Cosmetic Surgery Procedures at a Glance
‘The pertinent facts on our most popular procedures’
Breast Enhancement Procedures
| Breast Augmentation |
| What the procedure does | Enhances breast volume (size and fullness), and shape |
| Duration of the result | Permanent, but implants may need replacement in the future (10-20 years) |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 1-1.5 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | General anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 5 – 7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Over dissection of pocket leading to ‘bottoming out’ or ‘lateral drift’
- inappropriate implant size selection
|
| Learn more about Breast augmentation |
| View the Breast augmentation before and after photos with patient stories |
| Mastopexy (Breast Lift) |
| What the procedure does | Lifts drooping breasts, improving shape, nipple size and position |
| Duration of the result | Usually permanent but breast may sag with weight gain, aging |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 2-3 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general |
| Length of time off of work | 5-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - nipples placed too high
- not re-arranging the tissue to improve fullness and longevity
|
| Learn more about Breast lift |
| View the breast lift before and after photos with patient stories |
| Breast Augmentation with Breast Lift |
| What the procedure does | Makes the breast fuller and rounder, lifts the breast, lifts the nipple position and reduces nipple size |
| Duration of the result | Usually permanent although breast may sag with weight gain, aging, implants may need replacement (10-20 years) |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 3.5-4.5 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | General anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 5-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - failing to appreciate complexity of procedure
- ending up with the ‘long breast’ look
- nipples placed too high
|
| Learn more about Breast augmentation with Breast lift |
| View the Breast augmentation with breast lift before and after photos with patient stories |
| Breast Reduction |
| What the procedure does | Reduces breast size and weight, lifts breasts, elevates nipple position |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 3 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | General anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 4-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - placement of nipples too high
- asymmetry
|
| Learn more about Breast Reduction |
| View the Breast Reduction before and after photos with patient stories |
| Male Breast Reduction |
| What the procedure does | Contours the chest to be smooth and flat |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 30 min – 3 hours, depends on extent of problem |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | Local only, IV sedation, general; depends on extent of problem |
| Length of time off of work | 2-7 days; depends on extent of problem |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Over resection of breast tissue leading to an inverted nipple region
|
| Learn more about Male Breast Reduction |
| Nipple Inversion Correction |
| What the procedure does | Corrects inverted nipple to normal protruding nipple |
| Duration of the result | Usually permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | Local only, IV sedation |
| Length of time off of work | 3-5 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Recurrence of nipple inversion
|
| Learn more about Inverted Nipple Correction |
Back to the top
Body Enhancement Procedures
| Mommy Makeover |
| What the procedure does | A combination of body or facial procedures tailored to restore your pre-pregnancy appearance |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | Depends on area(s) |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia, local anesthesia for smaller areas (depends on specific procedure) |
| Length of time off of work | Varies according to specific procedure(s) |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Trying to do too much at one surgery
|
| Learn more about Mommy Makeovers Toronto |
| Liposuction |
| What the procedure does | Removes fat selectively from targeted areas |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | Depends on area(s); usually 45 minutes to 1 hour per area |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia, local anesthesia for smaller areas |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 1 week for heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Poor candidates (loose skin, scars, significant obesity)
- Over removal causing contour irregularity
|
| Learn more about Liposuction Toronto |
| View Liposuction before and after photos with patient stories |
| Tummy Tuck |
| What the procedure does | Slims and tightens the abdomen by removing excess skin, fat, stretch marks, and repairing loose abdominal muscles |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 2-3 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 10-14 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Placing the scar too high
- Performing the procedure on someone who has significant internal abdominal fat
|
| Learn more about Tummy Tuck Toronto |
| View Tummy Tuck before and after photos with patient stories |
| Mini Tummy Tuck |
| What the procedure does | Slims the abdomen, tightens the skin and tightens the lower abdominal wall |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 1.5- 2 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Trying to use a mini tummy tuck for a patient that needs a regular tummy tuck
|
| Learn more about Mini Tummy Tuck Toronto |
| Arm Lift |
| What the procedure does | Slims the arm by removing excess fat and/or skin through liposuction and direct removal |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 2.5 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Removing too much skin, resulting in wider scars
- Not educating patients about potential scar visibility
|
| Learn more about Arm Lift Toronto |
| Thigh Lift/ Mini Thigh Lift |
| What the procedure does | Tightens skin and removes fat of the inner thigh |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | Thigh Lift: 3 hours
