Surgical Procedures

Plastic or cosmetic surgery covers a variety of procedures which alter the body's outward appearance. These procedures are used to shape certain body parts such as the breast or nose, soften skin tone to reduce or eliminate wrinkles, and to correct problems resulting from accident or disease.

This page offers a general overview of cosmetic surgery procedures.

For more in-depth information on these procedures, please follow the links in the right-hand column.

ABDOMINOPLASTY
Tummy Tuck

Procedure: Flatten abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of abdominal wall.
Length: 2 to 5 hours.
Anesthesia: General, or local with sedation.
In/Outpatient: Either depending on individual circumstances and extent of surgery.
Side Effects: Temporary pain. Swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising, tiredness for several weeks or months.
Recovery: Back to work: 2 to 4 weeks. More strenuous activity: 4 to 6 weeks or more. Fading and flattening of scars: 3 months to 2 years

BREAST ENLARGEMENT
Augmentation Mammaplasty

Procedure: Enhance the size of breasts using inflatable breast implants,
Length: 1 to 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary soreness, swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breast sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks.
Recovery: Back to work: a few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4 weeks. Fading of scars: several months to a year or more.
Duration of Results: Variable. Implants may require removal or replacement.

BREAST LIFT
Mastopexy

Procedure: Raise and reshape sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning remaining tissue and nipples.
Length: 1 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Sometimes inpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin. Permanent scars.
Recovery: Back to work: 1 week or more. Strenuous activities: 1 month. Fading of scars: several months to a year.
Duration of Results: Variable; gravity, pregnancy, aging, and weight changes may cause new sagging. Results may last longer or be enhanced when breast implants are inserted as part of the procedure.

LIP/CHEEK ENHANCEMENT: RADIANCE

Procedure: Plump up creased, furrowed, or sunken facial skin; add fullness to lips, cheeks, and backs of hands.
Length: 15 minutes to 1 hour per session.
Anesthesia: Local
In/Outpatient: Outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary stinging, throbbing, or burning sensation. Faint redness, swelling, excess fullness.
Results: Immediate.

EAR SURGERY
Otoplasty

Procedure: Set prominent ears back closer to the head, or reduce the size of large ears. Most often done on children between the ages of 4 and 14 years. (Occasionally covered by insurance.)
Length: 2 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: Young children: usually general. Older children or adults: general or local, with sedation.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness, numbness.
Recovery: Back to work or school: 5 to 7 days.
Results: Usually permanent.

EYELID SURGERY
Blepharoplasty

Procedure: Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. (Upper-eyelid surgery may be covered by insurance if used to correct visual field defects).
Length: 1 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: Usually locally with sedation or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for first few weeks.
Results: Several years. Sometimes permanent.

FACELIFT
Rhytidectomy

Procedure: Improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, redraping skin. Most often done on men and women over 40.
Length: Several hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned.
Recovery: Back to work: 10 to 14 days. More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months.
Results: Usually 5 to 10 years.

FACIAL IMPLANTS

Procedure: Change the basic shape and balance of the face using carefully shaped implants to build up a receding chin, add prominence to cheekbones, or reshape the jawline.
Length: 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Occasionally overnight hospital stay.
Side Effects: Temporary discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness. In jaw surgery, inability to open mouth fully for several weeks.
Recovery: Back to work: about 1 week. Normal appearance: 2 to 4 weeks. Activity that could jar or bump face: 6 weeks or more.
Results: Permanent.

FOREHEAD LIFT
Browlift

Procedure: Minimize forehead creases, drooping eyebrows, hooding over eyes, furrowed forehead and frown lines by removing excess tissue, altering muscles and tightening the forehead skin. May be done using the traditional technique, with an incision across the top of the head just behind the hairline; or with the use of an endoscope, which requires 3 to 5 short incisions. Most often done on people over 40.
Length: 1 to 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Risks: Injury to facial nerve, causing loss of motion, muscle weakness, or asymmetrical look. Infection. Broad or excessive scarring.
Recovery: Back to work: 7 to 10 days, usually sooner for endoscopic forehead lift. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Full recovery from bruising: 2 to 3 weeks.
Results: Usually 5 to 10 years.

LIPOSUCTION
Suction-Assisted Lipectomy

Procedure: Improve body shape by removing exercise-resistant fat deposits with a tube and vacuum device. Can be performed using the tumescent technique, in which targeted fat cells are infused with saline containing solution with a local anesthetic before liposuction to reduce post-operative bruising and swelling. Common locations for liposuction include chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles.

For larger volumes of fat or for fibrous body areas, ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) may be used. UAL is a new technique in which a ultrasound probe is inserted beneath the skin to "liquify" the fat before it is suctioned.

Length: 1 to 2 hours or more. UAL: 20-40 percent longer than traditional liposuction.
Anesthesia: Local, epidural, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Extensive procedures may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation. Tumescent: Temporary fluid drainage from incision sites. UAL: Larger incisions for cannula.
Recovery: Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks. Full recovery from swelling and bruising: 1 to 6 months or more. Use of tumescent technique or UAL may decrease post-operative bruising and swelling.
Results: Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise.

MALE BREAST REDUCTION
Gynecomastia

Procedure: Reduce enlarged, female-like breast in men using liposuction and/or cutting out excess glandular tissue. (Sometimes covered by medical insurance.)
Length: 1 hour or more.
Anesthesia: General or local.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation.
Recovery: Back to work: 3 to 7 days. More strenuous activity: 2 to 3 weeks. Swelling and bruising: 3 to 6 months.
Results: Permanent

NOSE SURGERY
Rhinoplasty, Nose Job

Procedure: Reshape nose by reducing or increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of tip or bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle between nose and upper lip. May also relieve some breathing problems. (May be covered by insurance.)
Length: 1 to 2 hours or more.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary swelling, bruising around eyes, nose and headaches. Some bleeding and stiffness.
Recovery: Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks. Final appearance: 1 year or more.
Duration of Results: Permanent.

Quick Links:

Surgical Procedures

Abdominoplasty
   Tummy Tuck
Breast Augmentation
Breast Implants
   Silicone Breast Implants
   Saline Breast Implants
Breast Lift
Breast Reconstruction
Breast Reduction
Breast Revision
Buttock Implants
   Butt Implants
Eyelid Surgery
Endoscopic Brow Lift
Face Lift
Lip Augmentation
Liposuction
Pectoral Implants
  Pec Implants
Rhinoplasty

Cosmetic Procedures

BOTOX®
Brazilian Bronze
Chemical Peels
Hair Restoration
Laser Hair Removal
Lip Augmentation
Microdermabrasion
Radiance  

During an initial consultation Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas Senderoff, MD, FACS, will discuss your procedure with you in detail, describing the realistic potential outcome and any possible risks involved.

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas M. Senderoff, MD, FACS surgical specialties include: Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck), Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants (Silicone Breast Implants and Saline Breast Implants), Breast Lift, Breast Reconstruction, Breast Reduction, Breast Revision, Buttock Implants, (Butt) Implants, Eyelid Surgery, Endoscopic Brow Lift, Face Lift, Liposuction, Pectoral Implants (Pec Implants), Rhinoplasty. Your surgical procedures will performed in the plastic surgeon's fully accredited outpatient surgical facility in Manhattan, New York.

The plastic surgeon's cosmetic specialties include: BOTOX®, Brazilian Bronze, Chemical Peels, Hair Restoration, Laser Hair Removal, Lip Augmentation, Microdermabrasion, and Radiance™. Your cosmetic procedures can be performed in the plastic surgeon's Westchester or Manhattan, New York office.

If you have any questions about any of plastic surgery procedures please feel free to contact Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas Senderoff, MD, FACS, at our Manhattan or Westchester, New York offices.