The length of surgery depends on the surgery and the patient, but most procedures last between 1 and 6 hours. With 20 years of experience in facial plastic surgery, Dr. Stevens can guarantee that they will perform the surgery to the best of their ability and inform you of the amount of recovery time you really need. One of the most common questions regarding plastic surgery involves the amount of time the procedure takes to perform.
Generally, most cosmetic surgeries take an average of one to two hours. This includes cleaning and preparing the surgical site, administering anesthesia before making the incisions, as well as suturing and bandaging. Recovery time from cosmetic surgery can vary greatly depending on the type of procedure and the amount of work required to achieve the desired result. From immediate downtime to the broader recovery process that can take weeks or months, patience is a virtue when it comes to getting the final results of your treatment.
Recovery time covers everything from when drains, sutures, or splints are removed to how long it takes for marks to disappear from the incision site. When it comes to some of the most popular cosmetic procedures, facial surgical procedures such as rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, and facelifts take between six and 12 months to get the full results. Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the eyelids by removing excess skin or fat deposits. Brow surgery, brow lift, or forehead lift involves raising the eyebrows to a more youthful position to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, sagging skin, and hooded eyelids. A facelift is a gold standard of facial rejuvenation that has the ability to treat facial sagging and volume loss by lifting and firming the face. A neck lift procedure involves making incisions along the hairline and ear to remove excess skin and oil.
A lower rhytidectomy produces a more defined neck and jaw, as well as eliminating the double chin. Surgical hair transplants remain an ideal choice for patients looking to correct baldness and thinning hair. The two main types are follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique and follicular unit transplant (FUT) method. Both types have a similar recovery period. Whether performed alone or as part of a larger mom makeover, body lift, or post-weight loss procedure, a tummy tuck removes excess skin and excess fat, as well as restores muscle definition, for a more contoured abdomen.
Breast augmentation may involve breast implants, autologous fat transfers, or a hybrid of the two. For implant and hybrid procedures, secondary surgery will be needed to replace the implants after eight to 10 years. Like a fat transfer breast augmentation, a butt lift involves transferring fat from one part of the body to the buttocks to improve shape and contour. A breast lift surgery improves the projection and shape of the breast by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue. To relieve any pain or discomfort caused by large breasts, a breast reduction permanently removes excess skin and fat. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon will give you more clarity on what to expect during the healing process so you can ensure the best results.
Because cosmetic surgery can bring lasting and drastic changes to your external appearance, it's important to understand how these changes might affect you on the inside before scheduling an appointment with a cosmetic surgeon. The amount of time it takes to perform a facelift can vary from patient to patient. However, it usually takes between two and four hours to complete under intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. If you choose a cosmetic procedure that doesn't have permanent results, remember that you'll also need to budget for follow-up surgeries in the future as well as for initial cost.
Your surgeon will explain how cosmetic surgery can change your body and what you can expect as a result. All surgeries carry some degree of risk but improving your health beforehand will make it safer, minimize any possibility of complications, and speed up your recovery. Despite being informed and prepared, you may be surprised by bruising and swelling that follows cosmetic surgery.
