Plastic Surgery Procedures at a Glance
This page offers a general overview of cosmetic surgery procedures. For more in-depth information, please click the name of each procedure.
While this section explores cosmetic surgical offerings, many of these procedures may also fulfill true medical needs. You should understand that the circumstances and experience of every individual will be unique.
In addition, please note that all surgery carries some uncertainty and risk, including the possibility of infection, bleeding, blood clots, and adverse reactions to the anesthesia. You can reduce your risks by choosing a qualified board certified plastic surgeon and closely following his or her advice, both before and after surgery.
 ABDOMINOPLASTY (Tummy Tuck) |
| Procedure: |
Flatten abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of abdominal wall. |
| Length: |
2 to 5 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
General, or local with sedation. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Either depending on individual circumstances and extent of surgery. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary pain. Swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising, tiredness for several weeks or months. |
| Risks: |
Blood clots. Infection. Bleeding under the skin flap. Poor healing resulting in conspicuous scarring or skin loss. Need for a second operation. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 2 to 4 weeks. More strenuous activity: 4 to 6 weeks or more. Fading and flattening of scars: 3 months to 2 years. |
| BREAST AUGMENTATION (Augmentation Mammaplasty) |
| Procedure: |
Enhance the size of breasts using inflatable implants filled with saline or gel filled silicone implants. |
| Length: |
1 to 2 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
General or local with sedation. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary soreness, swelling, change in nipple sensation, bruising. Breast sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks. |
| Risks: |
Lack of implant permanence — surgical removal or replacement of the implants may be required to treat problems, including: deflation; the formation of scar tissue around the implant (capsular contracture), which may cause the breast to feel tight or hard; bleeding or infection. Increase or decrease in sensitivity of nipples or breast skin, occasionally permanent. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 3 to 5 days. Fading of scars: several months to a year or more. |
| Results: |
Variable. Implants may require removal or replacement. |
| BREAST LIFT (Mastopexy) |
| Procedure: |
Raise and reshape sagging breasts by removing excess skin and repositioning remaining tissue and nipples. |
| Length: |
2 to 4 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. Sometimes inpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin. Permanent scars. |
| Risks: |
Thick, wide scars; skin loss; infection. Unevenly positioned nipples. Permanent loss of feeling in nipples or breast. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 1 week or more. Strenuous activities: 1 month. Fading of scars: several months to a year. |
| Results: |
Variable; gravity, pregnancy, aging, and weight changes may cause new sagging. Results may last longer or be enhanced when breast implants are inserted as part of the procedure. |
| CHEMICAL PEEL (TCA) |
| Procedure: |
Restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented, or sun-damaged facial skin, using a chemical solution to peel away skin’s top layers. Works best on fair, thin skin with superficial wrinkles. |
| Length: |
1 to 2 hours for full face. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local with or without sedation. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Both: Temporary throbbing, tingling, swelling, redness; acute sensitivity to sun. |
| Risks: |
Both: Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. |
| Recovery: |
Formation of new skin: 5 to 10 days. Normal activities: 2 to 4 weeks. Full healing and fading of redness: 3 to 6 months. |
| Results: |
TCA: variable (temporary). |
| SOFT TISSUE FILLERS |
| Procedure: |
Plump up creased, furrowed, or sunken facial skin; add fullness to lips and backs of hands. Works best on thin, dry, light-colored skin. |
| Length: |
15 minutes to 1 hour per session. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local may be included with the injection. Fat: local. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary stinging, throbbing, or burning sensation. Faint redness, swelling, excess fullness. |
| Risks: |
Contour irregularities. |
| Results: |
Variable; a few months to 1 year. |
| DERMABRASION |
| Procedure: |
Mechanical scraping of the top layers of skin using a high-speed rotary wheel. Softens sharp edges of surface irregularities, including acne and other scars and fine wrinkles, especially around the mouth. |
| Length: |
A few minutes to 1 hour. May require more than 1 session. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local, numbing spray, or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary tingling, burning, itching, swelling, redness. Lightening of treated skin. Acute sensitivity to sun; loss of ability to make pigment (tan). |
| Risks: |
Abnormal color changes (permanent). Tiny whiteheads (temporary); infection; scarring; flare-up of skin allergies, fever blisters, cold sores. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 4 to 6 weeks. Fading of redness: about 3 months. Return of pigmentation/sun exposure: 6 to 12 months. |
| Results: |
Permanent, although new wrinkles may form as skin ages. |
| EAR SURGERY (Otoplasy) |
| Procedure: |
Set prominent ears back closer to the head, or reduce the size of large ears. Performed on adults or children between the ages of 4 and 14 years |
| Length: |
2 to 3 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Young children: usually general. Older children or adults: general or local, with sedation. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary throbbing, aching, swelling, redness, numbness. |
| Risks: |
Infection of cartilage. Excessive scarring. Blood clot that may need to be drained. Mismatched or artificial- looking ears. Recurrence of the protrusion, requiring repeat surgery. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work or school: 5 to 7 days.
Strenuous activity, contact sports: 1 to 2 months. |
| Results: |
Usually permanent. |
| EYELID SURGERY (Blepharoplasty) |
| Procedure: |
Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. |
| Length: |
1 to 3 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Usually locally with sedation or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary discomfort, tightness of lids, swelling, bruising. Temporary dryness, burning, itching of eyes. Excessive tearing, sensitivity to light for the first few weeks. |
| Risks: |
Temporary blurred or double vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the eyelids. Dry eyes. Slight asymmetry in healing or scarring. Difficulty in closing eyes completely (rarely permanent). Pulling down of the lower lids (may require further surgery). Blindness (extremely rare). |
| Recovery: |
Reading: 2 or 3 days. Back to work: 7 to 10 days. Contact lenses: two weeks or more. Strenuous activities: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling: several weeks. |
| Results: |
Several years. Sometimes permanent. |
| FACE LIFT (Rhytidectomy) |
| Procedure: |
Improving sagging facial skin, jowls, and loose neck skin by removing excess fat, tightening muscles, redraping skin. Most often done on men and women over 40. |
| Length: |
2-4 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
For younger patients with great health mostly outpatient, for others may reuquire 1-2 nights nursing care or overnight stay. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin. |
| Risks: |
Injury to the nerves that control facial muscles or feeling (usually temporary but may be permanent). Infection, bleeding. Poor healing; excessive scarring. Asymmetry or change in hairline. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 2 to 3 weeks. More strenuous activity: 4 weeks or more. Bruising: 2 to 4 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months. |
| Results: |
Usually 5 to 10 years. |
| FACIAL IMPLANTS |
| Procedure: |
Change the basic shape and balance of the face using carefully shaped implants to build up a receding chin or to add prominence to cheekbones. |
| Length: |
30 minutes to 2 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary discomfort, swelling, bruising, numbness and/or stiffness. |
| Risks: |
Shifting or imprecise positioning of implant, or infection around it, requiring a second operation or removal. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: about 1 week. Normal appearance: 2 to 4 weeks. Activity that could jar or bump face: 8 weeks or more. |
| Results: |
Permanent. |
| BROW LIFT (Temple Lift) |
| Procedure: |
Minimize drooping eyebrows, hooding over eyes, frown lines by removing excess tissue, altering muscles and tightening the skin. Most often done on people over 40. |
| Length: |
1 to 2 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary swelling, numbness, headaches, bruising. Possible itching and hair loss. |
| Risks: |
Injury to facial nerve, causing loss of motion, muscle weakness, or asymmetrical look. Infection. Broad or excessive scarring. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 7 to 10 days. More strenuous activity: several weeks. Full recovery from bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Limit sun exposure for several months. |
| Results: |
Usually 5 to 10 years. |
| LIPOSUCTION (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy) |
| Procedure: |
Improve body shape by removing exercise-resistant fat deposits with a tube and vacuum device. Can be performed using the tumescent technique, in which targeted fat cells are infused with saline containing solution with a local anesthetic before liposuction to reduce post-operative bruising and swelling. Common locations for liposuction include: abdomen, flanks, lateral and medial thighs, medial knees, under the chin area, auxila, breast roll. |
| Length: |
1 to 3 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. Extensive procedures may require short inpatient stay. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation. Tumescent: Temporary fluid drainage from incision sites. UAL: Larger incisions for cannula. |
| Risks: |
Asymmetry. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Pigmentation changes. Skin injury. Fluid retention. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Infection. UAL: thermal burn injury caused by the heat from the ultrasound device. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks. Full recovery from swelling and bruising: 1 to 6 months or more. Use of tumescent technique or UAL may decrease post-operative bruising and swelling. |
| Results: |
Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise. |
| MALE BREAST REDUCTION (Gynecomastia) |
| Procedure: |
Reduce enlarged, female-like breast in men using liposuction and/or cutting out excess glandular tissue and skin. |
| Length: |
1-3 hours. |
| Anesthesia: |
General or local with sedation. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness, soreness, burning sensation. |
| Risks: |
Infection. Fluid accumulation. Injury to the skin. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Asymmetry. Pigmentation changes (may become permanent if exposed to sun). Excessive scarring if tissue was cut away. Need for second procedure to remove additional tissue. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 3 to 7 days. More strenuous activity: 2 to 4 weeks. Swelling and bruising: 3 to 6 months. |
| Results: |
Permanent |
| NOSE SURGERY (Rhinoplasty) |
| Procedure: |
Reshape nose by reducing or increasing size, removing hump, changing shape of tip or bridge, narrowing span of nostrils, or changing angle between nose and upper lip. May also relieve some breathing problems. (May be covered by insurance.) |
| Length: |
1 to 2 hours or more. |
| Anesthesia: |
Local with sedation, or general. |
| In/Outpatient: |
Usually outpatient. |
| Side Effects: |
Temporary swelling, bruising around eyes, nose and headaches. Some bleeding and stiffness. |
| Risks: |
Infection. Small burst blood vessels resulting in tiny, permanent red spots. Incomplete improvement, requiring additional surgery. |
| Recovery: |
Back to work: 1 to 2 weeks. More strenuous activities: 2 to 3 weeks. Avoid hitting nose or sunburn: 8 weeks. Final appearance: 1 year or more. |
| Results: |
Permanent. |
Joseph T. Cruise M.D. has earned the reputation as one of the top Newport Beach plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery. Cruise Plastic Surgery provides procedures such as breast augmentation, facelift, gynecomastia, tummy tuck and other cosmetic surgeries. Patients often begin with a search for ‘Orange County Facelift’ or ‘Breast Augmentation Newport Beach’, then come to our office for a consultation, and ultimately benefit from one of Orange County’s best plastic surgeon specialists. Dr. Cruise’s patients come from Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine, California, as well as around the world to our top plastic surgery center for breast implants as well as rhinoplasty (nose surgery), liposuction, or neck lift surgery. Our goal is to offer the best quality plastic surgery in Orange County with affordable cost options.
Email or call us to explore how affordable plastic surgery can be!
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Joseph T. Cruise, M.D.
Board Certified Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
2081 San Joaquin Hills Road
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Tel. 949-644-4808
info@cruiseplasticsurgery.com
