Plastic Surgery | Matthew Schulman, M.D.

April 21, 2023/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

Social media is filled with pictures of celebrities and their “bad plastic surgery.” If it’s not that someone’s had “too much plastic surgery”, it’s that they got a bad nose job or lip injections too big for their face. It seems to be a common pastime of the nation to gawk at them and analyze the ways in which big names have made bad choices when it comes to their looks.
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April 11, 2023/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

Each year, it seems like new procedures enter the plastic surgery world as “Hot New Trends”. Whatever Khloé Kardashian and her sisters are interested in improving inevitably hits social media, and from there, the rest is history. We see an immediate influx of interest in that procedure in our plastic surgery New York City office. Read more

March 21, 2023/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

Significant weight loss of 50 or 100 pounds or more is a huge achievement. Not only is the physical process difficult in its own right, but the emotional transformation can be equally challenging.

One thing many men and women struggle with after a massive drop in weight is the way they see themselves when they look in the mirror. Though one certainly deserves to feel a deep sense of accomplishment, ironically, many individuals end up feeling conflicting emotions. For instance, past weight loss patients have emphasized feeling extremely vulnerable about their new shape, fearful about gaining the weight back, and upset about loose skin.

Dealing with these emotions is an essential part of going through the weight loss process. In addition, many patients turn to plastic surgery to help them achieve their goals. Most attain outstanding results in doing so.

Plastic surgery after weight loss usually addresses issues such as loose excess skin, stubborn fat, sagging breasts, and skin wrinkles.

If you have recently lost a lot of weight or are in the middle of your weight loss journey and looking ahead, there are many procedures that can help you feel like yourself again. If you’re new to plastic surgery, however, you may have a lot of questions.

So, below, we’ve outlined the top eight things we think you should know about getting plastic surgery after weight loss. Before we dive right in to those, however, let’s take a look at the top surgeries patients tend to seek after significant weight loss.

Things to Know About Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss

Keep the following in mind as you research plastic surgery after fat loss.

1) You should be at or near your goal weight prior to surgery.

It’s not uncommon for patients to be thinking about plastic surgery right away as soon as they start losing weight. This is great! It shows that you are dedicated to your weight loss journey and excited about the future.

However, it’s important that we perform plastic surgery after weight loss safely and for maximum effectiveness. This means you must achieve your goal weight before moving ahead with cosmetic surgery. Furthermore, you should maintain that weight for at least six months prior to any body contouring procedures.

2) It’s important to wait at least a year after weight loss surgery before considering plastic surgery.

For those patients who underwent a weight loss surgery to lose excess weight, it’s important to wait at least one year after this procedure before moving forward with plastic surgery.

Not only will this time be required to actually drop your excess weight, but you also want to give your body adequate time to heal from your gastric bypass or related surgery before undergoing an additional invasive procedure such as a tummy tuck or an upper body lift.

3) Be sure you’re following a balanced, healthy diet.

Patients should be in good overall health before moving forward with plastic surgery, and this means taking care of your diet. Nutritional counseling may be performed to ensure you’re getting enough nutrients, vitamins, protein, etc. as these factors can influence how your body handles cosmetic surgery and how well you heal after your procedure.

4) Chronic medical conditions may prohibit you from getting surgery.

Those patients who struggle with diabetes, heart disease, or other chronic conditions may be prohibited from body contouring procedures for their own safety. You can discuss these issues with your family doctor as well as a plastic surgeon to know what’s right and safe for you.

5) Scarring is inevitable with most post-weight loss surgeries.

Patients should have realistic expectations concerning the outcomes of their body contouring surgery. For the most part, this means realizing that you’re going to have scarring. Excess skin can only be removed with incisions, and incisions result in scars.

Fortunately, highly skilled plastic surgeons can hide these incisions within skin folds or other areas that will make the scars difficult to notice. Furthermore, when well-healed, even larger scars will flatten and fade eventually.

6) For women, it’s best to be done having children prior to surgery.

Getting pregnant after a tummy tuck or similar surgery is not dangerous, but it may diminish your results. This is because, with a tummy tuck, for example, we’re removing excess skin. So, if you were to get pregnant, that skin would re-stretch, possibly negating the positive effects of your tummy tuck.

7) Your recovery time may be significant, so plan accordingly.

After serious plastic surgeries such as tummy tucks, breast augmentations, or lower body lifts, you’ll need to take off several weeks from work so that you can fully recover. Furthermore, you’ll need to avoid exercising, smoking, drinking, and other taxing activities for an extended period of time in order to give your body adequate rest and time to heal.

8) Some procedures may require an overnight stay in a hospital.

These days, many plastic surgeries can be performed in-office and are outpatient, which means the patient can return home on the same day as their procedure. However, more significant plastic surgeries like lower body lifts, upper body lifts, and combination procedures will require overnight stays in the hospital.

Is Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss Covered by Insurance?

After Weight Loss Plastic Surgery For the most part, the only plastic surgeries that are covered by health insurance are those that are deemed “medically necessary”. For example, some women with extra large breasts may qualify for breast reduction insurance coverage if their breasts are causing them significant ongoing pain and daily discomfort.

In addition to breast reduction surgery, sometimes, panniculectomies are covered by insurance. This procedure removes a fold of excess skin (pannus) that can hang over the front of the abdomen. It is not necessarily a tummy tuck, however, as tummy tuck surgery also involves the removal of excess abdominal skin and tightens the ab muscles in addition to other improvements.

Other procedures that are only for aesthetic purposes may not be covered by insurance. All health insurance companies have different policies regarding plastic surgery.

Schedule Your Consultation Today

Have you lost a large amount of weight? Congratulations! Now, it’s time to take your physique to the next level and consider a body contouring surgery or breast procedure. Look your best and feel your best!

Contact our New York City office today to schedule a consultation appointment with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/body-contouring

March 19, 2023/in Brazilian Butt Lift, Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, Plastic Surgery, Tummy Tuck /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

If you’re on TikTok account a social media platforms, you know that trends change fast — sometimes, by the day.

Still, one trending topic has stood the test of TikTok time (say that 5 times fast).

What is it? Plastic surgery.

While for decades, confessing that you’d had plastic surgery was a no-no, today, it’s totally acceptable to shout it from the rooftops — er, post it to a TikTok account anyway.

And it’s actually pretty cool for your self esteem.

Turns out people want to know what it’s like to get a BBL or have your breasts enlarged. As always, a peek behind the scenes is intriguing and fun. Plus, before and afters never get old.

Up ahead, we’ll take a look at the top 5 plastic surgery procedures Tik Tokers and their most plastic surgeons are posting about these days. These are some of the most popular procedures both in NYC and around the globe.

1. Brazilian Butt Lifts

Brazilian butt lift Tiktok

Brazilian butt lift trends on TikTok seem to focus on BBL recovery and before and after BBL pictures and video. Some patients show themselves heading into their procedure and then later after they’ve recovered or while they’re still healing.

Various trends have come and gone of patients showing themselves in BBL before and afters, wearing jeans or tight skirts, walking down the street, shopping at the grocery story, getting ready to go out, etc. Brazilian butt lift reveals can be amazing, and the results look tremendously natural, so #BBL and #Brazilianbuttlift are really fun hashtags to follow.

The Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure

The New York City Brazilian butt lift procedure is performed in two parts. First, liposuction is used to remove excess fat from the abdomen and other locations on the body. Next, that fat is processed outside the body and then transferred to the hips and buttocks.

Here are some of the options a patient may consider for their BBLs.

Liposuction 360 (Lipo 360)

When Dr. Schulman removes fat from your body in preparation to transfer it to the hips and buttocks, you have a choice about where you want that fat to come from. Some slim patients won’t have much excess volume to work with, so it may be more of a challenge to find a good target location for harvesting. Other patient needs may want major liposuction performed — for example, with a lipo 360.

Read more about liposuction 360 in New York City.

2. Breast Augmentation

#breastaugmentation videos on TikTok run the gamut from experience posts in which patients show breast implant before and after clips, to educational posts from plastic surgeons.

A recent trend, for example, has plastic surgeons on social media platforms showing followers how durable breast implants are — specifically, silicone implants. Doctors post cuts of themselves and their staffs dropping implants from tall buildings, stepping on them with stiletto heels, shutting them into doors, and running over them with cars. And of course, the implants never pop.

The Breast Augmentation Procedure

Breast augmentation in New York City involves increasing the fullness and size of the breasts. There are three main ways to perform this surgery: with implants, with a fat transfer process, or with the assistance of Botox.

All options increase the breast size and can also alter the projection and perkiness of the breasts. In some cases, a New York City breast lift is combined with augmentation to both lift and add volume. A breast lift alone is good for patients who have enough volume but want their breasts to sit higher up on the chest.

Let’s take a look at each option.

Silicone or Saline Implants

Implants are the most typical option for increasing the breast size. There are saline and silicone implants. These days, silicone tends to create the most natural-looking results.

However, some patients are reticent about getting silicone implants because every few years, patients will need to get a sonogram or MRI to ensure no leaks have occurred. If a leak has occurred, for medical reasons, the implant will mostly likely need to be removed and replaced. Conversely, with saline implants, you’d know right away if a leak occurred, and the body would simply absorb the leaked saline.

Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation

Your own body fat can also be transferred to the breasts to increase the breast size. Keep in mind, however, that the fat transfer process will not create a “structure” for the breasts, so this may not give you the shape you ultimately want from your augmentation.

Botox-Assisted Breast Augmentation

Botox is usually used to relax the muscles of the face temporarily. This reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Botox-assisted breast augmentation uses implants as the primary filler. But Botox is also used in conjunction in order to achieve more immediate results and a speedier recovery process. Instead of months after surgery, the patient can see their results just a few weeks after surgery.

3. Rhinoplasty

With a nose job or rhinoplasty, it’s all about the before and afters. Rhinoplasty or nose job in New York City is one of the most popular face procedures in general, and young people love seeing patients’ big reveals on TikTok.

Most rhinoplasty patients on the platform get the surgery to improve the aesthetics of their nose — crookedness, nasal tip asymmetry, excessive tip projection, excessive width, nasal bump, excessive size, etc. But there are also patients who go in for septoplasty, which is a procedure that repairs the nasal septum.

Rhinoplasty before and afters are super-fun to see — just watch out! As with all plastic surgery videos that show the procedure in process, the videos can get graphic.

The Rhinoplasty Procedure

There are two main reasons to get rhinoplasty — first, to correct an aesthetic problem, and second, to fix a breathing issue.

As stated above, aesthetic concerns may involve things like crookedness, a bump on the bridge, excessive size or width, asymmetry, excessive tip projection, or another similar issue. When rhinoplasty is performed for breathing issues, it’s called septoplasty.

Finally, some patients may be interested in improving their nasal breathing and will also opt for some form of aesthetic improvement while they’re at it. Rhinoplasty may be performed open or closed.

Open Rhinoplasty

In open rhinoplasty, the nasal skin is folded up, and the bone and cartilage beneath is exposed. This gives the doctor and the surgeon easier access to the underlying structure of the nose. This technique is generally used when bigger changes need to be made.

Closed Rhinoplasty

Closed rhinoplasty is performed through the nostrils without lifting the nasal skin. As a result, this technique is generally employed for only minor reshaping issues.

4. Liposuction

Another one of the most popular plastic surgeries on TikTok is New York City liposuction. The fun thing about lipo is that it can be performed almost anywhere on the body, so the results that pop up are pretty eclectic.

Along with liposuction before and after videos, many TikToking surgeons will post educational videos about what to expect with the procedure. The videos may be clips of actual surgeries, computer-generated graphics that show how lipo is performed, or clips of surgeons speaking directly to the camera about cosmetic procedures, liposuction recovery tips, preparation advice, and more.

The Liposuction Procedure

The liposuction procedure involves the removal of fat cells from areas on the body that have been difficult for the patient to reduce on their own. The most common places to have liposuction performed include the abdomen, flanks, upper and lower back, thighs, and arms and shoulders. There’s also New York City neck and chin liposuction, which primarily targets double chins.

Some of the additional options patients have for liposuction include the following.

High-Definition Liposuction (HD Lipo or Hi-Def Lipo)

High-definition liposuction offers some of the latest technology available in liposuction. The big factor that sets it apart from traditional lipo is that it leaves a bit of padding around the muscles. In addition, the muscles are actually contoured by the surgeon.

This creates natural shadows that surround the muscles and ultimately results in a fit, lean look. High-definition liposuction only works for a unique subset of overall fit patients. These patients may have small pockets of super-stubborn, diet-resistant fat, but they are generally in good shape.

Liposuction Technologies

When patients opt for classic, non hi-def liposuction, there are four main technologies to choose from:

– Traditional: The traditional liposuction method has mostly been replaced by new technologies. In general, this method utilizes a cannula, which is a long, thin metal tube. The tube is inserted into small incisions near the target areas, and the fat is then removed through it.

– Tumescent: As an easier and safer option that reduces blood loss and speeds up recovery, tumescent lipo uses an injection of liquid before the fat is removed. The liquid is called tumescent fluid and is made up of numbing medicine, epinephrine, and salt water.

– Power-Assisted Tumescent: Like the tumescent method, power-assisted tumescent liposuction uses a tumescent fluid, but it also uses a suction device that vibrates. The vibrations assist in breaking up the fat, and this improves the removal process.

– Energy-Assisted: Finally, this form of liposuction stimulates the retraction of the skin and the breakup of fat by using some form of sound wave energy, heat energy, or laser energy.

5. Tummy Tucks

Also called abdominoplasty, New York City tummy tuck TikTok posts are most popular with individuals who’ve had significant weight loss — and moms. This is because both groups have experienced extensive stretching of the abdomen, and in many cases, this stretching can become permanent, which will result in sagging skin that won’t retract.

Search for #tummytuck on TikTok, and you’ll see plenty of tummy tuck before and after clips as well as before and during posts.

The Tummy Tuck Procedure

Loose excess skin can be cumbersome and uncomfortable. Not only does it make some young people self-conscious, but it can interfere with exercise and other physical activities as well.

The tummy tuck procedure gets rid of excess skin by literally cutting it off. In addition, the procedure can knit together separated abdominal muscles and incorporate some liposuction to get rid of any remaining stubborn fat pockets.

Here are two tummy tuck options to consider:

Extended Tummy Tuck

Most extended tummy tuck patients have lost a large amount of weight. Therefore, a more-than-average amount of skin needs to be removed.

This may result in a lateral scar that is larger than usual and which may extend past the hips on either side. In some cases, a fleur-de-lis tummy tuck is used in which a vertical incision is made up the center of the abdomen and around the lower back as well.

Schedule a Consultation With Dr. Schulman

Dr. Matthew Schulman is a board certified plastic surgeons serving patients in New York City. From Brazilian butt lifts and tummy tucks, to lipo and more, Dr. Schulman uses his expertise and experience to help you achieve the aesthetic goals you’re looking for.

Interested in one of the procedures we mentioned above? Give our NYC office a call today, and schedule your consultation with Dr. Schulman!

https://www.tiktok.com/tag/plasticsurgery?lang=en

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/body-contourings-latest-frontier-high-definition-liposuction

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/tummy-tuck/about/pac-20384892

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-nose-job-rhinoplasty

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/breast-augmentation

March 13, 2023/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

A proper hemoglobin levels for plastic surgery is required to be a candidate for elective plastic surgery in NY C. In otherwise healthy individuals, a low blood count is the most common reason for surgical cancellation or postponement. Let’s talk in more detail about:

what a low blood count means
what causes a low blood count?
what can be done to treat a low blood count?

What Testing is Required Before My Plastic Surgery?

It is necessary for you to be in optimal physical shape to be eligible for cosmetic surgery. Unlike other procedures that may be considered necessary, like gall bladder removal, appendectomy, heart surgery, gynecological surgeries, etc., cosmetic surgery is entirely elective. It is something you want, but not something you need.

Accordingly, your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon should never place you at unnecessary risk to have a procedure that makes you look better. If your surgery was to save your life, then certain risks are necessary, but this is never the case with elective cosmetic surgery.

Before your surgery, you will undergo a full medical evaluation to make sure you are healthy and that your surgery can be done safely. You will have a physical examination to evaluate your heart and lungs.

You will likely undergo and EKG to make sure your heart is functioning correctly. Your surgeon may require specialized testing for any pre-existing medical problems.

You will also have blood tests to further evaluate your health. One of these blood tests will measure your blood cells and specifically, your hemoglobin level.

What is Hemoglobin?

Hemoglobin is the protein component of your red blood cells, found in the center of every single red blood cell. It is the part that specifically binds oxygen so that the blood cell can carry oxygen and deliver it throughout your body. The normal hemoglobin level will depend on your age and gender:

Women: 12 or higher
Men: 13 or higher

What Are the Symptoms of Anemia (Low Hemoglobin Levels)?

A proper oxygen level in your blood is necessary for the normal function of your body. If someone has a low hemoglobin level, they will have a lower level of oxygen in their blood. This can starve the cells of the body of vital oxygen.

This is called anemia. A proper oxygen level in your blood is necessary for the normal function of your body. The symptoms associated with anemia is determined by the severity of the anemia. Mild anemia can make you feel tired and fatigue. You may feel low energy and even cold.

Moderate anemia is more concerning and can cause a rapid heart-rate, dizziness, and shortness of breath. This is because your body is low on oxygen and your heart automatically tries to work harder and pump faster, and your lungs try to get more oxygen from the air.

Severe anemia can lead to heart attacks, arrhythmias, stroke, and even death. Adequate blood oxygen levels are also necessary to help you heal after injury or surgery.

This means that even moderate anemia can increase your risk of having wound healing problems after your plastic surgery.

Your hemoglobin level is determined with a simple blood test called a complete blood count, or CBC. This is one of the standard blood tests obtained in preparation for surgery. There are also some rapid testing devices, called Hemacue, that will measure the hemoglobin level in a few minutes from a simple finger stick.

What Are the Causes for Anemia?

There are a variety of reasons for low hemoglobin. First, your hemoglobin level may be low because you are bleeding or have lost blood. This will happen after surgery, after trauma, or most commonly, if you have very heavy menstrual periods.

Women with uterine fibroids and heavy periods, commonly have a low hemoglobin level from blood loss. Other causes of blood loss may be bleeding hemorrhoids, bleeding ulcers, or even colon cancers.

However, one of the most common reasons for low hemoglobin levels is iron deficiency. Iron is necessary in the production of blood cells and hemoglobin. Anything that causes decreased iron in the body can lead to deceased blood counts.

This iron-deficiency may be because of a lack of dietary iron that is commonly found in meats like beef and liver.

Vegetarians often have some degree of iron deficiency and are encouraged to increase their consumption of non-meat foods that are high in iron, like beans. People with iron-deficiency anemia require daily iron supplementation with iron pills.

This is usually very successful in raising the hemoglobin level but can take several weeks to show improvement.

People who have had prior surgeries like stomach resections (because of cancer or ulcer disease) or bariatric (weight loss) surgery, are also prone to anemia.

This is because they are lacking a critical part of the stomach necessary for absorption of vitamins and minerals necessary for red blood cell production.

Other less common causes of anemia include:

Genetic diseases like sickle cell or thalassemia
Bone marrow diseases like leukemia
Older age
Pregnancy
Kidney disease
B12 or Folate deficiency

How Can I Treat My Anemia?

A combination of history and laboratory tests can help determine the cause of your anemia. The treatment will depend on the cause of your anemia. If your anemia is from blood lost like heavy periods, you will need to see your gynecologist to evaluate you. Sometimes birth control pills can regulate your menstrual cycle, or uterine fibroids may need to be treated with medication or surgery. People with iron-deficiency anemia will require daily iron supplementation with pills.

This is usually very successful in raising the hemoglobin level but can take several weeks to show improvement. In extreme cases of iron deficiency, intravenous iron infusions are sometimes necessary. In some cases, such as occurs from genetic diseases, it may be impossible to raise the hemoglobin level. Treatment of your anemia may require the involvement of a hematologist, or a doctor who specializes in diseases of the blood.

What Hemoglobin Level is Required for Surgery?

Usually, I require that my patients have a hemoglobin level of at least 12 to be cleared for for surgical procedures. This will of course vary depending on the planned procedure, since some procedures normally lose more blood than others.

A breast augmentation results in virtually no blood loss, while a Mommy Makeover will come with more blood loss.

Since all surgery causes some normal blood loss, some degree of drop in hemoglobin level is expected after your surgery.

If you are starting at a low level before surgery, then the level may be a more significantly lower level after the surgery. This can set you up for the potential complications after surgery, even if you have never had previous signs of anemia.

