Aesthetic and reconstructive surgeries are subsets of plastic surgery. Reconstructive procedures are performed to restore the form and function that has been lost through injury, disease or birth defect. Aesthetic procedures are used to improve an individual’s appearance and to reverse the signs of aging.

There are no clear boundaries between the aesthetic and reconstructive aspects of our specialty. Sophisticated reconstructive techniques are frequently applied in aesthetic procedures and inversely aesthetic techniques can be used to further improve the outcomes of surgical reconstruction. For example, reconstruction of the breast removed due to cancer requires advanced micro-surgical skills for transferred tissues to survive and artistic remodeling to achieve a symmetrical three-dimensional shape. The same aesthetic principles are adhered to in aesthetic breast augmentation, lift or reduction.

Ample experience in reconstructive surgery is indispensable for a plastic surgeon, to consistently and safely provide superior results in aesthetic surgery.

Aesthetic surgery is technically demanding but capable of producing excellent results, when a properly chosen procedure is skillfully performed on the right candidate. Aesthetic improvement can be tremendously beneficial for the general wellbeing of an individual. The patients can be helped to a happier life if a cosmetic issue is dealt with appropriately. However, it is very important that they have realistic expectations about the procedure and the potential impact it will have on their lives. Opting for surgery for reasons such as pleasing somebody else or wanting to preserve their love interest is likely a wrong decision.

Good health, physical shape and emotional stability are paramount for a successful outcome. We make our best to educate patients about the benefits, drawbacks and potential risks of the procedure they are contemplating.

One of the central factors in success of any aesthetic surgery procedure is the plastic surgeon you select. One of the first thing to check is that surgeon you are considering has a Board certification in Plastic and Aesthetic surgery. The only register which contains all specialist Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeons in Slovenia is Slovenia’s Medical Council’s at https://www.zdravniskazbornica.si/

It is important that you develop an honest relationship and a strong sense of trust with your surgeon. Your surgeon should be well educated, experienced, have consistently beautiful results and sincere bedside manners. To assess his qualities and to make sure you are in safe hands we advise you to have a personal consultation with the surgeons you are considering.

Before finally deciding for an aesthetic procedure, which will hopefully improve the quality of life, patient should be well informed about all options for addressing his or her problem.

At initial consultation the areas of your body that you are interested in discussing will be examined. We will ascertain that you are appropriate and safe candidate for aesthetic procedure. Enough time is spent with your surgeon, so you can express all your concerns and wishes and become well informed about expected results and possible complications of proposed procedure.

To get an impression of the final outcome before and after photos of typical surgical results are sometimes shown. It is helpful to bring a list of questions you want to have answered. Feel free to bring your partner or a friend along to the consultation. As surgeons we have a moral obligation to refuse procedures if we feel that the patient will not benefit enough from it or if the patient’s expectations are unrealistic.

Consultation is also the best opportunity for the patient to get to know the surgeon and evaluate his qualities. When scheduling for an operation there should not be any doubts or unsolved dilemmas about the procedure or selected surgeon. Otherwise it is better to take time, rethink and have another consultation with the same or other surgeon.

You have the right to sick leave, but it depends on your GP and the procedure you’ve had.

Operation is not painful. According to the procedure and patient’s preferences the most appropriate type of anesthesia is chosen.

In local anesthesia, the anesthetic drug is usually injected into the tissue to numb just the specific location of your body requiring surgery.

For more extensive procedures local anesthesia can be combined with sedation which involves the injection of medications through the vein to make the procedure more comfortable. During this type of anesthesia you will be able to respond to questions, but will be drowsy and sleepy throughout the procedure.

In general anesthesia, you will be unconscious and have no awareness or other sensations. There are a number of general anesthetic drugs; some are gases or vapors inhaled through a breathing mask or tube and others are medications introduced through the vein.

Sedation and general anesthesia should are carried out by an experienced anesthesiologist. We always work with board-certified anesthesiologists to ensure that your surgery is as safe as possible. After the procedure you will be given instructions for pain relief and prescriptions for painkillers if necessary.

The cost of anesthesia is included in the final price of the procedure. There are no additional costs for anesthetist fee.

After the procedure you will be given direct phone number of your surgeon, who will be on call 24 hours a day during the first postoperative days. Depending on the procedure performed you will be initially seen in the outpatient clinic a few days to two weeks after the procedure to ensure that you are healing well. The next follow-up will be scheduled few months out of surgery. Final checkup will be made a year after the procedure to make sure that the final outcome is as expected. Final touch-ups in local anesthesia might be scheduled to address minor issues such as small irregularities or suboptimal scars. There are no additional costs for postoperative visits or minor correctional procedures to improve the final results and satisfaction.

No matter what, all surgical procedures carry a certain risk. Complications can arise despite the best attempts by both the doctor and the patient to minimize them. An optimal result mostly depends on proper indication, detailed planning and meticulous execution. However some factors that influence the healing process and the final result depend on individual’s biologic characteristics and cannot always be predicted or totally controlled. Therefore it is impossible to guarantee the final result.

All surgical procedures that involve cutting through the skin leave scars. There are numerous influences that dictate the shape and color of the final scar. All our surgical work is designed in a way to minimize the size and visibility of the scars as much as possible. Detailed information about scar prevention and treatment is available at procedures/scar revisions.

It is an accumulation of blood or blood products in the operated area. It usually develops in the first postoperative days, though latter occurrence is not impossible. Usually it is brought on by bleeding from one of the blood vessels in the tissue. The collection of fluid is noted as excessive swelling under the surgical wound. This might or might not cause you pain or discomfort. It sometimes requires intervention (removal of the clot or seroma), so you should contact your surgeon’s office immediately. This occurs more often in people who:

• Have high blood pressure.
• Take herbal or dietary supplements (Vitamin E, garlic, fish oils, Gingko Biloba, etc…).
• Take Aspirin, NSAID’s, Marevan or other blood thinners prior the surgery.
• Do not follow postoperative instructions.

Aesthetic procedures have evolved considerably in recent years and are designed to be as safe as possible. However aesthetic surgery is a real surgery with all potential risks and complications associated to it. In case of early complications arising in days or weeks after the surgery we will take care of them at no extra expense to the patient. Similarly if after the healing period it is felt by the surgeon and the patient that the final outcome is not what was hoped for and condition can be improved with corrective procedure, we will perform it for free.

With advanced surgical and anesthetic techniques and stringent quality guidelines it is possible to combine procedures and carry them out in tandem, maintaining the highest level of patient safety. One of the advantages is a decrease in down-time as recovery is combined and shortened. The cost is significantly less than two procedures done on separate days, as the procedures are combined under a single anesthesia and operating room sitting.

On the other hand the length of time a patient is under anesthesia correlates with the rate of complications. However if the procedure is done in less than three hours the risk does not increase. This aspect should be considered especially in older patients, which may not tolerate longer procedures as well.