The first step in selecting the appropriate plastic surgeon for your care is to ensure that the surgeon is board-certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Despite the confusion that can ensue when attempting to decipher through the many certifying bodies in medicine and surgery, the ABPS is the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Many “board-certified cosmetic surgeons” may not, in fact, be certified by the ABPS, but rather by an institution not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. To become certified by the ABPS as a Diplomate, rigorous training in an accredited plastic surgical program is required following prior training in a surgical field after medical school. To become certified by the ABPS, a plastic surgeon must demonstrate not only the necessary training and expertise in the entire breadth of plastic surgery, but also the ethical integrity to be certified by the board with its exclusive requirements. To confirm that your plastic surgeon is certified by the ABPS, please click here or call the ABPS at 215-587-9322. Dr. Pathy is board-certified by both The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery. You may also inquire whether your plastic surgeon is a Member Surgeon of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the largest plastic surgery specialty organization in the world, whose criteria for membership include board-certification as well as additional rigorous responsibilities.

Dr. Pathy and Dr. Shah perform all of their operative procedures in accredited facilities. It is of the utmost importance that your health is the primary concern with elective operative procedures, and thus surgery should be performed in a sterile and safe environment. If anesthesia is required, you should be adequately monitored before, during, and following your procedure. Having your surgery performed in a certified facility ensures that you will be cared for in an appropriate fashion.

When determining the qualifications of your surgeon and the safety of your procedure environment, ensure that your surgeon has privileges to perform any office-based surgical procedures at an accredited hospital as well. Hospitals thoroughly verify training and education, and only permit surgeons adequately trained for specific procedures to perform them at their hospitals.

No matter what type of surgery you undergo, there is always some degree of risk associated with your procedure. To limit the risk of any unforeseen complications, your history is thoroughly reviewed and discussed with medical and anesthesia staff as necessary prior to proceeding with your surgery. Any co-morbidities, such as hypertension or diabetes, are optimized and controlled prior to consideration of surgery. In addition, Dr. Pathy and Dr. Shah requires smoking cessation for at least four weeks prior to certain operative procedures, as impaired wound healing and an increased rate of wound infection is seen in smokers. It is therefore imperative to disclose all pertinent information during your consultation so that appropriate measures may be taken to limit these risks.

For many elective plastic surgical procedures, both reconstructive and cosmetic, plan for an initial office visit of approximately one hour, though certain consultations may require additional time. This time frame allows for our team to get to know you, review your medical history, and perform a pertinent physical examination. Following your examination, we will describe your available surgical and non-surgical options so that you may best understand the procedures and techniques used in your care. Both pre-operative and post-operative instructions will be explained to you during your visit. Of course, you will be afforded every opportunity to ask questions during and after your consultation. Dr. Pathy, Dr. Shah, and our staff will attempt to answer them to the best of our abilities.

Provided that no medical issues need further investigation, your surgery may often be scheduled within 4-6 weeks, although relatively short procedures may potentially be scheduled in special circumstances earlier. That said, operative volume fluctuations can also affect the surgical schedule as well.

It is not uncommon to have multiple plastic surgical procedures performed during one operating room visit. Having more than one procedure performed simultaneously allows for an overall cost reduction to you and the necessity of recovery or downtime only once. However, these benefits must be weighed against the potential for an increased rate of complication. If multiple procedures are being considered, the decision to go forward will be dependent upon which procedures are being performed, the extent of surgery, the operating time, and your overall health. Dr. Pathy or Dr. Shah will determine if multiple simultaneous procedures are appropriate in your individual situation.

Various types of anesthesia are utilized in plastic surgical procedures. Local anesthesia involves topical or injectable anesthetic into the localized area being operated upon or near the nerve supplying sensation to the surgical site. Intravenous sedation may be added to the local anesthetic to make patients more comfortable if a larger or more sensitive area is being addressed. General anesthesia involves the temporary use of a ventilator to assist in the patient’s breathing, so that a still larger and often more complex surgery can be performed. The form of anesthesia utilized in your surgical procedure will be dependent upon the extent of the procedure being performed, patient preference, and surgeon preference.

Recovery time is dependent upon a variety of variables, including the type and extent of surgery as well as the specific individual. Dr. Pathy or Dr. Shah will discuss your expected recovery time and post-operative instructions during your initial consultation based upon your unique situation.

Because of the variety of the procedures within the scope of plastic surgery and the individual variability amongst all patients, no definitive guarantee can be given as to the longevity of a patient’s results. Some results may be permanent, while others may progressively change with age as well as other factors. Dr. Pathy or Dr. Shah will discuss the duration of your results during your consultation based upon your particular procedure and individual characteristics.

Any time the skin is broken, whether from a traumatic laceration or a surgical incision, a scar will form. Some patients are more prone to excessive scarring than others, and the location of the scar also plays a role in the extent of scar formation. However, there are a number of techniques that may be employed post-operatively to minimize the visibility of the scar and expedite the healing process.