Tag Archives: plastic surgery consultation

juvederm 1jpgHave you been thinking about doing a cosmetic surgery procedure but do not know where to start? Do you search online? Get some referrals or recommendations? Choosing the right plastic surgeon takes a lot of time and it can be confusing when weeding out the good ones from the bad ones. Doing research for the perfect plastic surgeon can be daunting and overwhelming, but an article from the Health News Digest broke it down to six questions you should ask when considering cosmetic surgery.

Things You Should Ask When Searching for a Potential Plastic Surgeon

“Who’s your surgeon? Personal recommendations are important. Ask friends for referrals if they have gotten a similar procedure. Get opinions from your family doctor and other doctor acquaintances. Surgical technicians and operating room nurses are an excellent source for information about a surgeon’s skill in the operating room. What is the surgeon’s area of expertise? Ask what kind of training the doctor has in the specific procedure you’re considering – you don’t want someone whose only training was a one-day or weekend course. How often have you done this procedure? It seems obvious that nobody would want to be any surgeon’s first liposuction. Ideally, your doctor has done the same procedure hundreds of times, over many years. What are to potential risks and complications? Every surgery carries some risk, some of which are common to all surgery. The most serious risks usually have to do with excessive blood loss, infection, or adverse reactions to general anesthesia. There are some procedures that are riskier than others, although recent advances continue to make complications more and more unlikely. Since plastic surgery is elective, surgeons will usually refuse to operate on any patient for whom they feel the risk is too great. Do you have hospital privileges? Even if you’re having a plastic surgery procedure at an outpatient clinic, it’s worth asking where the doctor has hospital privileges, because hospitals do background checks. Plus, this could become very important if anything unexpected should occur during your procedure, and you were to need to be transported to a hospital. Are you allowed to see before and after pictures of other patients? It is vital to see many before and after photos from your plastic surgeon in order to evaluate the work that he or she has performed. These photos should subsequently be placed either on the doctor’s web site in galleries or albums in order for patients to review during consultation. Also, make sure to ask if the photos shown to you are pictures of actual patients of that particular surgeon and not stock images.” Also, one red flag would be if a plastic surgeon takes you in immediately as a patient and didn’t take the time to ask about your medical history. Another is if you propose something that is complicated or unrealistic and the surgeon will automatically consent instead turning you down or offering alternatives. shutterstock_20944378

Dr. Seify Can Help You with Those Questions

With Dr. Seify, he takes great care to answer any questions and concerns to make sure we are the right fit for a potential patient. We like to build a great rapport with each patient and are aware that we have to treat each patient individually. If you want to see if we can be the right choice, call Dr. Seify to set up an appointment for a consultation. drseify-whitecoat
plastic surgery newport beachIn 2010, a woman from Staten Island, New York sued her plastic surgeon for claiming the breast implant plastic surgery he did gave her “four breasts.” The surgery took place in 2003 which she paid $7000 and, instead of “two symmetrical C cups,” she ended up with “four round lumps.” The article from ABC News further elaborates that she “came out of that operation with essentially four breasts,” the Staten Island Advance reports her attorney, Michael J. Kuharski, told jurors during the March 1 opening arguments.”

Causes for Breast Implants Risk and How to Avoid It

What occurred is not uncommon and is nicknamed by plastic surgeons as the “double bubble” effect and most women don’t know about the risk. The risk is low, but it can be caused by “negligence or just bad luck.” To minimize risk, it all has to do with positioning and size. The implant has to sit at the base of the breast and the breast is positioned over on top of the implant correctly. The size of the implant is important also, because “if the implant is too wide, a patient might get a double bubble right after surgery. But if the implant is too heavy, a double bubble can develop over time as the heavy implant sinks below the crease where the natural breast meets the chest.” The shape of the patient’s breast is also a factor such as “some women have what we call a constricted breast – the base maybe too narrow, or the distance from the nipple and the crease is very short.” And, it also depends on the patient’s age and how many children she has had as “surgery becomes more complicated if breast tissue has sagged below the inframammary fold, where the lower breast meets the chest.” Also an implant and lift technique can reduce risk as well as proper screening and careful placement of the implant.

