Philosophy

At Advanced Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Inc. we integrate the latest aesthetic surgery technology with traditional cosmetic procedures to provide you with the best opportunity for improvement. Today there is a vast array of information and misinformation available to cosmetic surgery patients. If you're looking for the "latest miracle cure" that you heard about on the news or read about in a magazine, you probably won't find it here. Most of these are hype, unproven and usually ineffective but not inexpensive. We stick to proven, effective treatments; not hocus pocus.

During your initial consultation with Dr. McMahan, the untruths, rumors, and myths of plastic surgery will be dispelled. You will receive a thorough explanation of the procedures you are interested in and get a realistic understanding of your expected results. All of your questions will be answered to your satisfaction. You will receive a packet of information about your procedure and all costs will be outlined.

Enhance Your Consultation and Improve Your Chance of Success

1. Be prepared for your consultation. Don't try to squeeze it into a short visit where you don't have time for a thorough discussion. Don't bring small children to your consultation. They will demand your attention at a time when you need to be focused on what your surgeon is saying. Turn off your cell phone!

2. Quit smoking!

3. Be realistic in your expectation. Don't anticipate a miracle. Plastic surgery will not make you more successful, improve relationships or a make you a better person. Do not try to use plastic surgery to help you get over a life crisis such as divorce or loss of a loved one. You should be in a good frame of mind going into elective cosmetic surgery.

4. Have we mentioned quitting smoking?

5. If you are interested in body contouring such as liposuction or a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), lose those extra pounds prior to surgery. Liposuction is not a weight loss program. This needs to be done through diet and exercise. If you are markedly over your ideal body weight, see your primary care physician first to help you get started on weight reduction before even considering plastic surgery.

6. Be honest about your medical history. Don't hide anything! Provide a complete list of your prior surgeries, treatments, hospitalizations and medications including over the counter (OTC) drugs and vitamins. Many of these OTC medications can significantly increase your risk of bleeding during and after surgery.

7. If you haven't been paying attention, wake up and smell the coffee. QUIT SMOKING!! Cigarettes can have devastating effects on healing. Nicotine causes constriction of critical blood vessels to the skin which delays healing, worsens scarring and can cause skin to die following operations where the skin has been undermined such as in a facelift, tummy tuck, breast reduction or breast lift. Besides, quitting smoking is one of the best things you can ever do for your body.

8. Don't spend your last dime on cosmetic surgery. Although financing programs are available, you shouldn't get yourself into serious debt that you can't recover from just to have plastic surgery.

9. Avoid aspirin and aspirin-like products for two weeks prior to your surgery. This includes many anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and "natural" products like garlic, ginko biloba, and vitamin E. Your surgeon may provide you with an extensive list of medications to strictly avoid prior to surgery. Take this list seriously!

10. Pay close attention to your pre-operative and post-operative instructions. They are for your benefit only! Know how and when to take your medications prior to surgery. You may be given something to take for nausea after surgery. If you need it, use it! If you are told not to exercise for six weeks after surgery such as after a tummy tuck, don't start exercising when you feel up to it. If you pull out or break the internal stitches, you may not get the results you wanted.

11. Watch out for the pain medications. Carefully follow instructions when taking prescription medications. Narcotics are frequently prescribed after surgery for pain control. These can be very constipating. It is wise to start taking a laxative while on narcotics.

12. Don't judge your results too soon. It takes time for swelling to resolve and allow your tissues to return to normal. Most procedures require several months before you can see the final result. With rhinoplasty, it may take close to a year!

13. Don't let other people talk you into having cosmetic surgery. Do it for yourself. You're not being selfish or vain if what you have done truly makes you feel better about yourself.