Cosmetic Surgery — Treatment Guide — MyMedicPlus

Ideal candidates are adults in good general health with realistic, specific aesthetic goals motivated by personal desire rather than external pressure. Key factors include stable weight (especially for body contouring), non-smoking status or willingness to stop, absence of serious medical conditions, and a realistic understanding of what surgery can and cannot achieve. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is essential; surgeons will conduct a medical and psychological assessment and may use validated screening tools to identify patients at risk of poor psychosocial outcomes.

Results vary significantly by procedure. Rhinoplasty results are generally permanent once healing is complete at 12-18 months. Facelift results typically last 7-10 years; gravity and ageing continue after surgery, though most patients remain improved compared to their pre-operative appearance. Breast implants may require replacement every 10-15 years due to implant aging or capsular contracture. Liposuction results are permanent provided weight remains stable. Body lift after massive weight loss provides durable improvement in contour but does not prevent future skin changes with ageing.

Combining procedures (for example, breast augmentation with abdominoplasty, or facelift with blepharoplasty) can reduce the total number of anaesthetic exposures and recovery periods. However, combined procedures increase operative time and therefore anaesthetic risk, blood loss, and DVT risk. Most plastic surgeons limit combined procedures to an operative time of six hours or less. Extensive combinations — multiple body contouring procedures simultaneously — are generally staged for safety, with intervals of three to six months between stages.

Key questions include: What is your board certification in plastic surgery? How many procedures of this type do you perform annually? Can I review before-and-after photographs of your own patients? Is the facility JCI-accredited? Who will manage any complications after I return home? What are the follow-up arrangements? How are revision cases handled? MyMedicPlus pre-vets all partner surgeons and facilities and can provide verified credentials, patient reviews, and transparent pricing to support your decision.