A Guide to In-Office Plastic Surgery
The Rise of In-Office Cosmetic Procedures
As we had discussed last month, Plastic Surgery amongst Baby Boomers has become increasingly popular over the last two decades for several reasons. To that effect, plastic surgeons are also seeing a rise in cosmetic procedures being performed inoffice, which offers a variety of benefits as compared to performing such procedures in a hospital or surgery center setting. Here, we will outline some of those advantages and review the latest trend in Plastic Surgery, that is the rise of in-office cosmetic procedures.
Why are In-Office Procedures so popular? In-office procedures offer several distinct advantages compared to the hospital or surgery center setting:
1. First, and perhaps the biggest advantage, would be that in-office procedures require no general anesthesia. In other words, you will not be put to sleep and the procedure can be comfortably performed entirely with local numbing injections. For folks that are either too unhealthy or apprehensive to undergo general anesthesia, procedures performed in-office represent a great option.
2. Secondly, the price associated with inoffice procedures is often considerably lower than the cost associated with utilizing the hospital or surgery center. This means the patient saves money on both facility fees and the cost of general anesthesia. You can expect to save several hundred dollars, at least, with this method.
3. Thirdly, the ease of scheduling a procedure in-office grants more flexibility than that of a surgery center or hospital setting. This allows the patient more freedom when making that important decision to schedule their procedure.
4. Lastly, the overall experience associated with performing a procedure in-office is often more pleasant than that of a hospital or surgery center. In general, the office setting affords a more personal and concierge-type service compared to the
hospital or surgery center setting.
What Plastic Surgery procedures can be performed in-office? What do they cost? Now that we have outlined the multiple benefits of in-office procedures, the question remains what procedures can be safely and effectively performed in an office setting. In no particular order, here they are with a brief description and their “ballpark” cost:
1. Facelift (mini-lift) – skin, muscle, and fat trimmed and/or repositioned to create a more youthful appearance. Cost: $6500
2. Upper Blepharoplasty (eyelid lift) – skin and/or fat removed from the upper lid to refresh the eyes. Cost: $3000 (Fig.1)
3. Lower Blepharoplasty – skin removed, and fat repositioned to rejuvenate the undereye region. Cost: $3000
4. Nose Alar Base Reduction – soft-tissue removed from the nostril to narrow the base of the nose. Cost: $2000
5. Surgical Lip Lift – skin removed from the upper “white” lip to improve overall lip shape. Cost: $2500 (Fig. 2)
6. Buccal Fat Pad Removal: mid-face fat pad removed from the cheeks to slim the face and improve contour. Cost: $2000
7. Chin Implant – medical grade implant used to augment the chin and balance the profile. Cost: $2500
8. Submental Liposuction – fat removed from the neck to improve profile and sharpen jawline contour. Cost: $2000
9. Otoplasty (ear pinning) – skin and/or cartilage removed from ear to improve shape. Cost: $2000
10. Scar Revision – resection of unfavorable scars plus meticulous suturing used to improve appearance. Cost: $1500
11. Ear Lobe Repair – repair of split or torn
ear lobes. Cost: $1200
12. Mole or Skin Lesion Removal – surgical excision of unwanted skin lesions. Cost: $1000
13. Chemical Peel (medium-deep) – skin resurfacing procedure to improve texture, tone, and discoloration of the skin. Cost: $1000
Note: the above procedures vary in their cost, risks, downtime, and results. That said, the in-office procedures listed above typically require 1-2 hours to perform, have a high safety profile, and have minimal associated “social” downtime usually no more than 1-2 weeks. More extensive procedures (e.g., facelift) or combination procedures (e.g., Upper and Lower Blepharoplasty) may require additional time for healing. Of course, these are generalities, so please ask your surgeon for specifics regarding your procedure.
What if I am interested in an in-office cosmetic procedure?
Whether you are considering a facelift to look your best for your daughter’s upcoming wedding, or whether you are interested in a blepharoplasty to rejuvenate your eyes, you should consult with a physician who has specialty training in the area you are looking to improve. Furthermore, ensure your doctor is well versed in both surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures so that you are guaranteed a comprehensive evaluation.
Lastly, choose a surgeon whom you trust. There is nothing more important than the relationship you have with your physician.
In Good Health,
Dr. Blake Raggio Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon128 Mitylene Park Ln. Montgomery, AL 36117 334-373-3611
www.ALplasticsurgery.com
Dr.Raggio@alplasticsurgery.com
