RealSelf Patient Reviews of Allen Rezai, MD

RealSelf Patient Reviews of Allen Rezai, MD

Many times, people seek cosmetic surgery for “the right” reasons, however sometimes, people might see cosmetic surgery as a way to solve life problems.

You should ask yourself…

• How long have I thought about this surgery?
• Did anything specific set off this desire?
• What is my current life situation?
• Why am I thinking about surgery now?
• Are there other ways I can achieve the results I want?
• Am I expecting the surgery to change my life as well as my appearance?
• Am I considering cosmetic surgery for myself or to please someone else?
• Am I expecting the surgery to improve my relationship?
• Am I expecting surgery to improve my social skills or job prospects?
• Can surgery really give me the look I want?

You should bear in mind that there are as many, if not more, arguments against undergoing cosmetic surgery as there are in favour of it. And of course, there are risks.

Any discussion with a plastic surgeon should always include consideration of any existing health conditions you might have, your lifestyle, pros and cons of surgery, risks and complications, and your expectations in terms of the outcome of the surgery.

Natural looking “tweakments” might sound like a contradiction, but that’s what more and more of us are looking for – it’s about enhancement, not alteration.

Creating proportion and harmony for the body and face should always be the goal with any cosmetic surgery or procedure. In addition to the “obvious”, natural results would also mean less complications and longer lasting results, especially with breast implant surgeries.

When you consult with an experienced doctor, you might think, “He or she has performed many of these procedures before, they’ll know what to do right away.” However, your circumstances are still unique to you, as your body, your face, your medical history is unlike anyone else’s, so communication is key.

It is important that you are able to articulate what your aesthetic goals are, so that the doctor may be aligned with those goals and develop a proper understanding of who you are, what is important to you, and what is motivating you to take this step.

I always have a thorough consultation with my patients, where we discuss their concerns, go through their medical history and check for any contraindications to surgery/treatment, and following assessment of the area of concern, I will recommend treatment options that are most suited for my patient.

I also discuss all aspects of the procedure including possible risks and complication with my patients at length. In addition to verbal communication, patients will also receive detailed written information about their desired procedure.

Detailed Consultation, Personalised Treatment Plan and Correct Technique are Key in Achieving a Natural and Satisfactory Outcome…

“Shortcuts in medicine do not end well. One fad that I was constantly hearing about from my patients was the ‘one stitch facelift’. There is no such thing as ‘one stitch facelift’. It is a commercial term used by some practitioners for promoting ‘Simple and Quick Fix’ procedures that would achieve ‘Miracle Facelift Results’,” Mr. Rezai explains.

He continued: “Based on my experience and also what I see on patients who come to me for correction, after having had these procedures elsewhere, I can hand on heart say, when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is!”

“As an experienced Consultant Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgeon, I have no limit on the level of procedures I can perform. If I could perform a less invasive procedure to achieve the same result as with surgery in a safe way for my patient, I would do that. I am and have always been completely against irresponsible marketing and commercialising cosmetic procedures. And simplifying a procedure does exactly that.”

“It makes people disregard the possible risks and complications associated with a procedure which may occur, even in the hands of the most skilled doctors. It also encourages unrealistic expectations in terms of recovery, outcome, and longevity of the results.”

“I am lucky to be working with a team who is of similar mindset to mine, that is why you only find honest and caring advice at my practice.” Mr Rezai adds.

Sometimes to achieve the best possible result, a combination of procedures may be recommended. One procedure can be part of a solution for a more comprehensive treatment plan.

There may be a combination of 2 or 3 different treatments which can lead to a better outcome. For example, if a patient has concerns about undereye bags, they may not appreciate the cheekbone structure which is lacking and contributes to the prominence of eye bags. This may be better addressed by adding fillers to both cheeks and undereye areas rather than just the eye area.

One of my favourite surgical combinations is combining Facelifts with Facial Fat Transfer and PRP. This approach not only works on the deeper structures of the face, it also works on the structure of the skin for an amazing yet subtle, natural transformation of the face and skin as a whole.

These are all of course recommendations, it is ultimately the patient’s choice to whether proceed with what is recommended. It is important to understand what can and cannot be achieved with the various combination procedures, that is why I reiterate the importance of a consultation to discuss these in detail.

Whether it is a breast implant, chin implant or injectables such as fillers and wrinkle relaxing products, make sure you know exactly what brand is being used. New products keep popping up on the market daily with no proper or long-term studies supporting their safety or efficacy.

Mr Rezai beleives that when it comes to injecting or placing a product in your body, you should opt for something that at least has few years of documented track record.

“Do your own research but be wary of word-tricks,” says Mr Rezai.

