But when it comes to medical care, shopping around for the lowest price is probably the worst approach you can take. Higher medical costs almost always come with a sound reason – or lots of sound reasons: A surgeon with greater skills and experience; newer, safer, more effective surgical techniques and technology; more modern, cleaner and safer treatment environments; superior follow-up care; better results and outcomes. And there are probably others as well.

Yet still, each year, thousands of men and women travel the globe looking for low-cost cosmetic procedures that can save them some money. There’s no doubt that there are plenty of skilled surgeons and top-rate medical facilities around the globe; we believe our facility is one of those. But unless you’re prepared to do your homework – and lots of it – traveling abroad for surgery can carry some significant risks:

• When surgery is combined with other “tourist-y” activities – even something as seemingly mild and low-key as sightseeing – your healing can be seriously compromised, and that means you’re at greater risk of developing an infection or scarring that can mar your results. Any type of exercise – even walking around or engaging in relaxing activities like sunbathing – can increase your risk of infection and make it much more difficult to heal. Drinking alcohol can also have an impact on healing, especially if you’re taking pain medication following your procedure.
• Both air travel and surgery have been shown to increase a person’s risk for developing potentially fatal clots; combine surgery with a long flight and your risk increases significantly. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) recommends waiting from five to 10 days following your procedure to reduce the risk of clot formation as well as to reduce or eliminate the risk of swelling and infection.
• The products and devices used during surgery overseas may not meet U.S. guidelines for safety. The guidelines in the U.S. are stringent, and there’s a reason: In the U.S., safety is of primary importance. Other countries may have guidelines based on poor or inaccurate safety data or may have considerably lower safety standards, and that can mean higher risk for you.
• Follow-up care is often limited during cosmetic surgery vacations, and when problems arise once you’re home, it can be difficult – if not impossible – to receive any sort of satisfactory resolution. Restorative procedures in the U.S. can be more complicated and produce less satisfactory results when an overseas surgeon uses products or techniques in the initial procedure that are not safe or effective.
• Accreditation and other qualifying standards are often different in other countries, and that can make it very difficult to assess the skills and training of a physician or the safety and modernity of a facility. Many facilities may be privately owned or operated, which can make it very difficult to verify the credentials of individual physicians and other healthcare providers.

Nearly every patient has to consider the financial ramifications of cosmetic surgery when planning their procedures. At our Miami plastic surgery center, we understand that, and we can work with you so you can have all the benefits of surgery here in the U.S. without sacrificing your health and safety.

The post Overseas Surgery Isn’t Always The Bargain It May Seem To Be appeared first on Ary Krau MD.

While some breast lift procedures leave considerable scarring, the technique used by board certified plastic surgeon Ary Krau, MD are designed to leave fewer scars and longer lasting results.

Fewer Scars

The amount of scarring that remains after the breast lift surgery depends on the type of procedure that a surgeon performs. The traditional procedure requires a physician to make a horizontal anchor incision across the chest, just beneath the breasts. The large incision leaves a considerable scar. While the scar isn’t visible beneath clothing, its presence can have an impact on a patient’s self-esteem and can make her feel less satisfied with the surgery’s results.

The vertical mammoplasty technique used by Dr. Krau eliminates the need for the large anchor incision. He makes a short, vertical incision just below the areola, which results in a much smaller scar that is less visible.

Less Tension

Dr. Krau’s method also reduces scars by not placing a considerable amount of tension on the skin of the breast. Skin is very elastic. It stretches over time, particularly when there is weight and gravity placed on it. Tension on the skin of the breast increases the likelihood that scars will be more noticeable because they have not healed as well.

Less tension on the skin of the breasts also means longer lasting results. Dr Krau’s technique uses the inner breast tissue, or fascia, to provide support for the breast lift, rather than relying on the skin for support. This nearly completely eliminates outside tension on the skin. Unlike skin, the fascia is not elastic and will not stretch out.

