus in person for specific information and personal medical advice prior to making any decisions regarding Plastic, Reconstructive or Cosmetic Surgery. Plastic Surgery is a surgical sub-specialty dedicated to the restoration of patients' facial and body parts injured or disfigured by trauma, burns, disease, developmental abnormalities or congenital defects. It also covers Cosmetic Surgery (also known as Aesthetic Surgery) which deals with improving specific features of patients as desired by them by means of such operations as facelift, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation etc. Please see the answer to the question "What is the difference between Cosmetic Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery?" for more details. No. The term "plastic" as used in Plastic Surgery is derived from the Greek word "plastikos" and the Latin word "plasticere" both of which means "to mould". It does not refer to the actual materials used in the course of the surgery itself. Normally, the Plastic Surgeon will make use of the patient's own tissues from another location of the body to achieve the required results. Please see the section "Plastic Surgery 101" for a brief history of Plastic Surgery. As we have already seen, Plastic Surgery is normally done to restore a disfigured part of the body or to improve the "looks" of a body part. In the former case, Plastic Surgery serves primarily to improve the health of the patient or the functioning of an organ, and it is considered a medical necessity. This type of surgery may or may not improve the patient's "looks", but is intended only to correct a physical abnormality caused by a birth defect, disease or tumor, trauma, or infection. For example, a patient may undergo corrective rhinoplasty to improve the flow of air through the nose, and such procedures are classified as Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. On the other hand, as in the latter case, if Plastic Surgery is performed with the primary aim of improving the "looks" of a patient, it is not considered a medical necessity, and therefore is classified as Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed to enhance or change a healthy, normal, functioning part of the body based solely on the patient's desire for physical improvement. Please see the section "Plastic Surgery Procedures" for more details on the various procedures. Most commonly performed Plastic Surgery procedures relate to the face, including the nose, eyes, ears, chin, lips, cheekbones, forehead and the neck. Additionally, Plastic Surgery is also performed on the breasts, thighs, buttocks, hips and abdomen. We certainly do, but as a matter of policy we do not display them in public. A few of our patients have consented to make available their photographs to prospective patients within our premises. During the time of your personal consultation you may go through these. The costs involved depend on the type of procedure one wishes to undergo. Also, having your Cosmetic Plastic Surgery done in India can significantly reduce the costs involved. Needless to say, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery is generally more expensive than Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. In many cases of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery for needy patients the costs are consciously kept to the bare minimum so as to make it affordable to a larger number of patients. As with any cut or incision made on the skin, there will be a scar left behind as part of the normal healing process. However, with special training and the extensive experience a good Plastic Surgeon will be able to minimize the size of the scars and locate them in the least conspicuous areas possible. Each Plastic Surgery procedure carries with it a different degree of pain and discomfort. Normally, small, non-invasive procedures would only involve a topical anesthetic, whereas minor invasive surgeries may require local anesthetic or local combined with sedation. In complex and multiple procedures, general anesthesia is usually used. These different methods of anesthetizing help minimize the patient's pain and discomfort during plastic surgery. Post-operatively, patients are prescribed pain medications which help minimize discomfort. On an average, it takes about one to two weeks for most common procedures. However, this varies with the particular procedure in question and the general condition of the patient's health. Generally speaking, most common procedures of Plastic Surgery take about two to three hours in the operating room. However, complex and multiple procedures could take several hours. In most cases Plastic Surgery procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. However, in cases where the surgery is extensive or if complications arise, a brief inpatient stay might be required. Dr. Susheel Cleatus has operating privileges in many accredited hospitals in Bangalore and in Cochin. For details including the names of the hospitals, please refer to the section "Locations". Obviously, the time taken to heal varies greatly depending on the procedure in question. For example, in cases of non-invasive procedures such as laser tattoo removal patients are ready to return to normal activity immediately after treatment, while for procedures like laser skin resurfacing, patients may be ready for most normal activities in three to six days. However, complex and multiple procedures could require extended convalescence. As with all types of surgeries in general, Plastic Surgery too carries its own risks such as infection, bleeding, scarring, and anesthesia reactions. And in certain types of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, the outcome may not exactly match the original requirement of the patient in terms of "looks". Rhinoplasty is the name given to the corrective procedure to improve the flow of air through the nose or to reshape the nose so as to improve its appearance. Facial aging is a condition caused by the natural aging process, heredity, and lifestyle choices and generally leads to excessive amounts of skin in the facial area. A face lift tightens and lifts the redundant skin in the face and neck by dissecting the skin into the cheeks and neck allowing it to be mobilized upward producing a tightening and smoothing result. Breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction are the three common procedures performed on the breasts. Breast augmentation is a procedure used to surgically enhance the size of a small breast. The degree of enlargement is based on the anatomy of the patient's body and saline-filled implants are placed usually underneath the muscle layer of the patient's chest. The implants may be placed in different positions depending on the physical make-up of the patient and her breasts and the implant may be introduced through three different incisions: below the breast, around the nipple, or via the arm pit. A breast lift is used when the patient is happy with the size of her breasts, but the breast gland has begun to droop due to aging or pregnancy. Various techniques are employed to accomplish a breast lift. Breast reduction is designed to make overly large breasts smaller in size. Such patients may have multiple secondary symptoms including neck and shoulder pain, back pain, paresthesia of the arms. Performing your cosmetic plastic surgery in India has its own advantages. For one, you get the best plastic surgery procedures that are available internationally. Dr. Susheel Cleatus is internationally trained and accredited and is among the best Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeons worldwide. Therefore you get the same kind and quality of plastic surgery treatment as you would get in London or New York (Please refer the "Bio" and "Credentials" sections for more details). In addition, you can have Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery procedures performed in India for a fraction of what it would cost in London or New York. Please note that this cost reduction is achieved mainly due to the lower surgical and other fees and charges, and NOT due to lower quality. Dr. Susheel Cleatus is committed to meeting and exceeding international standards in performing specialized Plastic Surgery procedures. The choice is entirely yours. Dr. Susheel Cleatus maintains full clinical practice in Bangalore and Kochi (Cochin), Kerala. He also has operating privileges at many of the leading hospitals in Bangalore and Cochin as well as his own facilities in the two Indian cities. Both Bangalore and Cochin are well-connected to major international and national destinations by air. Of the two, Bangalore is the much bigger city and therefore offers more comforts of a city. However, Cochin is a very scenic location and Kerala is credited as one of the top ten paradises on earth by National Geographic. So depending on your preferences you can schedule to have your Plastic Surgery in Bangalore or in Cochin. For more details on Bangalore and Cochin, please refer to the "Locations" section or see "Plastic Surgery Bangalore." The first step would be for you to get in touch with us with your details through our "Contact" page so we can get to know more about your needs and schedule a personal consultation subsequently. Please click here to contact us. |
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