Q & A
- What are Dr. Sherman's credentials?
- Which medical organizations is Dr. Sherman a member of?
- What sets Dr. Sherman and the Del Mar Cosmetic Medical Center apart from the others?
- What is the right age for cosmetic surgery?
- What should I expect during a consultation?
- Do you have before and after photos of your patients that I may view?
- Where will my surgery be performed?
- How long will the procedure take?
- What are the risks and complications?
- How much pain will I have during and after surgery?
- How long will I need to recover - when can I return to work?
- What kind of results should I expect?
- Is it safe?
- How long will it last?
- Will there be scars?
- Will everyone know?
- Is it expensive?
- Will insurance cover it?
- How many people undergo cosmetic surgery each year?
- How many men have cosmetic surgery?
- Is financing available?
- What do I do next?
What are Dr. Sherman's credentials?
Dr. Sherman is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology.
Which medical organizations is Dr. Sherman a member of?
- American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery
- American Society of Cosmetic Breast Surgery
- American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
See Dr. Sherman's CV for a complete list.
What sets Dr. Sherman and the Del Mar Cosmetic Medical Center apart from the others?
Dr. Sherman and his highly trained staff provide each patient with the highest level of quality patient care and safety. Dr. Sherman's training and surgical expertise allows him to perform plastic and cosmetic surgery procedures within the friendly, warm and relaxed atmosphere of his accredited surgical suite.
What is the right age for cosmetic surgery?
Your desire to change your appearance is the biggest factor for when to choose plastic surgery. A better question would be: Am I healthy enough to have surgery? At times, younger aged people seem to have better results due to factors such as better skin resiliency and healing abilities, but those factors are very individual.
Typically, about one-third of cosmetic surgery patients are between 35 and 50. About 22 percent are 26 to 34, 18 percent are 25 and under and 27 percent are over 51.
What should I expect during a consultation?
The best and only way to find out if cosmetic surgery is right for you, is to have an in-office consultation where we can listen to your needs, examine you and provide you with educated advice. We will tell you what you need to know about the procedure you are interested in, or recommend another treatment to meet your needs and goals. We will describe how the procedure is performed, what results you may expect, how long the recovery time may be and the possible complications that may be involved. At this time too we will a answer any questions that you may have.
Do you have before and after photos of your patients that I may view?
We have a variety of before and after photos covering many procedures that you may view online as well as in our office during your consultation.
Where will my surgery be performed?
Our surgical procedures are performed in our I.M.Q. certified state-of-the-art surgical suite. Depending upon your procedure, we use both general and local anesthesia with intravenous sedation.
How long will the procedure take?
Not as long as you would think. Our procedures are performed at our accredited Del Mar cosmetic surgery facility and are performed on an outpatient basis, requiring no overnight stay, and usually take only a few hours. You'll need to come in an hour before surgery to meet with your surgeon, and stay under our care a few hours after surgery before you go home. By then you'll be back on your feet, and a friend or relative will escort you home to recover in your own bed.
What are the risks and complications?
Plastic and cosmetic surgery is like all surgery in that there are risks attached. You will be informed of these prior to your surgery. Although plastic and cosmetic surgeons routinely perform thousands of procedures every year, an occasional patient may have an adverse reaction to anesthesia or experience a post-op complication--infection, blood clots, or poor healing. Both smoking and taking aspirin are unadvisable before and after surgery. Remember that while you do, indeed, have a competent, skilled surgeon in Dr. Sherman, there is no one who can offer risk-free surgery or guarantee perfect results. Cosmetic surgery reshapes tissue, which makes no result totally predictable. One of the best things you can do is follow Dr. Sherman's instructions for post-op care, which will help to ensure the very best outcome possible.
How much pain will I have during and after surgery?
During the procedure, anesthesia ensures that you're comfortable and feel no pain. Most patients actually sleep through the entire operation.
After surgery, any pain or discomfort you may experience can usually be controlled through medication and will usually subside within a matter of days. In most cases, patients tell us after surgery that the pain, if any, was much less than what they had expected.
How long will I need to recover - when can I return to work?
It depends greatly on the procedure, but on average, most of our San Diego and Southern California cosmetic surgery patients are back to work within seven to ten days.
What kind of results should I expect?
You will notice a definite improvement right away - although depending upon the procedure, you still may be slightly swollen and bruised. Most people are extremely happy with their results within 2-4 weeks after surgery. Just as with any type of surgery however, it does take time for your body to heal, so the end result may take awhile. Be patient, and you are very likely to be pleased in months to come.
Is it safe?
Millions of cosmetic procedures are performed successfully every year and complications are usually rare and uncommon. But no matter how easy, simple or safe today's cosmetic surgery may seem to be, you must remember that it is still surgery and with any surgery there are certain risks involved.
How long will the results last?
In general, with procedures that are performed to correct or reshape natures' small defects such as surgery of the nose, breast augmentation/reduction and chin augmentation, the benefits may last a lifetime. For those that focus on rejuvenation such as a face lift, forehead lift chemical peel or eyelid surgery, the results can last 5 - 10 years.
Will there be scars?
With most surgical cosmetic procedures the answer is yes. Will they be noticeable? - probably not. Dr. Sherman makes every effort to keep scars as minimal as possible and try to hide them in the natural lines and creases of your skin. For the majority of procedures, your scars will fade over time and become barely visible.
Will everyone know?
Cosmetic surgery should enhance your looks or minimize perceived flaws naturally, and go unnoticeable. You may be asked if you've been exercising, lost weight or have begun a new healthy routine. Typically, no one will know unless you tell.
Is it expensive?
Not really. The prices have come down over the years, while the quality has gone up. Since our procedures can be performed on an out-patient basis, an overnight hospital stay is rarely required. Eliminating the hospital stay reduces the cost dramatically. Prices have become so reasonable that just about anyone can afford cosmetic surgery. In fact, almost half of the people who have plastic surgery make less than $35,000 a year.
Will insurance cover it?
Since cosmetic plastic surgery is elective, most insurance plans don't cover it. But there are exceptions, and if your procedure is medically necessary you may be covered for a portion of it. You may want to contact your insurance company to find out what portion, if any, of your expenses may be covered.
How many people undergo cosmetic surgery each year?
Nearly 3.5 million cosmetic surgery procedures are performed each year.
How many men have cosmetic surgery?
Almost 700,000 cosmetic procedures are performed on men each year. And the number gets larger each year as men grow increasingly comfortable with the concept of cosmetic surgery for themselves.
Is financing available?
We offer a variety of financing options which you may apply for own your own prior to your consultation. Or, if you prefer, while you are in for your consultation appointment, we can contact financing companies for you and receive an immediate approval response.
What do I do next?
If, after reading the information on our web site, you'd like to find out more about plastic and cosmetic surgery, request a consultation. You can also call 800-237-3706 to schedule your consultation appointment at our Del Mar Cosmetic Medical Center.