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FAQ's
Ivan M. Turpin MD 's FAQ's
If you are exploring plastic surgery options, you probably have a number of questions. To help you make a sound decision about what is right for you, I have assembled brief answers to the most common questions we are asked related to plastic surgery.
If you have additional questions, we would more than happy to answer those questions during a personal consultation. Please do not hesitate to contact us to let us know how we can best provide the answers you need.
1. Will it be painful?
During the procedure you will be comfortable and feel no pain. After surgery, pain and discomfort are easily controlled with medication and usually subside within three days.
2. Can I finance the surgery?
Financing is now a readily available form of payment. Low monthly payments virtually make every procedure instantly affordable.
3. How can I pay for my surgery?
Because surgery itself is taxing enough, we want to make your payment method as stress free as possible. That is why we offer a variety of ways to pay.
- Preauthorized insurance coverage
- Financing
- Cash, check or credit card
In the case of insurance coverage, we will simply contact your insurance carrier(s) for preauthorization. From there, we will work with your insurer(s) to arrange payment and bill you directly for the balance, if any.
In the case of financing, we offer several options to help you spread your payments over a number of installments with a small finance fee. If you would like more information on financing options, please contact our office.
Finally, you may always pay by cash, personal check, or a major credit card – whichever is most convenient.
4. How soon will I be back to work?
This depends upon the procedure and your job. Most plastic surgery patients are able to return to work in 7 to 10 days.
5. Will everyone know?
Good plastic surgery will not leave you looking plastic but enhance your appearance naturally. The improvement is often attributed to a vacation, new diet, or exercise regime.
6. How long will it last?
Rejuvenation procedures can’t stop the clock. The benefits from a face-lift, forehead lift, facial peels, and eyelid surgeries can last 5 to 15 years. Alteration procedures that reshape or correct an imbalance, such as reshaping of the nose, chin augmentation, breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reductions offer benefits that may last a lifetime.
7. How long does surgery take?
Not as long as you may think. Most procedures take only a few hours and are performed as outpatient surgeries requiring no overnight stay.
8. What is plastic surgery?
Plastic surgery is a surgical subspecialty that deals with the healing and restoration of patients with injury, disfigurement, and scarring resulting from trauma, disease, or a congenital defect. It includes aesthetic or cosmetic surgery to correct or rejuvenate facial and body features not pleasing to the patient. The term “plastic” is derived from the Greek word plastikos, which means “molding or giving form,” and does not refer to the use of plastic materials.
9. How does a physician become a plastic surgeon?
Training to become a plastic surgeon is difficult. To become Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a physician must complete a specialized post-graduate training course of five to seven years. Background training usually includes a thorough grounding in general surgery; however, a background in ENT or orthopedics may be acceptable. The final two or three years of training must be in an approved plastic surgery training program. Prior to official certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the physician must pass a standardized set of both written and oral examinations. While numerous physicians use the terms “Plastic Surgeon or Cosmetic Surgeon,” only those certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are true plastic surgeons.
10. What questions should I ask before choosing a plastic surgeon to make sure he or she is qualified to operate on me?
Pertinent questions that you should ask are :
- Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
- Do you have hospital privileges to perform this surgery?
- Where will you perform my surgery?
- How many procedures of this type have you performed?
- What are the risks involved with the procedure?
- What is the expected recovery time?
- How much will the surgery cost?
11. What is aesthetic or “cosmetic” surgery?
Aesthetic surgery, also known as cosmetic surgery, seeks to improve an individual’s appearance. These operations most often involve the nose, ears, face, forehead, eyes, eyelids, breasts, abdomen, hips, and thighs.
12. Will I have a scar after plastic surgery?
Scarring is inevitable; however, a very fine-lined scar placed in the correct orientation may be hardly perceptible. The plastic surgeon spends hours mastering techniques to keep scars in the most desirable locations. Plastic surgeons try to make incisions in areas that will not show: along natural crease lines, inside the hairline, and hidden by garments. Scars normally fade over time, but certain areas of the body, such as the back and chest, produce more severe scarring regardless of the technique used for closure. The severity of the scarring varies from person to person.
13. Will the scars be noticeable?
Every effort is made to minimize scars and conceal them in natural lines and creases. For the majority of procedures, scars fade over time becoming barely noticeable.
14. Does plastic surgery always involve skin grafting?
Skin grafting is only used when it is the best way of closing a wound or correcting a defect. A qualified plastic surgeon uses judgment to decide the best way of reconstructing a defect. A skin graft may appear to be a poor color and textural match compared to the native skin, but with careful selection of a skin graft donor site, this problem may be minimized.
15. What is a pedicle graft or a flap?
A pedicle graft, also called a flap, consists of a segment of skin underlying subcutaneous tissue and/or muscle. It is shifted from one area to another to either close a wound or reconstruct a structure. The word pedicle indicates that the blood supply of the flap is never completely divided. When the blood supply is completely divided and reattached, this creates a free flap, which requires the use of a microscope.
