Frequently Asked Questions
Please read these FAQ about your intended procedure prior to scheduling a phone consultation.
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What are Dr. Patel’s qualifications?
Dr. Patel is nationally board-certified in Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery. He is in good standing with local and national medical societies.
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How long has Dr. Patel been in practice?
Dr. Patel has been in private practice for over a decade and has performed thousands of facial plastic surgeries.
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What type of surgeries are offered?
We perform cosmetic procedures for the nose, eyelids, forehead/brows, cheeks, chin, lips, and neck. We also provide functional surgeries for the nose and eyelids/brows.
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What type of anesthesia is offered for these procedures?
Local (awake) anesthesia
- Patients are fully awake but may be medicated with oral Valium, pain medications, nitrous gas, topical anesthetics, and injected anesthetics.
- There is pain during the administration of local anesthesia and patients are fully aware while undergoing the procedure. While most patients elect for this option, it is not for everyone.
- Not all procedures can be performed under local anesthesia.
General (asleep) anesthesia
- Patients are fully anesthetized (requiring a breathing tube during the procedure), under the guidance of a board-certified anesthesiologist.
- Patients do not have to experience the pain of local anesthesia, but may have some common after-effects of general anesthesia (e.g. nausea, fatigue).
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What is the usual “at-home” recovery time for facial plastic surgery?
Usually 1-2 weeks, depending on the patient and procedure. By “at home”, we mean staying at home and not engaging in normal social life or exercise.
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What are my physical restrictions after surgery?
No heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 2 weeks. Full activity at 1 month.
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When will I look normal again (i.e. when most of the swelling and bruising is gone)?
The average is 2-4 weeks, depending on the patient and procedure.
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When will I feel normal again (i.e. when most stiffness and numbness resolves)?
The average is 3-6 months, depending on the patient and procedure.
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What is the cost of various procedures?
All procedures will vary based upon the type of anesthesia used. General anesthesia usually costs about a third more than local/awake anesthesia. Prices also vary based upon the type of procedure (see below). We cannot give an exact amount until we have examined a patient and determined the most appropriate type of procedure.
Brow and Forehead Lift
- $4,000 to $9,000
- Types include: endoscopic, hairline, and temporal (lateral), direct.
- Some of these types may be performed in the office under local/awake anesthesia.
Eyelid Surgery (aka Blepharoplasty)
- $4,000 to $12,000
- Types include: upper, lower, lid tightening, fat repositioning.
- Lid tightening is required for patients who have increased laxity of the lower eyelid rim.
- Fat repositioning is a volumizing procedure during lower eyelid surgery.
Nose Surgery (aka Rhinoplasty)
- $6,000 to $15,000
- Types include: open (tip and bridge), tip only, nostril reduction, revision/reconstructive.
- Revision/reconstructive procedures may require grafts of cartilage from the ears or rib.
Face & Neck Lift
- $4,000-$6,000 (submentoplasty)
- $10,000-$16,000 (mini facelift with or without submentoplasty)
- $16,000-$20,000 (full facelift with or without submentoplasty)
- Types include: full, mini, submentoplasty (includes neck liposuction and platysmaplasty)
- A mini lift is a lower facelift (jawline and neckline), while a full facelift also involves lifting the upper cheek.
- Platysmaplasty is a procedure to tighten muscular bands in the neck.
Facial Implants
- $5,000 to $8,000
- Types include: chin, cheeks, lips
- Prices include the cost of the silicone implant as well as surgical placement.