Posted on December 15, 2010 in Body, Dr. Zubowski, Face, Facelift, Latest News, Liposuction, Media Appearances, Office News, Uncategorized
Q: Why does it seem like plastic surgery is becoming more and more affordable with better technology, but the opposite happens for the rest of medicine?
A: Like most things, the cost of cosmetic surgery continues to increase over time. Likely due to reality TV, plastic surgery has become more mainstream and is not something people feel they need to hide.
Therefore we simply hear more about it now. And buyer beware! Cheap prices may reflect a lack of training and board-certification.
Q: Where do you draw the line and refuse to perform the type of procedure that your patients request?
A: Whenever a patient is unrealistic in their expectations, no good will come from a surgical procedure. People who want a procedure and simply are not candidates do not get a procedure. Liposuction in a morbidly obese patient is a good example. Breast augmentation for a woman who already is a DD cup is another.
With some procedures like rhinoplasty (nose job), I will morph an expected result for a patient and based on their response, I will might refuse to do it.
Q: Do you foresee a time when the rates of plastic surgery for men catch up to those for women, or at least are close?
A: Never. Wrinkles, bulges, bald spots — most men don’t care enough to ever do anything about it. Interestingly though, as the workforce ages and more and more men are working longer, we are seeing more men having surgery to look younger — to help stay competitive in the workplace — for right or wrong.
Q: Which procedures are most common among men?
A: Liposuction of abdomen and love handles, blepharoplasty (eyelift), and facelifts.
Q: Do you think more people would be willing to try cosmetic surgery if some services were offered as outpatient rather than inpatient procedures?
A: Every cosmetic surgery procedure that I perform is outpatient. You come and have the surgery and go home the same day. You do have to return in the morning for a check up. This is how most plastic surgeons operate. If you go to a really upscale practice, you may have overnight accommodations — some rivaling the Four Seasons — but you will pay for it.
Q: What age is too young for plastic surgery?
A: This is controversial but I would say anything under 18 years old. Younger for congenital deformities, but there is something to be said for letting an adult make a decision for themselves. I have yet to see to a cosmetic “emergency” that needed a procedure STAT and couldn’t wait a year or two.
Q: What procedures are most likely to result in “I’m so glad I had it done!” and which tend to give rise to “What was I thinking?” regrets?
A: Most patients who are well informed and are realistic about their procedure are happy they did it. Those in the unhappy crowd often have had procedures with the terms “short scar,” “no downtime,” or “lunch time” attached to them. There is no free lunch.
Q: Does plastic surgery always produce a scar which must be hidden?
A: Always.
Q: What is the best bargain in plastic surgery? Which procedure would give most people the most satisfaction and improvements for the amount of time and money spent?
A: Harder to answer. It really depends what it is that bothers you. Taking all comers, botox for certain wrinkles is the best bargain. It eliminates the wrinkles for up to 4 months and does not require any surgery and therefore downtime.
Posted on December 9, 2010 in Body, Dr. Zubowski, Face, Facelift, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Latest News, Liposuction, Media Appearances, Microdermabrasion, Non Surgical Procedures, Skin Care
1. Liposuction does not replace working out, but it definitely can remove fat from areas that exercise tends to miss (like the chest and love handles).
2. Your results from lipo will be best if you continue regular work at the gym after the procedure.
3. Calf implants and pec implants tend to migrate with time and have other problems. Better to use liposuction to sculpt the surrounding areas, and make the pecs and calfs appear more distinct.
4. Lipo cannot make your abs look like Schwarzenegger’s, but it can bring you close to where you were in college.
5. You will probably have better results from reshaping rather than lifting. This will give you a more chiseled and angular masculine look.
6. Even if you have wrinkles and sagging on your face, you probably do not need a facelift. In some cases, facelifts make men look feminized. Better to have a neck lift, brow lift, and work on the eyes.
7. A chemical peel, which can be done without general anesthetic, is not a “facial” and can get rid of fine lines, uneven tone, and blotchiness.
8. Botox is not only administered at parties. And it can erase wrinkles as well in men as in women.
9. You will probably be happiest with subtle changes, that make you look more refreshed and youthful, rather than dramatically altering your appearance.
10. You will have to set aside some time to recover from your procedure. Impatience leads to complications
Posted on September 15, 2010 in Body, Botox, Breast, Dr. Zubowski, Face, Facelift, Laser Hair Removal, Liposuction, Media Appearances, Microdermabrasion, Non Surgical Procedures, Office News, Tummy Tuck
Summer has come to a close and I am looking ahead to the holiday seasons. In fact, some of my patients have come up with a novel way to insure that they will be at their personal best for the upcoming rounds of parties, meetings and events. They’re giving the love of their lives (and themselves) a cosmetic enhancement makeover.
At the Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, we’ve designed a Couple’s Refresher that includes the cosmetic enhancement procedure which each partner desires. Before scheduling your Couple’s Rejuvenation consultation, it’s important to discuss with your partner your desire to provide this long lasting gift of self-improvement and empowerment, along with gauging his or her enthusiasm for this project.
The process moves forward with a dual patient consultation, during which we’ll discuss the advantages of couples getting procedures within months of each other, including a discounted surgery rate. I’ll explain what each patient can realistically expect from their respective procedures. We will stagger the surgeries so that while one partner is healing the other provides post-surgical home care and later can reverse roles. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) recommends that anyone considering an aesthetic surgery procedure carefully weigh not only the benefits, but the risks of the procedure as well. Since we welcomed our very first patient through our doors nearly 25 years ago, we routinely go over these two critical factors at every initial consultation at our Paramus NJ center.
At the Robert Zubowski MD Center for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery we believe that an educated patient is oftentimes the most satisfied. That’s why we have created a packet of information relevant to the procedures that interest you. You will receive this informative material prior to your initial consultation.
To learn more about our Couple’s Rejuvenation program or to schedule a consultation, please contact our Practice Administrator, Ann Carbone at 201 261-7550.
