Plastic Surgery Update-May 2012

 
The team at Robert Frank MD Plastic Surgery would like to announce the arrival of our quarterly newsletter-Plastic Surgery Update.  These newsletters will keep you up to date on changes within our practice and the plastic surgery world.  If you’d like to sign up for our quarterly newsletter, you can do so on our blog page.

Our May 2012 issues covers:

• How to decide if a breast reduction is right for you

• Safety update on silicone gel-filled breast implants

• Healing after liposuction

• How to prepare for cosmetic surgery

• Sunscreen guideline changes

Overview

A post surgical compression garment basically helps your body heal.  They help avoid any irregular changes to the body after liposuction or an abdominoplasty.  Breast augmentation patients also receive a post-operative cotton bra to help with the healing process.  Developed to mold to and support your body, compression garments can even improve surgery results if warn properly.  Many doctors have varying opinions about the benefits however Dr. Frank and our staff have seen the positive results. Patients even report a greater overall satisfaction with their results after wearing a compression garment.  So why are these garments so helpful? It has to do with how your body reacts after surgery.
 
 
Why Do I Need a Compression Garment?

During surgery, your body experiences a certain level of trauma that causes blood to leak into tissue.  This causes swelling and delays the healing process.  Compression garments alleviate the inflammation therefore helping the body continue through the healing phase.

 *Diagram from designveronique.com

Other benefits include:

• Increased blood circulation
• Fluid reduction
• Proper skin adhesion

 
When Do I Start Wearing It?

The compression garments we order for our patients are sized to their bodies. One is placed on after surgery, replaced with another two weeks after surgery and are typically worn for 4 weeks total. These garments are designed to be worn under regular clothing and to stay in place without the burden of being removed when using the restroom.  What a pain if you had to remove them each to you used the restroom, right? Overall, it provides a great support system that doesn’t interfere with your day to day life.

If you’re looking for more information on post surgical compression garments, our garment provider Design Veronique has a great white paper you can download here.

As the patient care coordinator, I get asked a lot of questions at every step of the transformation process.  From financing to post op care, I’m here to answer all your questions and hopefully relieve any concerns about your procedure(s).

Having been the patient care coordinator for quite some time now, I’ve come across all types of questions.  I must stress to never hesitate to ask me a question because you think it’s not important or doesn’t make sense.  Chances are someone has already asked me! But, there are definitely a few questions that I get asked more often than the others.  With this next series of 5 blog posts, I will review the 5 most popular questions in no particular order.

Question # 5: What type of financing is available?

 
Here at Robert Frank MD Plastic Surgery, we’ve partnered up with CareCredit, a healthcare financing plan for procedures that aren’t covered by insurance.  You can use your CareCredit card to finance all of your cosmetic expenses including:

• Breast Augmentation
• Liposuction
• Face Lift
• Eye Surgery
• Botox Injections
• Restylane Injections
• Laser Procedures
• Tummy Tuck

The CareCredit card allows patients to spread out the cost of their procedure(s) into monthly payments.  Here’s how it works:

• If approved, you receive an open line of credit that can be used for as many procedures as you like, as long as you have credit available.  You can even use the card for other family members’ health and beauty needs, as long as there’s available credit.

• You can either choose no interest financing or low interest financing based on the options offered through Robert Frank MD Plastic Surgery at that time.

• The cost of procedures financed through the CareCredit plan range from $1-$25,000.  Keep in mind you must be approved for you credit line.

No Interest Financing Options

 
For financing plans of 6, 12, or 18 months patients can pay for their procedures interest free, as long as it’s paid in full within the plan period. Patients can choose the 6 month plan for procedures $1 or more while the 12-18 month plans can be used for procedures of $300 or more.
 

Low Interest Financing Options

 
CareCredit also offers low minimum monthly payment plans of 24, 36, 48 and 60 months.  They offer a 14.9% APR which is lower than average credit cards.  The 24, 36, and 48 month plans are available for procedures of $1,000 or more, and the 60 month plan is available for procedures of $2,500 or more.

If you have any additional information regarding CareCredit’s financing options feel free to call me (219) 513-2015, contact CareCredit’s customer support representatives 866-893-7864, or visit their site http://www.carecredit.com/
 

Special Offer

 
In honor of their 25th anniversary, CareCredit is offering a chance for patients to win $25,000!  If you use your CareCredit care from April 15, 2012 to May 31, 2012 you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win.  Prizes include:

• (1) Grand Prize of $25,000
• (25) First Prizes of $1,000

Other Options

 
Beyond CareCredit, we also accept major credit cards as well as cash.  When paying for your surgical procedure with cash, Dr. Frank offers a $200.00 discount for quotes over $2,500.00.  Unfortunately we do not accept personal checks at this time.

Hopefully this article answers any questions you had regarding our financing options.  If not, feel free to ask a question below or contact me at the office.

Stay tuned for our next post in this series, “Are Post Operative Visits Including in a Surgical Quote?”