How Dr. Seify Can Help with Breast Augmentation drseify-whitecoat

The above story is very unfortunate and the risk is there, but at Dr. Seify’s practice, we have the expertise to achieve beautiful, natural looking breasts. Even with all the careful planning and a successful surgery, changes can still occur. At our practice, if a patient should experience the “double bubble,” a next step she should consider is a Breast Revision surgery or a Breast Implant Exchange surgery. If you feel your existing breast implants are going through changes, give Dr. Seify’s office a call to schedule a consultation for a breast augmentation.

FaceliftRhytidectomy or facelift surgery is the surest and most long-lasting way to reduce the signs of aging from your face and restore a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance. One of the leading Newport Beach cosmetic surgeons, Dr. H.M. Seify provides this procedure to patients in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange County and surrounding communities in CA. Your advantage with Dr. Seify is that he is a board certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience to ensure the safest and best possible results.

Dr. Seify is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, and operates his practice from a state of the art facility. He adopts the latest in aesthetic technologies to provide most conservative and safe plastic surgery solutions to his patients without compromising their effectiveness. He keeps himself constantly updated with the latest surgical techniques to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. He passion to meet or exceed his patients’ expectations makes him a sought after plastic surgeon in Newport.

What is a Facelift?

Your face is the most important and dramatic part of your personality. If your face begins to age, you will appear old or tired, even if the rest of your body may be shapely. Your facial skin may start showing signs of aging due to various factors such as depletion of collagen in your skin, gravity forces, hereditary factors, sun damage, and certain medications. Facelift surgery is the most effective and long-lasting solution to reverse the signs of aging from your face. It will restore a younger looking face by reducing prominent wrinkles and sagging skin.

The surgery involves tightening of facial and neck muscles and removal of excess skin and fat. Facelift is usually combined with a neck lift to ensure consistency between the two. It can markedly enhance the contour and profile of both the face and the neck. Many patients in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Orange County, CA have benefitted from facelift treatment with Dr. Seify, who ranks among the most respected Newport Beach cosmetic surgeons.

Preparation

Preparation for a facelift surgery begins with a detailed evaluation of your medical history, current health and medication status, and existing facial profile and features. The surgeon will try to understand your needs and expectations from a facelift, and create an appropriate treatment plan to match with them. The goal of an experienced facelift surgeon is to ensure patient satisfaction while maintaining safe and natural looking results. You will receive advice to avoid certain medications for at least two weeks prior to the procedure. Some antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent infection.

Procedure

As an experienced plastic surgeon in Newport, Dr. Seify explains to his patients in advance that a facelift will improve the midface and lower face as well as the neck. However, for upper face, the patient may need to go for other procedures such as eyelid surgery, brow, and forehead lift. The surgeon may advise general anesthesia for the patient’s total comfort during the facelift procedure. He will begin with incisions made along the hairline at the temple, in front of the ear, and ending at the scalp area.

Through the incisions, the surgeon will remove excess skin and tighten sagging muscles and connective tissue. An incision under the chin may be made to contour the neck. Once the face and neck skin tightening is completed, the surgeon will close the incisions with sutures. Total duration of the surgery may range between three and five hours usually, depending on the number of procedures to be performed.

Recovery

Dr. Seify is one of the top Newport Beach cosmetic surgeons, who recommends his patients from Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange County and other adjoining areas in CA to stay overnight at the suite in the facility. Alternatively, the patient should have someone to drive to home and stay with him or her for the first 24 hours.

A dressing will be wrapped over the head for the first day or two, while the scalp sutures will stay for about week or 10 days. Sutures may be removed in parts to minimize scarring. The patient may experience soreness and tightness in the face for a few weeks. Sun exposure should be avoided for several weeks.

Risks

The risk of complications following a facelift procedure is rare when it is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon in Newport such as Dr. Seify. In exceptional situations, a patient may experience facial nerve injury, bleeding, loss of skin behind the ears, infection, skin discoloration, numbness, asymmetrical results and scarring. Patients who follow the pre- and post-op instructions diligently can minimize their chances of a complication.

