insideKENT Magazine Issue 57 - December 2016 | Page 128

HEALTH+WELLNESS BELLA VOU Q&A Your cosmetic procedure questions answered by Mr Amir Nakhdjevani of Bella Vou, Tunbridge Wells How long is the recovery for common procedures such as breast augmentation? Each person is individual and there are factors such as the size of the implant used, where the implant was placed (under or over the muscle) your heath and pain tolerance. As general rule of thumb, this is a typical breast augmentation recovery: Day 1-4: Moderate discomfort controlled with pain medicine. Support bra, rest, no lifting or vigorous activity. Eg no lifting kids up or those shopping bags! Your implants will look high – do not worry. Day 5-10: Any pain should have now be almost gone. No need for pain medication. Able to slowly resume normal daily activities but not physical exercise. If you have a sedentary job, you can get on with this. Some people return to work this early but I do not recommend this. No sex. Day 10-14: Return to work. Resume normal activities except exercise. Sutures removed. 2-3 weeks: May resume exercise and fitness routine if your incisions are well healed and your doctor agrees. Sex may be resumed. 4-6 weeks: Implant position looks more normal as you tissues accommodate the increased volume. 3 months: Your implants have dropped to a natural position. The implants should be soft and moveable. Any firmness or hardness should be reported to your doctor immediately. How will I decide if cosmetic surgery is right for me? Cosmetic procedures are mostly elective rather than 'must have'. If you have a concern that you think surgery could help address, then start by being informed about the pros and cons of the particular surgery. Read the experiences of others to lean about their journey, www.realself.com is an excellent resource. A private consultant with a surgeon is invaluable to better understand the potential results and complications and to see examples of their results. Speaking with previous patients who have had the treatment is another great way to find out. What surgeries are available without anaesthesia? Many cosmetic procedures are available without needing to have a general anesthetic, but there are some that are not possible for the patient's comfort. This is possible through the refinement of some consultant plastic surgeon's technique. Having your procedure under a local anesthetic or twilight sedation reduces both the risks of surgery and also your recovery time. In general, nose reshaping, full tummy tucks and most breast work needs to be done under a GA, but some breast augmentation and all nipple and areaola reduction is typically done under a LA. I've heard women lose nipple sensation after breast augmentation – is this true? In general, most women who have a disturbance in nipple sensation, whether it be less (hyposensation), or in some cases too much (hypersensation), the sensation goes back to normal with 3-6 months. Occasionally, it can take 1-2 years to be normal. Extremely rarely, the sensation never goes back to normal. This is extremely rare in augmentation alone, more common in lift or reduction. I'd like to have a cosmetic procedure, but I'm nervous of the results and recovery. Can you put my mind at ease? A surgical procedure should be approached with careful consideration, and it's quite normal to 128 have some apprehension. Gaining the confidence comes through your research about your treatment and in finding the very best surgeon. Being able to articulate the look and results you desire is vital to both meeting your expectations and in ensuring that the surgeons knows what you are hoping for. Many surgeons can now provide you with a 3D medical simulation of what you might look like even before going under the knife. These simulations let you see the result from the comfort of your chair and they are approximately 97% accurate. Have you ever thought about having a cosmetic procedure, but have questions or concerns? Email [email protected] with your questions, and Mr Amir Nakhdjevani will answer them in the next issue of insideKENT. Bella Vou Pantiles Clinic 45-47 The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TE 01892 257357 www.bellavou.co.uk