Q: How quickly can I have surgery?
A: The answer to this question that can vary significantly from one practice to another. It is not unusual to have a surgeon who is booked out 3-4 months. Other practices may have sooner availability. There is also sometimes a seasonality that can affect availability.
At Revalla we are usually booking cosmetic surgeries 8-12 weeks out, however it is common that we will have some availability 3-6 weeks out, especially if you have some flexibility. Because we do a lot of breast cancer reconstruction, we keep a portion of our schedule open for these more emergent cases. If they do not fill we then are able to release these days to cosmetic patients.
Q: Where do you do your surgeries?
A: Dr. Hunsicker has privileges at a number of different hospitals and surgery centers (see Physician Credentials for complete list). Most reconstructive (ie: breast cancer) and insurance surgeries are done in a hospital. Unless you have some unique medical needs, nearly every cosmetic surgery is done in an accredited outpatient surgery center. Several of our surgery centers have 24 hour observation in the unlikely event that you need to stay overnight. Because Dr. Hunsicker believes it necessary to have the resources to deal with any potential complication, no matter how rare it may be, we only do very minor procedures in our office operating room.
Q: What anesthesia will be required and who will administer it?
A: Your type of anesthesia will vary depending on the type of procedure, your health history and sometimes, personal preference. You can learn a little more about anesthesia options for particular surgeries by visiting our Procedures section. The most extensive surgeries (such as tummy tucks) generally require a general anesthesia (full asleep with breathing tube). Many surgeries (such as breast augmentations) may allow for IV sedation (fully asleep, but able to breath on own). At Revalla, we only use anesthesiologists (medical doctors) who are board-certified or board eligible for our surgical procedures. Minor procedures which require narcotics/sedatives (i.e.: valium) or local anesthesia (numbing medication injected via needle) will be administered by Dr. Hunsicker.
Q: Should I lose weight before I have surgery?
A: This is not an easy question to answer. Generally speaking you can expect the best outcome when you have surgery at a stable weight. What this means is that if you plan to lose (or gain) weight after surgery, you risk compromising the quality of your results. This does not necessarily mean that you need to be at your “ideal” weight, but that you are not in the middle of significant weight fluctuation. In some instances, Dr. Hunsicker may recommend that you lose weight prior to surgery in order to ensure safety and/or provide you with your desired results.
Q: Can I combine procedures?
A: Many patients are interested in combining several procedures into one surgery. A host of reality TV has increased this trend. While there are many procedures that can be safely combined, there are others that do significantly increase risks. There are also greater risks when a surgery extends beyond certain time frames.
At Revalla, we take great care to evaluate the safety both intra-operatively and in recovery of combining procedures. There are many procedures that are perfectly safe to combine such as breast lift and breast augmentation. Other procedures, such as tummy tucks and large volume liposuction are not typically performed together. As a general rule, we do not combine procedures that extend the total surgery beyond 6 hours.
Q: What’s the difference between a surgery center and a hospital?
A: Most of us are familiar with a hospital though blessed events like childbirth and unforeseen or difficult situations such as accidents or illness. Surgery centers, however, may be less familiar. In many instances, stand-alone surgery centers are created to provide for more options both for patients and surgeons. These options may include better availability, staffing and equipment geared toward specific types of surgery, and pricing structures.
At Revalla, we use surgery centers for most cosmetic surgeries because they provide a safe but more cost-efficient option for patients whose procedures are not covered by insurance. They are also smaller and more convenient for our patients.