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As the aging population becomes a more influential part of the population is becoming obvious that getting older does not mean that patients cannot look their best. A facelift has long been the landmark of proof that a person is showing the signs of aging on their face. Many plastic surgeons perform facelift some patients who are well into their 70s and 80s. However, it is important to realize that there is a difference between a person’s real age and their biologically. In reality this can be a huge difference. Dr. Seify explains to his patients that the real distinction in whether or not a patient is too old for a facelift is primarily rooted in their health status. There are some patients who are 60 however there biological health is similar to that of a 90-year-old old because of lifestyle choices like smoking, excessive drinking, or less than admirable eating habits. This is when Dr. Seify’s medical judgment has to be considered when deciding whether or not to proceed with facelift surgery for this type of patient. When patients move forward with facelift surgery Dr. Seify is careful to inform them of potential risk that and possible complications that are related to the surgery and post surgery. For older patients Dr. Seify may work with the primary care physician to assure a safe plan of action for the patient. Also medical clearance performed by their primary care physician will be required prior to surgery. Patients who have cardiac concerns for example, may have a different plan of action because of the impact the surgical procedure can have on the patient especially with respect to the type of anesthesia that would be utilized. The results of a facelift on older patients are generally very good provided the patient is in good health. The patient must be realistic concerning their expected outcome. Patients must take their age and consideration when creating expectation for surgery. It is not likely that they will have a result allowing them to look 35 years younger than their real age. However secondary facelift procedures according to several different published studies can yield results for patients that allow them to look 7 to 10 years younger than their real age. With patients living longer, it is not uncommon for patients to have undergone two or three facelifts well into their 70s and 80s. Dr. Seify encourages patients to look and feel their best at every stage of their life. Patients were considering a facelift are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation. Review all of Dr. Seify’s Procedures and Treatments:
Loss of vision as we age is probably one of the conditions everyone will face eventually. Vision is impaired as we age not only because of eyesight but for some patients also due to droopy eyelids. As the laxity of the skin on the eyelids becomes a greater issue with aging the eyelid skin can become so droopy that patients cannot see clearly. Unfortunately the body compensates for this and patients lift their brow eventually add habit without ever realizing that they cannot see well. Dr. Seify treats patients who have excessive loose skin on their upper eyelids. The procedure is called blepharoplasty. A small ellipse of skin is removed from the upper eyelid in the crease. The incision is sutured and well hidden in the crease. This lifts the eyelid and allows the patient to have better vision. A side benefit of the procedure is that the eyes have a much more youthful appearance once the loose skin is removed. If the vision is severely impaired for the patient there is a chance that the procedure could be covered financially by insurance or Medicare. Recently private advocacy groups have published some negative reports regarding the coverage of blepharoplasty by Medicare and or private insurance. In their published reports they have surmised that a majority of patients seeking blepharoplasty are really cosmetic cases just trying to take advantage of Medicare or private insurance. While it is understandable that an outside group may believe that plastic surgeons would falsify necessary information to have payment covered through Medicare or private insurance; the reality is that most plastic surgeons are committed to following necessary guidelines for submitting proper claims to either Medicare or private insurance. It is important for patients to understand that submitting their blepharoplasty claim to insurance is not something they should be ashamed of. If the claim falls within the guidelines of the insurer whether it is Medicare or private insurance then the patient has passed the necessary requirements and is entitled to have the procedure covered. Dr. Seify will submit claims for patients when he believes there blepharoplasty should be covered. Patient should be prepared to provide payment should be insurance or Medicare be unwilling to deem the blepharoplasty as necessary. Blepharoplasty is an excellent solution for patients who are living with compromised peripheral vision. The cosmetic aspect is a welcome to benefit. Patients who are considering blepharoplasty are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation. Review all of Dr. Seify’s Procedures and Treatments:
Who would’ve thought that being skinny could be taken up a notch? Well, according to a recent international website, plastic surgeons in Canada reported a 246% increase in patients seeking what they call a” thigh gap”. This is described as emulating thighs that are so thin that they do not touch above the knees. Victoria’s Secret models are blamed for perpetuating this alleged trend. Canadian plastic surgeons who are claiming the 246% increase failed to mention what the base number was prior to the increase so it is difficult at best to take this trend seriously. However, it does bear noting that the decision to have liposuction on the thighs should never be made lightly.

