Fort Myers Doctors

It It Normal For Plastic Surgeons To Have Assistants in the OR? What Is Their Role?

Is assistants often used by plastic surgeons in the OR? and if so what are their main duties in the OR? Thanks much for all your answers.

It is absolutely normal for a Plastic Surgeon to have assistant(s) in the operating room.  Well performed surgery works like a well drilled string quartet.  The Surgeon performs the procedure, relying on the Anesthetist (Anesthesiologist or CRNA) to maintain sedation for the patient, the scrub technician (CMT) to make sure that the proper instruments/suture are organized and available, and the circulating nurse (RN) to assist with medications, supplies, and patient comfort.

Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

How Many Cosmetic Procedures Can Be Done at One Time? What Are Things That Affect General Anesthesia?

I'm planning on undergoing a rhinoplasty, otoplasty and two mole removals (most likely via incision), is it safe to do all these under the same general anesthesia. I have a slight fear of going under general anesthesia, due to the hundreds of horror stories that I have come across. This includes patients waking up mid-way through surgery and being unable to speak but hear and feel everything that is going on. I am just wondering what kind of things need to be disclosed and affect general anesthesia i.e Anti-depressants, whether you smoke, herbal supplements?

Not surprisingly, Anesthesia is the factor that prospective patients fear most when considering cosmetic surgery.   Is this fear of the unknown rational, or is it overblown?  Healthy patients, without active, symptomatic cardiovascular or pulmonary problems are generally very safe under anesthesia in competent hands.  The simple answer to your question is that rhinoplasty, otoplasty, and mole removal can be performed together safely and effectively.  However, recovery from and risks associated from anesthesia increase with the length of the case.  Full disclosure of any medication, supplement, smoking and health history is essential to a good outcome.

Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

What's Your Opinion of Life Style Lift?

I would highly recommend that you read Dr. Miller's excellent description, and then read it again.

My Opinion:

1) A Facelift takes several hours.......period

2) Lifestyle Lift is not a revolutionary procedure, it is a company selling a procedure. The only revolution is in the marketing, sales, and operations of this company.  The founder of the company, Dr. David Kent, has never published a description of his "invention" in any peer reviewed surgical journal.  There are many descriptions of Facelift type procedures, but Lifestyle Lift isn't one of them.

3) Lifestyle Lift has been penalized by the Attorney General is New York for astroturfing to the tune of $300,000. Lifestyle Lift is currently under investigation in Florida for deceptive marketing practices.

4) Lifestyle Lift has a substantial number of dissatisfied patients.  I am one of a number of Surgeons who have performed revision for Lifestyle Lift patients.  The patients usually complain of little to no result, lack of longevity of result, and/or poor scarring.

I would advise that you seek several opinions and perform your own due diligence.

Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon