Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies [Paperback]

R. Merrel Olesen MD (Author), Marie B.V. Olesen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2005

Cosmetic surgery is one of today’s hottest topics. From daytime talk shows and popular magazines to conversations at the salon, it seems that almost everyone has had it, is thinking about it, or knows someone who is getting it. Statistics show more and more women—and men—are having cosmetic surgery. And with all the options now available, it’s important to be fully informed before you make any decisions about having a procedure.

Now, Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies is here to guide you through today’s top procedures, candidly addressing both the benefits and the risks. R. Merrel Olesen, MD, the medical director of the La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, and Marie B.V. Olesen, a nationally known cosmetic surgery consultant, give you the tools you need to:

• Decide if surgery is right for you
• Find a qualified surgeon
• Set realistic expectations
• Evaluate the costs
• Enhance your recovery and results

This plain-English guide shows you how to take advantage of all the advances in cosmetic surgery while avoiding the pitfalls that could compromise your safety or the quality of your result. From implants to liposuction to Botox, you’ll understand the right questions to ask your doctor, how to prepare for surgery (both physically and financially), and the best ways to influence the healing process. You’ll also:

• Discover the latest surgery techniques and medications
• Understand the different surgeon specializations
• Sort through the various non-surgical facial treatments
• Evaluate your post-op care options
• Cope with complications
• Deal with family, friends, and coworkers before and after surgery

Complete with lists of questions to ask before surgery and top Web sites for cosmetic surgery information, Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies is a practical, friendly guide that will help you say hello to a new you!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Covers the latest techniques and non-invasive procedures

Discover your options and make an informed choice

Thinking about having cosmetic surgery? This plain-English guide walks you through today's top procedures, candidly addressing both the benefits and the risks. From implants to liposuction to Botox^®, you'll understand the right questions to ask your doctor, how to prepare for surgery, and the best ways to influence the healing process.

Discover how to

• Decide whether surgery is right for you
• Find a qualified surgeon
• Set realistic expectations
• Evaluate the costs
• Make the surgical environment safe

About the Author

R. Merrel Olesen, MD has over 30 years of plastic surgery experience. He has written patient information and informed consent materials used by millions of patients.

Marie B.V. Olesen has worked with hundreds of plastic surgery practices to help them understand how to meet the needs of cosmetic surgery patients.

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764578359
• ISBN-13: 978-0764578359
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #307,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, informative especially recommended for the first time plastic surgery patient., July 14, 2011

By 

Cynthia Danute Cekauskas, LCSW "Lithuanian Am... (Savannah, Georgia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies (Paperback)

I wish I would have had this book before I had my bilateral breast reduction mammoplasty done last February followed by abdominal liposuction in May. This book would have been extremely helpful especially in the recommendations the author makes in Chapter 17 Assessing the Risks and Preparing for Surgery. For instance in the Going Home section he tells the potential patient how to stock up on items that would have been helpful to her or him following the surgery. Now most plastic surgeons in preparing you for the postoperative period will write prescriptions for pain medications and advise you to take Tylenol versus an NSAID or aspirin because of the bleeding risks involved in the latter two medications. They DON'T always talk to you about the severe constipation the prescribed medications can cause you, that a stool softener might be a good idea as well as using bendable straws to drink the recommended increased amount of water you are supposed to ingest postoperatively, low-sodium crackers or gingersnaps, using ice packs, avoiding high sodium foods and using Arnica gel and/or tablets for treating bruising and swelling. This book makes all those recommendations and I think that would have been extremely helpful for me.

In general this book is wonderful especially for the new plastic surgery patient. It is clearly presented, written in simple, straightforward language, presenting many drawings and photographs to illustrate what the authors, a plastic surgeon, and his plastic surgery consultant wife try to impart on the reader. Parts I Considering Cosmetic Surgery and II Preparing for Cosmetic Surgery define what exactly this type of procedure entails, who is best qualified to perform the surgery, how to choose the appropriate surgeon for your procedure and how to get ready for it financially and physically. Part III Exploring Your Options gets more specific as to the type of surgery sought be it facial cosmetic surgery, rhinoplasty, liposuction, breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction. Parts IV Going for It: Preparation and Recovery and V The Part of Tens have to do with recovering from surgery and dispelling myths about cosmetic surgery. The book also has an Appendix listing internet resources such as medical organization sites, professional society sites, facility certification sites, public information sites and researching patient financing. As you can see the book is truly comprehensive.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars interesting, July 27, 2005

By 

H. Rotheuser (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cosmetic Surgery For Dummies (Paperback)

I think this book was pretty thorough when it comes to plastic surgery. The pictures are helpful too. I think it needed a bit more information on dermatological services that can be obtained instead of or in addition to the surgery.