“To give an example, a few years back a patient who saw me for a breast implant surgery explained that she’s heard of these new implants with most advanced gels, etc. and they are also FDA-approved (approved by Food & Drug Administration in the US). When I looked in to this further, I noticed that the implants were in fact NOT FDA-approved, but they were made in an FDA-approved facility!” adds Mr Rezai.

Cosmetic surgery is not risk-free and carries the same general risks and complications as other types of surgery, including wound infection, bleeding, thrombosis, healing issues and scarring, but these are rarely life-threatening or long-term.

As long as the patient has the right indications for surgery and it is performed by a qualified plastic surgeon at a well-equipped hospital, there should not be any additional risks and complications associated with cosmetic surgery, other than what are commonly associated with any type of surgery.

The same applies to non-surgical cosmetic procedures. There are always risks involved, but you can significantly reduce these by choosing an experienced and qualified doctor, with good knowledge of the area being treated.

But unfortunately, some people perceive cosmetic surgery/treatments as a minor procedure and instead of opting for the safer option they choose to go with whoever promises them the moon and offers a cheaper price, overlooking the implications involved.

Post-treatment care is as important as the actual treatment. When planning for a cosmetic procedure or surgery, most people spend their energy thinking about the procedure itself and how soon they can return to work or resume normal life, and the days and weeks immediately following surgery or treatment, are typically an afterthought.

But proper aftercare is a critical part of the overall process, and taking the right precautions and following your doctor’s advice and post-treatment care instructions can make a world of difference in your recovery and even results.

When it comes to surgical procedures, routine follow up appointments are NOT optional, and should be attended as scheduled. It is during these appointments that the healing process is evaluated, and sometimes possible complications can be prevented by taking the necessary measures.

Make sure to ask your doctor about the aftercare provided, especially if anything were to go wrong.

Nowadays the price range for cosmetic surgery or procedures vary significantly between providers.

Although in today’s financial climate the cost involved may be a determining factor for some individuals, we strongly believe that people should base their decision on the qualification, skill and experience of the provider, the hospital or clinic where the treatment is carried out, and the type of care provided before, during and after the procedure rather than the cost of the procedure.

Do not make cost your primary decision factor. There are reasons why some places offer procedures at half the normal price…

Cosmetic surgery/treatments should not be taken lightly. Take your time and reflect on all aspects of the procedure, and make sure you understand all the implications involved before making an informed decision to proceed. Beware of providers or doctors who rush you into deciding by offering last minute incentives.

RealSelf Patient Reviews of Allen Rezai, MD

“A common myth that I hear repeatedly, especially from new patients, is that plastic surgery or cosmetic treatments may make them look fake or artificial”, Mr. Rezai explains.

“This can be very true in the wrong hands, however when performed by an experienced and qualified Plastic Surgeon, the plastic surgery or the cosmetic treatment will enhance a patient’s natural beauty and features by creating harmony, proportion, and balance.

“Finding the right practitioner is key”, he adds.

According to Mr. Rezai, there is no such thing as a “one stitch facelift”. In fact, it is a commercial term used by some practitioners for promoting procedures such as the silhouette lift (thread lift) or a mini-facelift, which is only a skin-only facelift. As Mr. Rezai explains, neither of these procedures use only one stitch.

“I am and have always been completely against commercialising cosmetic procedures. And simplifying a procedure does exactly that.

“It makes people disregard the possible risks and complications associated with a procedure which may occur even in the hands of the most skilled doctors.

“It also encourages unrealistic expectations in terms of recovery, and sometimes outcome”, Mr. Rezai explains.

Unfortunately, some people do actually believe that they could lift their face by only using one stitch, and the team at Elite Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery Group would encourage readers to make sure you’re not one of them!

Although these days amazing results can be achieved with non-surgical procedures where the patient has the right indications, still nothing exceeds what can be achieved with surgical intervention when the time comes.

This is the term that is commonly used when referring to endoscopic surgery, such as endoscopic facelifts or browlifts. But it does not imply that there is no scar!

“I understand how it can easily be misunderstood; however, it should be noted that our body heals itself by forming scar tissue after any cut”, explains Mr. Rezai.

“If you never form a scar you would never heal. Some people’s scars heal and fade into fine lines, whereas others could develop raised or wide scarring.

“It’s all to do with your genetics and also how you care for your scar after surgery. The true art of plastic surgery is placing the scar in an area where it is hidden and as discreet as possible.”

Many people believe that after having liposuction in one area, the fat will grow back in another area. This is far from the truth.

As Mr. Rezai explains, we build most of our fat cells throughout our childhood and into early adolescence, and normally by our late teens to mid-twenties it is believed that we stop making new fat cells.

Later in life, when we put on weight, we just increase the amount of fat stored in each fat cell. They simply balloon, sometimes to many thousands of times their original size.

“The fat cells that are removed with Liposuction will NOT grow back”, Mr. Rezai confirms.

“However, if you gain weight after Liposuction, the area where you had liposuction grows slower as there are fewer fat cells there, while the non-treated areas enlarge faster as they have more fat cells present in them.”

“I’ve heard many patients ask, ‘will my face age faster if I stop using Botox and fillers?’ No, it won’t”, Mr. Rezai confirms.

“These products are anti-ageing and help to rejuvenate your face, but stopping them only returns you to your baseline, which many people forget how it was.

“After having anti-ageing injectables for many years, when the results of the treatments wear off, they assume that they are ageing faster.”

Some treatments such as Hyaluronic acid fillers, Profhilo and PRP do actually work on the person’s skin from within, since they work to stimulate natural collagen production. After repeated treatments, these may actually slow down the rate of ageing, but sadly nothing ever stops ageing.

Many patients believe that breast implants come with a lifespan and must be replaced after 10 years. The answer is there is no set rule for timing of changing implants, explains Mr. Rezai.

“The implants that I use, only need to be replaced if you develop an implant related complication or if you desire a change in size.

“If a patient has significant weight fluctuations and has multiple children following a breast augmentation, they may choose to have a breast implant revision to improve the shape of their breast but are under no obligation to do so if they are happy with their breasts.

“I offer my patients who have breast implants complimentary annual follow ups to ensure they are not showing any signs of implant related complications, and I refer them for a routine breast ultrasound every 4 to 5 years to check the integrity of their implants.

“Depending on when in life you have an implant surgery, you should know that at some point in future you may need further breast surgery for various reasons”, Mr. Rezai concludes.

“Another myth that I often hear is that implants will lift your breasts”, Mr. Rezai shares.

“This is not true, especially if your breasts need a real lift. With using high or ultra high implant profiles, the level of the nipples can be lifted by 0.5-1 cm, and not more than this. And if someone suggests having larger implants to compensate the need of a lift, I would run a mile as large implants overtime will tend to cause more ptosis in breasts, and within few months of your augmentation you will need a real lift.

“Saying that, in some cases where there is no excess of skin and it’s mainly the nipples that require a small lift, and the patient is not ready for a real areola lift, then having a slightly larger implants, that would still look natural on you and fit your frame, could do the trick.”, Mr. Rezai explains.

“However, you should understand all implications involved with this option before proceeding.”

While many cosmetic surgery procedures are long lasting and can give you years, if not decades of personal satisfaction, many factors such as genetics, lifestyle and environment determine how long the results will last.

As Mr. Rezai explains, “you can turn back the hands of time with plastic surgery – but I’m afraid the clock keeps on ticking and you can never stop natural ageing.

“Saying that, many times results of facial surgeries, may be prolonged by using suitable skin care, and having bespoke non-surgical treatments, your overall health and lifestyle is also important to maintain your natural good looks.”

Many patients believe that plastic surgeons and cosmetic surgeons are the same, but this is not the case. It is important to differentiate between a Plastic Surgeon and a Cosmetic Surgeon.

A key difference is the level of their education. Following completion of medical school, a board-certified Plastic Surgeon serves first as a surgical resident for at least 3 years where they undergo rigorous training in all aspects of surgery and then 3 years of focused plastic surgery training. The process can take 6 to 8 years or more, and many further their training in fellowships including microsurgery, head and neck, hand and breast reconstruction.

Whereas a Cosmetic Surgeon might belong to any medical specialty. He/she could be a doctor of medicine, general surgeon, gynecologist, dermatologist etc. who has decided that they want to perform cosmetic surgery. The training can be anywhere from a one-year cosmetic surgery fellowship to a handful of short weekend courses on topics ranging from how to perform liposuction, eyelid surgery or place breast implants.

“Patients are always advised to check the credentials and qualifications of their surgeon and should check to see (a) whether that surgeon is board-certified in plastic surgery, and (b) whether the surgeon has privileges to perform cosmetic surgical procedures in a hospital setting”, Mr. Rezai explains.

“Having hospital privileges subjects the plastic surgeon to peer review, ongoing credentialing, medical education, and other monitoring that doesn’t exist if the plastic surgeon operates in a non-hospital facility, such as his or her own private clinic.”

For more information about Cosmetic Procedures and Plastic Surgery or to book a Consultation with Mr Rezai, please call on +44 20 7580 8001.

RealSelf Patient Reviews of Allen Rezai, MD