Have your Plastic Surgery Questions Answered by Dr. Leila Kasrai
Toronto cosmetic surgeon Dr. Leila Kasrai's answers to frequently asked questions.
Will I be awake or asleep during my surgery?
That completely depends on the type of surgery you will be having. Some plastic surgery procedures require general anesthetic, and others require only local anesthesia with sedation. With some procedures, Dr. Kasrai will offer you a choice, depending on your preferences.
How long should I be off work?
Although Dr. Kasrai will discuss how long you should take to recuperate after your specific surgery, she recommends that all of her patients take at least a week off to heal and minimize complications.
Do I stay in hospital after surgery?
Most plastic surgery procedures are performed on an outpatient (day surgery) basis and an overnight stay in the hospital is not included in the surgical fee. There are a few exceptions that include an over-night stay in your fee. In that case, patients may stay at either St. Joseph's Health Centre or the Elemental Private Surgical Suite, a luxury, full-service facility and spa.
Is there a benefit to having a female plastic surgeon perform my procedure?
The majority of plastic surgeons are men. And although most of them are eminently qualified to perform surgeries, they simply can't understand what it's like to live in a woman's body and have to deal with the associated emotional issues. As a woman, Dr. Kasrai can offer something that they can't: a woman's understanding of what physical appearance means to women.
How should I get ready for my surgery?
Please see Preparing for Surgery for general instructions. Dr. Kasrai will also give you a pre-operative checklist that's specific to the type of plastic surgery you will be having.
How do I choose the right implant size?
You and Dr. Kasrai will sit down and discuss the size and type of implant that's right for you. If you have a photo of the size and shape you're looking for, please bring it in - you may also want to bring in a stretchy sports bra to try on “sizers,” which can help you determine what looks best on your body.
Where will the surgery be performed?
Dr. Kasrai performs most of her procedures at either the Elemental Private Surgical Suite, a state-of-the-art facility, or at St. Joseph's Health Centre, where she is the Chief of Plastic Surgery.
Who will the anesthetist be?
All of the anesthetists who work with Dr. Kasrai are highly experienced and certified by the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. Should you have any questions for your anesthetist, you will have a chance to meet with him or her right before your surgery.
Who will be on call following my surgery?
Dr. Kasrai and/or her nursing staff will be available to answer your questions on a 24-hour basis after your surgery.
Is it safe to breastfeed after having breast augmentation?
Yes. Research indicates that breastfeeding a child after having implants poses no health threat to the child or the mother. In fact, studies have shown that there is more silicone in store-bought baby formula than there is in breast milk from women who have implants. Several studies have shown that the vast majority of women who try to breastfeed after having had breast augmentation are able to do so successfully.
Do implants require massage?
Depending on the type of implant you have, you will want to start massaging routinely a week or so after your surgery to minimize the risk of hardening. Dr. Kasrai is a highly experienced Toronto breast implants specialist, and she will show you the proper techniques. If you have teardrop, textured surface cohesive gel implants, however, massage isn't necessary.
Can I have mammograms after breast augmentation?
Yes. But please make sure you tell the technician that you have breast implants and he or she will know to take an extra shot using an additional view (called the Eckland view), to be able to see around the implant. Technicians in any hospital setting will know how to do additional views.
Do breast implants need to be replaced?
If you experience a leak or a capsular contracture (a hardening of the area around the implant), you may need to have your implants replaced.
Why do you tell people to stop smoking before surgery?
The longer an incision takes to heal, the more noticeable the scar will be. Because nicotine slows healing, it results in increased scar formation. As a general rule, smokers tend to have more noticeable scarring after plastic surgery. Please note that Dr. Kasrai will generally not perform facial procedures on smokers because of the increased risk of scarring.
If you still have questions that were not addressed in this FAQs section, be sure to look at the pages pertaining to the procedure you want to know more about. As a knowledgeable Toronto liposuction, tummy tuck, facelift and rhinoplasty surgeon, Dr. Kasrai provides detailed information about these treatments. If these procedure pages still leave you with questions, be sure to contact our office.