Surgical Procedure

A deep sedative or light general anesthetic will supplement the local anesthetics that will be injected by your surgeon. An anesthesiologist will be available at all times to insure your comfort and safety. The operative time varies with implant type and the complexity of the procedure.The main post operative rule, applicable to all implant procedures, is to ice the surgical site for the first 48 hours and to avoid any physical activity that causes you discomfort.

Chin, jaw, premaxillary and cheek implants may be inserted through intraoral incisions.  If intraoral incisions are used, the patient will have to confine his/her diet to clear fluids for the first five days.The small amount of milk present in tea or coffee will not pose a problem, but the patient should avoid thicker foods such as yogurt, cereal, and so forth during these first five days to give the intraoral incisions a chance to heal. In order to keep the incisions inside the mouth clean, the patient will be encouraged to wash the mouth out with water or mouthwash every few hours during the day.Chin implants are more frequently inserted through an external incision in a fold just beneath the chin – such patients can eat a normal diet after surgery. All external incisions are closed with buried, absorbable sutures.The external incisions will be covered with surgical glue that will peel off spontaneously in a week or two, and no special, surgical wound care will be required. It is not necessary for men to shave facial hair prior to facial implant surgery, and conversely, if a man wishes to shave after surgery, he may do so as soon as he is comfortable doing so after surgery. Normal showering may begin the day after surgery.

Nasal dorsal implants are inserted through incisions within the nose.No special after care of these incisions is required.An external nasal splint will be in place and this is not to get wet so patients should not shower until the first postoperative visit in five to seven days.

Lip implants are inserted through stab wounds at the corners of the mouth.  These incisions are closed with absorbable sutures. Aside from not biting these sutures, no special incisional care will be required after lip augmentation, and patients can consume a normal diet whenever comfortable to do so. Lips swell a great deal after any surgical manipulation and icing the lips for the first 24 to 48 hours will be crucial to minimize swelling.

Pectoral, triceps or biceps implants are inserted through tiny incisions in the axillary areas (arm pits) or under the arms.The location of your incision, as well as options relating to implant types, sizes and location of the pocket will be discussed with you at length pre-operatively. It is best to shave these areas at home on the morning of surgery. You can begin normal arm extensions and contractions whenever you are comfortable doing so, usually within the first one to four day, but it is best to wait a month before beginning vigorous physical activities.These incisions should be kept dry until your first postoperative visit, four to six days after surgery, and the patient will be asked not to shower until then.

Buttocks implants are usually inserted through a vertical incision “at the top of the crack”, between the gluteal folds. The patient should place a clean piece of gauze over the incision and secure it by wearing non-thong style underwear.You may begin showering the day after your surgery, and let water run over your incisions, but do not rub the surgical sites.Take extra care not to bend your hips or to sit on your implants in the first two weeks after your procedure.  

Incisions for calf implants are placed in the fold behind the knee.   Usually, two implants are inserted on each side, one over each head of the gastronenius muscle (gastrocs”). The leg will be wrapped with cotton and gauze that should be left in place until the first post op visit, usually four to six days after surgery.These leg wraps will help control ankle swelling and keep you more comfortable.  Female patients may find it more comfortable walking in high heel shoes as extending the ankle will minimize discomfort.

Patients having inner arm, pectoral, gluteal or calf implants may choose to have a catheter inserted which is connected to a “pain pump” which infuses local anesthetics into the surgical field for the fist few days. Such pumps will insure your comfort during the early postoperative phase.A circumferential wrap is fitted at the completion of arm or calf implants, but no special dressings are required for facial implants.   

The manufacturer of your implants expects them to last a long time, but everything man-made can break or wear down eventually. The life span of all types of implants can be shortened by trauma or infections. However, most solid implants will last a lifetime, and the rare request for a secondary procedure will usually stem for a desire to reposition an implant or to choose a larger one.It is strongly suggested that you return to see your plastic surgeon at least once a year for an examination. These examinations are provided by our office without cost to you.