Plastic Surgery FAQ

Plastic surgery should not be the first option in younger patients. Many nonsurgical choices exist to improve skin quality, decrease the signs of aging, and protect the skin from further damage. Initial treatment begins with basic skin care, which include hydration, sun protection, healthy diet, and avoiding smoking. Secondary options include facial injectable fillers or BOTOX Cosmetic. Topical dermatologic ointments such as Retin-A or hydroquinone may help reduce skin irregularity. Lastly, a skin resurfacing procedure with a chemical peel may remove sun damage and help create a smooth appearance.

Dr. Chaboki provides the finest in both cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery at affordable prices, and participates with most insurance plans. Plastic surgery covers a broad area of medicine, which includes both reconstructive procedures and cosmetic procedures. If your procedure is medically indicated, some portion of the cost may be covered. The office accepts insurance in applicable cases and will, if you wish, contact your insurance company to find out if your procedure will be covered. Insurance coverage varies greatly for patients, however, plastic surgery may be partially or fully covered.

Generally, a minimum of 2 weeks are allowed from the consultation to prepare for surgery. Select procedures may be performed earlier. Nonsurgical procedures may be performed at the same time as the initial consultation.

Yes, it’s generally preferred to combine procedures. First, by combining surgery, insurance may cover a portion of the procedure, and you may save money on fees. Secondly, tissue modified from one area may be used for another surgical area, such as fat transfer and face lifting, or septoplasty and rhinoplasty. Lastly, the recovery process following surgery would only be once, and you minimize downtime by avoiding two separate procedures. Commonly combined procedures include the following:

• Blepharoplasty and brow lift
• Brow lift and face lift
• Facelift and fat transfer
• Fat transfer and BOTOX Cosmetic
• Chemical peel and BOTOX Cosmetic
• Septoplasty and rhinoplasty
• Rhinoplasty and chin augmentation

Strenuous activities or exercise after plastic surgery will increase the risk of bleeding, swelling, and bruising, until an appropriate healing time has been allowed. This restriction during the recovery period varies based on the operation performed and patient’s medical condition. Light activities, such as slow walking, may be performed soon after anesthesia. Heavy activity, such as aerobics, yoga, cycling, running, heavy lifting, or similar vigorous activities are allowed after 2 weeks from the procedure. Contact sports are generally allowed after 6 weeks from surgery.

For first time nonsurgical cosmetic treatments, one should plan for a few hours to recover, but generally you may return to work at anytime. Facial plastic surgery patients should generally plan at least a few days to a week for recovery.

Office procedures are typically performed within minutes, while cosmetic surgery may range from an estimated 15 minutes to a few hours.

Dr. Chaboki performs a complete history and physical on all patients prior to undergoing cosmetic treatments. Plastic surgery may usually be safely performed on many chronic, stable medical conditions. However, plastic surgery may be delayed or cancelled as needed for patient safety. Dr. Chaboki will work with his cosmetic patients to help find a safe, appropriate plastic surgery option for them.

Smoking adversely affects your recovery. One may develop pneumonia, and treated areas don’t heal as well or may become infected. The blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the tissues shrink up and prevent the necessary healing of the area. Patients must stop smoking for a minimum of two weeks prior to surgery to decrease the risk of these complications, and continue smoking cessation after the procedure.

Downtime after cosmetic procedures may be a few hours to several days, depending on the specific procedure and areas treated. Office procedures are performed under local anesthesia, if any anesthesia is required. Surgical procedures are performed with either IV (twilight) sedation or general anesthesia and require a longer recovery period. Anesthesia normally wears off within the first 24 hours after surgery.

Dr. Chaboki performs facial plastic surgery at several DC area surgical facilities to accommodate his patients. Cosmetic treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and minor procedures with local anesthesia are performed in the DC office. Surgical procedures with IV (twilight) sedation or general anesthesia are performed at accredited facilities with a board-certified anesthesiologist, including:

• Georgetown University Medical Center
• MedStar Surgery Center