Frequently Asked Questions About Our Practice

Patients’ Questions About Our Plastic Surgery Practice

Before you decide to undergo any plastic surgery procedure, you will likely have a great number of questions. When you come to our Boston-area practice for a plastic surgery consultation, Dr. Doherty will answer all of your questions. He will determine whether cosmetic plastic surgery is right for you and which procedure would best suit you.

Below, are some of the most commonly asked questions from our patients.

Am I a Good Candidate for Plastic Surgery?

Any man or woman in good overall health who is bothered by his or her appearance can be a good candidate for plastic surgery. However, it is important to be assessed in person by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon, such as myself, as any procedure is only going to be effective if it is the right one for your individual anatomy and needs.

What Happens in a Consultation?

Scheduling an in-person consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon in your area is a critical first step towards an exemplary outcome. Aesthetic procedures, despite what social media may imply, are never one size fits all. My job is to assess your physical needs in order to devise a treatment plan that is going to give you your desired result. During our meeting, I will listen closely to what it is that you don’t like about your body contour. I’ll ask very detailed questions about your medical history, family history, lifestyle, and any prior procedures you may have had as well as how your body recovered. Then, I’ll perform a thorough physical exam in order to determine the procedure or procedures that can deliver your ideal body contour.

How Do I Choose the Best Plastic Surgeon?

Between all of the recommendations on social media and the internet, choosing the best plastic surgeon can often feel overwhelming. Personally, I always suggest starting with the Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons in your area which can be found here (https://www.plasticsurgery.org/). If a plastic surgeon isn’t board certified, this does not mean that he or she isn’t good. But choosing someone who has passed their boards is a good short cut to finding a highly trained plastic surgeon with extensive experience as it takes considerable time, on-going education and training to become Board-Certified. You also know that he or she operates in a safe and accredited facility.

Is Plastic Surgery Safe?

While I want to deliver an exemplary aesthetic result with every procedure that I perform, my number one concern is always patient safety. Plastic surgery is safe for the right patient. You need to be in good overall health and choose the right procedure for your needs. It is also imperative that you follow all pre and post-op instructions carefully. The internet has made information about aesthetic surgery readily available. This is generally a good thing for patients as it allows you to educate yourself on your options. The potential downside, however, is this proliferation of information on the web can downplay the fact that surgery is serious and needs to be treated as such.

How Do I Know Which Procedure is Right for Me?

Figuring out which procedure is going to be right for you is the job of your plastic surgeon. Every person’s anatomy is individual. This means that while X procedure may have worked wonders for your favorite influencer or even your sister, this does not mean that it will be right for you. This is why it is so important to be assessed in person.

What is the Best Age to Have Plastic Surgery?

There is no set age that is best for plastic surgery. It’s going to come down to your individual needs. Generally, I don’t like to perform a surgical procedure such as a breast augmentation on a woman younger than 18. It’s important for all patients that your body be fully developed physically but also emotionally.

How Much Does a Breast Augmentation Cost?

The cost of a breast augmentation is going to depend on which implant you choose, whether or not you need an additional procedure such as fat grafting or soft tissue support (STS), and where you live. In my Boston area offices, the total cost of a breast augmentation can range anywhere from $10,000 to $12,000.

Are Breast Implants Safe?

Saline and silicone gel breast implants are one of the most studied medical devices in the world and when placed appropriately in the right patient, breast implants are safe. I spend as much time as you need during our initial meetings going over any concerns you may have about placing a breast implant. Some patients, despite the literature, simply do not want silicone in their body. For them, a saline implant is a better choice. Generally, I use a round, silicone gel breast implant because I find it delivers the most natural looking result. But the right choice for you is going to be the one with which you are most comfortable.

What’s the Difference Between Reconstructive Surgery and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery?

Cosmetic or Aesthetic Plastic Surgery refers to any procedure that addresses something that you want to change about your appearance because you don’t like it. Reconstructive surgery, on the other hand, refers to a procedure that repairs damage from a medical condition such as cancer, infection or physical trauma.

Will by Insurance Company Cover my Procedure?

In general, insurance companies will not cover a cosmetic procedure. If you need a reconstructive procedure, such as a breast implant following a mastectomy, this is typically covered, but you will have to check your specific plan. My practice is limited to cosmetic, non-reconstructive procedures.

How Do I Decide Between Liposuction and a Tummy Tuck?

