Due to the variety of procedures available in plastic surgery, there can be no blanket rule on age although age will be taken into consideration when planning your operation. People of all ages have taken advantage of the image-enhancement offered by plastic surgery. There are even procedures appropriate for young children!

It is important to realize the limitations of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery cannot fix every situation or reverse the aging process. What is a good procedure for one person may not be an appropriate procedure for another. We are committed to making your plastic surgery experience a successful one.

Are your surgeons Cosmetic Surgeons or Plastic Surgeons? What’s the difference?

All of our six surgeons are qualified Plastic Surgeons – this is NOT the same as Cosmetic Surgeons. Our team of surgeons specialise in different areas of cosmetic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and have decades of experience and training.

The difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon is significant.

Anyone with an MBBS qualification (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) can call themselves a ‘cosmetic surgeon,’ however they have not had the minimum 12 years of rigorous training that is required to become a Plastic Surgeon and most are not accredited to operate in leading hospitals (that’s why they operate in their backroom clinic or in day surgeries). Some people calling themselves ‘cosmetic surgeons’ actually trained as dentists or dermatologists (Skin doctors).

Membership of RACS (Royal Australian College of Surgeons) means you are surgeon but you could be a Maxillofacial surgeon or ENT surgeon and may not have much expertise in Plastic Surgery. Please choose a quality Plastic Surgeon that is accredited by a recognised association – look for membership of ASPS, ASAPS or ISAPS as a minimum qualification for your surgeon. These members are regarded as highly trained specialists in their field.

We recommend waiting one year (12 months) after childbirth before having tummy surgery.

You are however most welcome to come in for a consultation at any time to plan for your upcoming surgery.

Early consultations can be very beneficial to help you prepare your body for the best surgery outcomes as well as plan your recovery time – contact us to schedule a consultation.

Will my breast surgery affect breastfeeding later in life?

The answer depends on exactly what type of breast surgery. For safety and better results, it is best to avoid surgery using incisions around the nipple areola complex and avoid having “above the muscle” implant placement. You should also choose an experienced plastic surgeon – not a underqualified ‘cosmetic surgeon’ or physician.

We generally recommend either “below the muscle” implants and making incisions under the breast for best results if you are going to breastfeed children later in life or want the lowest chance of loss of nipple sensation.

We recommend waiting several months after you’ve finished breastfeeding your last child before having breast surgery – typically a minimum of three months after breastfeeding finishes.

Do I really need a breast lift as well (I already know I want implants)?

This is a common question asked by patients trying to solve the problem of saggy breasts by having a standard breast augmentation with implants but don’t want surgical scars associated with a breast lift.

If you have significantly ptotic breasts (See our chart here and do the test for ptotic breasts here) you really have a choice of either a breast lift surgery (mastopexy) or a breast augmentation with a breast lift (masto-augmentation or BAM (Breast Augmentation Mastopexy)). Our top breast surgeons are renowned for their breast lift operations and use the latest techniques to get the best results. The Masto-Augmentation procedure is a particularly challenging operation to get right and really needs the skill of an experienced breast plastic surgeon.

Please don’t get just breast implants (or really large breast implants) to try to solve your problem of ptotic, saggy or droopy breasts. You probably need a breast lift and it’s a much more complex operation that needs to be done by an experienced plastic surgeon.

Unfortunately, we hear this question a lot. Many physicians try to provide FFS, but lack the experience and knowledge of Dr. Andreanidis. Fortunately, however, in the majority of cases we can indeed correct and improve prior work. Be certain to arrange a consultation with Dr. Andreanidis to review what you have had done and discuss your goals for further surgery.

Yes. You should STOP all aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn, Vioxx), vitamin E and Gingko Biloba products seven days prior to surgery. You should quit smoking AS SOON AS POSSIBLE and stop drinking alcohol one week prior to surgery. ALL hormones should be stopped two weeks prior to surgery unless your primary care physician or endocrinologist feels otherwise. Patients typically resume their hormones about four days following surgery—as soon as they are up and walking around frequently.

Depending upon what is most appropriate for your particular situation, the surgeon will decide what type of anesthesia to use. He or she will answer any questions you have.