WE ASKED A PLASTIC SURGEON FOR REAL ADVICE ON GETTING FILLER AND HERE’S WHAT WE FOUND OUT!
Source: https://www.hit.com.au/2day
With the increase of the Instagram culture, comes the increase in interest in modifying our bodies. In some instances it can be for reasons to better ourselves and live the best version of who we are. But, in some cases it can be a desire to reach an unrealistic goal that not even Instagram influencers can reach without help from Facetune or Photoshop.
With the news recently that some cosmetic businesses are now offering ‘have now, pay later’ treatments, we decided to go to an industry professional to get some advice before we have our next procedure.
Dr Ross Farhadieh is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon at Panthea Clinics and Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney Medical School, so who better to have a chat to about how we should approach our desired look?
What questions should I ask if I’m looking at having filler, anti-wrinkle or any sort of cosmetic surgery?
This is a good and broad question so I will try to answer it as accurately as I can. Anti-wrinkle and soft tissue fillers have their place as part of what has become our ongoing maintenance in our quest to slow down or indeed even turn back the biological clock. Most often these are administered as part of medispas.
Whilst these are great places beyond the beauty salons and away from the clinical surroundings of a medical practice, safety always has to come first. So its important that you are sure that adequate medical supervision of the clinic is in place.
Now this can range from a plastic surgeon performing the injections, to a nurse in a plastic surgeon’s clinic performing this, to an independent clinic with close links with a plastic surgeon for support when needed. But its imperative that highest levels of medical access are in place for the just in case times. We have recently seen some of the very real and serious problems that can occur in this space.
In regards to cosmetic surgery, that again boils down to research and your personal view. However, my recommendation is to recognise that the only body internationally recognised as offering specialist surgical training in Australia is the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and qualified specialists that have at the minimum had 8 years of training post medical graduation carry FRACS(Plast) certificate to denote the rigorous training and assessment before qualifying as specialist plastic surgeons.
Many then go on to complete subspecialty fellowships in their areas of interest. So, for example I was interested in cosmetic surgery as well as microsurgery so I undertook subspecialty fellowships in these areas at some of the World’s premier institutes in London, England before returning back to Australia.
Make sure that you have established a happy rapport with your surgeon, ask as many questions as you can, educate yourself, let and expect your surgeon to educate you. Make sure that you have been told in frank and transparent terms the spectrum of outcomes, the complication profile and any other relevant information such as recovery time. At the end of the day your body is your only permanent asset in life and the safest hands are the best trained hands.
What should I do to prepare before exploring having any of these procedures done?
Read a lot. The good thing about the internet is that you can get a 360 view and sometimes you do have to sift through it all but it will make you prepared. Most surgeon’s have up to date websites that have lots of information on all the procedures.
I for example took a lot of time to write each of these to make sure they reflect facts and my perspective. Your best point of preparing comes from your consultation, once you have read and have decided on a couple of surgeons, your consultation process will be the best start point.
To put all the knowledge you have gained into perceptive. You should be able to walk away from the consultation with great deal of understating about your contemplated procedure, the background, the steps, the recovery the expected outcomes. I cover these with all my patents with a standard power point presentation that runs through all of these with use of photos and diagrams.
Is it safe?
Yes. It is of course to be recognised that these are medical procedure and carry risks. But yes, the reported rates of mortality a benchmark for safety of all aesthetic procedures is 1:55000 which is a safe number. When it comes to Brazilian Butt lifts however, the rate is an unacceptable high at 1:3000. This is not a procedure I would recommend.
What is the most popular procedure you’re seeing patients have in 2018?
That is a little difficult to answer as it depends on the age groups and of course sexes.
Younger women – breast augmentation and rhinoplasties (Nose Jobs)
Younger men – rhinoplasties and body lifts (after large weight loss)
Mums – Abdominoplasty & Breast Surgerys (abdominoplasty with breast lift with or without implants)