Dr. Steven Svehlak, MD

It is with plastic surgery that burns scars are removed and improved. If burn scars are large, then it would be best to see a burn specialist at a burn center. They would know best how to treat your scars.

Most otoplasties are performed to reshape the contours of the outer ear (cartilage, skin, etc.) for various reasons such as cosmetic reshaping or for reconstruction. This reshaping should not affect the hearing area of the ear, which is the inner ear. However, reshaping the outer ear can change how sound waves reflect and enter your ear, and that can make sounds seem slightly different.

Yes, lip fillers do have potential complications if not administered properly. Minimal side effects can be swelling, bruising, pain, and unevenness. Major complications can be allergic reaction, infection, hematoma, and possibly necrosis. Please seek out an experienced injector for your fillers in order to minimize any adverse affects.

Yes, fat can be removed from the cheeks. There are various modalities that can work to remove fat from specific areas such as Kybella injections, micro-liposuction, various heat based technologies (radiofrequency, Microneedling with RF, Ultherapy, etc.) please see a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist to discuss your concerns.

Yes. Part of a plastic surgeons training is in burn care and treatments. If it's a minor type burn and scar, then most plastic surgeons can treat this. For major burns and burn scars, it is best to see a burn specialist, such as that you would find at a burn treatment center.

Scar revision surgery all depends on the size of the scar itself. A small scar (less than an inch) may take only 30-60 minutes to fix. Much larger scars (several inches to major burn scars) can take several hours to fix and would likely require much heavier anesthesia (general anesthesia) in an operating room.

Some common side effects of Botox are temporary bruising, temporary pain at injection sites, and temporary minor swelling. Uncommon side effects can be infection, allergic reaction, headaches, sinus infections, unwanted weakness in facial muscles that were overly treated, a heavy brow, a heavy eyelid (ptosis), and double vision (if intra-ocular muscles are inadvertently injected). Please seek out an experienced injector to assure best results.

Breast lifts are a very common procedure. Typically, results can last several years and even longer. You may never need another, However, as with all tissues in your body, the breast tissue will age. Natural support within the breast will weaken and the breasts will droop to some extent over time. Factors than can affect a breast lift result longevity are 1. the quality of your skin... better elasticity, collagen content, thickness of skin, with less stretch marks will give longer lasting results. 2. the amount of breast tissue after the breast lift... the heavier the breast tissue, the more gravity will act, and the droopier the breasts can become 3. the type of breast lift and technique done. Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns.

It is difficult to answer this question for you based on your information. A full, in office consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon would be best for you to discuss you concerns and desires. A simple breast augmentation with an implant or fat transfer can help with increasing size. Sometimes an implant can also give you a mild lift. Implants can be adjusted to help correct asymmetry. Finally, a more aggressive type of surgery, such as a breast lift, may be needed to give you the most lift, with or without augmentation with an implant.

Most implants, especially gel implants, do feel very natural. Factors that affect how they feel and look are 1. the size of the implant in comparison to your original breast size 2. the amount and quality of your natural breast tissue, including skin, fat, glandular tissue, and underlying muscle 3. and the type of the implant... gel implants feel more natural than saline, and smooth feel more natural than textured. Please see a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns.

I recommend it best to always get at least another opinion when considering rhinoplasty. This procedure can change the way you look and it will be permanent. It is important you are happy and comfortable with your doctor's recommendations and feel confident of his plan.   


Steven Svehlak, MD, FACS

There are many way scar can be improved. It is difficult to remove them completely. Some interventions that help chicken pox scars are 1. simple injections (such as hyaluronic acid) under the scars to help smooth the surface and fill the dent 2. a laser resurfacing procedure 3. microneedling 4. dermabrasion. 5. and sometimes, surgically cutting the scar out and closing it with fine sutures.

Typically for about a week after rhinoplasty you would have a splint on the nose and even packing inside the nose. This is usually removed in one week. Bruising under the eyes can be present for up to 3 weeks. Swelling can persist for several months before it seems to have resolved. Overall, the nose shape should look relatively normal in 1-2 weeks and maybe 3 weeks if bruising is present. There is usually some pain, but most people tolerate this very well with only taking a few pain meds in the first few days only.

