Ask the Doctor

Plastic surgery is a surgical sub-speciality that deals with the healing and restoration of patients with injury, disfigurement or scarring resulting from trauma, disease or congenital defects. It includes aesthetic, or cosmetic surgery to correct or rejuvenate facial and bodily features not pleasing to the patient. Derived from Greek, the word plastic means molding or giving form and does not refer to the use of plastic materials.

This is a very frequently asked question: plastic surgery is the overall genre name for the whole speciality. Surgeons then choose the area they want to specialise in to become 'Cosmetic Plastic Surgeon' or 'Plastic and Reconstruction Surgeon'.

As the name suggests, reconstructive surgery tends to imply 'rebuilding' and incorporates all kinds of repair surgery from damaged hands, burns, cancers and so on.

Cosmetic surgery tends to include the many beautification surgical procedures that have become very familiar such as boob jobs, nose jobs, tummy tucks, liposuction etc.

Dermatologists specialise in skin, but the plastic surgeon has an equally important role of the treatment of benign and malignant tumours of the skin. The skills of a plastic surgeon are especially needed when large areas of the skin must be removed and replaced especially where disfigurement may result or when these areas are in conspicuous areas such as the face. Plastic surgeons also perform skin resurfacing techniques, for cosmetic purposes, in order to achieve healthier looking skin by reducing facial wrinkling and pigmentation changes of the skin.

This is always a bit of a minefield. Do your research thoroughly and take your time. Are they on the UK specialist register for plastic surgery? A number of general surgeons and even some medical doctors provide plastic surgery services due to the lack of UK regulation. Always try to see at least three plastic surgeons in consultation to get a feel for each one. Ask to speak to a previous patient who had the same surgery as you. The surgeon should show you a photo portfolio of previous work.

Some people make their choice on costs alone - unfortunately a decision some may end up regretting. Good luck with your search!

The recovery time for cosmetic surgery absolutely varies according to the procedure. Here is a rough guide to the recovery times for some of the most popular procedures:

• Upper TBT eye-lift - need about a week away from work as bruising can be an issue. Stitches out on day 4, the scar heals very quickly with the thin red line hidden in the natural socket fold.
• TBT face-lift - expect to take 2 weeks out. Swelling and bruising to be expected. Stitches out day 10.
• Breast augmentation - with the split muscle technique recovery is shorter, with a week to 10 days off. Stitches will be removed on day 14. Support bra needs to be worn day and night for 6 weeks. No heavy lifting/stretching/arm swinging for 3 weeks.

Generally scars 'mature' over the course of one year to a thin white line. But the time needed to recover is more than worth it if it gives you the beauty and confidence that are right for you. Your surgeon will be able to give specific advice and guidance - get in touch if you want to book a consultation.

As long as the patient maintains a healthy life-style, including exercise and a sensible diet, liposuction results are long lasting. Once the fat cells have been removed from an area there is no longer a preferential fat storage area and any fat gain will be distributed more evenly over the rest of the body.

As with any plastic surgery the results are determined by the quality of the surgery and top quality results only come from a professionally qualified plastic surgeon such as myself. If you're thinking about having any form of liposuction with me it is paramount that you contact me as soon as possible so that we can discuss all your options and make sure that liposuction surgery is the best option for you.

by Dr Dirk Kremer.

Jo asked on our Facebook page if having a threadlift is better than having a facelift.

The answer is that the thread lift and facelift are very different procedures - neither one is necessarily 'better' than the other. It depends on your circumstances and what effect you want to achieve.

The thread lift is good for those with early or mild to moderate skin laxity - or as a secondary facelift to refresh a primary surgery. Dissolvable barbs spaced along the suture anchor to the underside of the dermis and, when pulled backwards, apply gentle traction to the skin. Any skin excess is excised and the scar hidden in the hairline.

A surgical facelift or my TBT facelift, involve lifting the facial muscles, fat pads and excess skin leaving scars hidden behind the ear and in the hairline.

I am able to advise individuals on what is best for them specifically - contact me to book a personal consultation. If you have any further general questions, please get in touch through Facebook, Twitter or the "Ask the Doctor" form to the right!