Healing and Scar Management

Allowing the body time to heal after a breast lift procedure is essential when it comes to reducing the appearance of any scars. Less tension on the skin of the breasts following the procedure helps speed the healing process. It’s important for patients to follow the advice of their surgeon after a breast lift to ensure that healing takes place. Patients should avoid smoking, for example, as tobacco use slows down the healing process. Along with giving the body time to heal after surgery, a patient can use topical ointments or other treatments that are suggested by a doctor in order to reduce the look of scars.

Check out some of the other related blog entries that have recently been published here;

• Things to Think About Before Getting an Augmentation or Lift
• What is the Difference Between an Breast Augmentation, Lift, and Reduction?
• Study shows that Breast Augmentation Improves Self-Esteem and Quality of Life

The post Can You Get a Breast Lift Without Scars? appeared first on Ary Krau MD.

Why Would I Want Rhinoplasty?

People want a nose job for a number of reasons. You might think that your nose is too large for your face or that your nose is too wide. Another reason why you might want to undergo a nose reshaping procedure is because there is a bump in your nose or because the nostrils flare.

Some people are better suited for the surgery than others. Your age is something to think about. Usually, a rhinoplasty isn’t recommended for anyone under 15, as the nose is still growing. Your overall health is another consideration. The surgery isn’t recommended if you smoke or if you have certain medical conditions.

What Happens During the Surgery?

The surgical process can vary from patient to patient. At Dr. Krau’s plastic surgery center, rhinoplasty is performed under general or local anesthesia and sedation. The surgeon will make incisions either inside the nose or externally, depending on the procedure.

Once the incisions are made, the cartilage can be removed from the area or shaped if the goal is to reduce the size. If the size needs to be increased, cartilage can be taken from other areas of the body and grafted to the nose. At the end of the surgery, the incisions will be closed and the splint inserted to hold the nose in place as it heals.

What is the Recovery Process?

Most patients are back on their feet within a few weeks after a nose job. The nose itself can take up to an entire year to fully heal but definite changes are usually visible after a few weeks. Your surgeon will tell you how to hold your head, when to come back for a follow up appointment and what medications are okay to take while you heal.

The post All About Rhinoplasty appeared first on Ary Krau MD.

Getting an idea of the size options that are available and how they’ll look on you can be difficult. The good news is, if you’re considering breast augmentation, there are a couple of options you can use to actually see how implants of different sizes will look even before you undergo surgery. The first relies on a couple of simple items that you probably already have at home: rice and pantyhose.

First, you need a pair of pantyhose with no holes in the foot or ankle areas. Cut them off a few inches below the knee and fill them with rice using the following guidelines: 1 cup of rice is roughly equivalent to a 240 cc implant and ½ cup is about the same as to a 120 cc implant. Tie off the pantyhose leg near the rice and place the bags of rice in your bra to get an idea of how different sizes will look on your body.

To get a much more accurate idea of a wider range of implant sizes, the volume sizing kit by Mentor is the way to go. Available in our plastic surgery facility, the Mentor Sizing kit allows you to “try on” 24 different volumes, ranging from 150cc-775cc so you can feel confident in the implant size you’re choosing. What’s more, the kit allows you to use a different sizer for each breast so you can see how implants can help you “even out” the natural size differences that may exist between the left and right sides.

There’s no doubt that breast augmentation can have a significant impact on your life; in fact, a study by researchers at Ohio State University found that women who receive implants report not only better self-image following surgery, but also an increase in sexual well-being and better quality of life. Taking the time to realistically evaluate size options and the way they look on your own body is critical in helping you feel good about your implant procedure. To ensure the best results, ask Dr. Krau about Mentor’s sizing kit and how it can help you visualize yourself and your new profile prior to surgery.

The post Implant Sizer Kit Lets You “Try On” Breast Implants Before Surgery appeared first on Ary Krau MD.