Breast augmentations are typically done using implants placed within under the breast tissue through an incision. This is done using general anesthesia. Potential risks and complications include problems with anesthesia, major bleeding during or after surgery (hematoma), infection, seroma (fluid collection), long term pain, loss of sensation of part of the breast and/or nipple, a permanent scar, inability to breast feed in the future, internal breast scar (capsular contracture) with deformity of the breast, animation deformity, and others. Recovery typically can take up to six months to feel "normal" again. Early on your breasts can feel tight with pain and swelling. There is usually bruising which resolves in 2-3 weeks. Activity (exercise) in very limited in the first month. Activity can slowly increase after 6 weeks. Most people can drive and do routine daily activity in 4-7 days depending on how they are feeling. It is best to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon and discuss your concerns. Thanks

After having children, many women experience looseness in their abdominal wall skin and muscle. They develop stretch marks. They can even develop an abdominal wall hernia. This looseness occurs from the expansion of the abdominal wall while carrying their child during the pregnancy. Also, their breast can become more saggy and/or deflated from breast feeding. A mommy makeover is a surgery to reverse the abdominal wall changes and breast changes seen. A tummy tuck is a surgery that tightens the abdominal wall muscles with internal stitching, and removes the loose skin. This does leave a low abdominal wall scar and one at the belly button, but it can significantly improve the way a tummy looks. Many women can get back to wearing a bikini. The breasts can be changed in a number of ways, depending on the what the goals are. Some women have large sagging breasts that require only a lift (or maybe a lift and reduction). Other breasts maybe be deflated and may require and implant with or without a lift procedure. Things to consider before any mommy makeover procedure are
1. to be done breast feeding for at least 6 months 2. try to be near an ideal body weight 3. make sure your are healthy without any major medical issues 4. And most importantly is that your seek a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your questions, goals, and expectations, and to assure your are in the most capable hands for your safety and outcome.

Mommy make-overs require surgery. Mommy make-overs generally include body contouring procedures, such as liposuction and tummy tucks, and breast procedures, such as breast lifts, breast augmentations, and even breast reductions. These are all to help you gain back your youthful body. As with any surgery, there are certain risks and possible complications. We cannot 100% assure that none will occur. Mommy make-overs for most people are safe procedures. It is important that you seek consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss all your concerns and explain all potential risks involved. As a plastic surgeon, I am trained to know and understand these risks. I am trained to avoid problems and to know how to treat them when they occur. To assure you are in the best possible hands, please see a board certified plastic surgeon who is well experienced in mommy make-overs and one who uses certified operating room facilities.

At times, rhinoplasty (nose surgery) may not give the desired or expected outcome. It is possible that some "tweeking" of that nose surgery will be needed in the future after your nose has healed. For most, this is not a problem and corrections can be made.

Breast augmentations are safe, even for a diabetic. Having diabetes does increase your risk for complications such as infection or wound healing problems. Your glucose levels can be harder to control immediately after the procedure because of hormone changes. But this improves as you heal. It is important that your are at optimal health with good glucose/insulin control. Please seek a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your needs and expectations, review your health history, and assure that you are in the best hands for the best possible outcome.

It is common that after having children, a mother would have loose skin of their abdominal wall. Also, the muscle layer can be loose. A tummy tuck is a common surgical procedure, done under anesthesia, in a certified operating room, by a plastic surgeon. This procedure requires an incision across your lower tummy (along the panty line) with separation of some of the layers of your abdominal wall. The loose muscle underneath is then tightened by placing several strong internal stitches in the muscle. This creates an internal "corset" which helps flatten the tummy and shape the waist. The fat layer is then improved by contouring with liposuction. Finally, the loose skin layer is stretched and the excess is trimmed off. An new belly button is created. The final wound edges are closed with multiple layers of dissolving buried stitches. These tend to heal well with a scar very low on your tummy and a small scar around the belly button. There is pain with these procedure which is well tolerated and is tempered with the use of pain medicines. Healing can take several weeks. Usually the first week you will mostly be resting. You will need to wear a compression garment. After the first week, you will be up and about more, walking, etc., but not doing anything strenuous. Anything more active or strenuous activity may not begin for 6-8 weeks post.

Studies have shown that breast reduction surgery is one of the most satisfying plastic surgery procedures performed. You may feel a great relief from your back pain. Like with any surgery, there are potential risks and complications. These can include complications with anesthesia, excessive bleeding during the procedure, infection, long term pain, loss of skin and nipple sensation, fat necrosis, skin necrosis, hematoma, large hypertrophic scars, asymmetry, and undesirable shape, difficulty with future breast feeding, continued back pain, blood clots, pulmonary embolus, etc. Some of these problems may require further treatments or surgery for corrections. It is best to seek a board certified plastic surgeon who is well versed in doing breast surgeries and performs these in certified operating rooms. This will assure you that you will be in the best care, to be safe, and to achieve the best results.