Breast implant complications are fortunately fairly rare. Risks such as implant deflation and buildup of excessive scar tissue –which plastic surgeons call capsular contracture- are often discussed with patients preoperatively and their incidence is widely reported in the plastic surgery literature. Less often discussed but perhaps even more frequent is breast implant displacement which is often referred to as bottoming out.

What Does It Mean To “Bottom Out?”

 
When an implant “bottoms out” it slips to a lower position on the chest wall. This can sometimes give the patient a “double bubble” appearance at the bottom of the breast and sometimes can give the appearance that the nipple is pointing up. Unfortunately, patients with implants are never completely immune from bottoming out but knowing the risk factors can often prevent its development.

Causes

Large Implants and Weak Tissue

Bottoming can be caused by any size implant which, given its weight, will tend to drop over time.  Obviously, larger implants stand this risk more than smaller implants although there is no hard and fast definition of a “large” implant. The problem is exacerbated in patients with weak tissues such as those who:

• Smoke
• Have been on steroids
• Have lost large amounts of weight
• Have “high risk” occupations-exotic dancers who frequently work without the support of a bra
• Have “high risk” hobbies-activities that involve a great deal of bouncing such horseback riding or running.

Surgeon Error

Unfortunately, bottoming out can also be caused by surgeon error. The crease under the breast is an important anatomic landmark in breast surgery.  While sometimes this crease needs to be lowered in order for the implant to be centered on the nipple, altering this crease must be done with the understanding that this increases the patient’s risk of bottoming out. Lowering the crease too low will result in bottoming out immediately after surgery but any disruption of the crease can increase ones chances of problems down the road.

Implants Placed Over The Muscle

Surgeons unfamiliar with this problem can also make matters worse by placing implants over the muscle or by treating the problem by simply using a bigger implant. Implants placed over the muscle are much more likely to experience bottoming out when compared to those placed under the muscle. A bigger-and thus wider implant- will give the short term illusion that the implant is better centered on the breast, but over time the problem will get worse with the heavier device.

Hi everyone! My name is Lisa and I’m the patient care coordinator at Robert Frank MD Plastic Surgery.  I’m here to answer all your questions throughout your transformation process.  Some questions patients ask on a regular basis include:

• What can I expect pre/post op?
• What should I have ready at home after the surgery?
• What can make a plastic surgery candidate unfit for a procedure?
• How long will the process take?
• When can I go back to work?

I hope to answer these and more with my monthly blog posts.  If there’s something I haven’t covered, please feel free to email me lisa.robertfrankmd@gmail.com.  So without further ado, let’s talk about some general items to remember on the day of and days after your abdominoplasty.

Day of Surgery

 
On the day of your surgery please do not wear the following:

• Wigs
• Hairpins
• Hairpieces
• Jewelry
• Contact lenses
• Dentures
• Nail polish
• Make up

You may see patients on television wearing makeup and jewelry, but that is not a best practice. Dr. Frank needs to use signs from your body along with monitoring devices to make sure you’re stabilized while under anesthesia.  Wigs, jewelry, and even nail polish can obstruct the surgical team during the procedure.

Also, make sure you’re wearing loose-fitting, comfortable clothes.  This is very important because a compression garment will be placed on during surgery along with drains to help with post-operative swelling.  The garment must remain on so your clothes need to fit comfortably over it.

Last but not least, make sure someone is available to take you home from the surgical center.  The anesthesia and procedure itself came make you rather soar and exhausted, so make sure you plan your ride home ahead of time.

At Home After Surgery

 
After your abdominoplasty, we want you looking and feeling great as soon as possible so keep the following in mind while you’re resting at home.

• Drains: You will need to measure the volume of retained drains every 24 hours and care for them as instructed by Dr. Frank.  You will also need to bring in your total of volume to your follow-up visit.  The drains should be removed within 2 weeks in most cases.  In the case that your drain tube falls out please do not insert the tube back in and contact our office

• Diet: You are welcome to resume your regular diet, just try to reduce your sodium intake.

• Garment: The compression garment should be worn AT ALL TIMES.  Dr. Frank will let you know when the compression garment can be taken off.

• Medication: Medication should be taken carefully and as directed.

• Sleeping:  Avoid sleeping on your stomach until all the soreness has subsided.  You may find sleeping on 3 pillows and/pr 2 pillows under your knees may be comforting.

• Activity: Take it easy! It’s important to refrain from any strenuous activities for at least 2 weeks after surgery.  Gradually work back up to pre-surgical activities after 2 weeks.

• General:  Swelling and bruising are completely normal following surgery.  Bruising could be apparent for as long as 1-2 months afterward.  Patients may experience numbness of the abdominal and as sensation returns you may feel tingling.

• Contact Our Office:  If you have any of the following after taking your medication, please contact our offices:
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Diarrhea

If you develop a fever (oral temperature greater than 101), redness or increased pain at the surgical incisions, please call our office immediately.

Keep in mind that every patient is different and some of these guidelines can vary based on Dr. Frank’s recommendations.  If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below or email at lisa.robertfrankmd@gmail.com.