Are you considering liposuction?

Dr. Seify explains to patients who are considering liposuction of the thigh area that the sculpting of the thighs can be one of the most difficult areas. This is especially true for the inner thighs. The skin on the upper portion of the inner thigh is more likely to become loose and lax especially if too much fat is removed. The important thing to note is that if this is the case patients are unable to improve the laxity of the skin once too much fat has been removed. Also there could be a need for what is known as circumferential liposuction of the thigh. This would include liposuction performed on the entire thigh. This includes the front, the outer thighs, inner thighs, and the back of the thighs. This can be quite an undertaking and depending on the amount of fat removed, it is important for patients to realize that there is a limit to how much fat can be removed safely in one surgical procedure. Dr. Seify is careful to explain to each patient the benefits and limitations of thigh liposuction prior to patients choosing to proceed with surgery. Patients who are considering liposuction of the thigh are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation. Review all of Dr. Seify’s Procedures and Treatments:
As summer rolls around many couples are making their way to summer vacations, days on the boat, day trips to the beach, and outdoor activities like jet skiing. As you observe men and women enjoying the sun it’s hard not to notice men who may wear their T-shirts without ever removing them even in the hottest sun and the most active activities. For some of these men the reason for keeping on their T-shirts could be embarrassment. There are two main reasons that men are embarrassed about their bodies. For some men there could be an excessive growth of male breast tissue which causes men to have an enlarged appearance to their breast. This can cause embarrassment since enlarged the breast are associated with women and not men. This condition is called gynecomastia. Dr. Seify effectively treats gynecomastia allowing his patients to regain their confidence and to go shirtless in public unashamed. To perform gynecomastia an incision is made around the nipple areola complex where the dark and light skin colors meet. This incision heals remarkably well and is virtually undetectable within a short period of time following surgery. Through this incision Dr. Seify removes not only the growth of breast tissue but also the fat that may lie underneath. The procedure has mild to moderate discomfort and pain. The patient wears a compression vest following the surgery based on the recommended time. This helps to re-drape the skin and allow the chest to have a smooth and aesthetically pleasing appearance. The other reason men are likely to feel embarrassed about their bodies would be if they have excess thickness on their abdomen. Liposuction of the abdomen for men is an excellent option for removing small amounts of fat and contouring the abdomen for a more toned and flat abdomen. Liposuction of the abdomen will reduce the inches for the waist size. Men who have intra-abdominal fat or excess loose skin will not be a candidate for liposuction. So, if your man is embarrassed to go shirtless the summer it is the perfect time to discover if gynecomastia surgery or liposuction are a viable option. Patients who are considering either of these plastic surgery procedures are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation. Review all of Dr. Seify’s Procedures and Treatments:
Having a baby is a life changing event for women. There is no way to be prepared for the many changes that women face as new mothers. Physically throughout the pregnancy a woman has watched her body change significantly. This is part of pregnancy; however, the changes can be dramatic. After giving birth for most women ”getting their pre-pregnancy body back” is at the top of the list. Getting into the gym, beginning and maintaining the proper diet all while taking care of the new baby is considered normal for many new mothers. After period of time while there has been improvement some women are still dissatisfied with the aesthetic appearance of their body. For some there could be significant sagging in the breast and loose and lax skin on the abdomen. These are the women who are likely to consider what is come to be known as the “mommy makeover”. The mommy makeover is a combination of some or all of the following procedures; breast augmentation, breast lift, abdominoplasty, and liposuction. Dr. Seify explains that it is important to choose the right procedures for the patient based on the patient’s expectations and desires. The mommy makeover allows patients to have one recovery and a dramatically different result in the overall shape and contour of their body.

What is included in a Mommy Makeover?

