Over the past couple of years,cosmetic surgery holidays have received a bad ‘rap’ from the media. However, Malaysian plastic surgeon Dr Charles Lee is out to change that reputation. Dr Lee’s practice is in Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, East Malaysia where he treats both international and local patients. ‘Sabah is an ideal location for quality plastic surgery and a relaxing recovery,’ he says. ‘Most of my international patients are from Australia and New Zealand, but I also treat patients from England, Africa and the US.’ Dr Lee performs three major surgical procedures on his international patients along with a range of minimally invasive procedures. ‘I perform tummy-tucks, liposuction and breast augmentation on patients from overseas,’ says Dr Lee.

‘These procedures generally have a fairly predictable recovery period, so patients can easily plan how long they need to stay. I also perform minimally invasive procedures such as fillers, lasers and Thermage.Sometimes these can be carried out in conjunction with other, more invasive procedures.’

According to Dr Lee, most overseas patients stay for about 10 days. ‘I insist on my patients having a bit of a holiday as well, usually for the first couple of days. We ask them to send pictures of themselves before they come so we know what to expect. I hold the initial consultation as soon as they arrive in Sabah and then give them a couple of days to relax prior to operating,’ Dr Lee explains. ‘After surgery, they recover for about the next week before leaving. We are able to monitor their recovery and make sure everything goes smoothly.’ For tummy-tuck patients, Dr Lee requires patients to see a GP pre- and post-surgery. ‘The tummy-tuck is a major operation and requires follow-up by a doctor after the patient has returned home to keep an eye out for unlikely, but possible, side effects such as the development of seromas,’ he says.

A seroma is a collection of fluid under the skin. It appears as a swelling in the area undermined at surgery. More common in the lower abdomen than the upper, it can be an early or late complication. Upon leaving the clinic in Sabah, Dr Lee says that patients are mobile and ready to fly. ‘All patients have their sutures removed prior to leaving the hospital here in Sabah and the area is inspected using an ultra sound,’ he says.

‘Most patients can return to work a few days after they are home, depending on their operation.’ One of Dr Lee’s satisfied patients from New Zealand, Wendy underwent a tummy-tuck in mid 2006 after struggling with her weight. ‘I had lost 20 kilograms three years earlier but half the weight had returned. I disliked my body a lot,’ Wendy says. ‘We [my husband and I] chose not to tell anyone about the surgery, so going to a different country ensured privacy.’

A traditional tummy tuck is suited for healthy individuals who are fairly physically fit, but are unable to achieve their desired abdominal appearance through diet and exercise. Women whose abdominal skin and muscles have been stretched by pregnancy or further damaged by cesarean sections are good candidates for treatment. Tummy tuck procedures are also ppropriate for individuals who have experienced dramatic weight loss, but are unhappy with the sagging belly that remains. Both women and men can be appropriate candidates for tummy tucks.

In the full tummy tuck procedure, the surgeon makes a long incision along the bikini-line, often from hip to hip. Next, the navel is cut away from the surrounding tissue, so it can be returned to the proper position once the skin has been stretched into place. Usually the surgeon will tighten the abdominal muscle wall by stitching the muscles into place. The surgeon then stretches the skin and contours it by removing the excess and stitching the remaining skin into place. A hole for the navel is made, and also stitched into place. This is usually done under general anesthesia. Cosmetic surgery overseas can be successful and safe, as long as the patient carries out thorough research prior to undergoing treatment and is not pressured into making a decision. It’s important not to underestimate the recovery time and prepare a support network for the return home.

Article by : acsm (Australian Cosmetic Surgery)