Avoiding serious complications during surgery and making your recovery better, is the reason why you need to have an appropriate hemoglobin level prior to surgery.

If you are unclear of your hemoglobin levels, you can have this tested very easily. You may be surprised. If you have always been a little fatigued, or felt a bit more tired or look a little paler than your friends, you may be suffering from anemia.

Since this is so common, especially in women, I think all women should be taking a daily iron pill. You may be shocked at how much better you feel after a few weeks.

Questions and Answers

What is the lowest hemoglobin level for surgery?

The acceptable hemoglobin level for surgery can vary depending on the individual patient, the type of surgery, and the underlying medical conditions.

However, in general, a hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL is often considered the minimum acceptable level for elective surgery.

What is a good hemoglobin level for BBL?

As with any surgical procedure, a safe and acceptable hemoglobin for BBL surgery is typically considered to be at least 10 g/dL. This is to ensure that the patient has adequate blood volume and oxygen-carrying capacity to withstand the surgery and to reduce the risk of complications such as excessive bleeding, decreased oxygen delivery to tissues, and slower wound healing.

Can I have surgery if my hemoglobin is low?

The decision to have surgery with a low hemoglobin level depends on several factors, including the underlying cause of the low hemoglobin, the severity of the anemia, the type and urgency of the surgery, and the patient’s overall health status.

In general, elective surgery is often postponed until the hemoglobin level is within an acceptable range, typically at least 10 g/dL, to reduce the risk of complications during and after surgery, such as blood loss, decreased oxygen delivery to tissues, and slower wound healing.

Can you have Surgery with Low Iron?

If you are diagnosed with anemia, it may be necessary for you to take medication before your surgery. This could include iron supplements to boost your iron levels. In addition, you might need to consider a combination supplement that includes both iron and vitamin C, as vitamin C enhances iron absorption.

What labs are needed for BBL surgery?

In simple terms:

blood count, blood chemistry, and clotting tests

In more medical terms:

CBC, Complete Metabolic Panel, Coagulation Panel

What is the minimum wbc count for surgery?

In general, for adults, a count lower than 3,500 white blood cells per microliter of blood is considered low.

Book Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

Contact Dr. Matthew Schulman today to learn more about your options for safe plastic surgery.

July 21, 2021/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

Male plastic surgery continues to gain in popularity. Year after year the number of men undergoing elective cosmetic surgery procedures has been increasing. This is because men care about their appearance just as much as women, and men are more willing to admit this now. It’s 2021 and there is less of a stigma surrounding plastic surgery overall and this is helping to fuel an increase in men requesting surgical procedures to improve their appearance. The statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) continues to show a steady increase in men requesting elective cosmetic procedures, even though men still make up a very small portion of all plastic surgery patients.

What are the most common cosmetic procedures for men?

The most common cosmetic procedures requested by men include:

Liposuction
Rhinoplasty
eyelid surgery
chest reduction
Botox
Hair Transplantation

How are these procedures different in men?

There is a big difference between cosmetic procedures in men and cosmetic procedures in women. Procedures are often modified to help preserve male characteristics and avoid feminization of the appearance. This is because men in particular, want to look more refreshed, but not different. For example, when performing eyelid surgery on men, the amount of skin removed is often less than the amount of skin we remove in women. This is because a little bit of extra skin on the upper eyelid helps preserve a more masculine appearance. When we do eyebrow lifting in men, we do not lift the brow too high because a lower and straighter brow is seen as more masculine than the high arching brows of women. Rhinoplasty, or nose reshaping, is another procedure that is modified in men. We tend to keep a stronger, larger nose on the male face. If we were to perform male rhinoplasty the same way we perform female rhinoplasty, the result may be a nose that is too small for the male face.

Basically, if we are performing cosmetic procedures on a man who desires to preserve his masculine features, the surgeon needs to be aware of the normal male anatomy and preserve these masculine features. Of course, if the purpose of the man’s surgical procedure is to create a more feminine appearance, then we would perform the procedure in a manner more common in our female patients.

Other Considerations for Male Plastic Surgery

Aside from modifications in the surgical technique to preserve a masculine appearance, other considerations for plastic surgery in men include:

Incision placement
recovery restrictions
pain management

Incision Placement

As plastic surgeons, we always take great care in placement of our incisions. This is because surgical incisions ultimately become surgical scars, and we want these scars to be as hidden as possible. For the most part scars of the face are kept hidden within the hairline. This means that when performing facial plastic surgery on men, we need to consider the male hairline and how it can change over time. For example, a male facelift needs to take it to consideration that men commonly develop receding hairlines or become bald later in life. If a scar is please in same location we would place it on a woman, then this will be a very visible scar in situations of receding hairline for balding. As you can imagine, hiding face lift scars on men is much more difficult than women with long hair.

Similarly, in the case of a male tummy tuck, the abdominal scar is placed lower and more horizontal in men than in women. This is because we want the scar to be hidden beneath underwear and a bathing suit. In men this requires a lower and straighter scar as opposed to the tummy tuck scars in women that tend to follow a natural curve to their pelvic bones.

Recovery Restrictions

Any surgery requires restrictions during the recovery period. Cosmetic plastic surgery is no different. When operating on men, the recovery restrictions often need to be modified. There may be longer restrictions regarding heavy lifting and certain contact sports. Also, in general men tend to be less patient with recovery. This means that men tend to be more unwilling to restrict their activities. Therefore, the surgeon needs to be more specific about what male patients can and cannot do. This is not to suggest that female patients are not impatient sometimes, or that female patients do not engage in strenuous activity and contact sports. It just means that in general, male patients require more specific instructions and at times are less compliant with these restrictions.

Pain Management

Pain management tends to be an issue as well with many male patients. It has been documented now cosmetic surgery to be less tolerant of the pain during the recovery period. This is not to suggest that all male patients are bad with pain and all female patients are good with pain, since everyone is different and it is impossible to characterize peoples pain threshold simply based on gender. However, surgeons need to be aware that male patients overall tend to feel more pain during the recovery. And it is more difficult to control this pain. This means that multiple different medication’s may be required to control the pain.

Choosing your Plastic Surgeon

While the numbers of men requesting cosmetic surgery continues to rise, men still account for only 20% of all plastic surgery patients. This means that plastic surgeons still overwhelmingly have female patients. If you are a man interested in cosmetic surgery, you should be sure to choose a plastic surgeon who is board certified in plastic surgery and is experienced with male patients. This will help ensure that your surgeon will provide you with the most appropriate procedure sense as we discussed earlier, operating on man is very different than operating on women.

If you would like to discuss male plastic surgery with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced an operating on man, you can contact Dr. Matthew Schulman.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do men get Tummy Tucks?

Yes. Men get tummy tucks, but a tummy tuck in a man tends to be directed towards excess skin that can accompany weight loss. In women, a tummy tuck is targeting changes associated with pregnancy. However, this is not the case in men. This means that a tummy tuck in men tend to remove excess skin but there is usually not a requirement for muscle repair.

