Dr. Behmand's Blog

San Francisco and Walnut Creek Patients’ Questions About Plastic Surgery

Before you decide to undergo plastic surgery, you will probably have a great number of questions, about both your surgeon and the procedure. When you come to our San Francisco-area practice for a plastic surgery consultation, Dr. Behmand will be able to answer all of your questions. He will determine whether cosmetic plastic surgery is right for you and which procedure would best serve your needs.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most commonly asked questions that our San Francisco-area patients ask when they come to our plastic surgery facility. We want you to be as comfortable as possible while contemplating plastic surgery.

Am I a plastic surgery candidate?

Most physically and emotionally healthy adults are good candidates for plastic surgery. Your chances of a successful outcome are best if you have overall good self-esteem and a well-defined reason for wanting cosmetic plastic surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Ramin Behmand will assess your concerns, general health, and medical history and perform a focused physical examination. Taking all this information into consideration, Dr. Behmand will discuss with you the cosmetic procedures for which you are a good candidate and which have a high likelihood of addressing your concerns.

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What is the best age to have plastic surgery?

Because every person’s health and desires are different, there are no set age standards for plastic surgery. For example, if loose neck skin runs in your family, you may need a neck lift at a younger age than other people your age.

There are general guidelines for certain plastic surgery procedures. For example, otoplasty (ear reshaping) is an appropriate surgery for patients as young as five years old. Face lift, on the other hand, is usually reserved for patients over the age of 30, as younger adults can be successfully treated with non-surgical treatments such as Thermage®, Restylane®, and BOTOX® Cosmetic.

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Will my insurance company cover the cost of plastic surgery?

In most cases, insurance companies in San Francisco and the rest of America will not cover plastic surgery that is performed for cosmetic reasons. If you need reconstructive or otherwise medically necessary plastic surgery, your insurance policy may partially or fully cover the procedure. Please check with your insurance provider for accurate coverage information.

How does reconstructive surgery differ from cosmetic plastic surgery?

If you desire to change your appearance for purely aesthetic reasons, your chosen procedure likely falls under the category of cosmetic surgery. However, if you need plastic surgery to repair damage from cancer, infection, or physical trauma, your surgery would be classified as reconstructive.

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Will my plastic surgery procedure hurt?

The amount of discomfort associated with plastic surgery varies with each procedure. For many non-surgical treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic or skin fillers containing hyaluronic acid, Dr. Behmand will only need to apply topical anesthetic.

More involved plastic surgery, such as tummy tuck or breast augmentation, is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. Your consultation with Dr. Behmand at his San Francisco-area office is the best time to discuss plastic surgery anesthesia options.

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Are breast implants safe?

In the past, silicone-filled breast implants were often in the news, due to reports of leaks of silicone within women's bodies. Since then, new breast implants have been developed that carry no risk of leak-related health problems. These new implants are filled with harmless saline solution (salt water) and pose no health risk in the unlikely event that the implant ruptures or leaks.

Each year, thousands of women undergo breast augmentation plastic surgery and experience no major complications. However, it is important that you familiarize yourself with both the risks and benefits of the procedure. As one of the most important aspects of your consultation, Dr. Behmand will focus on implant safety and possible complications of breast augmentation surgery. Be sure to raise any questions or concerns that you may have about the safety of the procedure. Remember that by carefully following Dr. Behmand's instructions, both before and after surgery, you can do your part to minimize some of the risks.

You probably have more questions about plastic surgery than are covered on this page. To answer them, we welcome you to contact our San Francisco plastic surgery office, located in Walnut Creek, to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Behmand.

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Behmand Institute of Plastic Surgery
Ramin A. Behmand, MD, FACS
1776 Ygnacio Valley Rd., Suite 108
Walnut Creek, California 94598
MAP
Phone: (925) 939-9200

Contact the staff at our San Francisco-area plastic surgery office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ramin Behmand.