16. What should I consider before making my decision to have surgery?
The short answer is… as much information as you can gather to make a well-informed decision that is right for you. Specific to plastic surgery there are several things to think about as you to consider whether or not plastic surgery is an option for you.
Expectations: Very often, plastic surgery can enhance your appearance and boost your self-confidence, but it won’t necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause others to treat you differently. Take some time and carefully consider your expectations, understanding that the circumstances and experiences of every individual will be unique. Once you have done this, be sure to discuss your surgery in detail with your doctor, who can best help you to understand the particular procedure you are interested in and what you can reasonably expect from it.
Risk and Uncertainty : All surgery carries some degree of risk and uncertainty, including the possibility of infection, bleeding, blood clots, and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, however, complications are naturally more infrequent and usually minor. In any case, you can reduce your risk by closely following your surgeon’s advice both before and after surgery.
17. What is the difference between cosmetic and reconstructive surgery?
Cosmetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body. The goal of such a procedure is to improve the patient’s appearance and self-esteem. Most often it is not covered by health insurance, as it is an elective procedure.
Reconstructive surgery is performed to correct abnormal structures of the body caused by birth defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma or injury, infections, tumors, or disease. It is most often done to improve function, but may also be done to approximate a more normal appearance. Unlike cosmetic surgery, it is typically covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage levels will, of course, vary.
18. How can I best prepare for surgery?
As you meet with our staff prior to surgery, we will provide you with specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on :
- Eating and drinking
- Smoking
- Taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications
- Washing the area of your body to be operated on
Carefully following these instructions will help your surgery go more smoothly. In addition, we will also be available by telephone to answer any questions or concerns that might arise. Please do not hesitate to call us.
19. How safe is plastic surgery?
Although hundreds of thousands of people have plastic surgery every year without complication, no surgical procedure is completely risk free. Frankly, there is risk associated with any surgical procedure. However, as a patient you can play an important role in reducing that risk by following the suggestions below.
- Choose a Board Certified plastic surgeon, one who is accredited by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
- That surgeon is – at minimum – also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
- Whenever possible, select a surgeon who is also a member or candidate of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS).
- Make sure that the facility you choose conforms to strict safety standards, such as those standards required for Medicare Certification. Studies show that plastic surgery procedures performed in accredited surgical facilities by Board Certified surgeons have excellent safety statistics.
- Inform your doctor of any drugs you are taking and provide your full medical history so that he/she can properly evaluate your medical condition and prepare for any potential complications, especially those related to blood clotting.
- Make sure you receive proper anesthesia care by verifying that the facility will use skilled, licensed personnel who will individually monitor you before, during, and after the procedure.
[In relation to these guidelines, Dr. Turpin and Dr. Zeineh are proud to be certified by the ABPS and are members of many professional societies. They have board certified anesthesiologists on staff, and they perform surgery at accredited surgical facilities, ensuring you receive the safest care possible – the quality expert care you deserve.]
20. Where will my surgery be performed?
In almost all cases, your procedure will be performed in our private and accredited surgical facility next to our office. Your surgery will be done in peaceful seclusion at this state-of-the-art facility. Rest assured that you will receive the finest care available. Most of our reconstructive operations are performed at St. Joseph Hospital.
21. Will my insurance cover the expense of plastic surgery?
Most insurance policies do not cover the cost of purely cosmetic surgery. However, if the procedure is performed for reconstructive purposes, either to correct a health-related problem or marked deformity following injury, the procedure may be covered. In any case, it is best to check with your insurer and/or health care provider and obtain preauthorization for your surgery.
Reviews
- Dr.Turpin is an exceptional practitioner. He is a true artist and has a gentle bedside manner which helps any patient at any time they are not feeling good about themselves or their circumstance. I recommend the experience with Dr. Turpin. His office staff is exceptional and they always go the extra mile to make the experience worth coming in.- Carmen Ferrell. 0/11/2020
- Dr. Turpin is not only an amazing surgeon but, he is also very compassionate and has a great bedside manner. He is very patient and kind. My tummy tuck and muscle repair has changed my life and has given me more confidence and self esteem Thank you to Dr.Turpin. I would recomend anyone that needs a plastic surgeon to see Him.He also has a wonderful caring friendly staff that are very helpful.I am giving 5 stars!!!- Tamera Johnson. 10/7/2018
- I had a breast reduction and lift and couldn't be happier. I interviewed a couple doctors but dr Turpin was the best by far. He was referred by my doctor , had great reviews, his staff was friendly and they got my paper work and insurance stuff done quickly and easily, and he had the best bedside manner than all the other docs I meet. Day of surgery he checked on me before and after surgery. Then post surgery his nurses especially Kathy were just the best! I could call with any questions and they were so supportive. I love how my breast look and best of all how I feel. No more neck and back pain. I'm 8 weeks post surgery still have so breast pain but it's normal is what I hear. I referred a friend that wanted the same thing and she's going to dr Turpin too.- Rosanna Hanson. 1/7/2017
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