Is it common for men to have chest reduction surgery?

Chest reduction surgery is very common among men. It is designed to remove excess fat and breast tissue that can develop in men. In fact, up to 80% of adolescent boys experience excess breast tissue during puberty. A percentage of these boys do not see regression of this breast tissue and this can become bothersome to them. Male chess reduction is very common among males of varying ages.

What areas of the body can liposuction be performed on in men?

Liposuction can be performed on any part of the body where there is excess fat. In men, it is commonly the lower abdomen flags and lower back which is often referred to as the “spare tire”. But again, if you have excess fat of your neck, thighs, arms, or chest, liposuction may be an option for you.

Is there a procedure to give me a stronger jawline?

Jawline surgery is very common in men. This is because a strong jaw line is considered by many to be more masculine. The specific procedure will depend exactly on what you need done, but jawlines can be strengthened using injectable fillers, implants, or even surgery to move the jawbone.

References

January 29, 2021/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. Illness, death, social distancing and restrictions, workplace disruptions, and uncertainty has been the focal point of 2020 and will most certainly extend for a considerable amount of this coming year. Despite this, in my New York City Plastic Surgery Office, I am seeing upticks in the demand for plastic surgery. We are seeing increased demand for invasive plastic surgery procedures, increased demand for non-surgical procedures, and increased attention to specific areas of the body. My colleagues around the country are reporting similar observations. This is easily explained given the current circumstances. Let’s take a closer look at this.

Increased Demand for Invasive Procedures

There are many people who have been intending to have invasive surgical procedures like breast implants, tummy tucks, Brazilian Butt Lifts, and Mommy Makeovers. Having these procedures involves considerable planning, including time off of work or time away from parental obligations. These issues surrounding recovery, are usually the main reasons why people delay having the surgery procedures that they desire. Oftentimes, many years pass between when people decide to have a surgical procedure and when they actually have that procedure performed. It is common for patients to tell me that they “have been thinking about this for years”.

See Also Do I need a Tummy Tuck or Liposuction?

Changes From Covid Pandemic in Plastic Surgery

One of the main changes that has come from the COVID pandemic, is that people are working from home. This provides a unique advantage for those wanting plastic surgery. Now that people are working from home, they are able to recover from invasive procedures without having to take extended time off. This is because many people find it possible to effectively work from home after surgery, long before they would be comfortable physically going in to the office. When recovering from surgery, it is often difficult to get up, get dressed, drive or commute to work, be in an office, meet face-to-face with colleagues and colleagues, and then return home. This is the main reason why it is common to require two to three weeks off work while recovering from surgery. However, when working from home, the required time off can often be reduced to one week or less, simply by not having to physically go in to work.

Another important consideration when planning for plastic surgery is family considerations. If you are responsible for taking care of children, alternative arrangements need to be made. This can be difficult for many, especially if there are no friends or family available to assist you during your recovery. Now, since many people are working from home or have put off trips and vacations, it may be easier to find people who can help you or your family during the recovery period.

Additionally, many people have money available for surgery that they did not intend on having. This is because many people have cancelled vacations and are not eating out in restaurants. Current financial data indicates that many American families have significantly increased their savings. This has allowed people to find money that may have been reserved for something else, and now use it for their plastic surgery.

This all means that more people are finding time and money to have the surgical procedure they have been planning.

Increased Demand for Non-Surgical Procedures

For many reasons as detailed above, there is also an increased demand for non-surgical procedures. These include Botox, Fillers, Lasers, and chemical peels. This is because people have more time for recovery. While these procedures are not surgical, there is still associated recovery since some of these procedures can result in temporary bruising, swelling, and discomfort. For example, while botox is very well tolerated and often has no bruising, fillers may result in bruising for a few days or a week. Additionally, chemical peels to the face may cause irritation and peeling for a few days for a light peel to a few weeks for a deeper and more aggressive peel.

The recovery from non-surgical procedures is often considered “social recovery”. This means that there is often no pain and no restriction of activities. However, people have bruising and swelling that often makes them want to hide from friends and colleagues until they heal. This can mean avoiding seeing people and being in social gathering for a few weeks. Given current social distancing, social restrictions, and work from home, there is a unique opportunity for “social recovery” without missing out on anything. This is continuing to drive the increased demand for non-surgical procedures.

See Also Yes, Cosmetic Belly Button Surgery is a “Thing”

Increased Focus on Specific Body Areas

Another consideration for 2021 is that people are wearing face masks and will continue to wear face masks for the considerable future. This means that certain parts of the body will remain covered while in public. Areas of the face, such as lips, jawline, neck, and chin, which are common areas of complaints, become less noticeable to others. This has caused people to put off treatment of these areas. There are less demands for neck lifts, fillers to the lips, and chin augmentation. This makes sense since these areas are often covered by a mask and quite simply, “no one sees it”. In turn, there is increased focus towards the areas of the face that remain uncovered when wearing a mask. These areas are the forehead, eyes, and upper cheeks. There is increased demand for treating these areas with botox, fillers, or surgery. Botox can be injected into the forehead and around the eyes to reduce or eliminate lines and wrinkles. Filler can be injected under the eyes to reduce the appearance of eye hollows and eye bags. Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the eyelids, and is increasing in demand since the eyes are the center point of someone wearing a mask.

These are certainly unprecedented times we are living in. There is turmoil, uncertainty, and sacrifice. There is also unusual opportunity for some people, and this has caused an increased demand for surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. I have seen this as well as my colleagues across the nation. To meet this increased demands, many plastic surgeons have increased the number of consultations they are offering and increasing the number of surgery openings. This is all being done while maintaining the safety of our staff and our patients.

Contact Our Office

If you are looking to explore any surgical or non-surgical cosmetic procedures, we are here to help. To schedule your consultation appointment with Dr. Schulman today, or if you have questions or concerns regarding surgery, send our office an email or give us a call!

Reference

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-cosmetic-surgery-options-basics#1

September 13, 2020/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

As the popularity of plastic surgery procedures increases, so does your options for surgeons. Ideally, you would select a surgeon in your local area since it would be most convenient for your surgery and all the necessary pre-op and post-op appointments. However, the best surgeon for you is often not right down the street.

This means, that more and more people are electing to travel to the surgeon of their choice. Oftentimes, the surgeon in far enough away that it requires a very long car ride or even a plane trip. Many people are selecting surgeons that are in different states and even different countries. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but does require some additional considerations and planning.

Why choose a far-away surgeon?

The easy answer is that you think it is more important to select the best surgeon for your procedure, and their location does not make a difference to you. With the rise of the internet and social media, potential patients have exposure to surgeons from around the globe. Gone are the days where you picked your surgeon because your primary doctor recommended him or her, or your friend had gone to them. Now, there are so many internet resources to help you choose your own surgeon. This may be based on reviews or before and after photos. Your internet research will likely lead you to a surgeon that is many many miles away from you, especially if you are looking for an expert in a very specific procedure such as a Brazilian Butt Lift or Mommy Makeover. Sometimes people choose a surgeon based on cost, and if you happen to live in an area with a vey high cost of living, you may elect to travel to s surgeon in a region with lower prices.

