Posts From The Loudoun Center
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Lip Surgery: Good Idea? By: Michael J. Brown, MD
Have you seen the show “Teen Mom”? I’m asking because one of the former teen moms from the show was in the news in recent weeks for an entirely different reason: a botched lip implant procedure. The teen mom, Farrah Abraham, even decided to share photos of the results online. She ended up with what seems to be an allergic reaction. Her top lip became quite swollen. The swelling was so much that the result was quite shocking. The photo has made the rounds online. (It is not clear whether her reaction was to the anesthetic or to the silicone used in the implant. She said that the reaction started after the anesthetic was injected. Thankfully, in her case, the swelling was fixable. She looks more like herself now!) This case is just one more that shows the importance of knowing the risks involved with any procedure. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) has even started a campaign to raise awareness. They want to ensure that people know how to make good decisions when it comes to plastic surgery. One part of this campaign is for the ASPS to give examples of what happens when surgeries go wrong. People need to be aware because sometimes these types of problems can be fixed, but sometimes the botched results are permanent. Another aspect of the campaign is helping people make better decisions when it comes to plastic surgery. Many great plastic surgeons find that a lot of their time is spent fixing botched procedures performed by others. Much of this could be avoided if people spent more time researching their surgeon. It would also be good if people went into every procedure with realistic expectations and with a good understanding of the risks involved.
Image via Twitter
Lip Surgery: Good Idea? To answer the question we opened with, lip implants can be an option, but, like any other procedure, it pays know what you’re getting into. First, research the plastic surgeon you’ll be working with. Next, be sure you understand the risks involved. Researching a plastic surgeon is not something everyone thinks of. After all, if someone is a doctor, instinct tells us we should be able to trust that person to do their job well. Unfortunately, not all plastic surgeons get certified. Even ones that are certified may offer procedures they do not have much experience with. It’s smart to ask about a surgeon’s certification. Is he certified with the ASPS? It’s also smart to ask about how many times he’s performed the procedure you would like. And how many times his patients have experienced complications. Then follow up with what complications are common and what the risk level is. Even Farrah Abraham agrees: sources say that Abraham is viewing this situation as a reason to be more careful next time. She’s doing more research now. This advice holds true even for someone like Abraham who has had multiple cosmetic procedures in the past. It’s never too late to be more careful.