Frequently Asked Questions

Preparing for Your Consultation

Together, we will review the treatments, services or products that will help you reach your goals. We will work with you to develop a treatment plan. This consultation is the perfect time for you to ask questions or share any concerns.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call our office today!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is a candidate for plastic surgery?

  Plastic surgery is undertaken for two primary reasons. The first is to improve appearance or function. It also serves to restore or repair areas damaged by injury, cancer or disease.

  The decision to have cosmetic surgery is highly personal. This decision should not be made in order to please someone else or because a person imagines it will dramatically improve their life or make problems go away. Plastic surgery can often improve a problem area, but can never make something "perfect."

  Patients with multiple medical problems, such as cardiac or lung disease or diabetes, may be at increased risk for complications and should only undertake cosmetic surgery after careful thought and discussion with their primary care physician and surgeon.

  If you are considering reconstructive surgery, reconstructive techniques are available to treat many problems resulting from injury or previous surgery. Reconstructive plastic surgery is highly individualized, and you should discuss the options carefully with your surgeon.

• Where will surgery be performed?

  Our team operates at the following facilities:  

  • Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton,
  • Holston Valley and Indian Path hospitals in Kingsport,
  • Franklin Woods Community Hospital and East Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center in Johnson City.  

  Most plastic surgery procedures are considered outpatient, and do not require an overnight stay. Smaller procedures are often performed in our office procedure room.

• Is plastic surgery covered by insurance?

  Plastic surgery performed for cosmetic reasons is not covered by insurance, but reconstructive surgery is usually covered either partially or completely by insurance. Insurance companies are required to cover breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy, as specified in the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998.

• Do you offer financing for cosmetic surgery?

  Yes, we participate in CareCredit as well as accepting most major credit cards. During your consultation, a member of our staff will discuss these options with you.

• Will a resident be involved in my care?

  Our physicians primarily operate at hospitals without residents. There is a small chance a resident or medical student would observe your surgery, although this is uncommon.

• Can plastic surgeons operate without leaving a scar?

  This is a popular misconception. The human body heals by forming scar tissue, which is the same collagen protein that holds us all together. The amount of scar varies with each patient's unique biology and can also vary from one location on the body to another. 

  Scars are most noticeable initially and usually fade with time. Occasionally, a scar can become hyperpigmented (darker than the surrounding skin) or hypertrophic (raised above the surrounding skin). These problems are uncommon but occur more often in patients with darker skin tone.

• What is the recovery time after surgery, and when can I return to work?

  Recovery time varies with the procedure performed. Most patients should have someone available to assist them for the first two to three days after surgery. One to two weeks off from work is usually sufficient for people primarily engaged in desk work – more time would be required for occupations requiring greater physical activity or strength.  If you have young children, you may need assistance to care for them for two to three weeks after surgery.

• How much pain will I experience?

  There is always some pain involved in surgery. This varies depending on the specific procedure and on an individual's pain tolerance. It has been shown that patients who are afraid of being in pain typically experience more pain than those who are prepared for it.  

  We will prescribe appropriate medication to minimize pain both during and after surgery, but it is not possible to make you completely pain free. If you are able to take non-steroidal agents, such as over-the-counter pain medications, these often work well to decrease inflammation at the site of surgery and will decrease the amount of other pain medication that you need.

• What does it mean to be a plastic surgeon?

  “Plastic surgery" is not a trademarked term. Therefore, physicians in other specialties can claim to perform plastic surgery. However, only those certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery are true plastic surgeons.  

  To become board certified in plastic surgery, a physician must complete post-graduate training of five to seven years (or more) after medical school, and then must pass a rigorous set of written and oral exams.