QUESTIONS
PARENTS ASK ABOUT PLASTIC SURGERY
• How
do I know the right time to take my child in for
a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon?
• What if the child is
not old enough?
• What is the right age
for plastic surgery?
• What kind of people
have facial plastic surgery?
• How can I know whether
surgery is right for my child?
• Is there any way to predict
how my child’s features will change with maturity or how my child will
look after surgery?
The
Initial Visit
Pre Op And Post
Op Considerations
The Results To
Expect
The Risks
The Costs
How
do I know the right time to take my child in for
a consultation with a facial plastic surgeon?
The time to see a surgeon is when
the child expresses serious concerns about a feature
that may be corrected through facial plastic surgery.
Don’t pressure the child. The exceptions to this
rule are if your child has protruding ears, a port
wine stain or other birth defects. Parents might encourage
early consideration of correction for these problems
to save their child a lifetime of teasing. Corrective
procedures can be done effectively at a young age.
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What
if the child is not old enough for facial plastic
surgery?
There is always benefit to learning
how a problem will be affected by normal growth and
at what point surgical intervention might be helpful.
An early consultation will help you learn how to monitor
growth and give you time to prepare for surgery if
it is needed.
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What
is the right age for facial plastic surgery?
Protruding ears and some other birth
defects most frequently are corrected before a child
starts school. If the child has a functional problem,
such as an underdeveloped lower jaw, see the doctor
early to determine what the appropriate course of treatment
should be. Other procedures are not done until the
face has reached its full growth. This usually occurs
at 14 or 15 years of age for girls and 16 or 17 for
boys.
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What
kind of people have facial plastic surgery? I don't
want my child to be vain or preoccupied with perfection.
Teens who are seeking perfection
or who wish to look like someone else, say a movie
star or a particular model, are not considered good
candidates for facial plastic surgery. Most people
who have surgery are well-adjusted individuals who
basically like themselves, but wish to change a feature
with which they are dissatisfied.
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How
can I know whether facial plastic surgery is right
for my child?
Dr. Smith will spend as much time
as necessary to help you and your child make this decision.
The child’s emotional and physical wellbeing
will be discussed as they relate to him or her being
a good candidate for surgery.
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Is
there any way to predict how my child’s features
will change with maturity or how my child will
look after facial plastic surgery?
Since healing differs with each individual,
it is not possible to promise a specific surgical result.
Dr. Smith does, however, use several methods to show
how a person’s unique bone structure and covering
tissues may react to surgery. These techniques, which
include sketching, use of mathematical measurements
and computer imaging, may be used to demonstrate how
a feature may change as the child matures.
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THE
INITIAL VISIT
During the initial visit, Dr. Smith
will make a thorough evaluation of your child’s
problem, discuss possible treatment options and talk
about risks and cost. He will candidly answer all of
your questions so you can make an informed decision.
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PRE-OP AND
POST-OP CONSIDERATIONS
Many facial plastic surgical procedures
can be performed safely on an “outpatient” basis
in an office surgery or an ambulatory surgery center.
Some procedures may be done in a hospital, especially
if the patient is very young or unusually nervous.
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THE RESULTS
TO EXPECT
Facial plastic surgery cannot produce
a miracle. Anyone who expects it to be the answer to
personal problems is likely to be disappointed. Facial
plastic surgery can minimize facial problems and improve
appearance. The improvement, in turn, may enhance self
confidence. But surgery should not be expected to improve
a teenager’s social life or solve other problems.
The final surgical results depend
on the skill and experience of the surgeon as well
as the age, health, skin texture, bone structure and
healing capacity of the patient. A positive emotional
attitude is also important. Young patients generally
heal quickly and experience good results.
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THE RISKS
The risks involved in most facial
plastic surgery procedures are minimal. There are inherent
risks in any surgical undertaking, of course, and these
will be discussed thoroughly with you during your visit
with Dr. Smith. Many thousands of these procedures
are performed successfully on young people around the
world each year.
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THE COSTS
Dr. Smith and his staff will discuss
costs with you before you decide to proceed.
Surgery that is done for cosmetic
reasons usually is considered elective and is not covered
by insurance. Full or partial coverage may be granted
when there is a functional reason for the surgery.
This may apply to orthognathic surgery, some types
of rhinoplasty and certain reconstructive procedures.
You should consult your insurance company representative
in advance to determine whether the surgical procedure
is eligible for benefit consideration.
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