Frequently asked facial plastic surgery questions
What is facial plastic surgery?
Aesthetic or cosmetic facial plastic surgery alters the shape of the nose, jaw, cheekbones, ears, neckline, eyes or forehead and/or reverses the signs of aging.
What is reconstructive facial plastic surgery?Reconstructive surgery corrects deformities which can result from congenital abnormalities, trauma, or previous surgeries for skin cancer. OHIP insurance will pay for some reconstructive surgery, but not all corrective procedures. Procedures such as laser and injectable fillers may be covered by some private insurance plans. Check with your supplementary health insurance provider.
When it the best time for facial plastic surgery?
When a particular characteristic on your face or neck has concerned you for a long period of time, or when your outer appearance does not reflect your inner spirit. What do you think about mentioning when it is _**not** a good time for surgery, e.g. when you’ve been through an emotional ordeal or major life change.
What should be expected in the initial consultation?
You will be asked what facial improvements you wish to achieve. We encourage
you to make a list of questions to ask to ensure that all of your questions will be
answered. Once your goals and expectations have been determined, Dr. Ellis
will analyze your face, skin type, bone structure and your general state of health
so that all the options available can be explained to you. You may wish to have
digital imaging to see what you could look like after surgery.
What are the risks of cosmetic surgery?
As with any operative procedure, there are risks. However, the risks are
uncommon. General complications can include bleeding, infection, poor healing and
scarring. Other risks are specific to the particular procedure or surgery you are having. There are also risks related to the anesthetic, but these are very uncommon.
What type of anesthesia is used?
Most of the surgical procedures we perform are conducted under "Conscious Sedation". With Conscious Sedation patients are heavily sedated with drugs that counteract pain and allow you to remember very little or nothing about your surgical experience. For longer surgeries, "TIVA anesthesia" is used. TIVA is more like a general anesthetic, and is performed under the supervision of a certified anesthesiologist. The side effects of nausea and vomiting with TIVA are greatly diminished as compared with
a full general anesthetic, however. The differences between these two types of anesthesia will be explained to you at the time of the initial consultation. You and the doctor can then choose which type of anesthetic you want.
Is there any pain during the surgery?
Regardless of the anesthetic chosen, we aim to ensure you will be as comfortable as possible during the entire procedure.
Is there any pain after the surgery?
There is generally very little post-operative pain associated with facial cosmetic procedures. Many years ago Dr. Ellis did a study of 100 consecutive cases of cosmetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty and/or septoplasty and found that 25% of the patients
took no painkillers in the first 24 hours after surgery. There is a generally just a sensation of pressure, tightness and fullness that is treated with ice, head elevation and some medication.
How long do the procedures take?
Non-surgical procedures take minutes to perform. Surgical procedures take one
to two hours, depending on the procedures.
How soon after the procedure can I resume work?
The recovery period depends on the procedure. Most people can go back to work
immediately after non-surgical procedures. You may need 7-10 days after a
surgical procedure to get back to work. This largely depends on the amount of bruising and in some procedures there is virtually no bruising while in others there may be more.
Where will the procedure take place?
Most cosmetic procedures are performed in our private clinic at 167 Sheppard Av W, Toronto. There is a full surgical suite on the upper level, and two procedure rooms for less invasive procedures.
How much does it cost?
The costs vary depending on the procedure. However, cosmetic surgery has
become much more affordable in recent years. To assist affordability and cash flow, financing is available.
Will insurance cover any of the costs?
The Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) does not generally cover cosmetic surgery. It
does however cover certain reconstructive surgeries aimed at improving function.
How long do the results last?
Procedures that are performed to reshape the nose, cheekbones, chin, ears or jaw can last a lifetime. Procedures for rejuvenating the aging face such as facelifts, forehead lifts, eyelid surgery and laser resurfacing can also last a number of years. We all age at different speeds. In women, there is an accelerated aging process around menopause while in men, it can occur 5-10 years after women.
Will I look like I had a procedure "done"?
Dr. Ellis’ approach to facial plastic surgery is generally to improve the
shape of a facial feature or rejuvenate an area of the face naturally. Dr. Ellis strongly believes in facial refinement in which patients look natural, relaxed and rejuvenated. Friends and colleagues or friends may ask if you have been on vacation or changed your hair or make-up. Sometimes people are looking for a more dramatic change. When this is the case, Dr. Ellis will discuss the possibilities and options with you so you can decide together what the best approach is to give you the result you
want and yet maintain a natural refined look.
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