Dr. William Kanter, M.D.

It varies from one person to another. Typically, people see significant improvement at 3 to 4 weeks. By 3 months, probably 85% or more of the swelling is gone. It can take up to a year to see the true final result. From a practical standpoint though, most people with some make-up start to look good at 3 to 4 weeks barring delays in the healing process.

No, not really. The implants can take a much wider range of pressures than would be experienced in an airplane. I consider that to be a myth.

It can often make a nice difference depending on the anatomy of the
particular person's problem. Individual results vary.

That's a great question.
It really depends on a number of individual factors. Liposuction only removes fat, but does not remove excess skin. So, liposuction works best if skin tone is adequate and not too much is in excess. Liposuction has the advantage of generally smaller scars and the down time is often less than for an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). However, if the skin is in excess and stretched out and the elasticity is not good, then a tummy tuck may be needed. The tummy tuck has the advantage of removing both excess skin and excess fat, and can also tighten the underlying muscle-fascia layer of the abdominal wall. Tightening the deeper muscle layer is especially helpful for women after pregnancies. which can stretch-out this layer. The disadvantage of an abdominoplasty compared to liposuction is that it results in more scar in the lower tummy. Sometimes liposuction can be combined with abdominoplasty. As with all surgeries and plastic surgeries, there are risks and benefits for you to consider before you proceed, and your doctor should explain these to you. Be sure to pick a properly trained and qualified plastic surgeon with expertise and experience in both liposuction and abdominoplasty techniques to help you make your best informed decision.

That's a good question and a complex one. It really depends on many factors. One is how bad is the cosmetic problem that concerns you? Another, of course, is how you feel about it. Also important is to what extent the problem can be corrected and it's important to have realistic expectations. A good place to start is to have a non-hurried consultation with a plastic surgeon with experience in this field who listens to your concerns and explains your options. Don't be shy about getting more than one opinion, and be sure you are comfortable with any recommendations that are made.

A cheek lift (facelift) is usually said to last for 7 to 10 years, depending on the technique and the elasticity remaining in the skin. If elasticity is severely lost, as it is in older individuals, the duration may be less.

It really depends on what type of rhinoplasty you have and how extensive it was. For example, if you have an open rhinoplasty and delicate cartilage grafts are sewn in place, it may take longer before people are back working out. For most of my patients, they are starting limited exercises at 2 to 3 weeks but a few weeks longer before strenuous workouts. Always protect your nose from trauma after rhinoplasty!

Unfortunately, all surgery involves some discomfort and yes some degree of pain. To limit the pain for our patients, we do a number of things, including making adequate pain medication available initially post-op, handling the tissues gently during the surgery which I think helps, and placing a protective but not excessively tight bandage. Many patients are just taking Tylenol after the first day or two.

At 33 years old, are you sure you need a facelift? We now have a number of less invasive techniques available to treat some of the earlier aging changes in the face. When people do have a facelift, I usually ask my patients to sleep mostly on their back for the first week or two depending on exactly what was done.