Frequently Asked Questions
                     Cosmetic Surgery

At drmosher.com, you'll find a score of information about cosmetic and plastic surgery. Patient testimonials have shown how the courage to change has dramatically improved people's lives, and the ABCs column gives you Dr. Mosher's view on issues and treatments. Yet even with all the information available, we understand that you may still have questions.

Dr. Mosher is now available to answer those questions. And since many of you probably have similar questions, we'll be posting some of the most common answers back to the site. Soon, dr.mosher.com will offer a forum so that you'll be able to speak to one another about your questions, concerns, and experiences.

Yes we do. We provide several options for patients who prefer to use financing. I don't feel that anyone should ever have an elective procedure done if it puts them in financial stress. We work closely with two financing companies that work exclusively with patient financing. Medicard™, Creditmedical and Travelers Financial are time-efficient professional companies that offer competitive financing. Of course there are also the more traditional options available through major financial institutions.

There are several issues that influence the timing of travel after surgery such as breast augmentation. The initial consideration is that occasionally there are minor complications such as prolonged discomfort, infection, bruising, etc. that should be assessed and treated. Problems like this most frequently occur in the first few days after surgery so you want to be close by so that a visit to the office is simple. I insist that patients don't travel for the first two weeks after surgery. After all, you don't want to be calling your surgeon long distance from another country if you have concerns about whether you need to be seen by a doctor!

Dr. Mathew Mosher and his highly trained staff will help you to answer all of your questions.

The second issue is that there are some temporary activity restrictions associated with any surgical procedure. Swimming is not recommended and would be uncomfortable for a few weeks after breast surgery. The breast shape continues to improve for a few months after surgery and this may influence how confident you would feel in a swimsuit. Lastly, healing tissue should not be exposed to the sun or a tanning bed for a few weeks. Even then, the scar will remain sensitive to ultraviolet radiation for several months.

Discuss your post operative travel plans with your surgeon before deciding on a surgical date.

Liposuction permanently removes fat from the area treated. However, this does not tell the entire story and there can be some confusion for some patients. Let me share with you what I tell our patients.

Liposuction is a procedure that removes a portion of the fat lying between the skin and the underlying muscle or fascia. In order to achieve as smooth a result as possible, some fat must be left behind in this layer to permit normal movement and gliding of the skin. The amount of fat removed is up to the judgment of the surgeon but very often this is approximately 50 or 60% of the fat in a given area. This means that there remains 40-50% of the original fat. This remaining fat can be further reduced with improved nutrition and exercise or with further liposuction in some cases. It is very important to realize that this remaining fat is going to behave in the same manner as before your surgery. If this was the part of your body that accumulated fat before surgery, it is still the preferred storage for excess calories after surgery. Current thinking is that the fat cells do not multiply in number but simply increase in size if the conditions are right. Consequently, it is essential to have lifestyle habits of good nutrition and regular exercise before you have liposuction. Without these critical components you will be disappointed in the long run.

If you have a small amount of fat to be removed and your skin tone is good, one operation is usually required. For larger amounts of fat removal or if the skin tone is less than ideal, a staged approach to liposuction may be recommended. This can often involve further liposuction of the same area.

Visit our plastic / cosmetic surgery and medical spa office located in Langley, British Columbia (BC), conveniently near the Vancouver area.