How long the results of your cosmetic surgery procedure will last is a question you should ask La Jolla, California cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Smoot, during your initial consultation. The answer will most likely depend on your age, general health, the type of procedure you are having performed, and certain environmental and lifestyle factors. Reconstructive surgery results may last a lifetime while certain cosmetic procedures may last ten years or more.

Plastic or cosmetic surgeons cannot hold back time. The areas of the body on which cosmetic procedures were performed, at some point will once again show signs of the aging process. It may take five, ten or fifteen years, but the aging process will continue. At that time, you may need minor surgery to tighten up a few wrinkles or you may need a repeat of the total procedure. Everyone is unique and her or his response to the surgery and factors governing what happens to their bodies after the surgery and the following years must be taken into account.

The tightening of droopy eyelids may need to be redone ten years later. Lower facial surgery ages more quickly than upper facial surgery. Usually, breast implants need to be replaced every ten to twenty years.

If you have questions concerning how long the benefits of a cosmetic surgery procedure will last, please contact California cosmetic surgeons Wendell Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S., and John Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery today.

Early detection tests for breast cancer save many lives each year. Breast implants make it more difficult to see breast tissue on mammograms, but x-rays called implant displacement views (Eklund view) can be implemented to examine breast tissue in more detail.

The x-ray technician will attempt to displace the implant out of the image to get a better view of the breast tissue. Displacing the implant to the side can also protect it from the possibility of rupture. Anyone with a breast implant should do a breast self-exam every month to get to know the normal contours of her own breast. Scarring around an implant may create a hard texture, but you should not feel lumps.

Research into whether breast implants lead to a delay in breast cancer diagnosis has been inconsistent. Studies using standard mammograms have revealed no difference in the average time to detect breast cancer in women with breast implants as compared to those without breast implants. If you have silicone breast implants it is suggested you have an MRI every two years. Breast cancer screening guidelines are the same for all women, with or without breast implants. It is recommended every one to two years after age forty.

If you have questions about breast implants and breast cancer detection, please contact California cosmetic surgeons Wendell Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. and John Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery today.

Reconstructive surgery is surgery performed on abnormal body structures caused by congenital defects, trauma, disease, etc. Reconstructive surgery generally improves function but also may improve appearance. Reconstructive surgery is covered by most health insurance plans.

Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance plans because it is considered to be elective in most cases. Cosmetic surgery is not considered a medical necessity. However, some surgeries require special consideration by the health insurance industry.

Some surgical procedures can be considered reconstructive or cosmetic, depending on the patient and his or her particular circumstance. For instance, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), usually performed to achieve a cosmetic enhancement, may also correct severely drooping eyelids that obscure vision. Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) that corrects a defect that causes breathing problems is another example of cosmetic surgery having a corrective and cosmetic result at the same time. Only Dr. Smoot, after an initial consultation, can decide why and if you need a specific surgery to correct your problem.

If you have questions concerning cosmetic surgery and insurance coverage, please contact California cosmetic surgeons Wendell Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. and John Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery today.

Chin augmentation (mentoplasty) brings balance to your facial structure by correcting a weak chin. A weak chin can be caused by a congenital abnormality, age-related bone loss, or facial trauma caused by injury or disease. A weak chin can make a nose appear larger than it is and can give the appearance of a fleshy neck when none exists.

Although chin enhancement is a simple procedure, it requires the skill and the good aesthetic eye of an experienced plastic surgeon. A balanced profile achieved by inserting a chin implant, will result in improved facial symmetry and increased self-confidence.

Most chin augmentation surgeries are performed on an out-patient basis in a surgery center, hospital or surgeon's office. Chin implants can be performed under local or general anesthesia. Your surgeon will decide which is best for your particular circumstance. The procedure usually lasts about an hour. There may be bruising and swelling for a few days after the procedure. Normal activities can probably be resumed after a week or ten days.

If you are interested in learning more about a chin implant procedure, please contact California cosmetic surgeons Wendell Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. and John Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery La Jolla today.

Prospective patients should seek a doctor who is both trained and experienced. Experience alone does not equal ability and there are plenty of doctors who have a lot of experience in doing the wrong thing many times. Plastic surgery is a very competitive profession and every doctor is trying to sell their skills. When choosing your plastic surgeon, the most important thing that you want to find out is that they are board certified and in what-all board certifications are not equal. Many doctors mislead patients in stating that they are board certified, there are many boards that require nothing close to the requirements that one has to fulfill in order to be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Genuine board certified doctors are credentialed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery; if you are a potential patient, please check that your surgeon's diploma contains these exact words in this exact order.

Another worthy credential is the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. To be in this society the doctor must be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in addition to other requirements.

Remember, exact wording matters and if your doctor is a member of ASAPS, they are guaranteed to be board-certified specialists in the field of cosmetic surgery.

Forehead lifts are usually performed for sagging eyebrows, deep horizontal creases across the forehead or deep frown lines between the eyebrows. The forehead lift is also known as an endoscopic brow lift, an open brow lift, or a temporal lift.

This procedure is common for people in their forties, fifties, and sixties to help slow the visible signs of aging. In younger people, it is performed to reverse the effect sagging eyebrows have of giving a “sad” or “depressed” expression, which may not reflect how a person really feels. When a sagging brow actually obstructs vision, a forehead lift is done as a reconstructive procedure.

A forehead lift can be performed in a surgeon's office or hospital under local or general anesthesia in less than an hour as an outpatient. Usually, there is minimal discomfort and a short recovery time. As with any procedure, some bruising or swelling may occur.

Successful facial cosmetic surgery results from good communication between the patient and surgeon. After consulting with your surgeon you should have a goal and realistic expectations of achieving that goal.

If you are interested in learning more about a forehead lift, please contact California cosmetic surgeons Wendell Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. and John Smoot, M.D., F.A.C.S. at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery in La Jolla today.

Here at Associates for Plastic Surgery we are a full service office when it comes to your facial needs. Once you are scheduled for a facelift we offer several complimentary services that are included in your package.

Before surgery, patients will receive complimentary microdermabrasion peels & hydrating facials. The pampering care continues after surgery with complimentary make-up application, an IPL treatment and another microdermabrasion. We believe that these services compliment and enhance your surgical procedure to give you the best results possible.

Several other skin care packages are available within our office with our esthetician and also with our affiliate office, Torrey Pines Dermatology. Please call our office for more information at 858-587-9850.