The Science and Art of Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic plastic surgery is both a science and an art...

A science because it requires a solid foundation of medical and surgical knowledge to be able to achieve the best results with the least risk. To be able to gain this understanding of the complex intricacies of the craft of cosmetic surgery, a qualified plastic surgeon needs to have years of training in all aspects of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery...

He should complete an accredited 5-year residency program in plastic surgery. He may even choose to extend his formal education beyond these basic requirements, with post-graduate fellowship training. But technical skill and years ofexperience are not enough. A cosmetic plastic surgeon needs to be an artist. He has to have a sense of what is beautiful,what is pleasing to the eye. He must have creativity, imagination, meticulous attention to detail, and a sense of harmony and balance. His aesthetic judgement and ability to visualize the end result sets him apart from other surgeons. As an artist, the plastic surgeon is able to transform his given materials into something beautiful. Just like a painter uses his brush to create works of beauty on canvas, a cosmetic surgeon uses his scalpel and utilizes the most refined surgical techniques to transform flesh and achieve results that are pleasing to the eye of the beholder.

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Breast Augmentation: Is the Price Right?

When canvassing fees for breast augmentation, the uninformed patient often wonders why fees vary significantly from one surgeon to another. They often assume that it is only the professional fees of the surgeons that vary. Actually, there are a number of variables to consider when evaluating breast augmentation surgery package fees.

First of all, what kind of implant will the plastic surgeon use? There are many different kinds of implants available with corresponding prices, so make sure you aren't getting the basic, most affordable kind if you are paying a relatively high price. Most popular in the Philippines are the silicone gel implants (these are not silicone gel injections which I wrote about in a previous blog). Most of the breast implants available in the Philippines come from 3 countries: China, France, and Ireland. The most affordable implants come from China. These implants are of good quality and have been chosen by many of my patients who have limited budgets.

In the middle of the price range are the cohesive-gel implants made by McGhan corporation in Ireland and another European company, the Eurosilicone company from France. Top of the line anatomical cohesive-gel implants with multi-layered silicone shells, also made by the McGhan are on the high end of breast implant prices. So for implants alone, there is already wide range of costs.

Then, find out if the package fees include, aside from the professional fee of the surgeon, the professional fee of the anesthesiologist, cost of implants, medications and operating room expenses for either outpatient or hospital based surgery. When on a budget, you can save on operating room expenses by choosing to have your surgery done in a well equipped outpatient clinic. But for your safety and to ensure the success of your surgery, make sure you don't scrimp on the essentials: a skilled and experienced surgeon with an equally experienced anesthesiologist.

More on Breast Augmentation
How much will the surgery cost and will I be able to afford it?

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having affordable cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Augmentation Rhinoplasty

One of the most popular cosmetic procedures for Asians in augmentation rhinoplasty. Many Filipinos, especially those who reside in countries like the United States, the U.K., and countries in Europe, where nose bridges are commonly very high, get a boost of self-confidence and feel more attractive when they have their noses surgically enhanced. Indeed, since the nose occupies the prominent central area of the face, it determines to a major extent whether the face is considered attractive or not, and a higher nose bridge makes a big difference in the overall balance and appearance of the face.

A big difference, yes, but unfortunately, not always a positive difference. Augmentation rhinoplasty is a deceptively simple operation. Thus, many doctors who have not had special training in plastic surgery think they can easily do it well. After all, what could be so difficult about placing an implant to increase the bridge of the nose?

As any well trained and experienced plastic surgeon can explain, rhinoplasty is one of the most delicate plastic surgery operations. Everyone has a different nose and the plastic surgeon should evaluate the structure of your nasal bones and cartilage, the shape of your face, your skin, and your age since these factors influence his decisions about what techniques to use for the surgery to get the desired result.

Although rhinoplasty usually takes only an hour or two, this operation is difficult to learn and difficult to perform well. A skillful surgeon knows where to make incisions so that they will be practically invisible after healing. With proper technique, scar tissue doesn't interfere with achieving the desired results. A skillful surgeon also knows where to make incisions to minimize the amount of bleeding during the operation. The surgeon can have better results when there is less bleeding because he can clearly see what needs to be done. An experienced surgeon also knows how to minimize intraoperative swelling. Swelling can make it hard for the surgeon to see what the nose's final shape will be and what needs to be done during surgery.

Not only does the plastic surgeon need to be an expert on the "science" of this operation, he must also be an artist. There is so much artistry involved in the planning and execution of this operation. The best plastic surgeons carve an implant especially for each patient in the right size and shape to create a new nose that will look natural. Your surgeon must have a fine aesthetic sense such that the surgical results of your nose operation will appear natural and unnoticeable. The new nose should look like it "fits" together with the rest of your features.

With this need for surgical skills, aesthetic judgement, sense of beauty, and an ability to visualize the end result, untrained doctors find out that augmentation rhinoplasty isn't so easy after all.

Read more of these articles:
If You are Considering Rhinoplasty
How much will the surgery cost and will I be able to afford it?

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon and having cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines

Cheap Plastic Surgery, Anyone?

Type "cheap plastic surgery" in Google Suggest's search box and you'll see that so many people are searching for plastic surgery that is CHEAP. Price is definitely a factor when considering elective surgery and deciding to have cosmetic surgery is not the same as having "no choice" surgeries like appendectomies.

But any surgery is still surgery and has some uncertainty and risk involved, no matter what a "cheap" plastic surgeon says. When price is the primary factor for choosing a plastic surgeon, risks increase. Like most things in life, quality doesn't come cheaply. The success of your surgery is largely dependent on your choice of surgeon and professional qualifications and experience should be your main consideration in selecting your plastic surgeon. Even when you go to popular clinics where a number of surgeons practice as a group, take a look at the qualifications of the particular surgeon who will be handling your case.

Good plastic surgeons may charge relatively affordable fees, especially if they practice in Asian countries like the Philippines, where cost of living expenses are low and if they can keep overhead costs low by having modest outpatient surgery clinics. But think twice if the surgeon you're considering charges much lower than other plastic surgeons in the same country. Especially if the procedure to be done is in the face, like a rhinoplasty (nose surgery), blepharoplasty (eye surgery) or rhytidectomy (face lift), you could end up having to stare at your cheap plastic surgeon's mistakes in the mirror every day. No wonder there are also so many searches made for "awful plastic surgery".

Read more of these articles:
How to Select a Qualified Plastic Surgeon
The Cosmetic Surgery Scene in the Philippines

Please feel free to email Dr. Lasa if you have any questions.

Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Philippines
Information about procedures, prices, selecting a qualified surgeon
and having cosmetic plastic surgery in the Philippines