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Plastic Surgeon

Plastic Surgery-On becoming a Plastic Surgeon

It started with my Grandfather

People often ask me when I realized I wanted to become a doctor, specifically a plastic surgeon. Coming from a medical family, and having a father who was a noted plastic surgeon, I was always drawn to the medical field. It started with my grandfather, Dr. Harry Fleming. He was a small town country doctor in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. He worked long hours, made house calls and often got paid with a baskets of vegetables or a cake or a pie. My father Dr. Joseph Fleming, followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming a plastic surgeon and heading up the Texas Institute of Plastic Surgery. My mother worked at his side for many years as his nurse. As you can imagine, plastic surgery was a common topic of conversation in our house as I grew up. It seemed inevitable that my brother and I would also choose to go to medical school and then go on to become surgeons like our father.

It’s funny how things go full circle. My first year working as a plastic surgeon I had an older gentleman as a patient. He told me that as a young boy he had had his tonsils removed by a Dr. Fleming in Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Yes, my grandfather.

 

Dr. Frank Fleming performing surgery with his father and brother.

Performing surgery with my father, Dr. Joseph Fleming and my brother, Dr. James Fleming.

I had another patient my first year in practice who sustained a critical injury but had no insurance or money to pay me for my services.  Of course, I performed his surgery and never billed him. Every year, on the anniversary of his accident, this patient from long ago, brings me a cake or a pie as a gesture of thanks. Somehow it always makes me think of my grandfather all those years ago, working as a country doctor and getting paid with a basket of vegetables, or a cake, or a pie, and the family legacy that he began.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Raymond_Fleming

 

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/

Recovery after Liposuction

Recovery after liposuction varies from patient to patient and varies depending on the area that was treated. However, there are some general guidelines.

 

Immediately after surgery:

After the surgery you will spend some time in a recovery room monitored by nursing staff until  I give the green light to have you released.  After the procedure you will be woozy from the anesthesia. This is why, before your surgery, you were asked to have a ride arranged to take you home. When you awaken from the surgery you will be wearing a compression garment.Wearing the compression garment is very important to minimize swelling and promote a smooth contour as you heal. My patients generally rate their pain after liposuction as a 3 0r 4 out of 10. The pain medication we prescribed will help alleviate the pain. You will be sleepy and tired after the procedure because of the anesthesia.

 

The first week after the procedure:

Continue to wear the compression garment 24/7

Keep the incisions dry.

Continue to take the pain medication but start to wean off of them.

Some patients may be able to return to work after 3-4 days.

 

One week after surgery:

One week post surgery you will come to my office for a follow up appointment. I will check on your recovery.

You will still be swollen and bruised. Because of the swelling, the final results of the liposuction will not yet be seen.

Patients can go back to work and resume normal activities except for strenuous exercise.

 

Two weeks after the surgery:

Generally patients can take off their compression garments. Up to this time the compression garment should have been worn 24/7 except to bathe.

 

Three weeks after surgery

Recovery varies from patient to patient. Because there are no long incisions or muscles repaired during this procedure, as they would be for a tummy tuck for example, recovery is fairly quick.

Patients can resume a modified workout routine after 3 weeks.

As the swelling subsides patients will start to see the results of the procedure and a sleeker more contoured body will begin to be evident.

By the end of the first month most of the swelling should have subsided.

There will still be some swelling for the next 3-6 months and as time passes, patients will see a better and better result each day.

 

https://frankflemingmd.com/

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction

The Skinny on Liposuction

The skinny on Liposuction

The skinny on Liposuction

THE SKINNY ON LIPOSUCTION

Liposuction allows the surgeon to reshape areas of the body that have excess fat deposits. The procedure improves the body’s contours.

Liposuction is the second most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the United States. In 2015 over 220,000 liposuction procedures were performed. This is up 5% from 2014. I have performed thousands of liposuction procedures over the course of my career, and it remains one of the most in demand procedures in my practice.

 

Who is a good candidate for liposuction?

Liposuction is for patients who are at or near their ideal weight.  These patients have areas of their body where stubborn fat pockets remain despite following healthy diet and exercise routine. It is not a solution to obesity or a weight loss procedure. Common areas treated are the abdomen, inner and or outer thighs, arms, lower and or upper back, inside knees, or even the face and neck.