There are many things to consider, when choosing to have your surgery far from your home, and it will certainly require additional planning. Continue reading to learn about these considerations.

How will you have your consultation

If you choose a surgeon who is far away, you need to think about how you even start the process of the consultation. Will the consultation be done virtually? If it is done virtually, who will be doing the consultation? Will it be with the doctor themselves or will it be with a nurse or assistant? Or will you be making a specific trip for an in-person consultation?

It is true for any consultation – in-person or virtual – that the consultation MUST be with the actual surgeon who will be performing your procedure. Only that specific surgeon is in a position to appropriately discuss the surgical plan and any risks of the procedure. If your consultation is not with the surgeon, I would strongly recommend re-evaluating your choice.

If your consultation will be virtual, you want to make sure that there is a designated time to be examined in-person by the surgeon prior to surgery. This means that you should be examined the day before the surgery, and not 5 minutes before the procedure. This will have given the appropriate time for any changes in the surgical plan to be made safely.

How will your travel for the surgery?

Will the distance require you take an airplane? If it does, you want to make sure that it will be safe for you to travel home in the same manner. Some surgeons will request that you avoid flying for a certain amount of time after a procedure. Also, some procedures may make airplane travel very uncomfortable. Also be aware that there are often traveling delays and you need to account for this possibility. Your flight may be delayed due to weather or other situations.

You may hit unanticipated road traffic. Make sure you allow extra time, and this usually means, planning to arrive to the area a few days BEFORE your surgery.

Where will you stay after the surgery and for how long?

Your surgeon will recommend the appropriate amount of time that you should stay in the area after your surgery. This may be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the complexity of the procedure. You may have sutures that need to come out or drains that need to be removed, and this may require that you stay even longer. You need to make the appropriate arrangements for wherever you are staying – hotel, friends/family, airBnB, recovery house.

Your surgeon will examine you and give you the clearance to return home when you are ready. But you need to also be prepared for the possibility that he or she may require you to stay longer if there are concerns or complications that need to be monitored.

Who will be accompanying you during your surgery?

As is the case with any surgery, you will need someone to help take care of you afterwards. When you are traveling for surgery, this will also mean that someone else will need to travel with you. You will need to find a family member or friend that is willing to make the trip and stay for as long as they are needed.

Who will you contact if there are concerns after you go home?

You want to make sure that you have the contact information of your surgeon. Certainly, there will be questions about your recovery and you need to make sure that someone will be available to answer those questions. Your surgeon should be available to you even if you are now 1000 miles away.

Does your surgeon have a colleague in your area who can assist in your care if needed?

In the event that you have a problem and need to be evaluated, your surgeon should be able to call a colleague in your area. Any reputable board certified plastic surgeon should be able to pick up the phone and call a colleague in an emergency. This is another reason why you should choose a respected Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Unless it is a true medical emergency, your surgeon should not be instructing you to go the nearest emergency room for care that can be provided in a profession setting with a plastic surgery colleague.

Where will your post-operative care be done?

There is a lot of post-operative care that is required for any plastic surgery procedure. This includes routine check-ups, suture removal, drain removal, scar treatments, etc. If you choose to travel to a surgeon in another area, you should be prepared to travel back to that surgeon for this routine post-operative care, unless he or she has made pre-arrangements with a local surgeon.

Cost Considerations

The main benefit to traveling for your surgery, is that you are able to select a true expert. In fact, about 35% of my patients come to me from distances over 500 miles away. However, you need to be aware of the additional arrangements and planning required. These also come with additional expenses, since you need to consider the cost of travel, cost of accommodations, and the costs associated with returning to that surgeon for routine (or non-routine) care.

Keep this in mind if your main motivation for traveling to have your surgery is the reduced cost, since when you factor in the additional costs, the savings may not be as much as you had thought.

Contact Schulman Plastic Surgery New York City

Dr. Schulman welcomes patients from all over the world. To start the process of your Virtual Consultation with New York City plastic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Schulman, visit our website.

August 25, 2020/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

2020 has brought some major changes to our lives. Whether we like it or not, social distancing, wearing a mask, and avoiding events is going to be with us at least for the near future. The medical field has also felt these new changes. In addition to COVID screening protocols for all patients, visitors, and staff, we have also significantly limited the number of in-person consultations. This has been done to minimize person-to-person contact, and so our part to help keep everyone safe. This has increased the popularity of “virtual consultations” with over 80% of our new consultations choosing this option.

See also What you need to know about selecting your Breast Implants

A virtual consultation means that instead of a new consultation coming to the office to be evaluated for their surgical procedure, they are evaluated in another way that eliminates person-to-person contact. This is also commonly referred to as “tele-medicine” or “tele-health”. This is done over an electronic device such as a phone or computer. There are several platforms that can accomplish this task, such as facetime, zoom, or just the telephone. During your virtual consultation, you will be evaluated by the medical professional as if you were right in the office. While there are clearly some limitations to these types of evaluations, it can be very accurate and very successful when a skilled provider is combined with a patient who is forthcoming about every detail. Every doctor has a different method of performing these types of visits.

Your virtual consultation with Dr. Schulman:

Dr. Schulman has been offering virtual consultations for about 10 years now. This is because many of his patients come from long distances, and virtual consults offered a unique convenience for his out-of-town patients. However, new COVID-related restrictions now make virtual consultations a good option for even local patients. Dr. Schulman has been able to refine his virtual consultation process over the past ten years to make it more efficient and accurate.

Read below to learn more about the specific Virtual Consultation process with Dr. Schulman:

Consultation Submission:

The initial step is complete an online virtual consultation submission form. This form is found directly on our website and asks for basic information about you, your medical and surgical history, and what procedure you are looking for. It also allows for submission of photographs so that Dr. Schulman can see the areas your are inquiring about. Out website contains instructions about how to properly take photographs and you can use our photo gallery as an example.

Initial Review Process:

After your submission is completed, your information and photographs will be personally reviewed by Dr. Schulman. Make sure to provide as much detail as possible, including dates of prior procedures. He will use all this information to determine if the requesting procedure is appropriate and safe. If you are a candidate for the procedure you are interested in, you will receive and email with more information about the procedure and details about available consultation dates and times.

If you are not a candidate for the procedure, you will also be notified by email with a brief reason why. Reasons why you may not be a candidate for the procedure may include that your current weight is about the safe limit, the procedure you are asking for is not the procedure that would give you the best results, you have medical problems or medications that would place you at increased risk for an elective cosmetic procedure.

Occasionally, you will be asked for more information. This is most common if you have had prior procedures that may affect the procedure you are inquiring about, and you did not list a date for that procedure. You may also be contacted if your photographs are lacking in quality and it makes it difficult to evaluate, or if you did not include photographs of the body part you are inquiring about. There is also the possibility that it is simply too difficult to evaluate you in this manner and you are better suited to have an in-person consultation. This is more likely if you have a very complicated medical or surgical history, or if the procedure you are asking for is a correction of a previous surgery.