Mini Thigh Lift: 2 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Removing too much skin, resulting in wider scars
- Not educating patients about potential scar visibility
- Performing a mini thigh lift when a regular thigh lift is needed
|
| Learn more about Thigh Lift Toronto |
| View Thigh Lift before and after photos with patient stories |
| Lower body Lift |
| What the procedure does | A procedure that gives a result equivalent to undergoing a combination of Tummy Tuck, Buttock Lift, Lateral Thigh Lift, and Flank Liposuction |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 6 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 10-14 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Poor scar placement (too high on back and front)
- Insufficient contouring of the waistline
|
| Learn more about Lower Body Lift Toronto |
| Brazilian Butt Lift |
| What the procedure does | Improves the volume and shape of the buttocks by transferring fat from one area of the body to the buttock region |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 3 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Insufficient fat harvest for augmentation
- Augmentation placed too low on buttocks
|
| Learn more about Brazilian Butt Lift Toronto |
| View the Brazilian Butt Lift before and after photos with patient stories |
Back to the top
Facial Enhancement Procedures
| Rhinoplasty |
| What the procedure does | Makes the nose more attractive looking, can make breathing easier if due to deviated septum |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 1.5-3.0 hrs |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Not removing enough nasal hump
- Shortening the nose too much (pig nose)
- Unnatural appearance
|
| Learn more about Rhinoplasty |
| View the rhinoplasty before and after photos with patient stories |
| Mini Facelift |
| What the procedure does | Restores youthful facial features by elevating the jowls and cheeks, softening the marionettle lines and nasolabial folds (does not improve neck directly) |
| Duration of the result | 7-10 years, face may gradually sag with weight changes, aging, smoking, sun exposure |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 1.5-2.5 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 5-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Trying to correct the neck with just the Mini Facelift
- Unnatural (pixie) ears, unnatural hair shifts
- Poor scars
|
| Learn more about Mini Facelift Toronto |
| Facelift |
| What the procedure does | Restores youthful facial features by elevating the jowls, cheeks, softening the marionette lines, nasolabial folds AND makes the neck more youthful by removing fat and elevating the skin |
| Duration of the result | 7-10 years, face gradually may sag with weight gain, aging, smoking, sun exposure |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 3.5-4.5 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Overnight stay | recommended |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Unnatural ‘pulled’ look
- Unnatural (pixie) ears
- Unnatural hair shifts
- Poor scars
|
| Learn more about Facelift |
| View the Facelift before and after photos with patient stories |
| Neck Lift |
| What the procedure does | Makes the neck youthful and slimmer by removing fat, tightening neck muscles, and elevating the skin, (also lifts the jowls if the ‘extended’ Neck Lift option is chosen) |
| Duration of the result | 7-10 years, face gradually may sag with weight gain, aging, smoking, sun exposure |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 2.5 – 3.0 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 5-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - ‘Operated-on’ look (too tight)
- Overly defatted neck (skeletonized appearance)
- Poor scars
|
| Learn more about Neck Lift |
| View the Neck before and after photos with patient stories |
| Mini Neck lift |
| What the procedure does | Makes the neck slimmer and smoother by removing fat and tightening the neck muscles |
| Duration of the result | Usually permanent, neck may sag with weight gain, aging, smoking, sun exposure |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 30 – 45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia, local anesthetic only in select patients |
| Length of time off of work | 3-5 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Overly defatted neck (skeletonized appearance)
- Using a Mini Neck Lift when a regular Neck Lift is needed
|
| Learn more about Mini Neck Lift |
| Neck and Chin Liposuction |
| What the procedure does | Makes the neck/area under the chin slimmer by removing fat |
| Duration of the result | Usually permanent, neck may sag with weight gain, aging, smoking, sun tanning |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 30 minutes – 45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general, local anesthetic only in select patients |
| Length of time off of work | 3-5 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Overly defatted neck (skeletonized appearance)
- Performing Neck Liposuction when a Neck Lift is needed
|
| Learn more about Chin and Neck Liposuction |
| Chin Augmentation (Chin Implant) |
| What the procedure does | Augments the chin (makes a ‘weak’ chin stronger), can widen chin, or add length |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 5-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Implant malposition
- Choosing the wrong size implant
|
| Learn more about Chin Implant Surgery |
| Otoplasty (correction of protruding ears) |
| What the procedure does | Corrects protruding ears, large earlobes, asymmetry |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 1-2 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 5-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4-6 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Pinning the ears too flat against the head
- Ears not looking symmetric after surgery
- Unnatural look with ear cartilage folds ‘too sharp’
|
| Learn more about Otoplasty |
| Torn Earlobe Repair / Earlobe Reduction |
