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Plastic surgery, benefits and complications
Sun, 25 Nov 2007 21:49:29
By Patricia Khashayar MD, Press TV, Tehran |
Dr Ali Manafi, prominent Iranian plastic surgeon
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Remaining young has long been one of the human's aspirations; as a result, aesthetic surgeries have become one of the most frequent surgeries performed worldwide especially in women.
Many believe the patients undergoing these surgeries did not really need any manipulation; low self esteem and psychological disorders are thought to be the major reasons for undergoing these operations.
We have asked a plastic surgeon about his experience in different types of plastic surgery, the complications and the ways to improve the outcomes.
Dr Ali Manafi is a plastic surgeon. He has studied in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and is now working as a faculty member.
He has passed several courses in aesthetic, plastic and Craniomaxillofacial surgery in the US and Germany.
Q.You have been practicing facial plastic surgery for long time and have many years of experience in this field. That's a great track record. How did you decide to become a plastic surgeon and choose facial plastic surgery?
A. I love this field and I would have chosen it again if I had been able to start a new life; however, I should mention that I have had a hard time to achieve the current position.
Becoming a successful plastic surgeon requires a good aesthetic sense at the same time; without it the surgeon resembles a lifeless technician.
Q. How would you describe the work you do, in simple words?
A. Plastic surgery in simple words is making desirable and effective changes in various parts of the body. For instance, the shape and function of the nose is improved during a rhinoplastic surgery.
Several types of surgeries are performed in the field of plastic surgery; cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries are the major types of plastic surgery. The latter is normally used to repair congenital or acquired defects resulted from trauma or surgery.
Q. What is the most satisfying aspect of your job?
A. During a cosmetic surgery, I am able to transform a deformed organ for example a humpy nose to a marvelous one. In a reconstructive surgery, I reconstruct a deformity, giving the patient a new look.
In general, restoring the patient's satisfaction with his or her appearance is the rewarding part of my job.
Q. What is the most important factor in performing a successful procedure?
A. The most important factor influencing the outcome of a surgery is choosing the right patient and the appropriated surgical technique. Having aesthetic sense and sufficient experience also play an important role in achieving the acceptable results; however, even if all other necessary factors exist, satisfactory results could not be reached in wrong patients.
Q. Let's talk about a person who is considering cosmetic surgery: How do they evaluate themselves to determine whether they're a good candidate?
A. A patient thinks he needs a cosmetic surgery, only if:
- He/She has a significant non-age related abnormality for example having a humpy or malformed nose or jaw… These are also known as acceptable abnormalities.
- The malformations are the result of aging or other processes such as pregnancy and delivery. Some malformations are secondary to prior surgeries, trauma and accidents.
-Mass media play an important role in increasing the individual insight of themselves and their problems.
Q. Are there psychological factors and physical characteristics to consider?
A. Yes, many cosmetic surgeries are performed on individuals believed to have psychological disorders. These disorders lead to dissatisfaction with the shape of different organs; body dysmorphism is the most common disorder in a typical patient seeking cosmetic surgeries.
It should be noted that these patients will never satisfy with the result of the surgery; as a result, surgery should be avoided in such patients. The best way is to refer them to a psychologist.
Q. Many believe cosmetic surgery can help a person with poor self-esteem. To what extent does having cosmetic surgery help improve a person's psychological health? Would you like to tell us about any incident where surgery has helped a person immensely?
A. It's a good question to be asked. Cosmetic surgery helps improve the individual's self esteem only if performed correctly and by an experienced surgeon.
Cosmetic surgeries change the patient's appearance and so have an important impact on the patient's life especially in those who really care about their appearance.
For example I had a female patient who had divorced from his husband due to a malformed nose. She was isolated and shy. She used various anti-depression drugs. After the surgery, her life changed totally. The changes were remarkable. She began a new life with her new husband. She became a successful active director and most important of all, she does not use drugs any more.
Q. How do you evaluate the surgery to help your patient be realistic with their expectations?
A. This is the hardest part, you should predict the patient's expectation and decide whether the surgical outcome will resolve these prospects or not. When you are not sure, it is recommended to consume more time consulting the patient and increasing his insight, show him/her the results of previous surgeries and confront him/her with similar cases.
These all helps you decide whether to operate the patient and, it would also help the patient confront the reality.
Q. What's the most typical side effect of plastic surgery that people should know about?
A. As with any surgery, plastic surgery entails some risks: reaction to anesthesia, infection, hematoma, embolism and necrosis. Similar many other surgeries, hypertrophic scar is the most important complication seen in cosmetic surgeries.
In addition, each type of surgery has its own specific complications. For instance, respiratory complications are common following a complicated rhinoplasty.
Q. These days many people are choosing to have facial plastic surgery to look younger and more attractive. Is there any procedure that is more popular than the others?
A. Rhinoplasty is the most frequent operation performed in this domain. In Iran, rhinoplasty is the most common cosmetic operation performed. It could be asserted that Iran is one of the best countries in this surgery. Iranian surgeons have sufficient experience and skill in this field and the operation's outcomes are comparable to other countries.
It's noteworthy that this procedure plus others, including face lifting, peeling, laser (for superficial wrinkles), filler injections (for deeper wrinkles) and alloplastic implants (for increasing the chin and cheek's volume) as well as botox injections are known as facial rejuvenation procedures.
PKH/RE
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