Because every submission is reviewed by Dr. Schulman, it may 24-48 hours to receive a response. If you do not receive a response, be sure to check your spam folder!

Preparing for your Consultation:

After you have been deemed a candidate for your virtual consultation, you will be sent more detailed forms. These are the same forms that you would fill out if you were in our office waiting to be seen in person. These forms will ask for a more detailed medical and surgical history and will also outline important office policies.

You will also be sent information about how to pay for your virtual consultation. The submission process and Dr. Schulman’s initial review and approval are all done complimentary. However, our office does charge a consultation fee for your virtual consultation. A portion of this fee will be credited towards your surgery.

Your consultation:

Dr. Schulman prefers to perform his virtual consultations via telephone. He has found that this is the most reliable method of communication and eliminates normal internet “glitches” that tend to occur. It also allows you more flexibility in terms of where you are during the consultation since you don’t have to worry about proper lighting, a computer, or internet connection.

Dr. Schulman will call you at the scheduled time and day of your consultation. He will have already reviewed all your paperwork and your photographs and will also have those in front of him. Dr. Schulman will discuss your goals and what is, or is not, realistic for you. This is the exact process that would be done during in in-person consultation in his office. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions you wish.

After your consultation:

Immediately after speaking with Dr. Schulman, you will be transferred to a surgical coordinator. This coordinator will discuss pricing for the procedure you just discussed with Dr. Schulman, and will let you know what the surgical availabilities are. The coordinator will also review our booking and scheduling policies with you.

Pre-Operative appointment:

After you book your surgery, you will be offered a “pre-operative appointment”, usually about 3-4 weeks prior to your surgery. This pre-op appointment will be done in-person, so you will have the opportunity to meet with Dr. Schulman in the office. This is an important part of the process, since it allows you and Dr. Schulman to meet each other, and confirm that the virtual recommendations still apply.

Advantages to Virtual Consultations

Adhere to social distancing recommendations and minimize infectious risk
Obtain a consultation sooner than for an in-person consultation
Have the consultation from anywhere
More flexibility on days and times

Dr. Schulman has been performing virtual consultation for ten years, so this new trend is nothing new for him. There are certainly difficulties with performing virtual consultations, since it is not always possible to determine skin quality and other things from photographs. However, Dr. Schulman is skilled at this process and will let people know if a virtual consult is not for them. Currently, about 80% of new consultations opt for this method. This is a good option for those requesting tummy tucks, mommy makeover, Brazilian butt lifts, liposuction, and breast augmentations.

To start the process of your Virtual Consultation with New York City plastic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Schulman, visit our website.

July 23, 2020/in Plastic Surgery /by Dr. Matthew Schulman

The year 2020 has certainly been a difficult one. COVID-19 has changed the way we live and will continue to affect how we live for years to come. While some areas of the United States are seeing a recent uptick in the number of COVID cases, other areas continue to see a decline.

For those areas where the number of COVID cases remains low and in a decline, there is push to restart “normal” life. For most, this means back to work, back to school, back to retail shopping, and back to seeing friends and family.

For others, it also means, resuming the desire for Plastic Surgery in New York City . This may include non-surgical treatments such as Botox, fillers, facials, and lasers. It also includes surgical treatments such as liposuction, breast augmentation, mommy makeovers, tummy tucks, and Brazilian butt lifts. In fact, the demand for cosmetic procedures is very high. Let’s discuss why there is such an increased demand for surgical and non-surgical treatments, and whether or not it is something that is safe to do right now.

Please keep in mind that these thoughts are based on information that I have at this very moment, and things may change as facts change.

Demand for Cosmetic Procedures is High

The fact of the matter is that people have been isolated and socially distant for the past four months. This means that they have been unable to receive any of their routine beauty care. Many have been without facials, laser treatments, chemical peels, and botox for a longer stretch than ever before. The wrinkles and irregular pigmentation has likely returned, and the body hair is growing back. Many of these treatments require on-going sessions, and missing 4 months of treatments may set things back for them. As the social distancing restrictions lessen, people are eager to resume their regular beauty routine.

Additionally, during isolation, people may have become more self-critical. When we have nothing but time on our hands, sometimes it leads to us analyzing, or over-analyzing, ourselves. So, over the past four months, people may have become aware of things that they dislike about themselves and that they would like to change or improve upon. Scrolling photo-shopped pictures of Instagram “influencers” all day long certainly is not helping. After four months of isolation, sometimes something as simple as a botox injection is what people need to help them feel “normal” again.

The biggest reason why the demand for cosmetic procedures is at such a high level is time. Many people have more free-time than ever before. Schools are out. They may be out of work, have reduced work hours, or working from home. This means that school and work may not be a barrier for them anymore. They no longer have to worry about taking time off to heal and recover from a procedure. Their annual summer vacation is likely cancelled due to travel restrictions, so many people have a two to three week block of time that had already been cleared on their schedule that can no be used to recover from a procedure.

Now, I am certainly not saying that the social distancing associated with COVID-19 has made people who would never consider having plastic surgery now have plastic surgery. But, the circumstances of the last four months have likely help people who have been thinking about having something done finally take the next step.

So, is it safe and what precautions need to be taken?

When we discuss whether or not a procedure is “safe” to have during a COVID-19 pandemic, we are really talking about the risk of transmission between you and the medical staff; “If I get botox injections, am I at risk for catching COVID?” Surgical and non-surgical procedures can be done safely during this COVID-19 pandemic, but there are several important steps that you and your doctor need to take. Some procedures carry higher risks than others. Procedures centered around areas of the body where the virus lives, such as your nose, mouth, throat, and lungs, carries a higher risk than procedures of the breast and body. Also, these procedures can only be performed in geographic regions where it is allowed, based on the current number of COVID-19 cases.

You need to be COVID-free

This is the most fundamental thing to be concerned about. You want to be sure that you do not have COVID-19. This means that you are not actively infected. You want to be sure that you are without the most common symptoms of COVID-19. This includes fever, sore throat, cough, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, etc.

Because not everyone infected with COVID-19 has symptoms, you are also want to be sure that you have not been in contact with anyone who has had COVID within the previous 14 days or traveled to high risk countries or states. The list of high risk regions changes almost daily, so it is important to familiarize yourself with the current list on the CDC website. You will be required to wear a mask while in your doctor’s office as well.

Your Doctor’s office should be COVID-free

The staff at your doctor’s office should be taking the same precautions to make sure that everyone who you will encounter during your visit is also COVID-free. This means that the staff will be screened for COVID symptoms daily and also subjected to routine testing. The staff should also be wearing masks at all times to reduce your risk of exposure, since again, some people may be asymptomatic COVID carriers.

Medical offices are also taking precautions with any non-patient who enters the office. This means that entry to the office will be restricted to only patients and essential people. If someone doesn’t need to enter the office, they will be asked to stay outside. This includes delivery persons, postal workers, friends or family of patients, etc. Anyone who needs to enter the office will be subjected to a screening process to detect any COVID symptoms BEFORE they are permitted inside.

