Plastic Surgery FAQs in Virginia, Washington D.C. and Maryland

Rhinoplasty

What can rhinoplasty do for me?

Rhinoplasty can reshape, reduce or augment the nose, remove a hump, narrow nostril width, change the angle between the nose and the mouth, or correct injuries, birth defects, or other problems that affect breathing.

Does insurance cover the procedure?

Insurance may cover rhinoplasty if it is done for reconstructive or medical reasons.

How long does the procedure take?

Rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure performed under either local or general anesthesia and lasts one to two hours unless more extensive work needs to be done.

Can I wear glasses after nasal surgery?

Contact lenses can be worn immediately but glasses will have to be taped to your forehead or propped on your cheeks for up to seven weeks.

What are the risks?

Complications are rare and, when they occur, minor. These may include infection, nosebleed, or a reaction to the anesthesia. Also, a second procedure is required in about one out of every ten cases.

---

Otoplasty

What problems can otoplasty correct?

Ear surgery typically serves two functions: setting prominent ears back closer to the head, and reducing the size of large ears. Surgery may also be helpful for “lop ear,” “cupped ear” and “shell ear,” large or stretched earlobes, and lobes with large creases and wrinkles. Surgeons are also able to construct new ears for patients who are missing them from injury or other causes.

Can adults have the procedure done?

The operation is most often performed on children aged four to 14, but adults may have it as well.

Will I need surgery on both ears even if only one has a problem?

Surgery may be performed on both ears to achieve better balance.

Will my ears look alike after surgery?

You should not expect your new ears to match exactly; even normal, natural ears are not identical.

What are the risks?

Complications are rare and usually minor, but may include blood clots and cartilage infection (usually treatable with antibiotics but occasionally requiring surgery).

---

Laser Skin Resurfacing

What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Also known as “laser peel,” laser skin resurfacing removes the uppermost, damaged layers of skin with a carbon dioxide laser beam.

What does the procedure treat?

Laser peels can treat wrinkles, sun damage, uneven pigmentation, fine lines around the mouth and the eyes, and facial scars.

How long does the procedure take?

Laser skin resurfacing may last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the size of the area being treated.

---

Facelift

What problems can a facelift correct?

A facelift can reduce signs of aging (wrinkles, lines, sagging skin, drooping brow) by removing excess fat, tightening the underlying muscles, and redraping the skin around the neck and face.

Can facelifts be combined with other procedures?

Facelifts can be done alone or in conjunction with a forehead lift, eyelid surgery, or nose reshaping.

I would like to improve the look of my neck, not my face. Do I need a facelift?

If your problem areas are limited to the neck, you may elect to undergo a more conservative procedure called a “necklift”.

I’ve heard that the best candidates for facelifts are in their 40s and 50s. Are older patients eligible?

Most facelift patients are in their 40s-60s, but facelifts can be done successfully on people in their 70s or 80s as well.

Are there any special concerns for men?

The incisions are slightly different in order to prevent moving hair-bearing skin to the ear.

When can I go back to work?

Most patients return to work about ten days to two weeks after surgery.

Will my scars be visible?

Scars are usually hidden by the hair or the natural creases of your face and ears. The Incision can also be placed “inside” the ear behind the tragus to hide it even more. In addition, they will fade as time passes and should be scarcely visible.

Will I need another facelift in the future?

Patients sometimes repeat the procedure in five or ten years. But the effect of a single facelift is long-lasting; years after surgery, you will look better than if you had never had a facelift.

---

Collagen

What is collagen?

Collagen is a naturally occurring protein found in the second layer of skin (the dermis) which “plumps up” the skin, joints, bones and ligaments. Injectable collagen is derived from purified bovine collagen, which is similar to human collagen after processing. It was approved by the FDA in 1981 and is produced in various thicknesses for individual patients’ needs.

What does injectable collagen do?

Injectable collagen counteracts the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement by filling in wrinkles, lines and scars, adding fullness to areas of the face such as the lips, cheeks and forehead and sometimes other areas of the body such as the neck, back and chest.

Can collagen injections be combined with other procedures?

Because injections are not permanent and cannot improve severe wrinkles or deep folds, the procedure is often combined with facial resurfacing or plastic surgery (i.e. browlift or facelift) for a more satisfying and longer-lasting outcome.

Will I see results right away?

Yes, although at first the site will look too swollen. This is because part of the injection consists of salt water, which your body will absorb in the first few days.

How long do results last?

Results may begin to fade in a few months or may last indefinitely, depending on the patient’s age, genetic background, skin quality, lifestyle and body site.

Who should not have collagen injections?

Patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, who have allergies to beef or bovine products or to lidocaine (the anesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material), or who are pregnant should not undergo collagen injections.

---

Chemical Peel

What is a chemical peel?

Chemical peels remove damaged outer layers of skin on the face to smooth texture, reduce scarring, and remove blemishes and pre-cancerous growths to produce healthy, glowing skin.

Can chemical peels be combined with other procedures?

Peels can be combined with other procedures such as facelifts for a younger look.