The ideal candidate will also be:

-Physically fit

-In good health

-No more than 25 lbs overweight

-Have realistic expectations

 

What to expect during your consultation?

During your consultation I will review your medical history and look at what medications that you are taking.  We will discuss your goals and expectations. We will also discuss the procedure itself. I will candidly talk to you about the risks associated with this procedure and answer any questions that you might have.  I will also do an exam to look at the areas to be addressed. My office staff will then talk to you about the fees and various payment options.

 

Where is the surgery performed?

Patient safety is always my top priority, this is why I perform my liposuction procedures in the surgery center at Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Kadlec’s surgery center is certified, so patients can be assured that it is a clean, sterile facility. Patients can also be assured that the support staff assisting in the surgery are trained, knowledgeable and certified. For additional patient safety, a certified anesthetist will administer your anesthesia.

 

What are the risks?

All surgical procedures carry risks, whether you are having cosmetic surgery or a knee replacement. Though complication are rare, patients need to be aware that risk does exist. Some risks associated with liposuction are blood clots and fat emboli. Be wary of a surgeon who tries to tell you there is no risk associated with surgery, this would be a red flag. Patients should be assured that in Kadlec’s surgery center,  they are in the safest type of facility should any issues arise.

 

For further information go to:

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/liposuction

https://frankflemingmd.com/

Botox

Botox – Answers to my patients most common questions.

Botox

Do you have questions about Botox?

 

Botox. Who would think that a substance that is responsible for food poisoning could also make us look more youthful!

Below I’ve listed some of the more common questions I’m frequently asked by my patients.

 

What is Botox?

Botox is a prescription drug and is made by the drug company Allergan. It works by temporarily blocking muscle activity by preventing the transmission between nerve endings and muscle fibers. In lay terms this means that when Botox is injected into your muscle the muscle will temporarily relax.

 

What areas do you treat? 

Common areas treated are:

  • Forehead wrinkles.
  • Frown lines.
  • Crow’s feet.
  • The muscle bands in the anterior neck.

 

What can I expect from my first Botox procedure? 

The procedure is quick and easy, it usually takes about 10 minutes. The first thing I will do is assess your facial wrinkling to make sure that Botox is indicated. I will then mark your face to pinpoint the injection sites. A small fine gauge needle is used to inject the Botox into the target areas. You will feel small pin pricks in the treatment areas. My patients tell me the pain is a 1-2 on the scale of 10.

 

What kind of results can I expect to see? 

Botox does not work instantly, so don’t expect to see immediate results! Results are generally seen anywhere from 1-7 days after the procedure.

Botox is not permanent, it will gradually wear off.  My patients generally return for repeat injections every 3-4 months.

 

Who administers the Botox at your office? 

I administer all of the Botox injections to our patients at Kadlec Clinic Plastic Surgery and Dermatology. The chance of complications can increase when administered incorrectly by an inexperienced injector. Complications might include problems swallowing, problems breathing, muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision, blindness and drooping eyelids.

 

At what age do people start getting injections? 

It depends. Some of my younger patients are in their early 30’s and use Botox to prevent wrinkles from forming.

 

Do you do Botox parties? 

No. While they sound like a lot of fun I do not think they are safe. For patient safety I believe in maintaining the highest medical standards. This means administering Botox in a safe clean clinical setting with no alcohol involved.

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/botulinum-toxin

 

For more on patient safety, click the following link:

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety

 

Liposucton

Undergoing Liposuction

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What to expect when undergoing liposuction. 

The liposuction procedure will begin with the anesthesiologist administering sedation. A small incision between .5cm-1cm wide will be made. Through the incision a tumescent solution will be injected into the area being treated. This solution contains sterile salt water, anesthetic and epinephrine. The tumescent solution is used to expand the fat layer. This allows for even suctioning. It also provides anesthesia.  The incisions will be strategically placed. Scars from the incisions will fade over time. A thin hollow wand, called a cannula is then inserted through the incisions to suck out the excess fat.  The length of the procedure varies depending which areas are being suctioned. The procedure generally takes 1-2 hours.

Are there different types of liposuction?

I have been performing liposuction for 25 years. Over the years I have seen different types of liposuction come and go. The most widely used type used is the Tumescent method. The Tumescent method has also been around the longest. It is considered the ‘Gold Standard’ to which all other forms of liposuction are compared. None of the newer forms have proven as effective. Some of these so called new and improved forms of liposuction have even ended up being dangerous. They have lead to severe complications for the patients. I use the Tumescent procedure in my practice. I have found no form of liposuction that is superior.

A word about safety

In my practice, safety comes first. I am always cautious of new procedures that are being touted as the latest and greatest. Before I incorporate any new procedure into my practice I like make sure that it is best for my patients. This is why I do procedures with a long track record of success. I don’t believe patients should be used as guinea pigs to test out new and potentially unsafe procedures.

 

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety

A final word

It is important to keep in mind that ultimately, what is most important in this and any other cosmetic surgery procedures is the skill and experience of the surgeon.

https://Frankflemingmd.com

 

 

The ever popular Mommy Makeover

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The Mommy Makeover

 

A big section of my practice is devoted to Mommy Makeovers. What I hear from my patients is that despite returning to their pre-baby weight and sticking to a healthy diet and exercise regimen, they have become discouraged because their body is not returning to what it once was. Since they are not happy with the way they look, their self-esteem and confidence has been eroded. Pregnancy changes a woman’s body. Particularly the breast and tummy areas. During pregnancy it is normal to gain weight. The breasts become larger which stretches out the skin. The result is that once the pregnancy weight has been shed the breasts will have often lost their fullness and be left saggy. The abdomen also becomes larger during pregnancy, and the skin here becomes stretched out too. Additionally, the muscles of the abdomen may separate which is known as known as diastasis recti. Once the pregnancy weight has been shed there will often be a lot of loose saggy skin left over.

The Mommy Makeover isn’t just one procedure. It’s a combination of procedures to bring the body back to the shape it was pre-pregnancy.The two procedures that generally make up a Mommy Makeover are the breast lift and the tummy tuck. The breast lift will return the breast to it’s pre -pregnancy contour. With a breast lift, sometimes patients will choose to have a breast lift with implants. The tummy tuck procedure will address the loose skin left on the abdomen. An incision will be made below the bikini line and the loose skin will be pulled tight. If my patients have had their abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy, then I can tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall during the surgery.

Roughly 325,000 Mommy Makeovers are performed each year. My patient’s who come to me for Mommy Makeovers are women who are devoted to their children and their families. They give of themselves on a daily basis and rarely put themselves first.  They’ve come to me because they’ve decided to do something nice for themselves.

   If you would like to schedule a consultation give our office a call at 509-942-3190.

https://frankflemingmd.com/

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety

body procedures

Are you bikini ready?

ARE YOU BIKINI READY?

The days are getting longer. It’s starting to heat up again in the Tri-Cities. This means bathing suit season is just around the corner. Are you ready? Or do you dread the season of exposed skin. As hot as it gets in the Tri-Cities in the summer, it’s impossible not to show some skin. It’s the season of sleeveless shirts and exposed arms or shorts showing off legs. Does the thought of someone asking you to don a bathing suit and go for a swim fill you with dread? This time of year everyone seems to be hitting the gym and dieting in anticipation of soon wearing  tank tops, sun dresses and bathing suits. But diet and exercise can only go so far, which is why I always have a surge of patients seeking cosmetic surgery procedures at this time of year. The most popular procedures I see requested in the Spring are breast augmentation, tummy tuck and liposuction. The timing is perfect if you want to debut your new look at that 4th of July barbecue.

I love hearing stories from my patients about how their cosmetic surgeries have impacted their lives for the better.  I had one patient who had a long overdue mommy makeover last Spring. Before her surgery, Spring was the most dreaded time of the year for her, because it meant shopping and trying on bathing suits. She told me about being in the fitting room and not wanting to look at herself in the mirror. The more covered up she could get the better. She always went home from those swim suit shopping trips feeling deflated and bad about herself.  But last Spring was different. Last Spring she had had a Mommy Makeover. Last Spring she couldn’t wait to go swim suit shopping. Last Spring when she tried on swim suits she found herself dancing in front of the fitting room mirror. Forget the swim suits that were supposed to minimize the waist that she would have to pull and tug herself into. Forget the skirted suit made to cover up her legs. She had reclaimed her girlish figure, and for the first time in 20 years, she was on the hunt for a bikini.

 

https://frankflemingmd.com/

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/patient-safety