Social Distancing will occur inside the office and operating facility

Inside the office and operating facility, staff and patients will be socially distanced. Patients will come to the office alone. No friends or family will be permitted, in an attempt to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission.

Appointments will be spaced-out in a manner so that you should be the only patient in the office and any given time. This means that instead of there being 3-4 patients scheduled per hour, there may only be 1 patient per hour. This will eliminate your exposure to other patients and it will allow for complete disinfection of the room between patients.

However, this also means that appointments for your non-surgical procedure or surgical consultation will be much more limited, so expect there to be a much longer wait to get into the office.

The waiting room will also be modified. You will find six feet distance between chairs and couches will be for one person only. Items that can be a transmission point for the virus, have also been removed. These include magazines and skin care samples.

The Doctor will look different

Your doctor will be wearing full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). These include a mask and gloves. Depending on the specific procedure you will be getting, he or she may also have on a protective gown and a face shield.

Additional Precautions will be taken in the Operating Room

During a surgical procedure, additional precautions will be taken. These precautions are based on what we know today about the virus and how it can be spread. Your anesthesiologist will be protecting him or herself with a full face shield. You will have a surgical mask that will remain on throughout the entire procedure. The number of people in the operating room will be minimized during the times most risk for transmission of the virus – going to sleep and waking up.

The air circulation in the operating room will be modified to allow for additional filtration of the air so that any airborne virus is filtered out of the room. The operating room is always thoroughly cleaned between patients, but cases will be spread out to allow more time to do so. Essentially, every single patient will be treated as if they have the virus, and this is something we call in medicine “universal precautions”.

There also may be a limitation on the specific procedures that can be done in the operating facility. Procedures involving the nose remain at the highest risk, so you should check whether your surgeon is performing procedures like rhinoplasty.

Should you get tested for COVID-19?

This is a very difficult question since there still remains some issues surrounding testing. First of all, despite all the talk about how important testing is for controlling this virus, there is still many barriers to testing. Not everyone is able to get tested. In some regions, testing centers may not be abundant. Also, many states will only provide testing to people who are residents of that state. So, what if you are living in another state or visiting another state and you want to get tested?

It is possible that you will have difficulty.

More fundamental is the significance of the test. Keep in mind that not everyone who is infected with COVID-19 will have a positive test. There still will be false negatives, which is why it is so important to treat everyone as if they have it. Test results take anywhere form 2-5 days to get back.

So, if you get a negative result, it doesn’t mean you haven’t been exposed during the days between your test and your results. So, if you are going to be tested in preparation for your surgery or procedure, you really need to quarantine yourself from the time of the test to the time of the procedure. This can be difficult.

Until we had rapid tests that give results in under 2 hours and are 100% accurate, there will always be an issue with testing. Keep in mind that this is referring only to the RNA tests that specifically test for the virus. This is not referring to rapid antibody tests that are available.

Rapid antibody tests have their own shortfall. First of all, it only detects if you have antibodies to the virus, presumable indicating that you had been infected in the past. These tests are readily available and results can come in as little as a few minutes. However, the accuracy can be low. Also, there can be false positives, meaning that it can show antibodies that you have to other coronavirus, like the common cold, and not COVID-19. Most importantly though is the significance of a positive antibody?

What does it really mean if you have antibodies? All it means is that you MAY have had COVID-19. But, we don’t know if that means you cannot get it again. Many suspect that there is not going to be long-term immunity to COVID-19. You will likely be able to get it again in the future. So, while antibody testing is important if figuring out how many people may have had COVID-19, it probably means very little in terms of keeping you safe during your cosmetic procedure.

As you can see, there are some things we still do not understand about COVID-19, but medical offices are set up to protect you as best as possible. In fact, I would argue that having a procedure in a medical office, with trained medical professionals who understand infectious disease and sterile technique is exponentially less risky that going to the supermarket or the park.

Contact Schulman Plastic Surgery New York City

To learn more about having your surgical or non-surgical procedure in New York City with Dr. Matthew Schulman, please contact our New York City Plastic Surgeon office today.

Archive for category: Plastic Surgery

Top Post-Weight Loss Plastic Surgeries

Tummy Tuck Surgery

Liposuction

Breast Lift Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Upper Body Lift

Lower Body Lift

Other Procedures

Things to Know About Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss

1) You should be at or near your goal weight prior to surgery.

2) It’s important to wait at least a year after weight loss surgery before considering plastic surgery.

3) Be sure you’re following a balanced, healthy diet.

4) Chronic medical conditions may prohibit you from getting surgery.

5) Scarring is inevitable with most post-weight loss surgeries.

6) For women, it’s best to be done having children prior to surgery.

7) Your recovery time may be significant, so plan accordingly.

8) Some procedures may require an overnight stay in a hospital.

Is Plastic Surgery After Weight Loss Covered by Insurance?

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References

1. Brazilian Butt Lifts

The Brazilian Butt Lift Procedure

2. Breast Augmentation

The Breast Augmentation Procedure

3. Rhinoplasty

The Rhinoplasty Procedure

4. Liposuction

The Liposuction Procedure

5. Tummy Tucks

The Tummy Tuck Procedure

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What Testing is Required Before My Plastic Surgery?

What is Hemoglobin?

What Are the Symptoms of Anemia (Low Hemoglobin Levels)?

What Are the Causes for Anemia?

How Can I Treat My Anemia?

What Hemoglobin Level is Required for Surgery?

Questions and Answers

What is the lowest hemoglobin level for surgery?

What is a good hemoglobin level for BBL?

Can I have surgery if my hemoglobin is low?

Can you have Surgery with Low Iron?

What labs are needed for BBL surgery?

What is the minimum wbc count for surgery?

Book Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

What are the most common cosmetic procedures for men?

How are these procedures different in men?

Other Considerations for Male Plastic Surgery

Choosing your Plastic Surgeon

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do men get Tummy Tucks?

Is it common for men to have chest reduction surgery?

What areas of the body can liposuction be performed on in men?

Is there a procedure to give me a stronger jawline?

References

Increased Demand for Invasive Procedures

Changes From Covid Pandemic in Plastic Surgery

Increased Demand for Non-Surgical Procedures

Increased Focus on Specific Body Areas

Contact Our Office

Reference

Why choose a far-away surgeon?

How will you have your consultation

How will your travel for the surgery?

Where will you stay after the surgery and for how long?

Who will be accompanying you during your surgery?

Who will you contact if there are concerns after you go home?

Does your surgeon have a colleague in your area who can assist in your care if needed?

Where will your post-operative care be done?

Cost Considerations

Contact Schulman Plastic Surgery New York City

Your virtual consultation with Dr. Schulman:

Consultation Submission:

Initial Review Process:

Preparing for your Consultation:

Your consultation:

After your consultation:

Pre-Operative appointment:

Advantages to Virtual Consultations