| What the procedure does | Repairs torn lobes from earring use/ Reduces large or elongated earlobes |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 15 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | Local anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 0 days (patients can go back to work immediately) |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks for heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Asymmetric correction
- Visible scars
- Notching of the lobes
|
| Learn more about Earlobe repair/reduction |
| Facial Fat Transfer (Micro Fat Grafting) |
| What the procedure does | Adds fat to an area to improve volume, soften lines and folds |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | Depends on area(s); usually 1-1.5 hours |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Improper technique leading to increase risk of fat being resorbed
- Placing too much fat (puffy face)
|
| Learn more about Fat Grafting Toronto |
| Lip Lift, Lip Reduction & Lip Augmentation Toronto |
| What the procedure does | Reduces Lips fullness
Lifts a sagging lip due to age, improves fullness |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 30 minutes to 45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation, general anesthesia, or local anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 2-5 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Visible scars
- Too much lift/ too much reduction
|
| Learn more about Lip Lift, Lip Reduction & Lip Augmentation Toronto |
| Chemical Peel |
| What the procedure does | Improves skin texture (lines and wrinkles), and colour uniformity (sun spots, melasma) |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | Depends on area(s); usually 15 minutes to 1 hour (for full face) |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia, local anesthesia for smaller areas |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Scarring
- Bleaching of the skin (when used in inappropriate patients)
|
| Learn more about Chemcal Peels Toronto |
| Scar Removal / Mole Removal / Cyst Removal |
| What the procedure does | Removes scars or small growths from the face and body |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 15 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | Local anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | Usually no time off needed |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks for heavy exercise |
| Learn more about mole /Scar / Cyst removal Toronto |
Back to the top
Eyes and Forehead Enhancement Procedures
| Blepharoplasty (Upper and Lower Lids) |
| What the procedure does | Makes the eyes look younger be removing excess skin, fat, eliminating shadows |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | Upper lids: 30 minutes
Lower Lids: 45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia, local anesthesia for select patients (upper lids) |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks light exercise, 4 weeks for heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Removing too much fat (skeletonized look)
- Removing too much skin (lids look pulled, unnatural)
|
| Learn more about Blepharoplasty Toronto |
| View Blepharoplasty before and after photos with patient stories |
| Endoscopic Brow Lift |
| What the procedure does | Lifts the brows, reshapes the brow arch, treats frown lines, treats forehead wrinkles |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 90 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks for light exercise, 4weeks for heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Elevating the inner brow too much (surprised look)
- Patients often need Blepharoplasty in conjunction with Brow Lift, make sure your plastic surgeon evaluates this
|
| Learn more about Endoscopic Brow Lift Toronto |
| View Endoscopic Brow Lift before and after photos with patient stories |
| Lateral Brow Lift |
| What the procedure does | Lifts the tail of the brow in patients with moderate drooping |
| Duration of the result | Years to permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 40-45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 7-10 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks for light exercise, 4 weeks for heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Using this procedure for patients with significant brow drooping will not provide a satisfactory result
|
| Learn more about Lateral Brow Lift Toronto |
| Corrugator Muscle Removal |
| What the procedure does | Eliminates frown lines (between eyebrows) by removing the muscle that causes the wrinkles |
| Duration of the result | Permanent |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 45 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | IV sedation or general anesthesia |
| Length of time off of work | 5-7 days |
| Time to get back to exercise | 2 weeks for light excercise, 4 weeks for heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Numbness of the forehead from nerve injury
- Contour depression in the area
|
| Learn more about Corrugator Removal Toronto |
Back to the top
Non-invasive Enhancement Procedures
| BOTOX® |
| What the procedure does | Reduces or eliminates wrinkles on a temporary basis |
| Duration of the result | Average: 4 months |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | Injections take 2-3 minutes |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | No anesthesia is required |
| Length of time off of work | No time off work is required |
| Time to get back to exercise | 24 hours |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Migration of BOTOX® to adjacent areas
- Causing drooping in susceptible patients
|
| Learn more about BOTOX® Toronto |
| Soft Tissue fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse) |
| What the procedure does | ‘Fill in’ lines or wrinkles
Adds volume to needed areas |
| Duration of the result | Average: 9 months; depends on the area and filler used |
| Length of time to perform the procedure | 15 – 20 minutes per area |
| Type of anesthetic most commonly used | local anesthesia with some fillers
many fillers already contain local anesthesia mixed in |
| Length of time off of work | No time off required |
| Time to get back to exercise | 24 hours for heavy exercise |
| Pitfalls your Plastic Surgeon should avoid | - Using a filler when a surgical procedure is needed
|
| Learn more about Soft Tissue fillers Toronto |
Back to the top
Dr. Lawrence Tong
has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
