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Preparing for Plastic Surgery

Bloomfield Hills, MI – So you’ve made the decision to undergo plastic surgery. Congratulations! Plastic surgery can improve your life by helping you look and feel your best, but it is important to remember that any surgery is a serious procedure. There are several things you should do to prepare.

“I like to make sure that all of my patients are well-prepared, both mentally and physically, prior to their surgery,” says Dr. Ali, a Michigan plastic surgeon. “We want to ensure the best results following your procedure, so there are a few things you should do beforehand for that to happen.”

Three weeks before your surgery

  1. Stop smoking. Smoking can cause serious complications because it constricts blood flow. Serious complications can happen during your procedure, and smoking following your procedure can impede healing. Do not resume smoking until your surgeon gives you permission. This will ensure your incision heals correctly.
  2. Stop drinking. Drinking, like smoking, can slow down your body’s ability to heal and can also lower your immune system. Alcohol can also thin the blood, making you more likely to bleed excessively during your procedure.
  3. Make a list of any medications you take, including over-the-counter and herbal remedies. Some medications can interfere with proper blood clotting, or anesthesia. Providing a complete list of medications will prevent negative interactions.
  4. Be sure you are eating a healthy diet. Salicylates can be found in many foods, and can affect the blood and lead to excessive bruising. Cut out foods such as tea, coffee, dried herbs, black pepper, strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, and fruit juices.

Two weeks before your surgery

  1. Stop taking any medications that could lead to excessive bleeding. These include aspirin and ibuprofen, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-coagulants, and internally ingested vitamin E.
  2. Increase your vitamin intake. Vitamin A can boost your immune system, while vitamin C can boost wound healing properties. Bromelain can help reduce swelling. If you have any questions, ask your surgeon which vitamins will be most helpful.

One week before your surgery

  1. Limit your sodium intake. Sodium can lead to swelling, and may prevent your body from healing as quickly as it otherwise would.
  2. Eat a healthy diet, rich in fruits, vegetables and protein. What you eat can be a great help in your healing process.
  3. Fill all prescriptions. This can be helpful, and prevent you from having to run to the pharmacy while recovering from a tummy tuck or other procedure. You may experience pain after your surgery, and will want all medications ready right away.
  4. Buy any post-surgical garments you may need. Some procedures require special garments to aid in healing. If your surgeon’s office doesn’t provide those, be sure you purchase them before the day of your surgery.
  5. If you are having a facelift or other facial procedure and color your hair, you may want to schedule a touch-up appointment as close to your surgery date as possible. You won’t be able to visit the salon until your incision has completely healed, so it may be a while until you can have your hair touched up.

In the days leading up to your surgery, be sure you are using a plain soap to clean the surgical area well. If you are having a breast augmentation, do not shave under your arms in the days leading up to your surgery to limit your risk of developing an infection.

The night before your surgery, be sure to get plenty of rest. You won’t be able to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before your procedure to avoid risks with your anesthesia. If you are having facial surgery, you may wash your hair the night before, but avoid putting any hair spray or other product in.

Be sure you’ve made arrangements for someone to drive you home following your procedure.

The day of your surgery you may brush your teeth as normal. Do not use make-up, deodorant, lotions, or other beauty products. Remove all jewelry. If you wear contacts, take them out and wear your glasses for the day. Loose fitting clothing will be the most comfortable following your procedure. If you are having a facial procedure, you may wish to have a scarf and/or dark glasses to wear after.

If you have any questions about how to prepare for your surgery, don’t hesitate to ask your surgeon. Failing to follow your surgeon’s instructions can impede your body’s ability to heal, and may impact your results.

© 2016 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

Look Younger with a Non-Surgical Facelift

Bloomfield Hills, MI – As you’ve aged, you’ve probably noticed that your face has lost some of its fullness and volume. As that happens, you also lose skin laxity, resulting in the appearance of folds and jowls in your skin.

As the fat in our faces atrophies over the years, it results in wrinkles and folds that can make us look much older than we actually are. But the good news is, you don’t have to undergo an extensive plastic surgery procedure to gain back your youthful look. You can achieve a full, younger looking face with what is known as a liquid facelift.

Dr. Ali, a Michigan plastic surgeon, uses FDA approved facial fillers to correct the areas of the face affected by natural aging. This non-surgical facelift is a great alternative to a traditional facelift, but perhaps the best part is there is little to no recovery time.

Facial fillers work to lift, smooth, re-contour and add fullness back to the face. It is important to note that a liquid facelift, while effective, cannot correct major signs of aging, such as sagging eyelids and heavy jowls. A liquid facelift is appropriate for those with moderate signs of aging.

Aging naturally results in the loss of collagen and elastin, which creates sagging features. Injecting fillers, such as Juvederm, Radiesse or Restylane, can lift and contour the features to reduce wrinkles and folds, restore a face to a more youthful fullness, and provide a more rested look.

Depending on your needs, your surgeon may use fillers to lift the entire face, or to lift and contour specific features. Your surgeon can mask bags under your eyes or can open up your eyes by lifting your eyelids. Flattened cheeks can be filled out, and even bumps on your nose can be hidden.

Dr. Ali will use the type of facial filler that can best meet your goals.

  • Collagen is a natural protein that supports the skin, and injectable collagen is available in different formulas. Results from these can last for two to four months.
  • Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body and is an ideal injectable for filling facial creases, and some surface wrinkles. Juvederm and Restylane are this form of injectable, which can last six months or longer.
  • Hydroxylapatite is naturally found in bones and is the heaviest of the facial fillers. It is best for deeper creases and frown lines, and can be used to enhance the cheeks to provide a fuller looking result.
  • Human fat can also be harvested from your body and re-injected. Because it uses liposuction to extract the fat, it is a more extensive procedure than other filler options.
  • PMMA are a mix of microspheres suspended in purified collagen, and is recommended to improve the look of smile lines.
  • Sculptra is a synthetic biocompatible material that can improve skin thickness and reduce the appearance of folds. Results from using Sculptra can last up to two years.

Tenderness and redness may be present at the injection sites following a liquid facelift. Very rarely, a patient may experience negative side effects, such as an allergic reaction or infection.

Results are immediate, however, they are not permanent. To maintain the new appearance, patients will need to have touch-ups with Dr. Ali periodically.

If you’re ready to once again face the world with a more youthful look, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali today to see what a liquid facelift can do for you.

© 2015 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

No Smoking

Why You Should Avoid Smoking Before and After Surgery

Bloomfield Hills, MI – Smoking is bad for your health, but did you know that smoking can be particularly dangerous both before and after plastic surgery?

Smoking introduces carbon monoxide into your body, which then affects your tissue. Nicotine from cigarettes and other tobacco products acts as a vasoconstrictor, limiting the amount of oxygen your blood vessels can carry to your body.

“Patients should stop smoking before plastic surgery,” says Dr. Ali. “It’s best to stop using tobacco several weeks before any procedure, and to refrain from smoking for several weeks following it, as well.”

Patients who smoke up until surgery can face complications during surgery, as well as longer healing times and worsened scars post-surgery. Smoking compromises our circulation, which can lead to skin breakdown before and after surgery. Additionally, smokers have a higher rate of post-surgery infection, and impaired healing can cause scarring, skin loss and necrosis.

While quitting smoking before surgery is recommended prior to any procedure, there are some where it is even more critical to ensure success. For instance, some surgeons may opt not to perform facelifts on patients because of the negative effects. The face has so many tiny capillaries that require good blood flow to aid in healing, and smoking can restrict positive blood flow, making recovery and healing harder.

During plastic surgery, your skin or other tissues will be moved, which results in altering of blood supply. Blood vessels may get divided and moved around to create the best look and shape. If the desired amount of oxygen can’t reach the area, the tissue may heal improperly or even die.

And this is true even if you’ve never before experienced issues in healing. Complications following plastic surgery are much higher than other procedures, precisely because tissues are being moved and blood supplies are being altered.

It’s also important to remember that smokers are not the only ones who need to worry about these issues. Using nicotine of any kind, including the patch, can affect your results. Patients should stop using nicotine of any kind until given the okay by their surgeon.

Some surgeons refuse to perform surgery on smokers altogether due to the deleterious effects of smoking, or make their patients sign a contract stating they won’t smoke for a certain period of time before and after their procedure.

It’s important to be completely honest with your surgeon about your nicotine habits so he can create a treatment plan that will offer the best outcomes. To avoid complications during surgery, as well as longer recovery times and worsened scars, following all of your surgeon’s directions regarding abstaining from nicotine products.

© 2015 Millionairium and Dr. Ali. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Millionairium and Dr. Ali are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.