Thinking Of Cosmetic Surgery? Four Surgeons Offer Tips

DANBURY — Liposuction is the No. 1 cosmetic surgery procedure in the United States today, mostly to remove fat in the hips, buttocks, thighs and abdomen. Browlifts and facelifts, and breast reduction and augmentation are also popular today. Over the past few years, all cosmetic procedures have been improved to reduce complications, speed up healing, and assure more successful outcomes.

That was the message from four plastic surgeons at a recent Medical Town Meeting, “What’s Hot and What’s Not in Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery,” sponsored by Danbury Hospital. Cosmetic surgery is hot, they say, but before jumping into anything, think carefully about it.

People who are motivated, with good self-esteem and self-confidence make the best candidates, they say. Don’t have anything done because someone else wants you to, they add.

The four physicians — David Goldenberg, MD, Teresita Mascardo, MD, Boris Goldman, MD, and Gregory Brucato, MD — are all attending physicians in Danbury Hospital’s Department of Surgery/Plastic Surgery.

While liposuction, face lifts, breast reduction and augmentation are all becoming more common, the physicians still urged anyone thinking of having some work done to consider their decision carefully.

Finding the right doctor is key, according to Dr Goldenberg. He suggests that people interview doctors and clearly communicate what they expect.

“Most problems can be avoided by discussing expectations with your doctor,” he said.

From a physician’s standpoint, it is important to understand what the patient wants, added Dr Mascardo.

“People have to be realistic about their expectations,” she said. While we’d all like to look like a model after liposuction, there’s only so much that can be achieved, the doctor added.

Understanding the procedure and making sure it’s right for you is also important, said Dr Goldman. A facelift, for example, is used to only lift the skin, leaving the underlying muscles still sagging, which in turn are telltale facial signs that something was done. Today, however, a procedure called a “smas lift” also tightens up the muscles, making for a smoother, more natural appearance.

Inquiring about the safety of the procedure is also a wise thing to do, according to Dr Brucato. For example, in a breast augmentation, patients need to understand that the saline-filled implants are safe, he said.

There are several reasons a patient might want a procedure, according to the doctors. The most common for surgery is because it corrects a problem that would make them feel better about themselves.

Removing saddlebags on the thighs or having a tummy tuck through liposuction can improve how a woman looks and feels about herself. Having a brow lift or tucking a sagging chin can do wonders for one’s appearance, they say.

But looking better is only one reason for a procedure; sometimes a problem is causing a woman discomfort, like breasts that are too large. Woman often opt for breast reduction if the size of their chest is causing them back pain, posture problems, rashes under their breasts or pain in the breast, according to Dr Goldenberg.

For more information on cosmetic surgery, contact any of these Danbury-area plastic surgeons.