Sir John Monash Private Hospital

Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery

If your neighbour or colleague informs you that they are going on holidays and on their return, they look decidedly different, but you can’t put your finger on it, the chances are that their holiday was spent recovering from a visit to hospital with a plastic surgeon.

Cosmetic surgery is quickly becoming a well recognised and sort after procedure. Reasons for this vary greatly, many people view it from an economical stand point, they see that they will be more likely to get jobs if they appear younger. Others choose cosmetic surgery for self-esteem reasons and may just wish to alter their appearance. Mr Cholm Williams, a spokes person from the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, said that cosmetic surgery involved changing someone’s appearance so it was "a bit closer to the way they want to look – provided they’re being realistic".

Mr Williams said people had to realise the differences between "cosmetic surgeons" and "plastic surgeons". Any medical practitioner in any are can call himself or herself a cosmetic surgeon," he said. "However, a plastic surgeon is a highly trained specialist who has spent at least eight to ten years in post graduate surgical training".

There are two main fields of plastic surgery, they are as follows:

Reconstructive plastic surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by birth defects, developmental problems, trauma, injuries, infections and tumours, such as skin cancer and breast cancer.

Aesthetic or Cosmetic plastic surgery is performed to reshape or restore normal structures of the body to improve appearance or self-esteem.

Common aesthetic procedures are listed below:

How to choose a Plastic Surgeon?

Selecting the surgeon has to be the single most important factor in the success of your plastic surgery. Here are some tips to keep in mind when selecting your plastic surgeon. Be sure that the plastic surgeon you choose has the following qualifications.

(1) Certification by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons: Such certification means that the surgeon has completed his/her training to be a plastic surgeon, and also has passed the examinations given by the Society.

(2) Hospital affiliation: Although many plastic surgery procedures are performed in the office, always check with your surgeon about his/her hospital affiliation and that he/she has the privileges to perform the procedure of your interest in that hospital.

(3) Initial consultation with your surgeon: Make an appointment for an initial consultation with the surgeon you chose. The surgeon will be able to answer the rest of your questions, explain the procedure, its risks and potential complication for you. You should discuss with your surgeon your expectations and any related matter that may affect your recovery like the nature of your job, other diseases or medications you are using, and any related personal matters.

(4) References: Ask the plastic surgeon for references and a list of his/her patients. Call these references and talk to them. Ask to see some of the photographs of patients who underwent similar procedures.

Men and plastic/cosmetic surgery

More men in our society are requesting cosmetic surgery to look young and fit. From having a trimmer waistline, rejuvenated face, more hair on the head to a better-shaped nose.

Facial Surgery: Facelift, neck lift, forehead lift, eyelid surgery, nose surgery or removing a fatty area beneath the chin, can all be performed on men who should understand that the outcome of their surgery is very much influenced by the hair growth and beard growth. The incisions for such procedures have to be individualised to hide the scars behind a recessing hairline or a balding scalp.

Hair Replacement: This is one of the most common procedures requested by men. Hair replacement using hair transplant usually requires multiple surgical procedures, with long recovery intervals. It can take up to 2 years to complete a full procedure. Other alternatives to hair-transplant options, such as flap surgery or scalp reduction are less time consuming for recovery. Ask your surgeon

Liposuction and Body Contouring: Liposuction is usually very effective in men to remove the fatty areas that are resistant to diet and exercise. This includes areas around the neck and chin, around the abdomen and flanks (love handles), and the breast (gynaecomastia).

Tummy Tuck: Tummy tuck " Abdominoplasty" removes excess fat, tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall, and trims the waistline. This procedure is especially useful for those who have excess skin secondary to massive weight loss or because of chronic large hernia that stretched their skin or men with loose abdominal muscles.

Cosmetic Muscle Enhancement: Cosmetic implants and sculpting techniques are now used to improve muscle contours of otherwise healthy men. Pectoral muscle implants (for the chest) and calf implants (for the leg) are just two examples.

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Copyright © 1998 Sir John Monash Private Hospital
Last modified: November 12, 2004