Does insurance cover the procedure?

Chemical peels may be covered by insurance if they are performed for medical rather than cosmetic reasons.

What are the different types of chemical peels?

There are three types of chemical peels, ranging from mild to h3 – alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), tricholoroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol.

What are AHAs?

AHAs are the gentlest of the three types of chemical peel and consist of a group of glycolic, lactic and fruit acids. AHAs are used to smooth and brighten skin by treating fine wrinkles, dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. They are typically applied once a week or as part of a daily regimen. Treatment takes 10 minutes or less. Sometimes AHAs, Retin-A (a prescription medication containing Vitamin A) or hydroquinone (a bleach solution) are used to thin the skin and even its tone as a pre-treatment for TCA peels.

What are TCAs?

TCAs are commonly used for medium-depth peeling to treat fine surface wrinkles, superficial blemishes and pigment problems, sometimes in combination with AHAs. TCAs are the preferred treatment for darker-skinned patients. Multiple treatments may be required, but treatments only last 10-15 minutes and recovery time is shorter than with phenol.

What is Phenol?

Phenol is the h3est chemical peel and treats deeper skin problems such as coarse facial wrinkles, pre-cancerous growths, and areas of blotchy or damaged skin caused by sun exposure, aging or birth-control pills. It is used only on the face. Full-facial treatment can last an hour or two and recovery can take a few months, with possible permanent skin lightening and removal of freckles.

Are there any risks?

All three treatment types carry potential risks such as infection and scarring. TCA peels may produce some unintended color changes in the skin, while phenol peels may reduce or eliminate the new skin’s ability to make pigment evenly or at all, thus causing a lighter or uneven skin tone that must be protected from sunlight.

---

Browlift

What can a browlift do for me?

Browlifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads by tightening skin and muscles above the eyes, smoothing wrinkles and raising the eyebrows, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired.

What will I look like after surgery?

Try standing in front of a mirror and placing the palms of your hands to the sides of your eyes above the eyebrows. Then pull the skin back from the eyes, raising the forehead. This is approximately how the procedure will make you look.

Can a browlift be combined with other procedures?

The procedure is often combined with other operations such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) and facelifts to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.

What age are patients usually?

While browlifts are typically performed on patients aged 40-60 to counteract the effects of aging, anyone with lined or inelastic skin on the forehead — whether it’s caused by muscle activity or inherited conditions — are eligible.

What’s the difference between traditional and endoscopic methods?

The main difference lies in the type of incision made. In a traditional browlift the surgeon makes a coronal (headphone-shaped) incision behind the hairline, stretching between the ears and across the top of the forehead. In a minimally invasive endoscopic browlift the surgeon makes three to five short incisions (less than an inch long) behind the hairline. The endoscope — a slim instrument with a camera on the end — is placed in one incision so the surgeon can see beneath the skin, while he or she lifts the skin and adjusts muscles through the other incisions.

When can I return to work?

Many patients return to work or school in 7-10 days or less.

What are the risks?

Complications are rare and usually minor but may include temporary numbness or reduced sensation along the incision; nerve injury, causing loss of ability to raise the eyebrows or wrinkle the forehead and potentially requiring another operation; hair loss along scar edges; formation of a broad scar, possibly requiring surgical correction; infection and bleeding are very rare, but possible.

---

Eyelid Surgery

What are the advantages of blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery)?

By removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids, blepharoplasty can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes. It is typically a cosmetic procedure but can also improve vision by lifting droopy eyelids out of the patient’s field of vision.

Can the procedure be combined with others?

Because blepharoplasty cannot be used to raise the eyebrows or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, crow’s feet or dark circles under the eyes, the procedure is often combined with others such as a facelift and Botox® treatments.

How long does the procedure take?

Blepharoplasty can last 45 minutes to a few hours, depending on how much work is done.

Will I have visible scars?

Incisions are made along the eyelids in inconspicuous places (in the creases of the upper lids, and just below the lashes on the lower lids) to minimize scar visibility. If no skin needs to be removed during surgery, Dr. Naderi will likely perform a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, where the incision is made inside the lower eyelid and there are no visible scars.

How soon after surgery can I wear my contact lenses?

Contact lenses may not be worn for two weeks. Glasses may be worn immediately.

Are results permanent?

The effects of blepharoplasty can last for a long time and are sometimes even permanent.

What are the risks?

Complications from the procedure are uncommon, but can include infection, reaction to anesthesia, double or blurred vision for a few days, temporary swelling of the eyelids, tiny whiteheads, and difficulty closing the eyes when going to sleep. Uneven healing and scarring, and ectropion (pulling down of the lower lids) are very rare and may require surgical correction.

What health problems are potential risk factors?

Patients with thyroid problems, dry eye, high blood pressure, diabetes, detached retina, glaucoma or other health problems should consult with an ophthalmologist about eligibility.

---

Chin Surgery

Why should I consider chin surgery (mentoplasty)?

Patients undergoing nose or neck surgery may consider chin surgery in order to maintain an attractive facial proportion.