Frequently Asked Questions
The team at ICCM is dedicated to patient care and satisfaction, and love to provide you with all the information you need. Browse through some of the most frequently asked questions regarding cosmetic medicine below.
At ICCM, brow lifts are performed with the non-surgical thread lift technique, meaning you have the benefit of no scarring. You may experience slight puckering for the first few days post procedure as the tissue relaxes into its new position.
The major advantages of thread lifts are they are both quick to perform, minimally-invasive and have little downtime. Because of these factors, they are a highly convenient, non-surgical procedure with the benefit of no scarring and affordability. This makes thread lifts an ideal procedure for patients looking to quickly and effectively rejuvenate their facial appearance
Fat transfer involves the harvesting and transferring of fat from particular areas of the body including thighs and hips. Once the fat has had the water and oil removed, it is injected into the facial area.
Yes. Hair loss can affect both men and women. The causes can include illness and malnutrition or even vitamin deficiencies.
This procedure is performed to remove excess skin and bulging pockets of fat from around the upper eyelid area.
Cosmetic surgery is performed to redesign healthy and normally functioning structures of the body. Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it is elective surgery. Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body which can be caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumours or disease. Generally speaking, reconstructive surgery is performed to improve function, but may also be completed to achieve a more normal aesthetic appearance. Reconstructive surgery is typically covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for certain procedures may vary.
Scarring will occur whenever any incision is made. The severity of the scarring does vary from person to person and is also based on if you are prone to keloids or not. Most incisions are made in areas that will not show, like under undergarments or along natural creases and the scars will normally fade over time, particularly if you take extensive post-operative care of them to ensure their healing process. Your doctor will address this in more detail at the time of your consultation.
When it comes to combining surgeries, there are several important variables that must be considered. As with all patients, decisions of this nature are always made on a case-by-case basis. Combining surgeries can save time and money and may be an option for you. However, do not assume this will always be the case. Factors such as your health, age, healing time and extent of each surgery will all need to be factored in to determine whether or not more than one procedure can be performed at the same time.
As with any major surgery, liposculpture carries risks, such as bleeding and a reaction to anaesthesia. Possible complications specific to liposuction include:
- Contour irregularities
- Fluid accumulation
- Numbness
- Infection
- Fat embolism
- Kidney and heart problems
The risk of complications increases if the doctor is working on larger surfaces of your body or doing multiple procedures during the same operation. Talk to your doctor about how these risks apply to you.
After receiving a liposculpture procedure, one’s new body’s shape is considered permanent. If a patient does gain weight after the procedure, then the figure will simply be a larger version of the new body shape.
Although thousands of people undergo neck lifts each year and experience no major complications, all surgical procedures do carry some degree of risk. It is important you are well informed of these risks when considering a neck lift.
The discussion of potential risks and complications is one of the most important aspects of patient consultation. During your consultation, we will discuss these potential complications with you, listen to your safety questions, and offer recommendations on how to minimise your chance of risk.
You will be issued pre-operative instructions immediately after you make your decision to proceed with surgery. It is important to read and understand these instructions when preparing for your surgery in order to ensure the best possible results.
The instructions may include:
- Refraining from smoking for several weeks before and after surgery
- Avoiding certain medications
- Arranging for help following surgery, such as transport and in-home care for the first 24 hours
Oral sedation, local anaesthesia, inhalation anaesthesia as well as twilight (intravenous) sedation may be used to eliminate any pain or discomfort during the neck lift procedure.
Patients have the opportunity to discuss their anaesthetic options with the doctor prior to the surgery.
Side effects are minor and usually heal within a few days. These may include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Crusting
- Scab formation
Possible complications from the procedure may include:
- Scarring (in less than 5%)
- Lightening of the skin
The procedure is safe, but infection is the biggest risk with ear lobe repair. We advise our patients to keep a close eye on the treated area during the healing phase, to keep it clean and notify us immediately if there are any signs of infection.