Patients who are concerned with loose and lax skin on their breast due to the stretching of the skin and loss of volume are likely to need a breast lift. This can be combined with breast augmentation and Dr. Seify will assess if the patient is a good candidate for both procedures to be performed together. Dr. Seify will recommend the proper breast lift for the patient based on the degree of laxity on the breast. The abdominoplasty or tummy tuck that is performed in conjunction with the breast surgery could be either a mini tummy tuck or a full of abdominoplasty. This too is based on the patient. It is important for patients to allow for ample time for recovery. This includes making sure that the new baby, household chores, and work schedules will allow a proper recovery. For most patients allowing two weeks is sufficient. The mommy makeover will allow most women to yield a more aesthetically pleasing body shape then they had prior to pregnancy. Patients who are considering the mommy makeover are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation.
It can be a challenge when patients consider their reasons for considering plastic surgery. First, patients have to decide if they want to have plastic surgery and then they have to decide who will perform the plastic surgery. Once these two decisions are made and the plastic surgery is performed most patients move on with their lives are happy with their results and their plastic surgery journey is over. But, what should a patient do when a friend or relative tells them that they look fabulous and ask them what they have changed? Should they tell their friend or relative about their facelift, breast augmentation and breast lift, liposuction? Dr. Seify understands that plastic surgery is a private and personal decision; however, there are some benefits patient should consider when deciding whether to tell a friend about their plastic surgery and their plastic surgeon. First, patient should consider how difficult their initial decision was. They should remember the research that was necessary, the questions and doubts that they had, and the anxiety this caused. If they were referred by a friend they should remember how appreciative they were for the referral and how much easier the decision was because of the referral. Also, if the patient is uncomfortable discussing the specifics of their procedure there is no need to do that. A general response to an inquiry from a friend or relative when questioned about what they have done is perfectly acceptable. General responses can be as simple as; thank you, I had a procedure performed, with a plastic surgeon and had a great experience. It is a good idea to offer the plastic surgeon’s name as a referral adding… If you’re interested. Referring friends and relatives to your plastic surgeon when you have had a good experience is part of contributing to the greater good. Not so long ago plastic surgery was a secret and few people felt comfortable telling others. Now that this is not the case it has allowed more women to have plastic surgery with confidence and to make better choices by having referrals from friends and relatives. It is about the greater good and each plastic surgery patient doing their part to make plastic surgery a more acceptable choice and for more patients to be able to experience similar great results. Dr. Seify and his staff are deeply grateful for referrals provided to them. Patients who are considering plastic surgery are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation. Review all of Dr. Seify’s Procedures and Treatments:
As obesity continues to be one of the most discussed health concerns facing Americans more patients are seeking body contouring procedures following massive weight loss. Post massive weight loss plastic surgery continues to be one of the areas with double-digit increases over the past few years. Patients who have lost a significant amount of weight are likely to have loose and lax skin on several areas of the body. For most patients the most troublesome is the abdominal area. For a lot of reasons this can be not only unattractive but also uncomfortable. For some patients the excess skin can become susceptible to heat rash is an even infection due to the skin folds and sweat that is trapped within the folds. The excess skin on the abdomen can cause patients to require a larger waist size implants or skirts. After the victory of losing weight the inability to see attractive results due to loose and lax skin on the abdomen can lead to depression and cause some patients to begin to gain their weight back. For these reasons it is a good idea to consider post massive weight loss plastic surgery for the abdomen. For many patients and abdominoplasty may be Dr. Seify’s recommendation. The common name, a tummy tuck is more familiar to most patients. It is important for patients who have lost in extreme amount of weight to realize that their tummy tuck is not a straightforward procedure. In most cases they will require an extended abdominoplasty. This means that the incision is likely to stand beyond the hip. Depending on the amount of loose and lax skin patient should be prepared for the incision to extend the length of the loose and lax skin that is present. When the incision is not link the unknown for the plastic surgeon to capture the loose skin that is present, there is a great likelihood that there will be extreme puckering and mounds of skin left behind. These are commonly referred to as dog ears. While these can be removed later, avoiding them initially is the best choice. Also, patients need to inform Dr. Seify of their source of weight loss. If they have had weight loss surgery and are on any special vitamins or medications following the surgery it is important that they share that information prior to surgery. This will allow Dr. Seify to recommend the best plan for recovery. It is also important that patients are nutritionally healthy and that there are not deficiencies in their iron, potassium, and other important nutrients that affect the patient’s health and prognosis for healing and recovery. Post massive weight loss plastic surgery is a great decision for patients who have worked so hard to lose weight and keep it off. Patients who are considering post massive weight loss plastic surgery are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation.

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