Birmingham Plastic Surgeons

Facelift Surgery Before and After Photos

I'm considering face lift surgery, and I want to talk with a few different surgeons. What should I look for in facelift before and after pictures? How will I know what is good?

Your question is a very good one as there are a number of photographic techniques that can make the results of a facelift look better than it actually looks. The important things to look out for are changes in lighting, make-up or no make-up and whether or the patient is smiling. It is truly amazing how much younger a patient looks when smiling versus frowning. It is important that the surgeon have a gallery of photos of both male and femalr patients of various ages so that it can be determined what the surgeon thinks looks good as most surgeons only show their best results. There are no rules for what "looks good". Looking at the photos will usually give you a general idea of what the surgeon likes to do and you will get a feel for how good it looks to you.

Paul S. Howard, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Is a Certification From ABCS the same as ABPS For a Mommy Makeover?

I found a Dr that I really like with an American Board of Cosmetic Surgery Certification.. Is that adequate, or does he need to be a member of different societies? He is also a faculty member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Physicians. I'm doing a Mommy Makeover, and only want to do it once!

Any licensed medical doctor can claim to be a "cosmetic" or "plastic surgeon." When in the need for a neurosurgeon, you would want a real neurosurgeon right?  Then choose a real board certified plastic surgeon, one who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Otherwise,  your doctor may not have any surgical training much less a plastic surgery residency.  I am attaching a great video produced by my wife to help you better understand all of this confusion being created by non-trained plastic surgeons that have titled themselves as "cosmetic" surgeons. 

Paul S. Howard, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

When Getting Lip Augmentation, from Where is the Fat Harvested?

How often is the fat reject after a lip injection?

I have been doing fat transfer for over 20 years.  I have great success harvesting fat from the abdomen, hips, buttocks, or even the thighs for fat grafting for lip augmentation.  Grafting fat is a scientific process and a very artistic cosmetic procedure.  Grafting "take" has improved dramatically since we first began fat grafting over 20 years ago.  With the latest technological advancements for fat grafting, one can expect the graft to "take" near 100%.    

Paul S. Howard, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon