Cosmetic Surgery:  What are the risks and how can I find the right doctor for me?

In the same way, with LASIK, a presbyopic patient has one eye operated on to correct the distance vision, and the other operated on to correct the near vision.

In other words, the goal of the surgery is for one eye to have vision worse than 20/20, the commonly referred to goal for LASIK surgical correction of distance vision. Since one eye is corrected for distance viewing and the other eye is corrected for near viewing, the two eyes no longer work together.

This results in poorer quality vision and a decrease in depth perception. These effects of monovision are most noticeable in low lighting conditions and when performing tasks requiring very sharp vision.

Therefore, you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses to fully correct both eyes for distance or near when performing visually demanding tasks, such as driving at night, operating dangerous equipment, or performing occupational tasks requiring very sharp close vision (e.g., reading small print for long periods of time).

Cosmetic Surgery:  All About Breast Implants

It should be noted that tissue expanders, which are silicone shells filled with saline, are regulated by FDA in a different way than breast implants.

This is because tissue expanders are intended for general tissue expansion for a maximum of 6 months, after which, they are to be removed.

Because of this, the design specifications (e.g., thinner shell) and preclinical testing recommendations are different for tissue expanders than for breast implants.

Tissue expanders are not to be confused with the third type of double lumen silicone gel-filled breast implants described in the Silicone Gel-Filled Breast Implants section below.

The third type of double lumen silicone gel-filled breast implant is a permanent implant (not intended to be removed) that allows for limited tissue expansion but is regulated by FDA as a breast implant. See that section for more details.

Cosmetic Surgery:  Cosmetic Surgery Procedures

LIPOSUCTION (Suction-Assisted Lipectomy)

Procedure: Improve body shape by removing exercise-resistant fat deposits with a tube and vacuum device.

Can be 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.

For larger volumes of fat or for fibrous body areas, ultrasound-assisted lipoplasty (UAL) may be used.

UAL is a new technique in which a ultrasound probe is inserted beneath the skin to "liquify" the fat before it is suctioned. Length: 1 to 2 hours or more. UAL: 20-40 percent longer than traditional liposuction.

Anesthesia: Local, epidural, 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. UAL: Larger incisions for cannula.

Risks: Asymmetry. Rippling or bagginess of skin. Pigmentation changes. Skin injury. Fluid retention. Excessive fluid loss leading to shock. Infection. UAL: thermal burn injury caused by the heat from the ultrasound device.

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 or UAL may decrease post-operative bruising and swelling.

Duration of Results: Permanent, with sensible diet and exercise.