Articles Index

Facial Reconstruction After Skin Cancer Surgery

After a battle with skin cancer (including successful surgery to remove the skin cancer, reconstructive surgery is often needed. This is especially true when cancerous lesions have been removed from as visible and important an area as the face. Learn more about facial reconstructive surgery after skin cancer removal.

What Happens During Post-Mohs Reconstructive Surgery

After having Mohs surgery to remove skin cancer, you may require post-Mohs reconstructive surgery. This type of reconstructive plastic surgery can performed immediately after any skin cancer lesions are removed using the Mohs surgery technique. Learn more about what happens during post-Mohs reconstructive surgery.

The Use of Flap Techniques in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery

If you have suffered tissue loss as a result of a traumatic injury, skin cancer excision, or mastectomy, your doctor may recommend a flap technique to be used in your reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive plastic surgery employs many types of skin flaps to replace lost tissue. Learn more about the use of flap techniques in reconstructive surgery.

Herbal Supplements to Avoid Before Surgery

Did you know that taking some herbal supplements in the two weeks before or after having surgery can be dangerous? Most people don't think about the risks of mixing herbal supplements and surgery, but surgeons are trying now to make patients more aware of the dangers.

Cellulite Treatments That Work

Did you know that 85-95% of all adult women are at least somewhat affected by cellulite? There are hundreds of products, procedures, and treatments promising to get rid of cellulite. There are cellulite creams, cellulite massage treatments like Endermologie and Velasmooth, and even liposuction, Smart Lipo, and other forms of cellulite surgery. But do any of them actually work? Find out which cellulite treatments help, which ones don't, and which treatments are still unproven.

The Skinny on Cellulite

The majority of adult women are affected to some degree by cellulite. However, most people don't really understand what causes cellulite or what it really is.

The Emotional Aftermath of Plastic Surgery

Too many prospective plastic surgery patients fail to consider the emotional aspects of cosmetic surgery. There are positive emotional effects, to be sure, but most people tend to forget about the possible psychological ramifications of undergoing major surgery to improve one's looks. The phenomenon of post-op depression is real, but its effects can be minimized if patients are prepared for the possibility.

The Truth About Cellulite "Cures"

I'm sure you've seen the ads promising that you can "say goodbye to cellulite" by applying a cellulite creeam, taking a cellulite pill, or having a series of injections to "melt" the offending lumpy, dimpled fat on your thighs and buttocks. But do these treatments work? How safe and effective are treatments like mesotherapy, herbal cellulite supplements, and cellulite creams?

My Nose Job: A Guide's Story

Rhinoplasty is one of the most popular facial cosmetic procedures performed today, and was actually one of the first ever performed. Your About.com Guide to Plastic Surgery is no stranger to going under the knife. Here, I share my own experience and personal reflections on what my new and improved nose has meant to me over the past 18 years.

Bad Plastic Surgery: What to Do if It Happens to You

How do you know if you've been a victim of bad plastic surgery? And what should you do if it happens to you? There are steps you can take if you think you've been a victim of plastic surgery gone wrong.

Skin Grafts in Reconstructive Surgery

Skin grafts are a staple of reconstructive surgery for trauma survivors, burn victims, and patients who have undergone breast reconstruction or other cancer surgery.

The History of Plastic Surgery

In the broadest sense, plastic surgery has been a reality ever since the first primitive tribal tattoo, ritualistic body modification, or crude attempt at reconstruction to repair facial injuries. However, it wasn't until the late 1800s - early 1900s that the world began to see significant scientific advances in the ancient art of plastic surgery.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder is estimated to affect 1-2% of the world's population, and is unfortunately and inextricably tied to the psychological aspects of plastic surgery. Of those people who could be considered "plastic surgery addicts", it is likely that a large portion may be suffering from the psychological disorder known as BDD.

Ethics in Plastic Surgery

Like all doctors, plastic surgeons must take the Hippocratic Oath, and are bound by the same laws regarding patient consent, privacy, and the like. However, plastic surgery presents its own unique set of ethical issues that in large part have more to do with psychology than with surgery.

Unmet and Unrealistic Expectations

Your expectations have a lot to do with the "success" of your surgery. How realistic they are is one thing. Yet you should also consider how well prepared you are for the possibility of your expectations not being fully met, even if they were realistic to begin with.

What is Plastic Surgery?

Learn about the origin and meaning of the term "plastic surgery", including the definition, etymology, arguments for and against, and things to consider if you are deciding whether or not to undergo plastic surgery.

Red Flags

Okay, so the plastic surgeon you are seeing has great marketing and a plush office in a prestigious zip code. He's even been on TV a couple of times. He has to be wonderful, right? Not necessarily. Read on to find out about the "red flags" which may be your first clue to think twice and investigate further before you sign up for your turn on the operating table.

Patient Safety: Lifestyle Factors

How you take care of yourself can affect every area of your life, but it's especially important when you are considering undergoing plastic surgery. Read about how what lifestyle can mean to your safety on the operating table, your recovery time, and the outcome of your surgery.

Wanna Look Like a Star?

Stars are no strangers to plastic surgery, even though they are usually sporting looks very close to what the rest of us would like to see as our "after". Scores of regular people walk into plastic surgeons' offices clutching dog-eared copies of celebrity gossip magazines, asking the surgeon if he can give them the perky nose of this year's hottest starlet. Here are some things to consider before you start clipping out those celebrity photos.

Risks & Rewards of Plastic Surgery

The potential rewards of plastic surgery are varied, and to some patients, great. However, so are the potential risks. Explore both sides of the plastic surgery debate, and perhaps you will have an easier time deciding if it could be right for you.

Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children around the world who suffer from cleft lip and/or cleft palate deformities.

11 Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

It's important to know the right questions to ask when making a decision about something as important and potentially life-altering as plastic surgery. Find out what you really need to know and why before choosing a plastic surgeon to perform your cosmetic procedure.

Breast Implant Rupture and Deflation

It's true - breast implants are not forever. Implants deflate and rupture all the time. Learn why breat implant deflation and rupture happen, and find out how you can know if your breast implant has ruptured.

Bad Plastic Surgery

Nobody wants to be a victim of plastic surgery gone wrong. We see news stories about bad plastic surgery all the time. In fact, there are entire websites devoted to awful plastic surgery or celebrity plastic surgery. But what is the reality of bad plastic surgery?

Breast Revision Surgery

Breast revision surgery is a growing plastic surgery specialty, and a large percentage of breast augmentation patients will eventually need or desire breast revision. From implant size changes and implant rupture to capsular contracture and undesirable cosmetic issues like rippling, drooping, double bubble, symmastia, and bottoming out, women are coming in to surgeons' offices requesting a breast augmentation re-do.