April 21st, 2010 Michael A. Jazayeri M.D.
As an Orange County plastic surgeon, I feel fortunate to like what I do and be in a surgical field where majority of my patients do feel and look better after surgery.
However, I never forget what happened one night when I was a second year general surgery resident rotating at the intensive care unit (ICU). One evening, I received news about an 18 year old female who was pregnant with her first child. During or after delivery and the details were not clear, she stopped breathing and sustained several minutes of oxygen deprivation to the brain. She was subsequently intubated and transferred to the ICU. Fortunately the child was healthy. Over the next two days, due to the unknown time of oxygen deprivation and since the patient did not respond appropriately to external stimuli, multiple studies were performed to asses her brain function. All studies came to the same conclusion: brain death.
In the evening, when the last set of test results was noted, I approached the family regarding organ donation. I explained to them her brain damage was severe and irreversible and she will never be able to function or breathe on her own. The family deliberated for 30 minutes in a private room and decided against organ donation. They asked me to disconnect her from the breathing machine.
While they were in the room, I hoped the family chose organ donation, since I did not want to face her death. She was so young! It also would have benefited another patient who desperately was in need of an organ donor.
With the family in the room, holding hands and with their heads down in prayer mode, I disconnected her from the breathing machine. It was eight or nine o’clock at night and the ICU was quiet. This time it was eerily silent. Although I could have left the room, I did not. Here was a family I hardly knew, a patient I had known for two days. After tonight, I probably would never see any of them again. Yet, I couldn’t leave. It didn’t feel right for me to leave.
Here I was, a second year surgical resident, helpless. Neither surgery nor medical technology could save this patient now. I watched the monitor showing her heart beat gradually slowing down….3 beats per minute…2 beats per minute…one beat per minute…flat line.
No words were spoken to me, but I knew the family appreciated my presence. I left the room and went to the bathroom and started crying.
I realized something no medical school book or teacher could have taught me. I was given the privilege and power not only to save lives, but to take life away. I better not mess up and I better take my responsibilities seriously!
I often think of this patient, just to make sure I don’t forget what it means to be a physician.
Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon and a member of American Society of Plastic Surgeons. His office is located in central Orange County. If you like to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 714-834-0101.
Posted in Breast Lift | 2 Comments »
April 19th, 2010 Michael A. Jazayeri M.D.
Many of you may have heard of “Mommy Makeover” surgery. I am not sure who started this catch phrase, but I like it!
As have been stated in my previous blog, mommy makeover surgery addresses the changes which occur after pregnancy. These changes primarily affect the breast and the abdomen.
The breast can be enhanced with an implant (breast augmentation) with or without a breast lift. A breast lift may be required to reposition the nipple and tighten the loose skin.
Although some patients are lucky enough only to require liposuction, most patients will require a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) to address the loose skin, stretch marks, and the weakened abdominal muscles which occur after pregnancy.
So, can both surgeries be combined together? The answer, in most cases, is yes!
There are two limiting factors preventing both procedures to be performed at the same time: the patient’s financial situation, and the total time the patient is under anesthesia.
Mommy Makeover surgery is among the more expensive procedures performed by plastic surgeons. The surgery may take 4-6 hours and the cost of anesthesia/operating room, implant and surgeon’s fee will add up quickly. Having said this, if the patient can afford the cost, there are many benefits to having the procedures combined. First, there is one recovery period, both from anesthesia and from the surgery. For patients who work, one recovery period is financially advantageous. Second, combining both surgeries will result in a 10-15% reduction in overall cost. Surgery centers typically charge more the first hour and the price decreases after that. Therefore, staging the surgeries will result in more added cost to the patient.
The second limiting factor is the anticipated anesthesia time. The current recommendation by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is to limit anesthesia time for elective, outpatient surgery to six hours. Therefore, if the surgeon feels the surgery may take longer, it is best to stage the procedures.
Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 10 years of experience. His office is located in Orange County, California. To schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 714-834-0101.
Posted in Breast Augmentation, Breast Implants, Breast Lift, Mommy Makeover, Tummy tuck | No Comments »
April 1st, 2010 Michael A. Jazayeri M.D.
As an Orange County Plastic surgeon, rhinoplasty (nose surgery) is one of the most common procedures I perform.
As with all elective cosmetic surgery, the question arises: should you spend thousands of dollars to have your nose done, look and feel bad for a few weeks, for the hope that you will look and feel better in the future?
The answer, as always is yes if you have realistic expectations, are doing the surgery for you and yourself only, and understand the limitations of what can be achieved given your anatomy.
Often patients bring me photos of celebrities asking if I can make their nose look like the person on the picture. It is important to understand the idea is the same: to make the nose more refined and balanced. However, there is no way to produce a nose exactly like some one else’s.
For example, if a patient has very thick, oily nasal skin, he or she cannot expect to achieve a final result like someone who has delicate cartilage and thinner skin (such as Natalie Portman or Keira Knightley). There is a limitation to how much cartilage I can remove and shape. Furthermore, regardless of how much can be done with the nasal bones and cartilage, once the thick nasal skin drapes over the framework, the result will be different.
The same concept applies to someone who has very thin nasal skin. Although I can perform a very nice rhinoplasty, I have no control over the patient’s healing. Occasionally excess scarring may occur which may be noticeable under a thin nasal skin, but not be visible otherwise.
Having said all of the above, rhinoplasty, if done properly and for the appropriate patient, has a very high satisfaction rate. I am always pleased to see the before and after “personality change” of my patients. It is not just the new hair cut, make-up and clothes, but also the way he/she carries himself/herself!
Michael A. Jazayeri, M.D. is a board certified plastic surgeon with over 10 years of experience. His office is located in central Orange County. If you like to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call 714-834-0101.
Posted in Rhinoplasty | No Comments »
