Questions

Q: Is Dr. Terino Board Certified?

A: Yes. Dr. Terino is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and he is one of only a handful of doctors with the title “Traveling Professor” for the prestigious ASAPS, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Dr. Terino is a world leader in the field of facial surgery and is invited by many plastic surgery societies throughout the world to teach on a regular basis.

  

Q: Where will my surgery be done?

A: Surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis at The Hospital Groups clinic in Southern California. The institute is a state-of the-art outpatient surgery facility, offering the latest in optimum emotional as well as physical care for patients. It is a legally accredited facility by the State of California and can be contacted on 1.800.959.7541

   

Q: Will I have to stay overnight in a hospital?

A: Almost never. Dr. Terino's surgeries are done at The Hospital Group, an outpatient surgical facility. However, extended recovery is offered to his patients and often required depending on the type and length of surgery.

   

Q: Is having surgery done in an outpatient facility as safe as a hospital?

A: Yes. The Hospital Group is a fully accredited facility (AAAASF accreditation) with the capability to deliver surgical procedures as an accredited hospital. Such facilities are continually monitored and improved for individual facility performance compared to established standards. The outstanding safety record of accredited ambulatory facilities surpasses those of many hospitals.

   

Q: Is there a difference between Dr. Terino and the Plastic Surgery Institute?

A: Yes. The Institute is a separate corporate entity which provides surgery facilities for several top plastic surgeons in California. Dr. Terino is the Medical Director of the institute.

   

Q: When can I return to work after surgery?

A: There are actually two factors to take into consideration; when you feel well enough to function, and when you look well enough to be in public. If your work is more sedentary you may return faster than if your work is more physically demanding. Likewise, if your work does not involve interfacing with others, you may return sooner than if you prefer not to have others know of your procedures. In general people return to work in 1 week unless appearance is of critical importance. When this is the case, people ordinarily will be suitable for public appearance by 3 weeks as long as they do not expect or need to look absolutely 100% normal and natural by that early date

   

Q: Does Dr. Terino specialize in any particular surgery?

A: Dr. Terino has become world famous for his customized facial contouring techniques. He has written the only text book for physicians on subject of facial contouring using facial implants. His unique and innovative anatomic design of facial implants for the cheeks, chin and jawline region have become the standard for plastic surgeons throughout the world. His midface suspension techniques combined with facial implants provide the latest up to date methods for restoring facial aging and enhancing facial beauty.

   

Q: What is the recovery time for most face procedures?

A: The human body heals solidly by 4 weeks. At that time a person can return to any type of physical exertion, exercise, or activity.

   

Q: Is general anesthesia dangerous?

A: Of course all forms of anesthesia including local, general and "twilight" have their risks. Anytime a person's body is given drugs and medications of any kind they alter the functioning of the vital organs. This is generally in the form of a suppression of the brain, heart, and lung activities. However, with modern anesthesia techniques and an experienced Board Certified anesthesiologist (NOT a registered nurse anesthetist) the chances of a dangerous problem arising in a healthy body are extremely rare and less than the odds of having an accident on a California freeway or taking an airplane flight. Before anesthesia of any kind is administered, Dr. Terino has laboratory tests run on his patients to ensure that their blood characteristics are within normal limits and that their heart is functioning optimally. Any medical problems that a patient has had historically must be evaluated in a report sent to Dr. Terino by patients' family physicians to release them as safe to undergo a surgical procedure

   

Q: Does the length of time of a surgical procedure increase the anesthesia risks?

A: No. Anesthesia risks are generally related to the times when a patient is being put to sleep and being awakened. The length of time of surgery simply means that there are more drugs being used and therefore more being absorbed into the body tissues that will require a longer period of time to metabolize and be cleared out. This is a major reason why patients must be at rest and not resume activities that could require their driving or using machines or appliances that could be dangerous for a few days while the anesthesia is being eliminated from their bodies.

   

Q: Will I be able to feel my facial implants?

A: Not at all! Because of Dr. Terino’s innovative anatomic design implant shapes, the implants feel just like your own natural facial bones.

   

Q: Who is considered a good candidate for liposuction?

A: Liposuction or the removal of unwanted fat can be performed on anyone but is generally most effective when the collections of unwanted fat produce undesirable body contours and bulges. These can be reduced in size to give a much more attractive shape to the body whether a patient is overweight or slender. Most of the time the tissues and skin are elastic enough to shrink or retract when volumes of fat are removed. However, there is a certain type of a body characteristic where the skin and soft tissues are too loose and there may be a negative appearance from the liposuction rather than a positive one. It is important for your plastic surgeon to evaluate this for you before undergoing liposuction to avoid a permanent problem. Age is also a factor but it has been found that the skin will retract and shrink satisfactorily even in people into their sixties and seventies. Poor candidates for liposuction are people who are expecting a complete "body makeover." Liposuction is not capable of changing someone from being chubby or obese to slender and thin, nor is it possible to remove dimples from cellulite

   

Q: Is Botox really safe?

A: Botox is safe for the vast majority of people. A rare patient may have a degenerative nerve disease such as multiple sclerosis that would constitute a contraindication to having botox. Botox stays within the muscles that are injected and does not have a significant effect on the rest of the body. Since it is only temporary and lasts 3, 4, or 5 months any unwanted changes in appearance will correct themselves quickly over that time period.

   

Q: Will I still look like myself?

A: The goal of modern cosmetic/aesthetic surgery is to have you retain the appearances and characteristics which are your best and acquire an improved look that is still you and a better you. By choosing the proper plastic surgeon for your particular situation, this goal should always be met. Be careful in choosing your plastic surgeon because with the wrong techniques a person's appearance can be changed in an unattractive way.

   

Q: What forms of payment do you accept?

A: We accept Visa, Discover, Master Charge and American Express. We also offer financing through various finance companies as well as cash, checks and cashiers checks. http://www.carecredit.com

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