Learn About Cosmetic Surgery

Educate Yourself

At Dr. Kara Plastic Surgery, we believe that patient education is important. Patients who are informed about their treatments and understand what the experience entails generally experience higher levels of satisfaction, making their surgery a successful one.

You'll find information about cosmetic surgery right here. We update this page regularly so if you don't find the information you need, let us known and we'll provide it!

General questions about plastic surgery

The following are some frequently asked questions that many patients want to know the answers for.

Do you offer financing for plastic surgery?

In continuing with our tradition of providing first rate services to our clients, we have taken matters one step further to anticipate not only all your medical and cosmetic needs, but also the required financial needs for these procedures.

Should you require financial assistance to complete your reconstructive or cosmetic plastic surgery in Toronto, may we suggest that you look into obtaining such assistance by filling out the proper credit application for your needs. Application takes only 2 minutes to complete, and you'll get instant approval, so you won't waste your time. Approval is based only on credit rating, not other factors. Find out more about financing your procedure.

What is the difference between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery?

Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it is elective.

Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly.

There are a number of "gray areas" in coverage for plastic surgery that sometimes require special consideration by an insurance carrier. These areas usually involved surgical operations which may be reconstructive or cosmetic, depending on each patient's situation. For example, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) - a procedure normally performed to achieve cosmetic improvement may be covered if the eyelids are drooping severely and obscuring a patient's vision.

What does "plastic" mean in reference to plastic surgery?

The word "plastic" comes from the Greek word plastikos, meaning "to mold or shape." Many of the first plastic surgeries were developed to close a difficult wound or replace tissue lost due to injury or cancer. These procedures often involved the formation of a skin flap to reshape or mold the defect so as to approximate the original shape.

What does it feel like to recover from plastic surgery? How long does it take?

Each patient will tolerate pain post-operatively in a different way, and we consider this. While some patients may describe the pain as an ache, others experience greater discomfort. Appropriate pain medications are prescribed for the post-operative patients, and these help minimize discomfort. Most facial cosmetic operations have minimal discomfort post-operatively. Liposuction is slightly more uncomfortable, and operations that require elevation or tightening of the muscles-such as an abdominoplasty or breast augmentation have discomfort equal to that of a C-section.

The length of time it takes to recuperate after plastic surgery varies depending on the plastic surgery procedure performed and the person operated on. Most patients will require assistance for the first two days. Then most patients are able to care for themselves, but may still need assistance if they have small children to care for.

All patients are encouraged to start a slow walking routine on the second postoperative day. Regular aerobic and more vigorous activities are not allowed during the first 2 weeks in order to decrease the risks of bleeding, swelling, and bruising. Weight lifting and contact sports are allowed at 1 month in most cases.