The abdomen is a problem area for so many of my male and female Boston area patients. Factors such as pregnancy, age, menopause and weight gain/loss can all adversely affect the skin and tissues in your mid-section. While every patient prefers the idea of liposuction as it requires less downtime for recovery, liposuction can only address excess pockets of fat. It cannot lift loose skin. The latter is a very common issue in patients who’ve gained and lost weight either through pregnancy or a GLP-1 weight loss drug. A tummy tuck allows me to address all of the underlying factors that may be causing your dissatisfaction in one procedure. This may include removing areas of excess fat, lifting and excising loose skin, and tightening loose muscle if necessary.

Do I Really Need to Wear a Compression Garment?

A compression garment is a typical requirement following many body contouring procedures including liposuction, tummy tuck and gynecomastia. It not only helps to reduce any post-op discomfort by reducing swelling, your body’s natural reaction to any kind of surgery, but it is also one of the best ways to make sure that you get the result that we both want. I know that the idea of wearing one is not fun. But if you are going to spend the money and time to have a body contouring procedure, it makes no sense to not follow your post-op instructions carefully which includes wearing your compression garment. In general, I tell patients to anticipate wearing a compression device for up to 3 months following their procedures.

Does Recovery from Plastic Surgery Hurt?

My team and myself do everything in our power to make your recovery as pleasant as possible. Having said that, every patient has his or her own unique pain threshold. One of the reasons that I spend so much time during our initial meetings asking you about any prior procedures, either aesthetic or not, that you may have had as well as how your body recovered is to get a sense of exactly this fact. Furthermore, there are certain procedures, such as a tummy tuck, that are more robust in terms of recovery than others. I pride myself on being extremely honest about what you can realistically expect. I will also prescribe appropriate pain medications when needed.

Will I Have Scar After Cosmetic Surgery?

The delineating line between a non-surgical procedure and a surgical procedure is that the latter requires an incision line. And anytime that the skin is cut, there is going to be some degree of a scar. I employ precise surgical techniques that place as little tension as possible on the surface of the skin. As this is one of the main contributors to a raised scar, less tension reduces your risk. However, some people are genetically inclined to scar more than others. I spend a lot time in our initial meetings going over your background in order to assess how you may heal. I also offer my patients a myriad of scar reduction therapies in the event that the incision line doesn’t heal as fast or as well as we’d like.

How Soon After Cosmetic Surgery Can I Drive?

Determining how soon you can drive after your cosmetic surgery is going to depend on what, exactly, you have done. During your initial consultation and pre-op appointments, we will go over in detail the ins and outs of your recovery, including when I may release you to drive. In general, I tell my patients to plan on not driving for at least 7-10 days after a surgical procedure.

Can I Exercise After Surgery?

Patients are often eager to return to the gym after plastic surgery. I understand. It’s hard to take time off from your routine. However, it is also critical to give your body the time it needs to heal. Exercise raises your heart rate which will increase your swelling. So while I generally like patients moving about soon after surgery and may release you for gentle walking within a week, it will be longer than that before you can return to serious exercise. How long exactly will depend on your specific treatment plan and the procedures performed.

Will I Need ChildCare Following my Cosmetic Surgery?

It is important to have the care you need in place following cosmetic surgery so that your body can heal properly. This includes childcare. If you have a breast augmentation, for example, you will not be able to lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. for about 3 weeks. This includes children. The same goes for a tummy tuck or gynecomastia surgery. Even with liposuction, you are going to be sore, and movement will be restricted at first so why not give yourself all the help that you can.

Am I Going to Need Help with Pet Care After Cosmetic Surgery?

Deciding whether or not you are going to need pet care after surgery is going to depend on the type of pet you have as well as which procedure you have done. Feeding a goldfish, for example, is probably going to be fine, but walking your dog is not something that I am going to want you to do following a breast augmentation or a gynecomastia procedure, for example. And if you have a tummy tuck, you are not going to want to bend over for awhile so plan accordingly. I spend time going over all of these considerations during our initial meetings so you can prepare accordingly.

How Soon After Surgery Can I Restart my Supplements?

In general, I ask that patients refrain from taking any supplements for a week after cosmetic surgery.

Do I Need to go Off my GLP-1 Medication Before Surgery?

Yes. I typically ask my GLP-1 patients to stop taking the medication for 2 weeks before surgery and to wait for 2 weeks after surgery before restarting the drug.

Are my Cosmetic Surgery Results Guaranteed?

There is no guarantee when it comes to any aesthetic procedure. Furthermore, the results may not be permanent and can vary by patient. Having said all of that, I do everything within my power to deliver an excellent result that will stand the test of time. I am also always honest about what any procedure can and cannot deliver for your individual anatomy. Pregnancy, breast feeding and changes in weight can also change your surgical results.