Aside from hair loss, which needs to be addressed by one means or another, cosmetic surgery is an area where patience is a virtue. Hormone therapy will have significant effects on the shape and contours of your face, enough so that you may not need as much surgery as you might think, if you end up needing any at all. The advice I was given was to wait for two years on hormones before making any decisions.

Plastic surgery carries the same risks as other surgical procedures. Infection, excessive bleeding or scarring, and skin, muscle or nerve injury are always possible. These complications are rare and often correctable, but you must understand them before undergoing surgery.

Cosmetic eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a procedure to sculpt the upper and lower eyelids to restore a youthful appearance to your eyes and sometimes improve your vision. Upper eyelid surgery can open up droopy appearing upper eyelids. Lower eyelid surgery removes the puffiness and swelling of the lower eyelids. Most patients look younger and more rested after successful eyelid surgery

Yes, we offer a number of options for men and women seeking to enhance their appearance with the minimization of wrinkles, fine lines and other skin lesions and/or discolorations. These include CO2 laser skin resurfacing, IPL photorejuvenation, and Botox® injections among other procedures. For more information about treatments for a specific problem area, contact our office at (828) 322-2050 to schedule a free consultation.

Complete shaving of the head is not necessary for surgery. However, a significant patch of hair from on top of the head to behind an ear is shaved immediately before surgery when the patient is sedated. This results in a hairstyle that would be considered strange outside of San Francisco. Many patients elect to get a short haircut after surgery (must be at least 2 weeks afterwards) so that the hair grows in evenly. When hair grows back, incisions are not visible.

Absolutely. Not only is Dr. Kjar bound by law to keep the details of your medical records confidential, but he and his staff are also very sensitive to the personal nature of cosmetic surgery and body image, and will keep your visits private. It is up to you whether you choose to tell your family and friends about your procedure.

Cosmetic surgery is elective, meaning that it would not be deemed necessary for your physical health by an insurance company. You choose to have the surgery, and you pay for it out of pocket. Reconstructive surgery is deemed necessary by your insurance company, such as in the case of accident or illness, and is paid for by insurance. Cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries also have different goals.

Only if your surgery is reconstructive (see above). Cosmetic surgeries are not covered, and must be paid out of pocket. There are certain ages when cosmetic surgery is not advisable. For patients younger than mid-20s, procedures may not be effective because their bodies are still developing. For patients who are significantly advanced in age, procedures may not be safe or affective, because of the decreased strength and flexibility of skin, muscle, and tissue. However, there are exceptions.

Definitely. Dr. Kjar often deals with out-of-town patients. The office will help you coordinate the details of the timing of your visits. Please contact us for suggestions for lodging in local areas.

Many people believe that once you have cosmetic surgery, you must have it repeated over time for the rest of your life. This is far from the truth. Some patients use cosmetic surgery to correct an aspect of their appearance that troubles them, and once it is corrected, never desire cosmetic surgery again.

Dr. Levin individualizes each procedure to the specific patient looking to maximize results while minimizing any side effects. The Silktouch carbon dioxide laser is used on excessive tissue of the eyelids. After sculpting the eyelids, fine absorbable or removable sutures are used.

Although most skin outgrowths are harmless and can be left alone safely, they may be treated for the following purposes: