Below is an alphabetised list of the more commonly performed cosmetic procedures. Should you have any queries, feel free to email me. For more details about each procedure, click on the title to return to the procedures page.

ABDOMINOPLASTY (tummy tuck)

Procedure: Flatten abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening muscles of abdominal wall.
Length: 2 to 3 hours.
Anesthesia: General, or spinal with IV sedation.
In/Outpatient: Either depending on individual circumstances and extent of surgery. Mini tucks are done as days cases, full tummies require a hospital stay.
Side Effects: Temporary pain. Swelling, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, bruising, tiredness for several weeks .
Risks: Blood clots. Infection. Bleeding and fluid collections under the skin flap. Poor healing resulting in conspicuous scarring or skin loss. Numbness above scar.
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 ENLARGEMENT (Augmentation Mammaplasty)

Procedure: Enhance the size of breasts using silicone gel implants.
Length: 1 to 2 hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
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: 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. Mammagraphy requires a special technique. Sonar used in conjunction for screening.
Recovery: Back to work: a few days. Physical contact with breasts: 3 to 4 weeks. Fading of scars: several months to a year or more.
Duration of 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: 1 to 3 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.
Duration of 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.

BREAST REDUCTION (Reduction mammaplasty)

Procedure: Similar to breast lift, but more tissue is removed, which may alleviate back and neck ache.
Length: 2 to 3 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: 2 weeks or more. Strenuous activities: 1 month. Fading of scars: several months to a year.
Duration of Results: Variable, but generally long lasting, although some "settling" will occur within the first year post op.

EYELID SURGERY (Blepharoplasty)

Procedure: Correct drooping upper eyelids and puffy bags below the eyes by removing excess fat, skin, and muscle. I tend to do the lower lids using a transconjunctival approach (i.e. from the "inside")
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 first few weeks.
Risks: Temporary blurred or double vision. Infection, bleeding. Swelling at the corners of the eyelids. Dry eyes. Formation of whiteheads. 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, alcohol: about 3 weeks. Bruising and swelling gone: several weeks.
Duration of Results: Several years. Sometimes permanent.

FACELIFT (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: Several hours.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Some patients may require short inpatient stay.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, numbness and tenderness of skin; tight feeling, dry skin. For men, permanent need to shave behind ears, where beard-growing skin is repositioned.
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: 10 to 14 days. More strenuous activity: 2 weeks or more. Bruising: 2 to 3 weeks. Must limit exposure to sun for several months.
Duration of Results: Usually 5 to 10 years.

FILLERS: (Restylane / Perlane etc, or FAT GRAFTS)

Procedure: Plump up creased, furrowed, or sunken facial skin; add fullness to lips Works best on thin, dry, light-colored skin.
Length: 15 minutes to 1 hour per session.
Anesthesia: Usually local nerve blocks. Fat: local.
In/Outpatient: Outpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary stinging, throbbing, or burning sensation. Faint redness, swelling, excess fullness.
Risks: Hyaloronic acid gels - Nil. FAT: A considerable amount of the injected fat will be reabsorbed. May well need repeating.
Duration of Results: Variable; a few months to 1 year. Fat may be permanent.

LABIAPLASTY (vaginal labiaplasty / labial reduction)

Procedure: Removal of excess and protruding labia minor tissue. Although often done by simple amputation of the edge, I only perform labiaplasty using a modified wedge resection technique pioneered by Dr Gary Alter (occasionally seen on “Dr 90210”).
Length: 75 minutes on average, under local anaesthetic with oral sedation
In/Outpatient: Done as a day case at a private clinic
Side Effects: Bruising, swelling, discomfort for a few days post op. No sex for 6 weeks.
Risks: Minimal, if properly done. Smoking interferes with wound healing, so ill-advised.
Duration of Results: Usually permanent

LIPOSUCTION (Suction assisted lipectomy)

Procedure: Improve body shape by removing exercise- and diet resistant fat deposits with a tube and vacuum device. Is 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 chin, cheeks, neck, upper arms, above breasts, abdomen, buttocks, hips, thighs, knees, calves, ankles. Anesthesia: Local, spinal, 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.
Risks: Asymmetry. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Pigmentation changes. Skin injury. Fluid retention. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Infection.
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 may decrease post-operative bruising and swelling.
Duration of Results: Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise.

MALE BREAST REDUCTION (Gynaecomastia)

Procedure: Reduce enlarged, female-like breast in men using liposuction and/or cutting out excess glandular tissue. (Sometimes covered by medical aid.)
Length: 1 hour or more.
Anesthesia: General or local.
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 3 weeks.
Swelling and bruising: 3 to 6 months.
Duration of 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 medical aid.)
Length: 2 to 2.5 hours or more.
Anesthesia: Local with sedation, or general.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient - depends on what is done.
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.
Duration of Results: Permanent.

OTOPLASTY (ear pinning)

Procedure: Set prominent ears back closer to the head, or reduce the size of large ears. Most often done on children between the ages of 4 and 14 years. (Occasionally covered by medical aid.)
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.
Duration of Results: Usually permanent.